Jesus has Never Lost a Case
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Did you know that the bible says that the devil is your adversary which is a legal term signifying that he truly acts as our opponent as in a court of law. Again in Rev. 12:10, as it pertains to the spiritual warfare that exist, the devil is called the accuser of the brethren.
The devil is mankind’s prosecutor and accuser always looking to point out our flaws, find our wrong doing and expose where we can be found guilty of something in order to bring it before God. Most importantly, he is an entrapper who engages in the ultimate act of devious seduction and deception. He induces and seduces, finding ways to get us, humanity, to disobey and sin against God and then he runs to tell God all about it. He accused Joshua the high priest of being clothed in filthy garments representing his many iniquities (Zechariah 3:1–4). Joshua the high priest was not innocent. Yet, God intervened, forgiving and redeeming Joshua. The devil falsely accused Job of not serving God out of love, but only for self-centered gain (Job 1:9–11). In Luke 22:31–32, the Lord Jesus warns Simon Peter that the devil wanted to sift him like wheat, meaning he wanted to shake, agitate and test Peter in order to reveal and discover fault with Peter. The devil’s ultimate goal was to find and prove that Peter’s faith could not persevere. He wanted to crush Peter’s faith. His only desire being to drag Peter’s soul off to hell where he hoped to serve as not only his final accuser, but his executioner as well. This is what the devil, our enemy, desires to do to us as well. Make no mistake, the devil longs to drag each of our souls off to hell where he can serve as both our accuser and executioner.
Does this mean that the devil actually goes before God regularly, making accusations against us, God’s children? Absolutely, it does. Remember that he is walking around looking for people who he can deceive, overcome and destroy. But while the devil can accuse us, if we are in Jesus, he cannot condemn us. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). Jesus is our defense attorney. He is our advocate. Advocating and interceding, the Lord Jesus, is literally in Heaven pleading our case before our Father God, the righteous judge.
What is the Lord Jesus’ defense for us? Jesus does not say that we are innocent. In Heaven, there exists a record of all that we have done and this includes our wrong doing (Revelation 20:12). God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit can clearly see that we are all indeed guilty. Each and every one of us has sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So, our guilt is established and the devil sits licking his chops and waiting with great anticipation for an opportunity to condemn us. But our advocate, the Lord Jesus, is not without a defense for each of our cases. Our advocate, Jesus Christ, says to our Father God that on Calvary our debt was paid by Him. He shows His nail scarred hands and feet, demonstrating that he has paid the price for our sin and taken on the punishment that we both earned and deserve. Due to our faith in Jesus, He knows us. He claims us as His own. We are His redeemed people. Our Father God looks at His Son, Jesus Christ, and declares that though we are guilty of sin, His Son who is our Lord and Savior has paid the penalty for our all of our sin. Hallelujah, our cases have been dismissed and closed!
How can we be protected from the accusations of the devil?
We enter into protection when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, confessing with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and believing in our heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, we shalt be saved (Romans 10:9). We overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony; and we love God more than our lives and are willing to surrender our lives to Him by faith (Revelation 12:11). Also, we are protected when we wear the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10-18). Daily we are to put on:
The Belt or girdle of truth (Secure yourself with God’s truth (Word).)
The Breastplate of righteousness (Live in submission to God.)
The Shoes of the gospel of peace (Walk in love and sow seeds of peace.)
The Shield of faith (Stop the flaming arrows of fear by brandishing faith.)
The Helmet of salvation (The assurance of our salvation)
The Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God)
Finally, we are to pray all the time about everything. We are to intercede, praying for others, especially the body of Christ.