OVERCOMING ACCUSATIONS AND WRONGS
The Lord Jesus Christ who did nothing wrong was falsely accused, persecuted, and crucified for our sins. (Luke 23:2-4; Corinthian 5:21) And he lets us know that Satan will influence people to “insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11; Revelation 12:10). Yet he says, “ In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
JESUS DEPENDED ON HIS FATHER TO OVERCOME
Satan falsely accused Jesus through some of his own people. Some members of the Jewish Sanhedrin accused him of blasphemy, and of deserving to die for his claiming to be the promised Messianic Son of God (Matthew 26:63-66; Isaiah 9:6). And they falsely alleged that he violated Roman law by claiming to be a king, for which they said he should die (John 19:12,15).
However, Jesus told his accusers, ”You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11). And when he was being put to death because of false accusations, he said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
JOB OVERCAME BY TRUSTING GOD
In the Bible, Satan, the devil, and three of Job’s friends falsely accused Job. However, he was upright in the eyes of God. But Satan accused Job of serving God only because God had blessed him with so much, and had placed a hedge of protection around him. God gave the devil permission to test the faithfulness of Job. Satan destroyed Job’s material possessions, members of his family, and afflicted his entire body with sore boils. Still Job remained faithful to God. (Job 1,2)
Nevertheless, the devil, the accuser of brothers and sisters (Revelation 12:10), was not finished accusing and testing Job. The devil evidently influenced Job’s wife to turn against him, and three of his friends to falsely accuse him. They said that he was being punished by God because he had sinned against God. (Job 8…).
Confident that he had not sinned against God and that he could trust God, Job said, “all of the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes” (Job 14:14).
Although Job had never seen the Lord with his eyes; but he said, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last” (Job 19:25).
When Jesus appeared later, he said, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” in him (John 20:29).
WE OVERCOME BY BELIEVING THE LORD
The biblical Word of God says, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, and he will guide you in the right way (Proverbs 3:5-6; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
In Ephesians 6:12, we are told that we contend not with flesh and blood, but with powerful spiritual forces of the devil. And our adequacy comes from God and not ourselves or others (2 Corinthians 3:5).
In our fight with Satan, God may permit us to be tested to prove and strengthen our faith. Satan may cause someone to mistreat you. The devil may even set a weak or misguided believer’s “tongue on fire from hell” against you (James 5:16).
God’s Word says, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:44). And forgive “each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
“The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).
“Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13; Revelation 19:7).
