Discerning the Enemy 

          Overcoming the stronghold of Accusation:  MAIN HEALING LESSON 14

This teaching on overcoming condemning thoughts is just one of the 24 lessons in our workbook for personal transformation, "Matters of the Heart."  All 24 lessons will be helpful to the person seeking restoration and freedom and have been posted on this web site. They are available as a complete set in our workbook which can be purchased as a download or ordered through the mail. The lessons are also available on CD and DVD as 24, 1/2 hour teachings. All scriptures are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.
 

Introduction

Why discernment is needed 
If all we needed to discern would be the thoughts of the Lord, our lives would be so much simpler. But there is another kingdom speaking to us, seeking to bring us into agreement with its ways of thinking and acting upon the earth. One of the strategies of that other kingdom is to make their thoughts seem like our own thoughts or God’s thoughts—so that wrong thoughts will go unrecognized. There is therefore a great need on our part to learn to discern these hidden ways of the enemy and to recognize his voice. We wil either be discerning the enemy or falling prey to his suggestions. Paul said that the Early Church was no longer “in the dark” about the enemy and his ways, “ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

Accusation has a "voice"
The voice of accusation has both a content of accusing words, and an oppressive quality of voice in the way those thoughts are formed—an insistent pressure to tear down, but never to build up. The Spirit of the Lord does not speak in that way. Let your spiritual senses, as well as your intellect, become fine tuned to recognizing and resisting this voice.

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14

This stronghold of accusation comes early in the teaching because the voice of the accuser came on the scene early in the Garden and early in our own lives as well. Be on guard! To the one being used by the voice of the Accuser, the condemning thoughts never seem like accusations by an enemy: they seem like truth telling about God, self or others. Be alert!
 

Teaching summary

Accusation brings division and disease
Accusation is a spiritual root of disease because many incurable sicknesses come from the areas of separation that accusation procuces between God, self and others. Accusation is also a block to healing because it leads to bitterness, which is the number one block to healing as well as to answered prayer (Mark 11:25). Nor does it help that accusing the Lord’s anointed servants brings a curse (a severe consequence) of its own (1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Chronicles 16:22).  

Satan and his kingdom deceive, tempt, destroy and accuse
One of the primary devices of the enemy is accusation—it is very divisive.  Just as the enemy seeks by his deceiving words to draw us deeper into agreement with his ways of thinking and acting, he is also seeking—at the same time—to isolate us, separate us, and divide us by drawing us away from the peace of Christ (James 1:14) into turmoil, fear, suspicion and judgment and by cutting us off from our fellowship with others. That's the hefty price we pay for not discerning the enemy. The accuser divides by using the truth with a twist in it that is hard to recognize and that brings convincing accusations in three areas seeking to separate us:

1) From God, His Word or His Person (Genesis 3:1-5; Job 1:9).
2) From our true self, the person God is calling us to become (1 Corinthians 4:3-4; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11).
3) From others, as God sees them (Genesis 3:11-13; Job 2:4; Zechariah 3:3; Luke 9:56, Revelation 12:10-12).
 

Accusation is an anti-Christ activity

Accusation and condemnation are the exact opposite of what God is doing through Jesus Christ. Paul says that God neither accuses, nor condemns us (Romans 8:32-35). His desire is for the one in sin to be gently restored (Galatians 6:1-2). Until death comes, there is always hope for restoration to God and separation from sins through repentance, grace and faith. We are meant to keep heaven’s hard won (at the cross), hope-filled perspective in our hearts towards everyone. So let’s settle this once and for all: accusation and condemnation come from the enemy—not God. Satan measures out his charges with just enough apparent truth to hook us—but he always twists our thoughts away from God’s perspective of grace and mercy. His activity is described as unrelenting and unceasing (Revelation 12:7-11).

How accusation got its start
Satan, whose name means “adversary,” began with accusations against God’s Word in the Garden (Ge 3:1-5). Adam and Eve were drawn away from trusting God and fell into separation from God and spiritual death along with it. Although they did not realize it, they now had a new father—the devil—whose nature entered them and whose own image and ways were beginning to distort the Image of God they carried (Jn 8:31-38).

Adam thought the "thoughts" of accusation were his own!
When the Lord returned, He said something astonishing to Adam: “Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11). God’s word to Adam was meant to open his eyes to see that the accuser was still speaking to him, no longer through the snake, but through Adam’s own thought processes! Under the pressure of his own inward sense of condemnation, Adam goes on to accuse Eve of being the reason for his decision to sin. Notice that this carries with it a subtle accusation against God for giving Eve to him in the first place. Then Eve joins in by accusing the serpent, thus seeking to shift blame from herself. Here it is evident that the accuser now has subverted humanity to do his work of accusation for him unaware (Genesis 3:9-13).

Accusation goes global
Having established his kingdom through such slight devices of accusation in the Garden, the enemy has expanded his operations to cover the earth. John on Patmos was given a vision of the enemy as no longer a serpent, but a mighty dragon.

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” Revelation 12:9-10

Notice that salvation, strength, kingdom and power come when this formidable enemy is cast down. The choice is before us: will we serve the Accuser or will we make a quality decision to cast down all accusations that try to rise up within us against God, self or others? Let the voice from the Garden become silenced. Turn off “radio Satan” and live in the Kingdom!

Recognize accusing thoughts

Accusation is a counterfeit of the true knowledge of God. It is a wrong use of genuine discernment. The Holy Spirit may indeed allow us to see sin in another person or our self. But a spirit of accusation will seek to bind the person to their sin and separate us from them. Learn to recognize the voice of the accuser—the way self-condemnation speaks to you or the way offended self-righteousness seeks to speak through you to others. Seek to be aware of where your thoughts are coming from—check the source!

Self-condemnations
Any internal accusation, no matter how legitimate and well-deserved it may seem, is still coming from the enemy, not from God.  The Spirit within us convicts us or reveals the wrongs of others, but never condemns us or others (Romans 8:1-2, 32-35). See Conviction verses Condemnation under "Digging Deeper" below.

Judgments of others
A spirit of accusation seeks to turn discernment into judgment and condemnation. We are indeed called to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:14), but one of the greatest evils is to accuse or judge another (Matthew 7:1-5).

Cast down the accuser

We are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against God (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).  Accusation is a “high thing,” because it puts us above another in judgment of them and because it rises up within us against the clear command of God not to do it.  Recognize accusing thoughts and separate from them before they separate you from God, self or others. By discerning the enemy, you can effectively cast down accusations against God (anger, unbelief, discouragement); against others (judgments, un-forgiveness, slander); against self (condemnation, shame, regret). 

Join with Jesus in continual intercession!

 

Interested in going deeper?

Don't just give these truths a "head bob"!
For further study and for help working these truths into your heart and life, see Discerning the Enemy part 2 (Head to Heart Guide 14) and "work out" with exercises, discussion questions, review of main points, digging deeper, more scriptures, model prayers, renunciations/affirmations and practical steps of life application.

Or better yet, let us minister to you in person
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