Who Is In Charge?

Do you know the sun is 1.3 million times bigger than the earth?  It is hard to even imagine the vast difference in magnitutde.  Likewise, God is infinitely more powerful than His created archangel who fell from heaven, Lucifer or better known as the devil.  There really is no comparison, no contest, as to their relative power and ability.  Yet there is a spiritual battle.  Why and what is it really about? 

The question is who is in charge.  God obviously created the earth, man, and all the universe so it rightfully is His.  In Genesis 1:26-28, God creates man in His own image and likeness, and this created man is instructed to subdue the earth and given dominion over every living thing.  In short, God gave His authority to rule life on earth to man.

In sequence, Adam and Eve gave that authority to the serpent in the garden when they chose to obey him rather than God.  Romans 6 reminds us that who you obey is who has dominion over you.  There is a reason why when the devil tempted Jesus in the desert, he could say, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me."  In losing his authority, man also lost his pure nature to rule in harmony with God's purposes.  Now his thoughts, emotions, and will are poluted with the selfish desires of the temptation to "be like God" or in simple terms "me first."

The only possible way man could have this authority restored would be for a man to be without sin so there was no Satanic right to dominate him, and for someone to pay for the "death penalty" that sin rightfully deserved.  From the moment man sinned and gave up his authority, God revealed His plan to restore what was lost, by declaring the woman's Seed shall "bruise your head and you shall bruise His heal." (Genesis 3:15)  The good news is that is exactly what 1 John 3:8 assures us, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."   The last words of Jesus ultimately establish that  this goal is accomplished, "It is Finished." 

Understanding this foundation, the question remains, who is in charge of you?  What rules in your life?  Jesus has defeated the devil and taken back the keys for man to rule again, "I have given you the keys to the kingdom of heaven" with authority to bind and loose on earth.  However, it is up to us to choose God's revealed truth over our fleshly ideas, to walk according to the Word of God rather than fallen man's natural thoughts and feelings.  Romans 8 clearly delineates that flesh is death, and spirit is life and peace.  Jesus stated that His Word is spirit and life.  God sets before us life and death, telling us to choose life.  We have to choose.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 explains that the warfare is in our mind and heart.  We have divinely powered weapons to pull down strongholds and arguments and every high thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of God.  Could it be that God is waiting on us to use these weapons?  Does He wait for a man to stand in the gap so He can save the land?  He waits to be gracious to you.

Jesus reveals what authority He has provided in Luke 10:19.  "Behold, I have given you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  Likewise, in Philippians 2:10, Paul points out that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth.  These are not only promises, but also spiritual reality of what we are going to do.  Notice what happens in Revelation 12:10, the saints overcome the accuser of the brethren (the devil) by "the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death."  Man will triumph, in the name of Jesus, the power of His blood, and through speaking His Word.

Jesus chose you, you didn't choose Him, and He has a purpose for you to bear fruit. (John 15:16)  His heart's desire is for you to overcome and He is commited to standing with you to bring it to pass. After Jesus walked on earth and defeated the enemy, He sent His Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth.  God will overcome the world through His church, through you and me. We need to let Him teach us how to stand in His authority and let Him move. 

We are not begging and pleading with God to act.  Instead we have been given God's own authority to use against everything which exalts itself above the knowledge of God.  God will move when we declare with faith His revealed truth.   Notice how the Gospel of Mark ends, "and they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through accompanying signs."  So instead of begging God for forgiveness, we can declare "Thank you for your forgiveness."  Rather than pray hoping for healing, we state, "Thank you, Jesus, for Your stripes which heal me."  In all situations, we remember that Jesus' last words on the cross are not idle, but rather the ultimate deliverance of mankind, "It is finished." 

Life and death are in the power of the tongue.  We are led by the Spirit, according to 2 Corinthians 2:14, to always walk in triumph.  The Spirit brings to mind what Jesus said, so we agree by declaring what God has said rather than what we think or feel.  Our job is to speak God's Word, His job is to complete the action.    

This principle is applied to the bigger picture also.  As Christians unite in praying God's Word boldly, God is free to move in the world.  So instead of letting ourselves feel discouraged about the lies and anti-Christ movements seemingly dominating this country, we stand boldly and declare, "Jesus, in your name, no weapon formed against this land shall prosper, and we release your overcoming power to destroy enemy strongholds and restore righteousness to this land.   

Through Jesus' substitutionary death and resurrection for us, we have been raised with Him and are seated in heavenly places, now having His full authority once again to rule in this life (Romans 4:25).  In short, we (you and I) are in charge.