ICS Daily Devotions
Jesus Is Our Advocate in Heaven
Revelation 12:10 NKJV “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.”
The accuser of believers is Satan himself. He goes before God to accuse us of our sins and constantly reminds us of our sins to make us feel condemned and unworthy before God. He will use circumstances to make us think that God is punishing us through natural disasters like the COVID19 pandemic that also is bringing on the economic crisis. The aim of the devil is to deceive us to think that God is the source of our problems. He wants us to be drawn away from God, be bitter against God and ultimately give up our faith and hope in God. This is seen in the account of Job’s sufferings at the beginning of the book when Satan challenges God about Job’s faith that has not been tested by suffering because of God’s protection and blessings.
Job 1:10-11 NKJV “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
These two scenes in Heaven from the books of Job and Revelation differentiate the work of God and the devil to us. God builds a hedge of protection around us and has assigned angels to protect our comings and goings. He is the one who gives us the power to get wealth through His wisdom, gifts and abilities. He wants us to have an abundant life filled with love, joy and peace. However, the devil only comes to steal, kill and destroy.
John 10:10 NKJV “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
The wonderful news is that God has provided a mediator and an advocate for us in Jesus who comes between us and God to defend us against the accuser, the devil. His blood has redeemed us and our sins are forgiven forever. It was God’s plan to restore sinning Christians by firstly appointing Jesus as the advocate to plead the case for sinners. Jesus is definitely able to secure our pardon. Secondly, Jesus is the propitiation for our sins so that all those who call upon his name will be saved.
Romans 8:33-35 NKJV “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?….
We take comfort that whenever the devil attempts to bring something against us before God and demands that we are punished for our sins, Jesus only has to show His pierced hands and sides to prove that He has paid for our sins with His blood and we are completely forgiven and God has declared us righteous. Therefore nobody, including the devil, can bring any charge against us or condemn us with Jesus as our mediator and advocate!
Sermon Series: Resurrection Sunday – Job & I
