Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Devotion: You Have Authority Over The Devil


There were many things lost because of the disobedient actions of “the first man, Adam.”

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

Not only did the “first man” bring sin and death into the world, he also gave away the authority, the dominion that God had gave him away.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28).

“And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it” (Luke 4:5-6).

At the moment of disobedience, everything changed for man and the world that God had created.  At the moment of disobedience, sin entered into the world because of the one man.  When sin came into the world, death hitched a ride.  And the authority (dominion) that had been given to “the one man, Adam” was now in the hands of the devil, “for the first man, Adam had delivered it to him.”  This is how the devil became known as “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) and “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

There were many things lost that Jesus saved, but one of the more important things was “the authority (dominion)” that “the first man, Adam” had lost in the garden “when he ate of the fruit” (Genesis 3:6-7).

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15-20).

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

In getting back this “authority (dominion),” Jesus also gave man certain abilities.  “In his name,” we now have the ability “to cast out devils and to lay hands on and heal the sick,” along with several other things.  But the most important thing he gave us back was “the power or authority over all of the power of the enemy.”  Jesus, who was “manifested to destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8), “came to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).  Many believe the son of man’s main purpose for coming was to save individual lost souls, but truth be told, saving lost souls was “the by-product” of what he actually did.  “The last Adam” (I Corinthians 15:45) was able “to seek and to save that which was lost,” which was the authority or dominion that “the first Adam” had lost in the garden when he ate of the fruit.  How awesome is that!

Today’s message talks on the authority we now have over the devil.  As always, we pray that this message will inspire you, bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

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