Circle back around to Jude 1:9
What's the deal with that you say?
Well... Remember that Satan is the "Accuser of the Brethren" - and he does have access to Heaven... He stands day and night before the throne of God accusing us..... Wouldn't he love some juicy "Claim of False Accusation against YOU"
Realize that YOU do not have the power to Rebuke Satan on your own.... You must ask the Lord to do it for you....
Personally - I go with Prayer and fasting.. but that's just me....
Matt 17:14 - 21
Thanks
John, you are right about the accuser of the brethren.
In fact the verses in Revelation12 describe a court of law, where we are the accused, Satan is the accuser/prosecutor, and God is the Supreme court Judge.
Revelation12v10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
This is me, you, and every believer world wide. Satan is always accusing us before God and demands the right to take you into complete bondage and make your life a hellish mess. He is the master tormentor.
(To get a glimpse of this state of affairs, read the book of Job.)
As judge, God has no choice but to follow the legal procedure that he himself has established. If we the accused don't have the right response to the accusations, it means that the God cannot declare you a free man, but will be forced to hand you over to your accuser.
Before anyone gets their pants in a twist, this has nothing to do with your eternal state, but everything to do with your spiritual freedom, and your life whilst on earth.
Christians naively live in complete denial about the reality of demonic power, believing that just because they are Christians, Satan cannot touch them, and they can ignore him. That couldn't be further from the truth.
Certainly Jesus destroyed the power of Satan when he died on the cross, but it is our own personal responsibility to live within the free gift of that truth.
There are plenty of references to Satanic activity in the letters of Paul, even warnings that Satan can appear as an angel of light.
If, as Christians think, Satan was rendered ineffective and has no influence in the lives of a believer, why such warnings?
Back to the courtroom scene. What is our response when faced with the accuser of the brethren.
"It wasn't me."
"He started it."
"I didn't mean it."
" I have attended church all my life, and have always obeyed the law."
"I'm a good christian, I always give to the poor and have clean thoughts."
Whatever your claims to personal righteousness, they are completely in vain.
Worse still, in this court, there is no "Right to remain silent". In fact, if anyone tries that, he will guarantee that the prosecution wins the case against him, and he will be handed over to bondage and torment.
For you Americans, in heaven, there is absolutely no 5th amendment!
There is only one single way we can overcome the accuser of the brethren, and that is the bit JohnC failed to mention in his use of Revelation12.-
v10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
Did you get that?
"And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb.......
This has to be the most significant phrase in Revelation12....followed by-
........and the word of their testimony!"
The last bit of the verse simply refers to the fact that they must testify to that blood before the court of heaven, otherwise that blood cannot be taken into account!
If you fail to take hold of the blood, then you are on your own in the court, left with nothing but your attempts at self justification. ie. filthy rags.
When I am accused by Satan or a demon, I most certainly will respond with a rebuke. I know who I am in Christ and have no fear of the accuser's status when I am a blood bought redeemed believer with no personal righteousness, other than that of Christ himself and his blood.