As I was praying today, thinking about myself, people I know, the state of the world, the thought that went through my head is this:
The accuser – accuses. It’s what he does.
So why are we surprised that the same tactics ol’ slewfoot used in the Garden of Eden with Eve and Adam, he still uses with us??? Hey, if something worked in your favor once before, wouldn’t you try it again too? He still does the same with us. The accusations can boldly come from ol’ slewfoot or his cohoorts themselves, or they can be even more vicious when instead it comes from a friend, loved one, pastor, church member to pack that added punch. Afterall, this IS war and devil will use anyone knowingly or unknowingly to assist in his efforts to hurt you, take you down, turn your head from the purpose God has for you. Why?
BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU
AND THE DEVIL HATES WHAT GOD LOVES
It gives the devil an added pleasure especially when the hurt comes from within the “body of Christ” itself. Discord amongst brethren, jealously, envy, anger that if allowed will act like a cancer and spread throughout the body of Christ because if we are so busy hurting and going after each other, then clearly, we are not obeying or focusing on what Jesus said to do:
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
And it grieves God greatly…
If the devil cannot grieve you through the actions or words of a brother or sister in Christ, loved one, etc. than the accuser takes it a step further – he will whisper thoughts into your ear and laugh as you beat your OWN self up and grieve yourself of all the “shoulda, coulda, wouldas (and didn’t) areas of your life. Some of which you long ago repented of and confessed, God threw them in the sea of forgetfulness, as described in Micah 7:19:
“You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
Or as in Hebrews 8:12:
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Yet often while God forgives us when we repent, we often don’t forgive ourselves and it takes very little for ol’ slewfoot to make US the biggest accuser of ourselves. When we feel beaten down or defeated what are we supposed to do???
RECOGNIZE IT FOR WHAT IT IS!
We are in a spiritual war! Whether we want to be in one or not – we are! Hey – there is NO choice to the matter! The war rages ALL around us and we are either on God’s side (the winning side) or we are on the devils! It is VERY important for us to check our OWN selves to make sure that we are not becoming part of the cancer that the devil wants us to become to destroy the body of Christ! Our very OWN body! God does not get the glory when you are angry with someone and don’t tell them why! God is NOT glorified when you are gossiping about sister-so-and-so or brother-over-there! Or if you cannot rejoice when God blesses someone you know or if you cannot grieve with someone going through or PRAY for one another that the body of Christ will be in ONE accord! We have to decide whose report we are going to believe – the lies of the devil or the truths of God.
So, if someone hurts you – what does God say to do? Ephesians 4:32 says:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Matthew 5:44 says:
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Romans 12:17-21 says:
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
John 13:34-35 says:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” He continues, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”
Those are just a few scriptures of how Jesus tells us to conduct ourselves. What if the accusations are self-accusations? If that is the case, we need to remember that IF we confess our sins, God WILL forgive us through and by the precious blood of Jesus.
1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Colossians 1:13-14 says:
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
“Father God, how long suffering you are with us… Why have You not just thrown Your hands up in the air at us? Why do You care so very much about us when we are SO wayward? Father, forgive us when we allow the devil to have a foothold in our minds, in our walks with You, in our relationships, in ourselves. Forgive us Father! Thank You Lord for Your precious Word (the Bible) that You have given to advise us, to train us up, to guide us! Thank You even more for Your Spirit which You have given us to instruct us! Help us to hear Him! Give us ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to receive ALL that Holy Spirit would have to say! Father, help us to be MORE concerned about radiating YOUR light than being right! Or being offended! Or being justified! Father, help us to be focused on who we are to be in YOU! Oh Lord, forgive us for grieving You! Heal the wounds that have been administered by the accuser in whatever way we’ve allowed them to come! Help us Lord, to guard our hearts, our minds and all that we are from the attacks of the enemy. Encamp your waring angels around us and help us to keep us focused on You! Help us to be ministers of love, healing and to be Ambassadors of Christ so that instead of seeing “us” people will see YOU in us and desire to have what we have – which is You. Thank You Father for hearing this prayer from each one that prays it from a sincere heart. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
Whose voice are you listening to? Whose words are guiding your actions? If while you are reading this you are feeling a niggling from Holy Spirit, these may be words to ponder… We need to remember who we are in Christ and strive to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:23-24:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
In the end what will matter is if we handled ourselves in a way that glorified God. Fulfilled His calling on our lives… Showed others His love and allowed ourselves to BE vessels unto Him. There truly is NO greater joy than walking in love, in accordance to the Father’s will and promises for ourselves and most of all to remember His grace, which truly IS sufficient. 😉
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