May 24, 2013
Revelation 12:9, 10
(All quotations are from the New King James Version)
In Revelation 12:9 and 10 we learn another characteristic of our enemy, the devil:
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and
Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels
were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His
Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before
our God day and night has been cast down.”
He accuses Christians constantly before God. How he does this, since he also constantly roams the world to spread his evil, I don’t know. Apparently, since he is a spiritual being, he is not restricted by all the physical limitations which is our lot in our fallen human bodies. But the devil is a created being (Ezekiel 28:13) and does not possess, like the Creator, omnipotence (all power), omniscience (all knowledge) and omnipresence (everywhere at once).
But back to what he is called in our scripture: “…the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night….” Just how does he accuse us before God? We get that picture in Job 1 and 2. In Job 1:8 through 11 it says this:
Then the LORD said unto Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that
there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who
fears God, and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Does
Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around
his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed
the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But
now, stretch our Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely
curse You to Your face.”
And then in Job 2:3-5:
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there
is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God,
and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incite Me
against him, to destroy him without cause.” So Satan answered the LORD,
and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But
stretch out your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely
curse You to Your face.”
Now God knows all, and He can certainly see through the devil’s lying accusations. But that does not stop the evil one from accusing God’s children! And it seems, from the plain text of Job, that Satan actually changes God’s mind by his accusations so the Almighty will allow hard testing to come into the life of the believer. But, if we read the whole Job account, we see that the hard testing actually brought forth a much greater quality of character in Job, something God plans for all His sons and daughters.
So it is with us. Yes, the devil accuses each one of us before God. And, by these accusations, God may allow hard testing to touch us. But know this: As it says in Romans 8:28:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are the called according to His purpose.
Remember that God’s purpose, according to Romans 8:29 is for us “…to be conformed to the image of His Son….” Remember also in I Corinthians 10:13, that “…God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able….” So, though we have one who constantly accuses us, we are also under God’s direction and protection. And some day, this one who constantly makes accusations against us will get his……….! Be encouraged, and not discouraged!
In our next blog, we will look at the organization of Satan’s army in Ephesians 6:12.