Spiritual Warfare – the enemy’s strategy and tactics part 4 – accusation
We continue our look at the enemy and his tactics by considering his character as the accuser (Rev. 12:10-11) and our wonderful Advocate (1 John 2:1-2). We’ll consider Romans 8:1 and 28-39 regarding our position and futility of any accusations the accuser might try to bring against us! We’ll also visit the whole question of condemnation vs conviction, how to tell the difference and how to deal with it.
Review to date
The Bible is clear in its description of Satan from Genesis to Revelation and we have no excuse for our ignorance of his strategies. We must shine the light of truth into the darkness of Satan’s lies and deceptions. The Word of God is our light of truth and we are the soldiers who must know it and live it out everyday.
We’ve considered the names given to our enemy in the Bible and what they suggest about his character and method of operations:
- The Serpent – sly, cunning Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9; 20:2
- Satan – opponent, adversary
- Hebrew Job 1:6 ha satan – one who attacks
- Greek 1 Pet. 5:8 antidikos – against justice, as in prosecuting attorney in a court case
- Devil – slanderer 1 Pet. 5:8 diaballos – one who throws through or against
- Lucifer – brightness (Heb. heylel ben shachar) Isa. 14:12 – deceiving with Lies John 8:44
- Murderer John 8:44
We’ve looked at the serpent, the tempter, and how we can use the shield of faith and prayer against that. Then we looked at how he uses fear to control us and the use of the same elements of our armour.
Today – the Devil, the slanderer Rev. 12:10
- Strategy Accusation. Our response Shield of faith, Breastplate of righteousness, Helmet of salvation
Before we start, let’s remind ourselves of our wonderful Advocate 1 John 2:1-2, and our position in Christ Romans 8:1, 28-39 – God provided an Advocate with a water-tight defence (or should that be blood-tight! 1 Pet. 1:19-21) before ever we had an Accuser!
The Supreme Court of the Universe has convened; the Judge is seated; the evidence has been heard; the summings-up have been made. The verdict is in. The great supreme assize of eternity has reviewed our case and handed down its verdict for those who trust in Christ:
Not guilty! Innocent! No charges to answer!
The highest court in the universe has declared that you are righteous with the righteousness of Christ and adopted into God’s family as a son and heir – joint heir with Christ! (Rom. 8:1,17,33; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:25/6; Heb. 10:14-17)
But our Accuser doesn’t let up! He accuses us before God and to ourselves, but we raise the Shield of faith, Breastplate of righteousness, Helmet of salvation as we know and declare who and what we are in Christ!
| The enemy’s tactics | Our defence |
| Feel defined and controlled by my past | 2 Cor. 5:17 |
| I can’t break free of my sins and bad habits | Rom. 6:6,14 |
| I feel guilty and filled with shame all the time for my sins | Eph. 1:7 |
| Satan accuses you of being a constant failure | 1 Cor. 1:30-31; Phil 1:6; 4:13 |
| Tells you that you are an embarrassment to the church | Eph. 3:10 |
| Constantly asking: Who am I? | 1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 Jn 3:1-3 |
| Feel like you don’t belong anywhere | Eph. 4:1-16; 1 Cor. 12:13 |
| Don’t feel useful | 1 Cor. 15:58; 12:7-27 |
| Feel condemned by God for your multiple, repeated failures | Rom. 8:1 |
| Feel you have no good works | Eph. 2:8-10 |
Notes re condemnation and conviction – how to identify which is which
| Condemnation | Conviction |
| From the enemy | By the Holy Spirit |
| Points you to yourself and what you have done | Points you to Christ and what He has done |
| Vague, general accusations | Specific things to repent of |
| Discouraging – points to your failure | Encouraging – points to Christ |
| Dredges up the past | Past taken away |
| Emphasises feelings | Concentrates on facts |
| Accuses me before God and in my heart | Draws me to repentance because of the goodness of God |
| Drives us away from God – fear | Draws us to the Lord – faith |
We respond to condemnation by rejecting it! As soon as you become aware of any darkness in your spirit with vague feelings of failure, like someone is trying to put you down but without being specific, you need to recognise that this is probably the enemy. Go to the Lord in prayer. Accusations from the enemy cannot exist in His presence!
When the Holy Spirit puts His finger on us in conviction, there will be the sweet sense that He is drawing us to Christ, gently revealing things that we need to confess; perhaps withdrawing slightly the sense of His presence so that we are drawn to reach out for Him and the restoration of our fellowship with Him, through confession, repentance and thanksgiving.
A fuller, and very helpful, discussion of this can be found at https://marriagemissions.com/discerning-the-difference-between-the-conviction-of-the-holy-spirit-and-condemnation-of-the-enemy/