Silencing The Accuser

We spoke earlier in the week about the devil standing before God to constantly accuse us. In the book or Zechariah, he records a vision of Joshua standing before God. Here comes satan to accuse Joshua because his garments were stained. Satan is swiftly rebuked by God for his accusations. The angels were commanded to remove the filthy garments from Joshua. “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments” (Zechariah 3:4). This illustrates how God removes our sins and iniquities, so that the devil has no legal grounds on which to accuse us.

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation 12:10). There was a casting down of satan from heaven to the earth, because he usurped God’s authority. There will also be another final casting down into hell for the devil and his angels. On the day of our Lord, the devil will no longer have the opportunity to accuse us before God.

Even before the final judgement, we have been given weapons to shield ourselves from the devil’s accusations. “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). The devil’s accusing voice also comes in the form of darts and arrows. We have to be sober and vigilant as he goes around, like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We have the power and authority to resist him and to stand firm in our faith.

Satan wants an opportunity to persecute us and to bring accusations against us. This sometimes comes in the form of guilt, shame, feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. We wear the helmet of salvation to protect our minds from his arrows. We ensure that each day we remain fully armoured, to fend off the enemy’s attacks. God calls us His righteousness and the blood of Jesus Christ speaks on our behalf. His blood speaks life so we are no longer slaves to sin and fear. We rebuke the devil when he whispers lies about us and condemn every tongue, risen against us in judgement.

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12:11).

A.P.-Y.