My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
-I John 2:1 (NKJV)
“Order! Order! Court is now in session!”
Here’s what’s going on: Satan’s got the floor right now and he’s brought some pretty heavy charges against you. Anybody would be squirming in their seats if they heard these accusations, but because it’s you that he’s accusing, you’re the one squirming all the more. The worst part is that what he’s saying is right! You’ve thought about lying, but it’s no use because the judge is God Himself who knows everything. It would be useless to lie. Satan knows this, and he would use it against you.
Finally, after all of his ranting and raving (at which the Judge looks pretty annoyed and bored at the same time), the Judge asks Satan, “So what is the penalty for these crimes?”
Satan, pressing his hands together and smiling wickedly, responds, “Your honor, I’m afraid the penalty is death and eternal punishment.” Despite being “afraid” Satan couldn’t hide the squeal of delight at his sentence, and everyone in the courtroom knows that he’s not really afraid. He tends to use fancy-talk to make himself sound smart, but he almost never means what he says. And if he does mean what he says, it’s deceitful truth; twisted.
Now here we are: you’re sweating bullets, and Satan’s smiling so wide that he might pop as the Judge reviews some papers. He looks down at his judgement seat, looks at you (or did He look past you? It was hard to tell if he was looking at someone else), then back at His papers.
After a few minutes, everyone forgets that Satan is in the room until he starts to stir impatiently. “Your Honor, you’re just and your judgement is fair… What do you say about this—”
“Silence, Accuser,” roars the Judge and the whole courtroom stands at attention. “According to my evidence, the price has already been paid for [insert your name].”
Instantly, the putrid color of Satan’s skin seems to drain from his face and the courtroom gasps along with a smattering of gleeful snorts. Once Satan finds his voice he says, “W-whaddya mean?”
“I have no crimes on record. I can’t find any evidence of your claims. Someone has paid the price for [insert your name].”
“What?!” Satan squawks. “Who is the One responsible for this?!”
“I AM.” Right by your side is Jesus Himself and you realize that He’s been there the whole time. Hope bursts forth in your heart at the very sound of His voice, but then you see the gentle kindness of His face and your whole world seems to change for the good. It’s the defense’s turn. Despite all odds, you won the case against your life. No…He won the case against your life. “I paid for the penalty with My own blood. There is nothing more valuable.”
The Judge slams his gavel down. “I declare that [insert your name] is spotless and without wrinkle or blemish. He is righteous in My sight because of the blood of My Son, Jesus.”
And then Satan blows up, or does something stupid like that.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31 NLT)
There is so much that we can get into, but there is one specific thing that I want us to see and that is that God is for us. If the Judge of all judges is on our side, then who dares accuse us?
The name “Satan” literally means “the accuser”. So now you know why he does it so much. But against our accuser we have an Advocate, Jesus (1 John 2:1). An advocate is simply “a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person or cause in the court of law; an intercessor”. According to the Word, we don’t just have any advocate, but “Jesus, the righteous” as our Advocate.
So with Jesus as our Advocate we do not need to listen to Satan’s accusations! For we were bought by the blood of Jesus, which, by grace through faith, has made us spotless and a son or daughter of God. You better believe that God, being our Father, will always be behind us. When Jesus came and fulfilled the law He freed us from guilt. We have been given righteousness and freedom and we are not bound by the law of sin and death, which is all Satan has! And this freedom is everlasting. In the words of one preacher: God said it. I believe it. That settles it.
[hr style=”2″ margin=”30px 0px 30px 0px”]everydayMISSION:
With Jesus as the Advocate, you no longer have to sweat it when Satan brings accusations against you. Now, you can face Satan with confidence and boldness. Next time he accuses you of your past, just say, “I plead the Blood of Jesus!” The blood of Jesus is greater than Satan’s accusations. It’s greater than your past. It’s greater than your mistakes. Now use it. (check out this video on the blood. http://vimeo.com/96631281)
[hr style=”2″ margin=”30px 0px 30px 0px”]everydayCONVERSATION:
“Father-God, thank You for Jesus, my Advocate! I plead the blood of Jesus over my past. Now I can walk guilt-free. Father, thank You for your everlasting love and faithfulness. Today, I boldly walk in Your righteousness knowing that anything Satan tries to throw against me will not stand up in the court of law. Thank You for being on my side! In Jesus’ name, amen.”