As believers, we can stand successfully against the enemy because of our position. In the beginning, God made man in His image and gave them dominion to rule and reign over all creation (Genesis 1:26 – 28). The Hebrew word for dominion is radah, which means to tread down, subjugate; have dominion – prevail against, reign, rule, take. Figuratively it means to put under your foot or to hold under your foot. It is absolute authority. God has absolute dominion but He gave Adam dominion over all of the earth.
“You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,”
Psalms 8:6 AMP
“The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, But the earth He has given to the children of men.”
Psalms 115:16 AMP
But due to sin, we lost our identity and dominion. It was relinquished to the devil. But, praise God, everything was restored by Jesus Christ.
“But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].”
John 1:12-13 AMP
All authority begins with God and is from God (Romans 13:1). Jesus was subject to the Father, and through that relationship, His authority flowed. God gave Jesus all authority, and Jesus gave authority back to us. Therefore, our authority over the enemy starts with submission under God’s authority.
“Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
Matthew 28:18 AMP
“So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 AMP
Our authority comes from Jesus Christ and our subordination under Him as the head of the body of Christ. The enemy is under His feet, and subsequently under our feet because we are seated with Christ in heavenly places.
“and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come. And He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].”
Ephesians 1:19-23 AMP
“And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus,”
Ephesians 2:6 AMP
It all originates in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are in Christ, and Christ is in us. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit without it remaining in the vine, similarly, we cannot produce fruit without being connected to Jesus. Our spiritual authority works the same way. We cannot have authority without an intimate relationship with Christ and our knowledge of our identity in Him.
“and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”
Colossians 2:10 ESV
“Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:16-19 ESV.
Let’s remember our position. We are subject under God as our Lord. We are in Christ and thus seated with Him next to the Father. The enemy is under our feet. He is subdued, defeated and we should not be afraid of his schemes and attacks. God has given us, as His sons and daughters, the right to use the authority given to us.
With our position of authority, God sent the Holy Spirit to empower us. The Holy Spirit enables us to rule or have dominion. In other words, authority and power equal dominion. That will be the topic of an upcoming blog.
Isn’t God just amazing in how He made us, restored us, and equipped us to stand victorious against the enemy? You have the authority, my friend. The enemy may come against you, but he cannot prevail against who you are in Christ or Christ, Who is inside of you. Stand strong, and remember that you are a son or daughter of the King of kings.
Stay resolute my friend.
Talita
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