Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
WHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?
We need to get two facts straight: Satan is our accuser (Revelation 12:10), but Jesus is our advocate (1 John 2:1).
We see a picture of this in Zechariah’s vision. He sees “Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan stand standing at his right hand to resist him” (Zechariah 3:1). This wasn’t a heathen who didn’t believe in God. This was the high priest, the one who had the most privileged and honored position before God. No one is exempt from Satan’s buffetings and accusations, even the most ardent believer. Maybe the adversary (1 Peter 5;8, 9) is getting at you today, He whispers his accusations, lies, and deceptions into your ears. That’s where Satan likes to be--right next to you, at your right hand.
But this is not his place. The right hand is the place of power and authority. The only One who deserves this place is Jesus Christ who defeated Satan at the cross and now sits at the right hand of the Father. The adversary acts as though he has authority, but it has been wiped from under his feet through the power of the blood of Jesus when He died upon the cross. At the cross, Jesus defeated the devil and the power of death.
But the devil doesn’t give up. When he comes to your right hand and speaks his lying thoughts into your mind, do not receive them.
Most translations say that Satan was at the right hand of the angel of the LORD. The New Century Version says he was “standing by Joshua’s right hand to accuse him.” Either way, he has no permission to take this place. He is usurping his authority that does not belong to him. It only belongs to Jesus. Give Jesus the authority in your life, not the devil.
How wonderful that we have an advocate who resists Satan on our behalf. Listen to these words: “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee.” The NCV translates it: “The LORD said to Satan, The LORD says no to you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem says no to you!”
I am sure there are thousands of time when our Advocate has said no to the accuser when he has come to trip us up. Often we are unaware of the intercession on our behalf by our Savior, Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us. But there are also many times when He wants us to resist the devil too. God fights for us, but we also have to fight. We have to take up our authority through the powerful name of Jesus and resist the devil, send him kicking, and say no to his deceiving, lying, and accusing thoughts.
Remember dear mother, the accuser has no authority and no right to come along side you. You do not belong to him. When you become a child of God, you belong to Him. He has all power and authority at the right hand of the Father and He also wants to come to your right hand with all His mighty power to enable you to live in victory and push back the devil.
Be encouraged today,
Nancy Campbell
