Note 2 at Eph. 6:11: Paul said to put on the WHOLE armor of God (see ref. a in v. 13, p. 1143). Just using part of God's armor will not fully protect us. Many Christians have been running around with their helmet of salvation on and nothing else. There is more to overcoming the devil than just being saved. We have to understand our righteous position (see note 12 at v.14, p. 1143) in the Lord, faith (see note 14 at v. 16, p.1144), the Word (see note 18 at v. 17, p. 1145), and the gospel of peace (see note 13 at v. 15, p. 1144).

Note 3 at Eph. 6:11: Notice that this is the armor OF GOD that we are told to put on. God didn't just provide us with armor; He gave us His armor. Isaiah 59:17 specifically mentions the Messiah wearing the helmet of salvation and the breastplate of righteousness (see Parallel Scriptures for vv. 14-17, p. 1145). Certainly God's armor is more than sufficient if we will just wear it and let it work.

In the previous verse Paul said we were to use God's power and might. Now he tells us to use God's armor. If we are dressed like God and fight like Him, we'll look like God to the devil. The devil won't realize we are not God unless we tell him through some statement or act of unbelief.

Note 4 at Eph. 6:11: The dictionary defines "wiles" as "1. a deceitful stratagem or trick; 2. a disarming or seductive manner, device, or procedure" (New American Heritage Dict.). This word is denoting trickery and deceit. The word "wiles" is an old English word from which we get such words as "methods," "strategies," "schemes," "tactics," and "devices." Just as a football player, a boxer, or military man's success depends partly on how well he knows his opponent(s), so believers must not be ignorant of Satan's devices.

Jesus stripped Satan of all his authority (Mt. 28:18). The power that Satan uses against us now is deception. Those who ascribe other powers to him have already fallen prey to one of his lies. The devil deceives us and uses our own power and authority against us. The thing that makes deception so deadly is that those who are deceived don't know it. Once they realize they are deceived, they aren't deceived any more. The truth of God's Word will remove the deception of the devil and thereby break his power in our lives.