Does the devil regularly harass you with discouraging thoughts about yourself? Is it hard for you to fight back? Do you want to be more effective in resisting the accuser?
The devil doesn’t play fair. He uses every tactic in his bag of tricks to derail us and to place obstacles before us, especially when we are doing something that threatens his kingdom. Have you ever noticed that often, even while we are in a time of meaningful worship and prayer, the devil will interrupt with an accusing harangue against us?
There must be a way to stop this and to fight back. How do we resist the accuser?
An Intrusive Enemy
Dick’s comments: At a recent DPM staff meeting in which we were listening to Derek Prince’s radio series on “Spiritual Warfare” (very timely for the season we are facing), Derek cited the book of Job. He made the point from Job 1:6 and 2:1 that when the angels had come before the throne of God, Satan felt free to barge right in as well.
It reminded me of a similar incident I have been studying from Zechariah 3. In the first portion of the book, an angel is revealing supernatural scenes to the prophet. In 3:1, Zechariah says: “Then he [the angel] showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD [typically, Jesus Christ appearing in the Old Testament], and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.” The audacity of our adversary!
Here we see Joshua, about to be commissioned by the Lord to embark upon the glorious task of rebuilding the house of God. But Satan has the unmitigated gall to stand at Joshua’s side, whispering accusations in his ear! Right there in front of the Lord!
Rebuking Our Adversary
Philip’s comments: The story Dick is relating about the devil’s accusing work reminds me how Satan is described in Revelation 12:10 as he is finally being cast down. He is “the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night.”
Think of that! The enemy of our souls dares to stand before the very throne of God, opposing us, rehashing all our failures, faults, and guilt in a constant tirade—right in the very presence of God. It is encouraging to see how our Lord came to the defense of Joshua in Zechariah 3:2: “And the LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’”
What was the Lord saying as he rebuked Satan? He was telling the enemy that even though Joshua was dressed in filthy robes (aren’t we all?), he was like a branding iron God had prepared in the fire of adversity. Joshua was ready now—he had been pulled out of the fire and taken into the Lord’s hand to do the glorious task appointed to him!
The devil is always hard at work condemning us. But the Lord resists the accuser!
We Must Do Battle
Philip and Dick: It is wonderful to know that the Lord will resist the accuser on our behalf. In addition, we must recognize the role we play in fighting the enemy. How we engage in that warfare is seen in 1 Peter 5:8–9: “Be sober [self-controlled], be vigilant [watchful]; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith.” We must resist the accuser!
It might help to talk about what some of those accusations sound like. The enemy is constantly placing thoughts in our mind like these: “You’re not good enough to serve the Lord. What do you think you are doing here, coming into the presence of the Lord? You don’t belong here. You’ve had all kinds of sin in your life. Who do you think you are?”
All of these lies from the devil are designed to stop us in our tracks—to keep us from moving forward in the purposes of God for our lives. Later in this letter, we will discuss some specific weapons to use in the battle before us: resisting the accuser.
Overcoming Guilt
In “Spiritual Warfare: The Nature of the War,” the first week of a three-week radio series, Derek Prince unmasks the real intentions of the enemy towards us. One of his primary tactics, as Derek outlines in this message, is to make us feel guilty.
The great essential fact which we have to lay hold of is this—and let me warn you that Satan is extremely determined that we shall not grasp this fact. He wants to keep us from understanding it, because it is the key to his defeat.
The fact is this: Christ has already defeated Satan and all his evil powers and authorities totally and forever. I am going to say that again. If you remember nothing else, remember this: Christ has already defeated Satan and all his evil powers and authorities totally and forever. He did that through His death on the cross, through His shed blood, and through His triumphant resurrection.
To understand how this was accomplished, we have to recognize Satan’s primary weapon against us. That weapon is guilt. Let me read a passage from Revelation 12:10 (NIV): “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’”
Who is “the accuser of our brothers and sisters”? We know that is Satan. I have already pointed out in a previous talk this week that Satan does have access to the presence of God. One thing that he does—his chief occupation—is accusing us who believe in Jesus. Now, why does Satan accuse us? What is his objective? It can be stated in one simple phrase: to make us guilty. So long as Satan can keep us feeling guilty, we cannot defeat him. Guilt is the key to our defeat. Righteousness is the key to our victory. That is where the real, basic issues lie.
God, through the cross, has dealt with this problem of guilt. God has dealt both with the past and with the future. He has made complete provision for both.
Taking Our Stand
If you want to take a stand right now to resist the accuser in his work, this would be a good time to do so. Let’s pray together and make a bold declaration before the Lord.
Dear Jesus, I receive and stand in the victory You have won on the cross. I declare that Your blood, poured out for my forgiveness and for my right standing before You, is my weapon against the accusation and guilt Satan tries to impose.
Lord, I stand firmly in the truth of Isaiah 54:17 as it applies to the railing accusations of the enemy: “No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against me in judgment [including Satan’s], I hereby condemn.” I resist the adversary and his accusations, steadfast in the faith. Amen.
Confidence in Our Calling
This proclamation we have made together is a milestone in our spiritual journey. You may have previously made a similar declaration. Even so, proclaiming our freedom from the devil’s accusing voice today will instill added confidence and courage to fulfill God’s purposes in the times ahead. We can stand tall, knowing we are hearing His voice.
All of us here at DPM want to do everything within our power to assist you in the courageous pathway you have chosen. Please use the link below to download a free MP3 of this first week of Derek’s series: “Spiritual Warfare: The Nature of the War.” Admittedly, we are biased toward Derek Prince and his messages. But on this topic, we don’t think you could find more comprehensive teaching than what he has to offer. We are delighted to provide it.
Supplying helpful materials to you is just one small way for us to express our profound appreciation for you. Thank you again for your prayers on our behalf. It humbles us to know that you are interceding for us. Even more humbling are your financial contributions to help us continue this work. Thank you for everything you do.
Two Powerful Weapons
Earlier, we promised to mention some specific weapons for our ongoing battle against “the accuser of our brethren.” Not surprisingly, they appear in the verse that follows that very description of the devil. Revelation 12:11 says: “And they [the saints; you and I] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” These are two effective weapons for us to use in resisting the accuser.
As Derek stated earlier, we operate in a powerful truth that causes the enemy to shrink back in horror: Christ has already defeated Satan and all his evil powers and authorities totally and forever. Our victory is centered in the blood of Jesus, poured out at Calvary on our behalf. Derek taught that we must apply His blood in a practical way. How do we do that? By testifying to what the blood of Jesus Christ has accomplished in our lives.
The blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Revelation 12:11 adds one more vital component: “they did not love their lives to the death.” We are in this battle to the finish. Whether we face martyrdom or survival, we are victorious over all the works of the enemy. Through the blood of the Lamb and our testimony, we resist the accuser!
Sincerely in Christ,
Philip Wyns
President, DPM-USA
All the best,
Dick Leggatt
Executive Consultant/Senior Editor
