THROWING INKWELLS

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:10-12 ESV)

            John 10:10 states, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy….” The mission of the evil accuser is to steal a love for God, kill a desire for God and destroy a witness for God. Revelation shows a struggle played-out in the heavenly realm. From the ranks of the devil come accusations. From the kingdom of God comes the authority of Christ.

            Whenever God does something wonderful, indictments from the accuser naturally increase: “Did you really enter into a meaningful relationship with God?  Did you actually get filled with the Holy Spirit? If you truly had faith in God would you honestly think and behave the way you do?”

            You may occasionally feel doubt and possibly torment, similar to what Eve experienced in the Garden when the serpent challenged her with confusing questions. Struggling with faith or experiencing overwhelming fear is not uncommon. The accuser of the righteous is attempting to defeat you. The Lord provides His armor for these moments. Put it on! (Ephesians 6)

            Some mistakenly match the howling of the devil with their own wailing, entering a shouting match with him. Others misguidedly invite the devil into their conversation with the Lord, one moment having communion with God the next rebuking the devil. When in the Lord’s chamber by prayer, why invite the enemy to join you?

            No one should take the devil lightly but he should not be given primary attention either. He is a defeated foe. Time should not be wasted and company should not be kept with such a loser. Your greater focus should be your communion, fellowship and bond with the Lord, your relationship with God.

            You become who you associate with. If your primary focus is fighting the devil, you become like the enemy. If your primary focus is loving the Lord, you become like the Savior.

            What should be your approach when the devil is seemingly getting the best of you? When robbed of peace, cheated of comfort, and short-sheeted by fear, what do you do? Revelation reveals your weaponry.

            First, “the blood of the Lamb!” Keep yourself under His holy covering by fleeing temptations and repenting of sins.

            Secondly, “the word of their testimony!” Live openly pure lives that reflect faith in God. Those who secretively attempt to live for Jesus have the biggest struggle opposing the father of lies.

            Thirdly, “they did not love their lives.” Do not be enamored with self-importance; take an eternal view of life.

In times of conflict it is not only good to remember the word of your testimony but also the word of His testimony. The Bible is a weapon that directly counterattacks the accusations of the accuser.

Martin Luther reportedly got frustrated while translating Scripture into the language of his own countrymen. Sensing the problem was sometimes caused by the devil he literally threw inkwells wherever he thought the devil was standing. Can you imagine the walls of his study?

When you receive a divine blessing and the accuser is trying to take it away, throw an inkwell at him. “But I don’t have inkwells? Inkwells aren’t made anymore?  I don’t even know what an inkwell is?” The ink of your inkwell is dried on the pages of your Bible! Here are four readily available missiles.

If God is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)

            The first inkwell boldly declares there is no accuser with any overwhelming strength when God is part of your life. You are not stronger than the devil but God is and He is for you.

            “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10) Some endeavor to be strong by their own standard but the instructions are to stand in His strength. Rest in His authority!

            Only God is all-powerful (omnipotent). No one is His equal. The opposite of day is night. The opposite of light is dark. The opposite of big is small. The opposite of God is nothing. Who is comparable to His supreme essence? Who is His equal that they should be feared? The devil is not parallel with God, he is subservient.

The One in you is greater than the one in the world.  (1 John 4:4)

            The second inkwell is consistent with the first. The devil is not as strong or as great as God. He dwells in falsehood, giving distortion and illusions. He is the master of slander, revilement, innuendos, scandal and insinuations. The power of the father of lies is a lie. He is no match for God.

            Dan Betzer paints a picture of the devil’s trickery in the novel called The Beast. After the rapture the leading character’s girlfriend is thought killed in an accident. At the funeral the anti-christ seems to raise her from the dead. He later talks to Satan and asks if the girl is really dead?

            “Lucifer chuckled, ‘Of course not! I touched her and put her into a deep sleep. It was so convincing that even the morticians believed…had [she] really been killed that day, she would have stayed dead no matter what I did.” Dan writes what the Bible clearly declares; only God gives life for only He is life abundant.

            A songwriter wrote God is greater “than the wisest man…than the power of sin…than the gates of hell…than any tongue can tell.” The accuser is not as great as God.

            A young girl was tempted to do something dishonest. When asked how she overcame the temptation she said, “When I hear the devil knocking on the door of my heart, I ask Jesus to go see who it is.” Good idea!

Nothing can separate you from the love of God. (Romans 8:38-39)

            For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 ESV)

            The third inkwell describes the measure of God’s love.

            Neither death nor life! His love is so far reaching it does not stop at the grave. He loves those experiencing eternal damnation. He does not send anyone to hell, that option every person must weigh and decide. Some choose not to have a relationship with God but this does not end His love for them.

            Nor angels, nor demons! No created being can pull you out of the firm grasp of God.

            Nor the present, nor the future! Circumstances cannot sever you from God.

            Nor height, nor depth! Feelings and moods cannot stop His love.

            Nor anything else in all creation! Spouse, family, friends, employers, cannot remove you from God.

            Life situations cannot separate you from His love!

            My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (John 10:27-29 ESV) What a wonderful word of encouragement.

            A person can backslide, walk away from God, but that action is not the emphasis of Romans 8 and John 10. The two Scripture passages declare no outside influence can take away a relationship with God.

            The accuser does not have the ability to sever your ties with the Lord.

God will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

            The writer of Hebrews gives a quote from the Old Testament: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) “Them” applies to any evil opposition.

            The fourth inkwell comes with a challenge, be courageous. When God reveals His plan and shows the way, step out in faith. Reach out, venture out and trust Him. He will not fail you.

            God is not in the deserting business; abandonment is not in His vocabulary. When the accuser comes, the “Paraclete” (the One called alongside to help, the Holy Spirit) is with you.

Application

            Many other Scripture inkwells are at your disposal. Heave them with spiritual might. “Take this, you devil: God is for me, greater is He that is in me, nothing can separate me from His love and He will not forsake me.” When the accuser is covered with blotches and backs away, do not give him another thought! Focus on God, He alone is worthy of your undivided attention.