Sermons
Satan, That Accuser
Satan, That Accuser
Rev. 12:7-11
Introduction:
1. Satan is variously described in Scripture.
2. In this text he is described as the dragon, the serpent of old, the devil, Satan, the one who deceives the whole world and the accuser of our brethren.
3. Elsewhere he is described as the adversary (Job. 1:2), Abaddon and Apollyon (both meaning destroyer). He is the evil one (Matt. 13:19), an enemy (Matt. 13:28), the father of lies (Jn. 8:44) and a murderer (Jn. 8:44), to name just a few of his designations.
4. He tempted Jesus. He hurt Job. He spoke through Peter’s good intentions to the point that Jesus said, “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Matt. 16:23).
5. Paul warned, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10).
6. Yes, the devil is seeking someone to devour and he is seeking me.
7. In this study I want to focus attention on Satan primarily as an accuser.
Discussion:
I. In Job 1:11 and in Job 2:1ff Satan accused Job of disloyalty to God.
A. Satan used Job’s friend Eliphaz to accuse him of disloyalty (4:7; 6:14-15).
B. He used Bildad (8:5-6).
C. He used Zophar (11:13-15).
D. He used Elihu (33:8-12).
E. Sometimes Satan uses us to accuse our brethren (Rev. 12:10).
1. Jesus warned against harsh judging (Matt. 7:1-5).
2. Not that we do not judge between right and wrong, but we must be careful in the
way we judge.
3. Are our judgments destructive or life giving?
F. The Lord’s response to Job’s friends is recorded in 42:7-9.
II. Ways that Satan accuses.
A. Satan accuses you and says, “You are not enough.”
1. This is what he was saying to Eve. “You surely will not die! When you eat you will
be like God” (Gen. 3:4-5). The implication is you are not enough. You need to be
like God.
2. This is what he was saying to Jesus. “If you are the Son of God . . . “ (Matt. 4:3,
6).
3. You are not really faithful. You are not really saved. You are not good enough.
You are not reading enough. Not praying enough. Not giving enough. Not bold
enough. Not teaching enough. Not studying enough. If you really were faithful
you would . . . do more.
4. Has Satan accused you? He has accused me!
B. Satan accuses God and says, “God is a harsh and unfair judge.”
1. “If God was really good He would not allow all the evil in the world.”
2. “If God is really a God of love He would never condemn someone to hell.”
3. “If God is kind why did He command Israel to destroy the Canaanites?”
4. “Your God will not deliver you.” This is what Rabshekeh said. He was captain
of the Assyrian army that was attacking Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:28-29).
C. Satan accuses other people.
1. He accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul (Lk. 11:15).
a. He used the Pharisees.
b. Attempted to discredit Jesus to the people.
2. Accused Paul and Barnabas of incorrectly teaching Gentiles (Acts 15:1, 5).
a. Used people from the Jerusalem church.
b. The objective was to destroy the work of God among the Gentiles.
3. Accused Paul of teaching against Caesar (Acts 17:1-8).
a. Used Jews to stir up a situation.
b. The objective was to diminish the work and destroy belief in Jesus as King.
4. Accuses other Christians to you. “They are really your enemy.” “They are not
loyal to the Lord.” “You are the only one left faithful to God” (1 Kings 19:9-10).
“They are not really converted.” “They are not genuinely repentant.” “They are
hypocrites.”
a. Satan’s objective is to cut you off from your support system and isolate you.
b. But he would also cut you off from those you need to support and stimulate
you to love and good deeds.
III. How do I offset the accusations of Satan?
A. Maintain your trust in the Lord.
1. Job said, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (13:15).
2. You may not understand everything. Satan may confuse you with his lies.
3. You maintain your trust in the Lord.
B. Listen to what God has said.
1. Satan accused Jesus of not being the Son of God. Jesus responded with
Scripture (Matt. 4:4: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.”).
2. When Satan accuses you and says, “You are not enough. You are not really
saved. You are not really faithful. You are not good enough, not reading
enough, not giving enough, not bold enough, not teaching enough, not studying
enough, remember Rev. 12:10-11.
“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. 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.”
3. When Satan accuses your brethren recall that they love the Lord too and they
love you.
C. There is always some seeming truth in the devil’s accusations, but God forgives.
1. In Zech. 3:1 Satan accused Joshua the priest, but God took away the filthy
garments.
2. Although there are accusations we have an Advocate (1 Jn. 2:1-2).
Conclusion:
1. Satan is an accuser. His accusations will dress you in filthy rags when the Lord would dress you in the best robe. His accusations will take away the joy of being a Christian and make it a burden. His accusations will diminish your confidence in your salvation. His accusations will destroy your relationships.
2. When Satan accuses you take comfort in God’s Advocate who takes away your sin.
3. Be careful that your voice not echo the accusations of Satan about yourself, about God, about your brethren. Job’s friends echoed the voice of Satan’s accusations.
4. But Job trusted in the Lord. Those brethren in Rev. 12 were accused but they overcame because of the blood of the Lamb. He is our Advocate and the propitiation for our sins.
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