The Accuser of the Brethren

Rev 12:7-12

7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." Rev 12:17 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring-those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Zech 3:1-2 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"

One of the greatest challenges of the church had been

Satan is deceiving the whole world He is accusing the believers before God day and night.

SATAN MEANS - Adversary; accuser.

DEVIL MEANS - One who slanders another for the purpose of injury, a maligner, e.g., a "malicious gossip"

THE BATTLE a. Victims of accusation b. Christians who are accusing each other

a. The immediate affect after man fell into sin Accusation Adam - The woman you gave Eve The devil

b. The enemy wants to create an atmosphere of accusation and slandering

MOST OF THE MEN IN THE BIBLE FACED ACCUSATION Must learn to overcome 1. Joseph by Potiphars wife 2. Moses by his brother and sister 3. Satan against Job 4. Jobs friends against Job 5. Pharisee accusing Jesus 6. Against Stephan Paul and Silas The Effects of Accusations 1. Cause inner pain Job 16:1-2 2. Hurt peoples reputation 3. Poisons relationships 4. Robs effectiveness 5. Paralyzes individuals and ministries 6. Physical harm even death - Jesus and the disciples

ONE OF THE MOST POWERUL WEAPONS OF THE ENEMY a. He does it day and night b. Day and Night using words to accuse

c. Words are powerful

SATAN HAD BEEN HURLED DOWN TO EARTH Rev 12:16-17 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring-those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Satan warring a. Against the church b. Ones who keeps the commandments c. One who keeps the testimony of Jesus Holds on to the word of God and Jesus d. Our testimony causes him to attack us

SATAN WANTS TO DESTROY ALL WHO HOLDS TO THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS GOING BRING HIM DOWN

ACCUSATION IS THE OPPOSITION OF INTERCESSION Heb 7:23-25 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

a. While Satan accuses day and night, Jesus lives to intercede b. Satan pleads for judgment, Jesus pleads for mercy and wellbeing c. Intercession opens the door to heaven d. Accusation opens the door to hell

JESUS WANTS PEOPLE TO AGREE WITH HIM INTERCESSION Sit with Christ in heavenly places a. Intercession is saying what Jesus is saying b. You begin to look through his eyes c. Never a judgmental look but mercy

SATAN WANTS PEOPLE (CHRISTIANS) TO AGREE WITH HIM Sit with Satan in seat of the mockers a. Satan wants us to say what he is saying and think what he saying c. He looks for Christians to AGREE with him d. He wants the WITNESSES TO AGREE with him In the mouth of two or three witnesses the word is established e. He knows the power of the anointed man E.g. Balaam f. The enemy is looking for Christians to accuse each other g. Satan Accuses by using fault finders, criticizers and gossiper

BUILDING A STRONGHOLD a. Jesus wants groups of intercessors to gather and build a heavenly stronghold b. Satan wants the same thing build a hellish stronghold

WE MUST DEAL WITH THE ENEMYS STRONGHOLD a. Powerful revivals cease b. Churches stop growing and disintegrate c. Families are broken d. Bodies get sick

ACCUSATIONS COME AT STRATAGIC TIMES a. When a breakthrough is about to happen b. When a revival is about to happen c. When accusation is brought, cannot proceed until the accusations are answered

JOB AND SATANIC ACCUSATION 1. Counsel meeting in heaven 2. God gives a testimony about Job All like God talking about us 3. Satan brings the accusation BECAUSE OF HIS TESTIMONY that affected God 4. Satans accusation you are bribing him -

5. God allows the accusation to be answered When an accusation is raised that must be answered 6. He lost everything including his family 7. He did not sin with his lips - He does not open his mouth

SATANS SECOND ACCUSATION Accusations must be answered 1. God allows him to be touched His health was touched 2. Job did not know anything until one day went to heaven 3. Accusation cost him dearly , his children, his wealth, his health 4. His wife give up your integrity and die 5. Miserable comforters accusing him day and night The central thing that is tested mostly is your integrity E.g. Pastor tested with extra change, while travelling in a bus

ACCUSATION IS WITCHCRAFT Gal 5:19 Works of the flesh a. Not necessarily a demon but of the flesh b. Using a persons tongue c. By keep repeating what the enemy is saying, you can become a witch d. Anybody who controls another becomes a witch, even through prayer

WHAT MUST BE DONE 1. Forgive the accuser The foundation for victory a. Do not do what David did - Ps 38 b. He talks of pain caused by words c. We are not to curse but bless

Agree with your accuser Matt 5:25-26 25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. Ask god for forgiveness through the blood You will be on the ground of grace

2. Confess that your guilt of the same sin a. You have been critical, cynical, judgmental, gossiped against others b. Bring those sins under the blood c. As long as you are an accuser, you cannot break the power of accusation d. Search for people and instances you have accused others

3. Be grateful for all and openly and thank others for being a bless Gratitude is the opposite of accusation a. Be grateful for what God has done b. Give thanks in spite of all the bad things c. Fill yourself with gratefulness for all the people God has given

4. Exercise Authority in Jesus name a. Take authority against the words that are spoken b. Cut off the words spoken against you c. Break the curses spoken against you in the name of Jesus d. You may have to do this until there is a breakthrough

5. Hold on to your integrity Holding on to your integrity and you will see the victory

ONE OF YOU IS A SLANDERER, GOSSIPPER, ETC John 6:70-71

70 Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" 71(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)