FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024
AUTHORITY RESTORED – Pastor Chris
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:19).
In Matthew 4:8-9, we read the account where the devil tempted Jesus by offering Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory on the condition that Jesus would bow down and worship him. The devil was not merely offering wealth or power, he was calling for worship, demanding that Jesus acknowledge his authority over the world.
To understand this, let’s examine the same account in Luke 4:5-7, where the devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and says, “…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 4:6). The devil claimed that all the power and glory of the world were delivered to him, but how did he get them? Certainly, God didn’t give them to him!
To answer this, let’s read Paul’s apologia in 1 Timothy 2:14: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” Eve was deceived by the devil, but Adam wasn’t. Adam wilfully chose to disobey God and obey Satan. This act of treason against God is what led to the fall of man. Adam’s wilful disobedience resulted in the loss of the dominion God had given him over the earth. “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).
By yielding to Satan, Adam effectively handed over his God-given authority to the devil, making Satan the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan became the ruler of the world systems, taking dominion over the earth, a role intended for Adam. But thanks be unto God! Jesus, through His death, burial and resurrection, reclaimed the dominion and delivered it back to us. His vicarious sacrifice and resurrection in our behalf was the ultimate victory through which the power of Satan was broken and the authority of Christ was established forever in and through His Church. Hallelujah!
PRAYERDear Father, thank you for the victory I have in Christ Jesus. I rejoice in the knowledge that through His sacrifice, the authority lost by Adam has been restored to us in Christ. I walk in this victory every day, knowing that I’ve been translated into the Kingdom of your Love-Son, enjoying the glorious liberty of the saints in light, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 4:8-10
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Colossians 2:11-15
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Romans 5:12-17
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: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as [it was] by one that sinned, [so is] the gift: for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation, but the free gift [is] of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Luke 10:19
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.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: 2 Timothy 1:1-18 & Jeremiah 17-18
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Hebrews 12:14-29 & Ezekiel 24
