Favour Stops When You Receive The Enemy’s Accusations
First Service of 30 March 2008 preached by Pastor Joseph Prince
“For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
You don’t contrast Grace and Truth. You contrast Grace with the Law.
In Greek, the word translated as “came” has the meaning of – subsists – a singular verb. In Greek grammar, a plural verb is used when, as in this case 2 articles ‘grace’ and ‘truth’ precede. It should therefore have been the plural verb – subsist – being used in John 1:17. Instead it was the singular verb – subsists – thereby indicating that in the eyes of GOD, the concepts of Grace & Truth, are one and singular.
“And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.” Luke 4:3
Another way of interpreting this first temptation of Jesus by the Devil is that the Devil was asking Jesus to find nourishment in the stone (10 commandments – the Law) and not bread (the word of God).
“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4
What was the NOW word that Jesus was living by? It was “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” Luke 3:22
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” Col 2:13
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Col 2:14
The expression “out of the way” in Col 2:14 can be understood in the Greek to mean – out of the middle.
“[And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Col 2:15
The word translated “principalities” is the Greek - arche – the chief devil. (Strong’s #746)
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD.” Isa 54:17
Stand against the judgement. Don’t accept accept it. Every tongue that condemns, you must judge it! Often the judgement comes via other people’s mouths.
Only those with a history with you can speak into and correct you. Only those with a history with you can speak into you with a good heart.
“Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy [are] deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6
The expression The Great Commission is not in the Bible. Rather it is: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
The concept of The Great Commission actually arose from Revival Theology as cultivated by DL Moody which can be summarised as: If you are not saved, get saved! If you are saved, get somebody saved, etc etc.
Missions is therefore not central for the Church rather the Church should be Christo-centric.
John 5:45: “Do not think that I will accuse [Greek kategoreo] you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust.”
Only the Law (Moses) accuses not Jesus!
kategoreo #Strong’s 2723
- to be a plaintiff, to charge with an offence,
Root word is kategoros
- to speak against a person before a public tribunal or assembly i .e. a complainant at law, especially Satan.
In John 5:45, the word “accuse” appears twice. In the Gospels, it appears 11x. It is always used against Jesus and used by pharisees, scribes and chief priest. We learn from this that it is legalistic people who are used by the devil as the means of using the law against Jesus and Christians.
“And, behold, there was a man which had [his] hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.” Matthew 12:10
Matt 12:10 is the first mention of the word translated as “accuse” in the NT. From the context of this verse, we can infer that the Law is always cruelly used against mankind – “is it lawful to heal” . We also learn that accusation always stems from the Law, the Law always points out Mankind as being withered, the Law points out our shortcomings and disqualifies us. Specificially, in Matt 12:10, a man with withered hand according to Law cannot approach the presence of God.
“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” Romans 5:7
When parents are rooted in righteousness that is of the LORD, their kid are ok.
“And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children.” Isa 54:13
“In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.” Isa 54:14
It is very hard to live with someone who is always accusing! Husbands and wives to learn this principle when dwelling with each other. Same for parents in relating to children.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph 5:25-27
Husbands to love and see wives as beautiful and the use words to present her glorious to HIMSELF, not the world, as without blemish, etc,
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Rom 8:33-34
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.” 2 Cr 5:16
“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cr 5:17
It is a case of mistaken identity when the Christian sins. E.g. when husband angers wife, flesh reacts flesh and sin erupts.
Take the viewpoint of Jesus on those who believe on him. Let the Holy Spirit deal with people.
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter [Hebrew d'abar - speech/sayings/words] separateth [very] friends” Proverbs 17:9
Applies to man-man relationship as well as God to man relationship.
Diabolos - applies only to Satan. rest of evil spirits are called – daimon
The epithet – ‘devil’ or ‘diabolos’ – is from the word meaning – to strike through and hence, figuratively, to stab through with accusation [Concise Bible Dictionary]
Used in Luk 16:1, in the Passive Voice, lit. signifies “to hurl across” (dia, “through,” ballo, “to throw”), and suggests a verbal assault. It stresses the act rather than the author, as in the case of aitia and kategoria. Diabolos is connected word.
