Overcoming Accusation Through Boldness
OVERCOMING ACCUSATION THROUGH -BOLDNESS?
Accusation is more than name calling or slander. In fact, it is one of Satan’s favorite tools. Accusation is employed so often that most of us barely recognize it. Even as Christians we’re used to feeling less-than, dealing with bouts of discouragement, and carrying the weight of guilt or shame around with us. It can be normal to criticize one’s self, to criticize others, to be reminded of missed opportunities (again and again) and so often to see the future as nothing more than a potential disappointment.
I find it telling that in the hour (time-frame) preceding the return of Jesus, Satan is described as the accuser of the brethren. “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.’” (Rev. 12:10). This text indicates just how effective accusation is. The day and night accusation of the saints is the primary demonic strategy used to hinder the purposes of God going forward at the end of the age. The saints are accused to God in order to attempt to disqualify us from His grace (Zech. 3:1-2), they are accused to one another in order to divide and conquer (Mt.24:10) and they are accused before the whole earth in order to deceive and harass (Dan. 7:25).
Accusation is a distortion of the truth and it often contains just enough truth to make it believable. But this type of warfare also carries with it a great weight. In seasons of heightened spiritual warfare, it is not unusual to experience mental, emotional, and spiritual stress and fatigue as demonic power is released against us. Just ask the apostle Paul and his missionary team (2 Cor. 1:8-9). This kind requires supernatural help. Since we war in the spirit and against spirits, the weapons of our warfare must be spiritual. In Ephesians chapter 6, we are exhorted to withstand the day of evil using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and the shield of faith to quench every fiery arrow of the enemy.
Those fiery arrows are arrows of accusation and slander. The shield of faith represents confidence in God’s abilities, affections, and commitment to His people. The sword of the Spirit involves how we wield His truth to answer demonic onslaught. Some years after the birth of the church when the apostles were faced with intense persecution -a persecution rooted in slander and intimidation, they prayed for a supernatural answer. “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.” (Acts 4:29). They asked to be able to brandish the Spirit of truth with all boldness.
Remembering where we started in Revelation 12, we are told that the saints will overcome the accusation of the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony in these last days. This language speaks to both our position in Christ and the practice of our power in Christ.
The blood of Jesus provides access to the anointing of the Spirit in the face of perpetual accusation while a willing obedience to the Spirit brings us into agreement with His way forward. This is a glorious text for the church today because it provides us a glimpse of where we’re going and who we’ll be in the future!
Accusation is a potent enemy, but God is mightier still. Functioning with spiritual clarity involves boldly declaring God’s truth in every season. This truth is an anchor for our lives and as we are rooted in it and as it comes to life within in us we are transformed and able to clearly discern the mind and heart of God for us.
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”
