Genesis 1:26-28 (Amplified) says, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Own Image (after Our Likeness), and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God Blessed them and said to them; Be fruitful (multiply) and fill the earth and subdue it, using all its vast resources in the service of God and man; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth."
Genesis 3:12 (Amplified) says, "And the man (Adam) said, The woman You gave to be with me-she gave me fruit from the Tree, and I ate." The above scripture tells us that, "God gave Adam complete authority over the earth and everything upon it," so we know that Adam had the authority to dismiss satan and retain authority over all the earth and everything upon it. The Curse of Sin and of Death, was never God's idea or His Intention for mankind, but was the result of Adam's transgression. The new covenant we live in, was ratified by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus put us back into a position of authority over satan and his plan for us.
James 4:7 (Amplified) says, "So be subject to God, Resist the devil (stand firm against him), and he will flee from you." 1Peter 5:8-9 (Amplified) says, "Be well-balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours (the devil), roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger seeking someone to seize and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith against his onset-rooted and established (strong, immovable, and determined), knowing that the same identical sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole Body of Christians around the world)."
This same roaring lion, who talked Adam and Eve out of the authority and dominion God gave them, will try every believer and try talking us out of the authority we have in the Name of Jesus. You might not have the authority to stop satan's onset over the entire Body of Christ, but this is left to the individual to do so in our own lives and affairs. Don't judge Adam so harshly, because we've all yielded to the enemy's lies at one time or another. Now though, is the time to stand firm in faith and submit to God, and the enemy will flee from you.
We've accepted satan's lie because of our passive, old carnal thoughts and actions and then blamed someone or something else, just like Adam did. Adam blamed Eve, saying, "It was the woman You gave me." He was basically saying, "It's not my fault." We've blamed God for things that happen in our lives, saying, "It must have been His will" or "God allowed the devil to do it."
God warned us that the devil was still here and that he is the tempter and deceiver, but God has given us back the authority to shut him down in the Power of the Name of Jesus Christ. Whether he likes it or not, satan is under the authority of the Name of Jesus, when it's used in faith. Many believers have lost faith in that Name and have accepted the lie satan has placed in our lives, by men. Ephesians 4:23-24 (Amplified) says, "Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having a fresh mental and Spiritual attitude. And put on the new nature, the regenerate self created in God's Image (God-like in True Righteousness and holiness)."
Satan knows the Power and Authority in the Name of Jesus, even more than the Church does. He understands this authority from the Father and he fears it more than anything. Satan's greatest weapon against the believer, is our lack of understanding and denial of the authority of the Name of Jesus. Religious teachings tell us that, "It's God's will," "God's using this sickness to teach you something," and even, "God Himself is doing this for your own good." All of these things are the same lie Adam told God, when he said, "It was this woman that YOU GAVE ME." In other words, "It's Your fault God."
This sort of deception isn't only tolerated in today's Church, but is encouraged by our "modern" teachings. Luke 4:13 (Amplified) tells about satan's trying to tempt Jesus, saying, "And when the devil had ended every (the complete cycle of) temptations, he temporarily left [Jesus], that is, he stood off from Him, until a more opportune and favorable time." It didn't say that satan quit his attempts at trying to deceive Jesus, but that "he waited for another attempt and a better time." Satan tried and failed to tempt Jesus, throughout His entire earthly ministry. Jesus stood on God's Word of authority, which was the same authority God gave to the First Adam and He has restored it back to the new creation people.
We can't "cut a deal with" or compromise with the devil, because he is a liar and the father of lies. We can never trust satan to keep his word. Compromise is the language of the devil and it will kill you and it will kill your faith in God's Word. Many Christians don't trust God's Word, so how can we expect to trust satan's word? A Christian's greatest fear, is not trusting God to do what He Promised. When we don't see immediate results to our prayers, then we stop believing and making excuses why it didn't work. How long does it take to stop believing and start finding an excuse for why it isn't working? Not long for many. This isn't magic. It's faith. Faith holds on, until we see and have the manifestation, no matter what.
We've been trained over the years, to believe the lies of the adversary, instead of the Truth of God's Word. We need the Holy Spirit to disclose Truth to us, after all, He is the Spirit of Truth. Don't be quick to grab hold of every teaching you hear, but always check it out by the Holy Spirit and God's Word first.
This kind of authority and faith doesn't come without trials and the temptation to quit walking in this authority. Satan has no defense against this authority, because "It is forever settled in Heaven." The Name of Jesus is Above every name, both in Heaven, in earth, and under the earth. Faith in His Name is above all else, both in this realm and in the heavenly realm too. No one knows this more than the devil, who is under the authority of the Name, when it's spoken from the lips and spirit of any believer, in faith.
Jesus has restored us back to all authority over the earth and everything on it, so let's step out in this authority in our own lives, homes and families. God's Word tells us, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." We must bring our senses and emotions into the control of our new creation man/woman. We must use the authority against the enemy in our own lives first and then take it into the lives of others, like Jesus commanded.
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