Text: Matthew 26:59-67

59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;  60 But found none:  yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.   At the last came two false witnesses, 61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.   62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing?  what is it which these witness against thee?  63 But Jesus held his peace.   And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.   64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said:  nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.   65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy;  what further need have we of witnesses?  behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.   66 What think ye?  They answered and said, He is guilty of death.   67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him;  and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

Thursday, 25^th January 2024; Day Twenty of the 21 days fasting.

ARE YOU FALSELY ACCUSED?

Text: Matthew 26:59-67

Memory verse: Matthew 5: 44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

He was falsely accused by those who didn’t even know him. The chief priests, and elders, and the council, were the religious / political elite of the day. They sat in judgment over Jesus. They were the know-it-all and yet they knew nothing at all.

They were blind, prejudiced, full of pride, condescending, judgmental, and condemning. Their judgment of Jesus was based on lies, half-truths; hear say, gossip, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, blindness, ignorance, prejudice. Jesus had taught the people openly, publicly. Everyone could hear and know his teachings. They chose to be blind and ignorant of who he was. You know what it is like to be judged and falsely accused by those who don’t even know you, your situation, circumstance. All they know is lies, the gossip, the half-truths, and it hurts. What do you do when you are falsely accused? Let’s see how Jesus handled it.

Hold your peace. When Jesus was falsely accused the bible said, “But Jesus held his peace”. He remained calm. Don’t let them rattle you. Keep your peace. Answer your critics with the truth. In Matthew 26:63 the high priest asked Jesus if he is the Christ the Son of God. 64 Jesus answered with the truth. Don’t seek to defend yourself, just answer with the truth. God will defend you before those who falsely accuse you. He is behind you. Don’t let them bring you down to their level. Pray for them. Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Pray. Don’t seek revenge. Don’t retaliate. Don’t do what they’re doing to you. Bless and do not curse. Forgive, pray as Jesus did when he was dying for your sins Father forgive them for, they know not what they do. We must pray, we must forgive, forget, and move on. Release the pain, the hurt, the debt. Forgive as God has forgiven you. Completely, fully, finally, and forever.

Change will come, healing will come, restoration will come, God will give you back what the enemy stole (Job). You’ve been hurt, you are grieving, you know the pain, so does Jesus. He will heal, help, and give you hope. Turn to him. He is the wonderful counsellor. Find comfort, rest, healing in him. He is always around you. He will never forsake you. Find your strength, hope, healing, identity, acceptance in him. You will never be disappointed. He will fill your deepest longings and heal your deepest hurts. Not only was he betrayed by a friend, forsaken by those closest to him, falsely accused by those who didn’t even know him, he was also Crucified.

CGDS Hymn 61

SATAN, THE FOWLER, WHO BETRAYS UNGUARDED SOULS A THOUSAND WAYS

1. He that hath made his refuge God
Shall find a most secure abode,
Shall walk all day beneath his shade,
And there at night shall rest his head.

2. Then will I say, "My God, thy power
Shall be my fortress and my tower;
I, that am formed of feeble dust,
Make thine almighty arm my trust."

3. Thrice happy man! thy Maker's care
Shall keep thee from the fowler's snare;
Satan, the fowler, who betrays
Unguarded souls a thousand ways.

4. Just as a hen protects her brood
From birds of prey that seek their blood,
Under her feathers, so the Lord
Makes his own arm his people's guard.

5. If burning beams of noon conspire
To dart a pestilential fire,
God is their life; his wings are spread
To shield them with a healthful shade.

6. If vapors with malignant breath
Rise thick, and scatter midnight death,
Isr'el is safe; the poisoned air
Grows pure, if Isr'el's God be there.

7. What though a thousand at thy side,
At thy right hand ten thousand died,
Thy God his chosen people saves
Amongst the dead, amidst the graves.

8. So when he sent his angel down
To make his wrath in Egypt known,
And slew their sons, his careful eye
Passed all the doors of Jacob by.

9. But if the fire, or plague, or sword,
Receive commission from the Lord
To strike his saints among the rest,
Their very pains and deaths are blest.

10. The sword, the pestilence, or fire,
Shall but fulfil their best desire;
From sins and sorrows set them free,
And bring thy children, Lord, to thee.

 Prayers  

1.  Lord God, deliver me from every false accusation coming my way this year 2024 Jesus’s name. Amen.

2.  Lord God Almighty, deliver me from the consequences of every false accusation against me in the past in Jesus’s name. Amen.

3.  Lord God Almighty, forgive me in any way I have accused anyone falsely in Jesus’s name. Amen.

4.  Lord God Almighty, I forgive all those that have accused me falsely in the past in Jesus’s name. Amen.

5.  Lord God Almighty, deliver those I have accused falsely from any consequence in Jesus’s name. Amen.

6.  Oh God, let the blood of Jesus Christ be my defense against all accusation of the devil against me this year in Jesus’s name. Amen.

7.  Lord God Almighty, deliver me from the counsels of the wicked this year 2024 in Jesus’s name. Amen.

8.  Lord God Almighty, help me to hold my peace during every accusation this year 2024 in Jesus’s name. Amen.

9.  Holy Spirit, help me to respond in love against all my false accusers this year 2024 in Jesus’s name. Amen.

10.  Holy Spirit, let all false accusation against me work for my good this year 2024 in Jesus’s name. Amen.

11.  Lord God Almighty, turn every false accusation against me to my advantage this year 2024 in Jesus’s name. Amen.

12.  Lord God Almighty, put the right words in my mouth concerning every accusation I shall face this year 2024 in Jesus’s name. Amen.

13.  Lord God Almighty, I receive back everything the enemies have stolen from me this year 2024 in Jesus’s name. Amen.

14.  Oh God, no matter what people say about me, let Your word be the basis of my identity in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Declarations

Lord God, deliver me from every false accusation coming my way this year, deliver me from the consequences of every false accusation, forgive me in any way I have accused anyone falsely, I forgive all those that have accused me falsely in the past, deliver those I have accused falsely from any consequence, Oh God, let the blood of Jesus Christ be my defense against all accusation of the devil against me this year, deliver me from the counsels of the wicked, help me to hold my peace during every accusation, Holy Spirit, help me to respond in love against all my false accusers, let all false accusation against me work for my good, turn every false accusation against me to my advantage, put the right words in my mouth concerning every accusation I shall face this year, I receive back everything the enemies have stolen from me, Oh God, no matter what people say about me, let Your word be the basis of my identity in Jesus’ name. Amen.