Return to Index.

The Accuser of the Brethren
October 5, 2019

On this Sabbath, we are in the fall Holy Day season. This past Monday was the Christian Feast of Trumpets and on Wednesday will be the Christian Day of Atonement. We know that the days are reckoned from sunset to sunset, starting at sunset the day before. In addition to this Bible study is a companion sermon available as an audio file or transcript. The sermon does go into greater depth than the study. Throughout the history of Bible is the record of the struggle between good and evil. We know that Satan is the adversary who is evil and who seeks to detroy us. Peter admonishes us to be vigilant, much like in the modern time we must be vigilant whenever we are away from the safety of our homes. Like a criminally-minded opportunist, Satan seeks whom he may devour. He stalks his prey and attacks his prey with the intent to utterly destroy his prey. Peter reminds us to remain stedfast in the faith, meaning no matter how bad it gets, we never give. Whenever we are attacked by Satan, we need to recognize that our brothers and sisters in Christ are also attacked by Satan.

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Satan uses consistent strategies to achieve his objective of death and destruction to God's people, and one of those tactics is destruction from within. Satan would like nothing more than for the children of God on earth to implode from within. How many times has there been a breakdown in a church organization? People at the top positioned themselves so that they and their family would be at the top. Some version of the prosperity gospel is used. Congregants had been expected to live by a rigid standard with details delineated by the church organization with Sabbath-keeping and tithing two of the hot-button and fiercly defended topics. This approach put the organization and its congregants to be found playing the role of accuser of the brethren. It's not the role of the church or church members to be accusers of the brethren, never in any circumstance. People who are spiritually secure in their faith have no need or time to accuse others. We all will do better to learn an apply the spiritual principles of the Bible. The greatest battle fought by God's people need not be jockying for position or favor within a church; the greatest battle we need to fight is the spiritual fight against Satan as we strive to be worthy of eternal life. To defeat Satan we must humble and submit ourselves before God while resisting Satan.

James 4:1-10
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

As we humble and submit ourselves to God, God strengthens us to withstand the trickeries of Satan, and Satan's spiritual warfare against us. We fight that spiritual fight by using spiritual tools given to us by God, with a foundation in truth. Reading and studying the Bible is the best way to establish a foundation of truth. Righteousness is ascribed to us when we obey God. We use the knowledge of the Kingdom of God, which will be the only kingdom to know peace, as the inspiration to allow us to run the race that is before us. Faith will allow us to withstand Satan's attacks against us.

Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Satan is the accuser of the brethren; never should we be the accusers of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
Copyright and Legal Information
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information