10.And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
The Hebrew meaning of the word satan — pronounced sah-tahn’ (saw-tawn’) — is adversary, accuser, withstand, or opponent. In Hebrew, it typically refers to one who obstructs or opposes, not the inherently evil being whose true name is Lucifer. We see this in Job 1:6, where the Hebrew text uses ‘haś-śāṭān’ — a functional title meaning the accuser, not a personal name. Over time, the title satan became associated with Lucifer.
It is important to understand the distinction between title and name as to avoid the confusing question, if Satan was already cast out of Heaven, how could he petition God to accuse Job? It also clarifies how Satan works after his fall. For example, when Jesus said to Peter “get behind me, Satan” (Mark 8:33). We know that Jesus was not calling Peter, Satan. He was addressing the adversarial influence working through Peter at the time.
Lucifer’s position may have shifted from the heavenly realm to the earthly, but his strategy remains the same — and in many ways, is even more complex. But what made Satan an accuser of mankind in the first place? What drove him to be an adversary of God? In a single word: pride. Pride is what not only drove Lucifer to oppose God, but motivated him to want to be above God. And interestingly, pride is also the sin that causes God to oppose man. James 4:6 tells us, “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Waging war in Heaven and being cast down to earth — along with the angels that followed Lucifer — makes it no mystery why God oppopses pride in humanity. God will not risk Heaven being threatened by pride a second time. Humility is not about being forced into subjection to God; it is showing reverance and gratitude for all that God has done for us, beginning with creating us in His image — something He did not do for the angels. Which may be the reason Satan became the accuser of mankind in the first place.
Satan has two main strategies, one is to undermine God and faith in Him. We see this with Adam and Eve. Being cast out of Heaven made earth Satan’s domain. But when God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He gave them dominion over the earth. Satan temporarily regained that dominion when he was able to undermine Adam and Eve’s faith in God’s word by influencing them to eat from the forbidden tree. It was also Satan who influenced Cain to kill Abel when God refused his sacrifice — once again manipulating one of God’s children to oppose His instructions.
Lucifer’s second strategy is the very one that gave him the name Satan — the accuser. But without the authority to accuse you before God, he now takes a more direct approach: he accuses you to yourself. God gives each of us gifts that we often recognize today as talents — we even call people “gifted” when they excel in a particular area. These gifts are administered to us by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4,11). While Scripture does not offer an exhaustive list of all the gifts God bestows on us, we do recognize they are gifts from Him. And your confidence in these gifts — and your confidence in general — is a key area where Satan strikes. His goal is to make you unwittingly undermine God’s work in you, and cause you to lose faith in God’s promises to you.
Many people say they wish they had talent. Others say they wish they could find their calling. But it’s not a stretch to say that every person, deep in their heart, has already recognized the talent or calling God placed within them. When God gives a talent or places a calling on someone’s life, He also gives everything they need to excel in that area. One of the main things he gives is passion — a natural pull toward the very thing He has gifted you to do. Most people don’t associate their passion with it being a gift from God. But Satan does.
Satan knows that not only are your gifts and passions a way for you to thrive in your natural life — but most importantly — when incorporated and used appropriately they bring glory to God — the Giver of gifts. When through his whispers he convinces you that you are not good enough to excel at your passions, he has done two things, made your life more difficult by settling for less, and kept glory from being brought to God’s name.
2 Timothy 1:7 teaches us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Notice that Paul refers to fear as a spirit, perhaps indicating that the spirit of fear is of Satan himself. And it’s no coincidence that in verse 6, Paul reminds Timothy of “the gift” when he says, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Paul connects the gift with the spirit because the enemy attacks the gift through the spirit of fear. If he can create fear, timidity, or insecurity in you, Satan knows he can stifle the very gift God placed within you.
Power, love, and self-discipline are attributes every one of us must have in order to master any craft God has placed within us. In order to excel, we must recognize the power God has given us to overcome weaknesses and obstacles. We must identify our passion as a love for the talent He placed inside us. And power and love are of little use without self-discipline. This is why Satan does anything he can to convince you that you are not strong enough to power through the adversity that makes accomplishments seem out of reach. Subtly, he will whisper to you that your passion isn’t a God-given gift, but only a dream “other people” — people supposedly better than you — succeed at. And with all the distractions, pleasures, and easier paths available today, it becomes easier for him to replace self-discipline with a participation trophy mindset. When everyone “wins” regardless of effort, what motivation is left to work harder and excel?
God’s Word is not only for our instruction — it is also a weapon against the enemy. When the enemy attacks, we must use the Word against him. Speaking the Word of God gives us authority over the enemy in both the physical and spiritual realms. In the spiritual realm, angels assigned to protect us are activated when we stand on God’s Word. In the physical realm, declaring God’s Word in the presence of those the enemy works through will silence, expose, and drive back his influence. And as we use the Word of God not only as a weapon, but as a faith based foundation, it strengthens our confidence, builds our character and integrity, and tightens the very fabric of our lives.
In conclusion, know who you are in Christ Jesus. Remind yourself “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, saved by His grace.” Always remember that the enemy works by accusing you to yourself. He tries to undermine your faith in God by attacking His promises to you, and the gifts and desires He has placed within you. He will subtly try to influence your thoughts, and even use others to weaken your confidence and create fear.
Use the following Scriptures to speak authority over your life — whether under attack or not. And when you cannot speak them aloud, speak them silently in your heart. Even in silence, spirits respond to prayer.
Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all my needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (Adjusted from “your” to “my” for personal declaration.)
Psalm 23:1-5 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
Amen.