As we continue from the last post, we learned that we're called to operate on the earth from heavenly places, seated at the right hand of the Father, for God gave us the earth to rule over. Psalm 115:16 says, “The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.” ESV
God gave man the authority to rule the earth and Genesis 1:28 says, “And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.’” AMP
Adam, who was the man placed in the Garden to walk out this authority delegated from heaven to rule the earth, did it through his relationship with God. For this, God made a covenant (agreement) with Adam where the basis for this covenant to stand was that he (Adam) obeyed God's mandate and not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But the enemy came to the Garden to usurp that authority and lure Adam through his wife Eve to violate the agreement. This way, the covenant with God that enabled Adam to rule the earth with God was broken (Read Genesis chapters 1-3).
But Jesus came to the earth to restore that which was lost—the authority for man to rule the earth (Matthew 18:11), and to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) by His sacrifice on the Cross. Thus, our authority to rule the earth as we partner with Him that allows us to partake of His works when we do them in His name was recovered and the agreement with God was reinstated.
This means that we’re not to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil either. We’re not to participate of the things of the world and its system that opposes God and His ways. But one important aspect about not giving in to the things of the enemy is when we understand our identity as sons and daughters of the Most High God. The enemy entered the earth illegally because he was thrown out of heaven for wanting to usurp God’s position and His worship in our hearts. Isaiah 14:12-15 describes,
“‘How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” ESV
Luke 10:17-19 adds, “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” ESV
As mentioned, when the devil was thrown to the earth, he entered it in an illegal way. But for Jesus to restore the authority the devil had stolen from Adam and Eve and destroy his works, He had to enter the earth the legal way which was by the womb of a woman. Thus, God used the womb of the Virgin Mary. John 10:1-3 highlights,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” ESV
This is important to understand because we also came to the earth legally, and it’s one of the first things required for us to enter the Kingdom of God. To enter the Kingdom means that we receive salvation by our repentance (turning) from our sins and our belief in Jesus and what He did on our behalf. As we take this important step that allows Jesus to indwell us by His Holy Spirit, He can lead and guide us and help us rule the earth in partnership with Him. Therefore, our ability to govern with God in heavenly places lies heavily in our understanding of our identity in Him. John 3:1-7 tells us,
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” ESV
We were born of water or of the flesh when we came out of our mother’s womb, and we’re born of the Spirit when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior and embrace His saving sacrifice for us. This gives us both legality and authority to rule the earth and destroy the works of the enemy with our God, so His Kingdom can be established and advanced through us. As sons and daughters of God, we’re called by His name and are created for His glory (to carry the atmosphere of heaven on earth) wherever we go. That is why just like God demanded that Pharaoh let His people go so they could serve Him (Read post # 2), He’s making the same demand to the enemy once again in Isaiah 43: 5-7.
He’s making this demand so His sons and daughters can be free to serve Him and rule the earth with Him being channels of the glorious atmosphere of heaven on earth. It says, “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.’” ESV
However, in order for us to do these exploits as we draw near to God and seek Him diligently (Hebrews 11:6), we need to be mindful of the grace Jesus gave us access to. The Bible says that we’re God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). This means that we must not do these works following the system of this world that is influenced by the enemy who is a thief and a liar. The result of following the works of our flesh, away from the will of God and the system of His Kingdom to attempt to bring the glory of God in our circumstances is death (failure and unnecessary trials). David learned this. 2 Samuel 6:3-7 explains,
“And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.” ESV
The ox and the cart represent the works of our hands done by the strength of our flesh. This is how the world works, and in the end, those who follow this system do not fulfill the purpose of God for their life. This is what eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil symbolizes. But the grace of God enables us to do these great works that Jesus said we would do more than He. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us,
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” NLT
The things God prepared for us ahead of time can be accessed by faith through our relationship with Him that helps us search out His perfect will for us in every aspect of our life. Therefore, we need to seek His perfect will (Romans 12:2) until we’re fully aware of it and not assume that we know how to go about our living, especially when we’re in a new season or have reached a higher dimension, because we don’t want to forfeit our authority to the enemy all over again like Adam.
That is why Proverbs 25:2 reveals, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” AMP
Deuteronomy 29:29 also says, “'The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed and disclosed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may do all of the words of this law.” AMP
As mentioned, David failed the first time he attempted to bring the ark of the covenant (the glory of God) to the city of David because he used the system of the world. But when he learned that the glory of God is carried by God’s vessels, His people, who know their God and do great exploits (Daniel 11:32), those who have overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and do not love their life unto death because they have trusted the Lord and obeyed His Word and commands no matter their test and trials. Then, David found success as he ushered in the ark into the city of David together with all the house of Israel. They did this with worship and celebration. Therefore, bringing the ark into the city became a corporate effort.
2 Samuel 6:12-15 says,
“Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing and gladness. And when those who were carrying the ark of the Lord [by its poles] had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. And David was dancing before the Lord with great enthusiasm, and David was wearing a linen ephod [a priest’s upper garment]. So David and all the house of Israel were bringing the ark of the Lord up [to the City of David] with shouts [of joy] and with the sound of the trumpet.” AMP
Revelation 12:11 also says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” ESV
To God alone be all the glory. *
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