The Schemes of the Devil: Understanding Our Enemy

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).

The schemes of the devil are as old as Eden, yet as modern as the latest whisper of temptation in our minds. Satan is not a brute force who fights in broad daylight. He is a cunning strategist, a master of disguise, a deceiver who deals in subtleties and half-truths. He is a predator who does not charge but crouches, lying in wait, plotting his next move. And his most effective weapons are not direct assaults but insidious schemes that lure us into a false sense of security, subtly leading us away from truth and into bondage.

The Greek word Paul uses for “schemes” in Ephesians 6:11 is methodías, from which we derive the English term “methods.” It speaks of a calculated, deliberate plan, not a haphazard attack. It conveys the idea of a methodical, strategic approach designed to deceive, to manipulate, to ensnare. Satan is not reckless; he is precise. His attacks are not random but tailored to exploit our weaknesses, to strike at our most vulnerable points.

He is:
A liar and the origin of lies John 8:44
A distorter of truth Gen. 3:1–5, Matt. 4:6
A deceiver of the world Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:10
A master of disguise 2 Cor. 11:14
A performer of counterfeit miracles 2 Thess. 2:9–10
An influencer of hearts Acts 5:3
A promoter of false doctrine 1 Tim. 4:1–2
A blinder of minds 2 Cor. 4:4
A defeated and judged enemy Rev. 20:10

Paul warns us that our enemy is not flesh and blood but spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). The battlefield is not the physical realm but the realm of the mind, the heart, the soul. And the enemy’s arsenal is vast: lies, accusations, doubts, temptations, distractions. He is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10), the father of lies (John 8:44), the tempter (Matt. 4:3), the one who prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

1 Pet. 5:8 – Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

2 Cor. 2:11 – So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Consider his approach in the Garden of Eden. He did not force Eve’s hand; he questioned God’s Word. “Did God actually say…?” (Gen. 3:1). The enemy’s schemes often begin with a question that sows doubt, that distorts the truth, that plants a seed of suspicion. The method has not changed. Today, he whispers the same questions in our ears: “Did God really say He would provide? Did God really say you are forgiven? Did God really say you are secure in Christ?”

His schemes are subtle, but they are no less deadly. He disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), twisting Scripture to suit his purposes, offering half-truths that seem plausible yet lead to destruction. He masquerades as a friend, a helper, a source of enlightenment. He knows how to cloak his lies in the appearance of wisdom, how to twist Scripture just enough to make it sound right while leading us astray.

Consider the following verses:

John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth… When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Gen. 3:1–5 – “Did God actually say… You will not surely die.”
Rev. 12:9 – “…that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…”
2 Cor. 11:14 – “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
2 Thess. 2:9–10 “…the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing…”
Matt. 4:6 – “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down… for it is written…”
Acts 5:3 – “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…”
1 Tim. 4:1–2 – “…some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…”
2 Cor. 4:4– “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers…”
Rev. 20:10 – “…the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire…”

Modern thinkers, even many Christians, scorn the idea of the devil as outdated mythology. But Martin Lloyd Jones confronts this and points out:

• To reject the existence of the devil while affirming the Holy Spirit is inconsistent.
• The spiritual realm must be accepted in full, not selectively.
• Belief in the devil is essential for understanding sin, salvation, and the gospel itself.

Belief in the devil is not optional for Christians. It’s a test of our view of Scripture, the Bible consistently teaches the reality of the devil from Genesis to Revelation. Christ Himself spoke of Satan often and warred against him. To deny the devil is to gut the doctrine of salvation, rendering the cross an incomplete victory.

But how do we recognize his schemes? How do we discern between truth and almost-truth? The answer lies in the armor of God. Each piece of armor serves as a defense against a specific type of deception.

1. The Belt of Truth – The enemy is a liar, and his schemes are built on deception. The belt of truth is our first line of defense. It holds everything together. A Roman soldier was never to take his belt off. It held everything else on and kept his weapons at his side, so he was always prepared. So we too must always be prepared to fight against a surprise attack. When we anchor ourselves in the truth of God’s Word, we are able to recognize the lies of the enemy for what they are. We must know the truth so thoroughly that any distortion stands out. Jesus Himself countered Satan’s lies in the wilderness by quoting Scripture (Matt. 4:1-11).
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness – Satan is the accuser, the one who points to our sins and shouts, “Guilty!” But the breastplate of righteousness guards our hearts against his accusations. This is not our own righteousness but the imputed righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). When the enemy hurls accusations, we can stand firm, knowing that our sin has been nailed to the cross and we bear it no more (Col. 2:14). Knowing it is Christ’s righteousness and not our own, protects Satan’s fiery flaming arrows from striking our heart, we know we are not worthy of the grace we receive. It is Christ’s righteousness that we put before us, not our own.
3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace – Shoes, seem like a small concern in the battle field, but shoes are critical. A tactic of warfare was to bury pointed stakes in the ground to pierce the feet of those who fought, crippling them from fighting, from moving. The Roman soldiers had small spikes in the bottom of their shoes. This helped them to dig in and to stand firm as the spikes gripped the ground. It would also help them fight, when they would kick their opponent. The sturdy shoes, a Christian wears and walks in, is the Gospel of Peace. The shoes of the gospel of peace represent readiness and firm grounding in the reconciling work of Christ. When they are not worn, believers may falter in confidence. The gospel of peace stabilizes us, keeps our footing sure, and gives us confidence to stand firm. It reminds us that no matter what the enemy throws our way, we are reconciled to God through Christ. We walk in peace, not in fear.
4. The Shield of Faith – The enemy’s fiery darts come in many forms: fear, doubt, worry, temptation. The shield of faith is our active defense, a barrier that extinguishes every dart, every accusation, every lie. Faith is not passive; it is a resolute trust in God’s promises. It is the unwavering conviction that God is who He says He is and will do what He has promised.
5. The Helmet of Salvation – The battlefield is the mind, and the helmet of salvation guards our thoughts against the enemy’s attacks. When doubts assail us, when despair sets in, when lies scream louder than truth, the helmet reminds us of our identity in Christ, our eternal security, our unshakeable hope. We are saved, sealed, and kept by the power of God.
6. The Sword of the Spirit – Unlike the other pieces of armor, the sword is both defensive and offensive. It is the Word of God, the weapon we wield to cut through deception, to expose lies, to strike down every false teaching. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He did not argue or reason with Satan; He simply said, “It is written.” The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12), and it is our weapon against the enemy’s schemes.

But the armor alone is not enough. It must be worn, wielded, employed daily. It is not enough to own a sword; we must learn to use it. It is not enough to have the truth; we must live it. It is not enough to know we are saved; we must walk in that assurance. The armor is not a relic to be displayed but a weapon to be deployed.

Paul closes his instruction on the armor with a call to prayer: “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Eph. 6:18). Prayer is the atmosphere in which the armor is most effective. It is the power that activates the armor, the line of communication that keeps us connected to our Commander. We pray not as a last resort but as our first line of defense. Prayer is the constant, vigilant, watchful posture of a soldier who knows that the enemy is near and the battle is ongoing.

The schemes of the devil are many, but our armor is sufficient. Christ has already secured the victory, and in Him, we stand complete, fully equipped, armed and ready. We do not fight for victory but from victory. The battle belongs to the Lord, and in Him, we stand firm.