~Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

We would do well to heed the Apostle Paul’s exhortations in today’s text. Throughout these verses, we find where our Source of strength comes from and what we as Christians need to withstand the evils of the day.

Notice Paul starts this thought (in Ephesians 6:10) with being strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Paul truly believed that statement as he also stated it in:

~2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;

To attempt to defeat trial and temptation in my own flesh is impossible but through the power of the Lord, all is possible, amen?

Paul continues in Ephesians 6:11 to put on the whole armour of God so that I can defeat the wiles of the devil. It’s interesting to note that Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines the word “wiles” as:

WILE, n. A trick or stratagem practiced for ensnaring or deception; a sly, insidious artifice.

Doesn’t that open up the meaning of this verse? It really points out why we need the whole armour of God! As Noah Webster’s definition goes, the devil’s tactic is to practice tricks and strategies against us so he can better deceive us. So much is “in our face” nowadays. Yesterday’s sin is today’s compromise. Yesterday’s sin is today’s acceptance. How did it get so bad? Because Christians have succumbed to the devil’s tricks. We’ve fallen for the lies of this world and now accept what was totally depraved and sinful yesteryear!

~2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.