Dr. Mac’s Minute: The Overcomer’s Toolbox (Part 1)
Passage: Revelation 12:10-12
Focus: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, because the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.” (v. 10)
Satan has always used the same box of tricks to try to defeat God by destroying His people. John identified the enemy’s three basic tools as, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life” (I John 2:16). In the Garden of Eden, for instance, he used all three to appeal to Eve (Gen. 3:6): “then the woman saw the tree was good for food (the flesh), and delightful to look at (the eyes), and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom” (the pride of life).
In addition to these tools, the fallen Lucifer has a technique designed, not only to defeat us, but also to deflate and discourage us on the heels of those times when we are disobedient—he accuses us when we fall. Like the smart aleck kid that instigates trouble and then runs to tattle on those that follow him, Satan encourages us to rebel against God and then runs to the Father to bring accusation. He did it in the days of Job and John says he is still, “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10).
When we fall into sin, God has given us the path to restoration—repentance. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John. 1:9). Often, however, even when we experience sweet, restored fellowship with our Savior, we have the lingering pain of guilt inspired by, “the accuser.” It can come days, weeks . . . even years, later.
How do we overcome Satan’s work? Exiled on the Isle of Patmos for proclaiming the name of Jesus, the apostle John revealed that God’s children also have a toolbox. Jesus has filled it with three tools that His people have been using throughout history to combat the enemy: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, because the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life, even when faced with death’” (Rev. 12:10-11). These three tools are how Jesus overcame the enemy and they are His gift to equip and enable us, in His power, to do the same.
Over the next three months we will look at each tool individually: May—“the blood of the Lamb” (the work of Christ to save, secure, and sustain us), June—“the word of their testimony” (our bold declaration of our faith and trust in Christ), and July—“they did not love their life, even when faced with death” (loving Jesus more than life itself).