Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables, observed, “A good general must penetrate the brain of his enemy.”
Understanding how an enemy thinks is the first step in defeating him. As believers, we face a formidable enemy in the devil. Yet, thanks to God’s Word, we have a pretty good sense of how the devil thinks and works. The apostle Paul urged believers in Corinth to forgive “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
One of the devil’s favorite evil schemes is to accuse believers. And he is relentless in this pursuit. Revelation 12:10 says, “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
Here’s how he works. First, he comes at you with a temptation, usually one that’s carefully crafted to hit you where you’re most vulnerable. Suddenly, an ungodly, objectionable, dishonorable image or idea appears in your brain and tries to make a lasting impression. The effect can be jarring. You think, “Whoa, where did that come from?” as you try to scrub it from your consciousness.
But the devil is quick to pounce. He goes into full prosecutor mode, preying on your conscience and self-image. He might say something like, “You are so twisted! What’s your problem? Why would you think such a horrible thought? And you call yourself a Christian! What kind of representative of Christ are you?”
Left unchecked, his accusations can cause spiritual damage. But his accusations don’t go unchecked. Jesus serves as your defense attorney. He intercedes on your behalf. Jesus once said to Peter, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). But then He went on to say, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…” (verse 32). Jesus counters the devil’s accusations with prayerful intercession.
That’s what Paul was talking about when he wrote, “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). The devil’s accusations are no match for Jesus’ defense.
Don’t believe the lies of your enemy. See yourself as God sees you: forgiven and righteous because of the sacrifice of His Son.