Devil’s only weapon is accusation. The primary way Satan has inroads into you before he can steal, kill, and destroy, is accusation.
Only if he succeeds in getting you to accept the accusation, will it work.
“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” John 10:7
“All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.” John 10:8
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
John 10:9
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.” John 10:10
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Jesus refers to “all that ever came before me” as thieves in the plural. It is clear from the context that he is refering to the religious leaders of the day as thieves. Only later in verse 10 does Jesus refer to “the” thief i.e. Satan. We can infer from this that the primary way that Satan works is through the religious leaders.
Don’t try to atone for past sins of neglecting kids by indulging kids now. Just trust Jesus to redeem the past and sanctify the present and future.
Don’t teach by putting fear into kids. If you are established in righteousness, your kids will be stable. Be stable and cool and don’t impute and transmit your worries and shortcomings into your kids. Kids have only 2 original fears when they are born according to doctors: fear of falling down and fear of loud noises. The rest are learnt!
Jesus was crucified between 2 thieves. This is to redeem you from being robbed left and right.
The first thief is thief of past (Luke 23:29 – “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us”) because his mind dwells in the past.
The second thief is thief of future (Luke 23:42 – “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom”) because he dwells in the future .
The past – is the thief of regret. The future – is thief of worry, declaring “what if”
Jesus i-s TODAY!
“To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Ezra 4
1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children F25 of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, F26 in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, F27 Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. 8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe F28 wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; F29 the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. 11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. 12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up F30 the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. 13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay F31 toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. 14 Now because we have F32 maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved F33 sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions F34 that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. 19 And I commanded, F35 and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. 21 Give F36 ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. 22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force F37 and power. 24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 4:6: Accusation stopped favour from Persian king. This is an example of how accusation can affect outside circumstances. Accusation affects Favour from flowing in one’s life. Therefore, identify the areas of accusation in your life.
On the outside, it appeared that the reason why work rebuilding the Temple stopped was because the enemies of Israel hired counsellors to accuse them before the Persian king. But the true reason was spiritual (see the Lord’s vision to Zechariah in Zechariah 3). On the inside, It was the accusation on Israel, specifically, on the minds of the leaders Joshua and Zerubbabel, that was more powerful than the external Persian edict.
Zechariah 3
1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan F4 standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. 6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, F5 then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
God had to raise up young prophets like Haggai and 16 year old Zechariah to exhort the people to resume the work! Picture of the young church – Ben-Gen!
When you are condemned, favour cannot flow!
Zechariah 4
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, F7 nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zerubbabel did not understand Grace, therefore, Zechariah, had to prophesy unto him.
Joshua did not understand the Lord’s righteousness, and the Lord had to clothe him with new garments (Zech 3).
Zech 4:6-7: God prophesies the capstone/headstone i.e. one’s future as full of Grace even when only the foundation had barely been laid.
Ezra 6
1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, F42 where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, F43 in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again F44 unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. 8 Moreover I make F45 a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: 10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment F46 of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. 21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, 22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
After Zechariah’s prophesy, the Israelites exhorted the current Persian king (Darius) to search his records – this time – the records of Cyrus – and he realised that his forefather had ordered the Temple to be rebuilt. Darius thus ordered the work to be resumed and this time even those who opposed the rebuilding had to assist the Israelites and the work was completed in his reign.
Now with spirit of accusation departed, Grace returned and Israelites became assertive again. They wrote to Persian king – they could have done this 16 years ago! Favour from Persian King also returned with accusation defeated.
Do not look to your challenges or your short-comings etc. Instead, be aware of your righteousness and position in Jesus Christ. Do not ever accept counselling which is accusatory. Do not receive the accusation, instead declare that you are established in Christ.
Never accept accusation from counsellors even if they are old. Old persons should actually be preaching sound ‘Grace’ based doctrine.
Only familiar spirits can call out sin. Thus do not listen to so-called prophets who call out sin. As Christians we are no imputed with sin. Therefore it is not the Holy Spirit but the familiar spirit assisting the so-called prophet in calling out sin.
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