“Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before God day and night.” Revelation 12:10
In the book of Zechariah, in the third chapter, we have a picture of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan at his right hand to resist him. The context of this matter is the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, which had been stopped by the opposition of Satan, basically through the enemies of Israel. There are two key figures who are instrumental in the stirring up of the people to begin the work again, two preachers, who address the governor of Judah and the high priest. With regard to the high priest, Joshua the son of Josedech, we see Satan resisting him spiritually, condemning him before God because of unforgiven, and uncleansed sin, represented by his dirty clothing. The point is that in this spiritual endeavor of rebuilding, Satan succeeds for a time in stopping the work, and keeping it stagnant, by his condemnation of Joshua. It must be noted that Joshua in this vision is helpless, hopeless, and completely neutralized, because he cannot exert true, wholehearted faith in God for His intervention. Joshua’s sin, very real, and known by God also, is the real basis of the accusation of Satan.
When David had found his five smooth stones, taken his sling, and approached Goliath, Scripture tells us that Goliath disdained him, accusing David of daring to approach him like he would a dog. Goliath then proceeded to curse David. Why? Again, one of the most effective tactics of Satan is to accuse the believer of his nothingness, hurling at him his fiery darts of condemnation. If the enemy of our souls can by his attacks succeed in countering one’s attitude of wholehearted faith in God, then he has succeeded in neutralizing that believer, from a spiritual standpoint. Condemnation and accusation go hand in hand as effective tools of the enemy to decisively oppose the believer. It is only when faith in God, based on the word of God, lays hold upon the faithfulness of God to work, intervene, and empower the believer, that he is able to overcome the enemy.
What is God’s provision for dealing with the cause of accusation and condemnation? And how can the believer in a very clear, decisive way, use God’s means to rise from the dust, shake off his guilty fears, and take again his victorious stand in his Conquering Captain? The first thing that must be deal with in its entirety is sin, or sins against God. Joshua was covered with filthy clothing. For some reason, he had not maintained vigilantly his communion with God, so that there had been an accumulation of these sins. It is true also, that from a spiritual standpoint, he that is guilty of one thing declares by being so, that he is guilty of much, some sins known and some not. The clear fact is that he is guilty before God. There is but one, only one remedy for sin, and it is the precious and powerful blood of Christ. This blessed fountain which is open for all sin and uncleanness, is perpetually before the Father, and is applied to heart, soul, spirit, soul and body, by the Spirit, when sin is confessed, and there is repentance before God, a coming back to that place of entire devotion to Christ. When the basis for the accusation is removed by the blood of Christ, there can be the resisting of Satan, him being forced to flee.
There is another source of condemnation, and it is our sinful heart. John tells us that, if for some reason we choose to “condemn” ourselves, there is the blessed fact that God is greater than our hearts, knowing all things. He is able to lift us up and beyond this inward self-condemnation, by enabling us to look at Him alone. “There is therefore now, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
Dear Father, We thank Thee for the blood of Christ which justifies and cleanses us. In Jesus’ name.