The accuser of the brethren

"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."  Rev 12:10 (NIV)

That is one of the titles of the devil (slanderer) - the accuser of our brothers and sisters.  He does this in the presence of God, just like what happened to Job.  In fact, Satan (adversary) accuses God of blessing Job and putting a hedge of protection around him and his household (Job 1:10).  He couldn't see the uprightness and blameless ways of Job and is always finding a reason to fault his good behavior and attitude (Job 2:4-5). The friends of Job, who came to comfort him, were used by the devil to bring an accusation of sin against him.  Likewise, his wife told Job to curse God and die (Job 2:9).  The devil's scheme is to steal, kill and destroy (Jn 10:10).

The devil brings condemnation of sin to mankind whereas Christ brings forgiveness of sin.  The woman caught in adultery (in John 8) was brought to Jesus by the religious leaders, demanding that she be stoned for her sin.  This was a two-pronged attack by the scribes and Pharisees, not just to accuse the woman but Jesus as well (Jn 8:6).  If Jesus agreed that she should be stoned, then He would be seen to lack compassion and mercy.  If He does not agree, then He would be seen to be breaking the Law of Moses.  Either response would elicit an accusatory attack from the enemy of our souls.  When we are down and out, feeling condemned and helpless (like the woman), know that it's the work of the devil to destroy us.  But thankfully, Christ in His wisdom responded to silence the enemy and to set the captive free (Jn 8:7,10-11).

When we are on the receiving end, being condemned by the devil, we need to appropriate the blood of Jesus for our cleansing and healing.  The Bible tells us that there is now no condemnation for Christians who walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh (Rom 8:1-4).  However, if we wilfully sin against God and walk perpetually according to our carnal nature, then we can expect only judgment from God and not His mercy (Heb 10:26-27).  Christ told the woman caught in adultery, "Go and sin no more." 

The converse is that we may be used by the devil to be his instrument of condemnation - just like the religious leaders, Job's friends and the elder brother of the prodigal son.  When we hurl hurtful and critical remarks at people with the intention of putting them down, then know that we are being pawns in the hands of the adversary.  You can sense a judgmental spirit within when you feel convicted (by the Spirit) of a wrong being done.  There is a proper place for constructive criticism without tearing a person apart.  We can point out areas of improvement without being judgmental, and at the same time, point them the way to growth and development.  The Holy Spirit brings conviction (not condemnation) of sin to mankind in order that we may repent and be saved (Jn 16:8).

There will come a time when the devil would be hurled down to earth and would no longer accuse us before God.  Instead, he would wage war with mankind and attempt to destroy them physically on earth.  In the meantime, he uses his primary weapon of deception and accusation to cause mankind to turn away from God out of their own volition. 

May we all be set free from condemnation of sin and not allow the devil to use us as his pawns.