Through the scripture we see that the devil, our adversary, seeks whom he may devour.

1st Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:...”

He is as a roaring lion and we have been told to be vigilant. Our duty is to make sure we are always prepared for the things that come our way. We are in a war, a spiritual war and there are no demilitarized zones. Thankfully, the Lord, through His word, has given us insight as to what to watch for.

Philippians 3:1-3, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

This scripture gives us some ways that we can stay on guard against the wiles of the devil. In other words, we can not just decide to not think about the attacks from the devil. It is not a “mind over matter” type of concern. Sometimes people forget that Satan is very real and he is indeed looking to steal, kill, and destroy. These issues are real and if you are not prepared to make your stand then most likely you will be over taken and not even know it. Have you ever gotten to a place in your life and you realized that you hated certain things that you were doing? Or certain ways that you act or speak? Then you begin to look back over the past and try to figure out what went wrong and where you departed from what the Lord wanted you to do.

In verse one we see the first step that we can take to staying on guard against the devil. Our first step is to rejoice. Rejoicing is a way to keep our focus on the Lord. So many times we allow our mind to be focused on anything but the Lord. Think about the time that you spend watching television. If you were to calculate the amount of time that you spend in front of the television what would it be? Then ask yourself the question, “what about the program that I just watched brought me closer or made me think about the Lord?” The television is a great way for the devil to get you to think about anything other than the Lord. All of the foul language that has become acceptable, nudity which we have allowed into our houses and our minds, and some down right bad examples that we see through the acting that demonstrates no godliness. And how about music? So many Christians that I know will fight and argue that you don’t have to listen to Christian music. Paul says, “rejoice.” As I mentioned earlier, rejoicing keeps Christ at the forefront of your mind.

Have you ever felt down and didn’t feel like praying? If you begin to rejoice, and think about the goodness of the Lord then you will quickly see that it is very difficult not to pray. Before I married my wife and we were engaged, it was difficult for me not to want to call her because all I did was think about her. The more I thought about her the more I wanted to call her and talk to her. The same is true with the Lord. The more you rejoice or think about Him the less likely you will fall into temptation and traps set by the devil.

Also, in verse one we see the second tip for staying on guard. Paul tells the Philippians that he is writing to them again. This means that he is writing the same thing that he wrote before. The point is that we have to take heed to the writings of Paul. One thing that we seem to forget is that when Paul wrote it wasn’t his ideas. The things that were written were from the Lord. That being said, if Paul wrote things once we should pay attention but if it was mentioned a couple of times then we should pay even closer attention. We have to take heed to the word of God.

2nd Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:...”

All of God’s word is inspired or breathed. God’s word is who he is. If we want to know who God is then we need to study the word. If we want to know how to guard ourselves from the attacks of the devil then we need to study the word.

Third, we find in verse two that we must beware of false teachers.

Philippians 3:2, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.”

Paul first says, “Beware of dogs…” which is to indicate the lowest title of contempt and ridicule. Wild dogs were very vicious and scavengers. Notice the warning that Matthew gave regarding false prophets found in Matthew 7:15.ww

Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Paul goes on to say that you need to “beware of evil workers” which again is dealing with the false teachers. Before we get too far along in the discussion of false teachers I think that it would be good to define a false teacher. A false teacher can very easily be defined as one that does not teach the word of God for what it is. Are you in a church with a false teacher? Are you a false teacher? The following are some clues that you are listening to a false teacher or you, yourself, are a false teacher. False teachers listen to the word but do not apply it. False teachers establish their own way to God opposed to following the prescription that God gave, which is believing in the work that Christ did on the cross (John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”). A false teacher is one that opposes truth and doesn’t believe in the deity of Christ (they don’t believe that Christ is God). And finally, a false teacher is one that does what they want to make themselves acceptable to God. You see, a false teacher does what he wants and what he thinks is best instead of just following the Bible and allowing it to be the final authority.

As Paul finishes out this verse he mentions to “beware of the concision.” This is a comment directed at the legalists and religionists. These were the people that stuck on the legalistic rituals of salvation. Some say that “concision” was sarcasm used by Paul. The word “concision” and “circumcision” in the Greek sound alike. Remember that circumcision was mandated in the Old Testament and it was spiritual. It was a way to tell the difference from the Jew and Gentile and where they stood with God. However, if you take away the spiritual sense of the circumcision then it was just the fact that you were cutting off flesh. This was the point that Paul was making. You can’t rely on certain acts to get you right with the Lord. Our relationship is not based on the works that we can do or the works that we have done. Our relationship is based on what He (Christ) has done.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Our Fourth and final step in guarding ourselves is found in verse three.

Philippians 3:3, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

We are the circumcision! This is meant in the spiritual sense. It is a great example of the spiritual sense of the physical example. We are separated from the rest of the world through our relationship with our Savior. Paul mentions that “we are” which is present tense. That means, if you have accepted Christ then you are part of the separated. You are of the circumcision. And because of this we are to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”).

Our duty is to continually study the word of God that we may always be ready to stand fast and believe in the whole word of God. How can we believe and how can we trust the Lord if we do not know what His word says? Paul has given us some direction to follow and some encouragement as well. Lets follow the words of warning so that we may be able to guard ourselves from every attack.