Spiritual Laws
1. immutable - do not change
2. inviolable - cannot be violated
3. universal - apply equally to
everyone
Considered secular applications
Evaluating scriptures
1. what does it say?
2. what does it mean?
3. how does it apply to me?
4. how should I respond?
Introduction
1. Gen 1:28 “Be fruitful and increase
in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over
the fish of the sea and the birds of the air
and over every living creature that moves on
the ground.”
a. God’s intent was for man to have dominion over the earth
and everything on it.
b. Two key words, translated “subdue” and “rule”
i. Hebrew word kabash
(1) to trample under foot (e.g. stones), implying complete disregard
for the object, not worthy of value
(2) to subdue, conquer, subjugate or violate; e.g., describes capture
of hostages in war and making them slaves
ii. We’re to kabash the earth
(1) Does this mean to violate or destroy it?
(2) Probably means to use all its resources, take advantage of great
wealth it contains
iii. Hebrew word radah
(1) to tread down; e.g. a winepress
(2) to have dominion, reign, rule; used for king reigning kingdom
and for priests ruling by means of teaching & correcting
(3) to take possession; used in Talmud for taking bread from oven
iv. We’re to radah all living creatures
(1) We’re to have dominion/authority over the living creatures
c. Principle of stewardship requires that we protect and not
abuse our world and its
inhabitants
d. At the Fall, God didn’t take man’s dominion away from him;
man lost access to
God because
of sin. Man still has limited dominion, but not the relationship and
understanding
to exercise it properly.
Opinion
1. When Adam & Eve sinned,
mankind didn’t immediately fall to the depths of depravity.
Man was separated from God, began to experience
effects of sin: sickness, weeds,
animal hostility, and so on. But these increased
in severity with time. Evidence:
decreasing life spans from Adam to Noah and
increasing depravity.
2. Conclusion: man gradually lost
his influence over the earth and creation because of the
increased effects of sin; i.e., as Satan continued
to pervert man’s nature and subvert
man’s authority. Continued until Satan is
in effect the god of this world and man has
virtually no power.
End of Opinion
Law of Authority
1. Authority is delegated to act
in behalf of a higher authority within specified bounds.
a. All authority is delegated by someone who has the authority.
b. Adam’s authority over the earth was from God.
c. Adam abdicated, lost his authority
i. When Satan tempted him, how did Jesus respond? By quoting
God’s
written word. Satan the lesser tempted Jesus the greater.
ii. Adam was ruler of the earth; serpent was one of creatures over
which
Adam had authority (Gen 1:28, “Rule over the fish of the sea and the
birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the
ground.”)
iii. How should Adam have responded when Satan the serpent tempted him?
By quoting God’s spoken word.
iv. Instead, Adam abdicated his authority, thereby losing it. He
chose to
believe Satan’s suggestion, rather than respond in authority.
v. But why did Satan gain authority over the earth? Speculation:
(1) nature abhors a vacuum; cannot be total absence of authority
(2) you are slave to whomever you obey
(3) easy to usurp Adam, who did not speak
2. 1 Jn 3:8, “The reason the Son
of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
a. What was devil’s work? Subverting man’s dominion, making
a mockery of him
who was created
in God’s image.
b. Jesus destroyed Satan’s work.
3. Mt 28:18 (part of Great Commission)
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All
authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me.’”
a. Jesus already had authority in heaven; after his death,
by defeating Satan he
regained authority
over the earth; this is what man lost in Garden of Eden.
b. Jesus regained the authority and commissioned his disciples
to act in behalf of
that authority.
c. verse 19 begins: “therefore go ...” Jesus restored man’s
dominion under God.
d. All authority is delegated by one in higher authority. Jesus
imparted, delegated
his spiritual
authority to his followers. What does this imply about our authority
in spiritual
matters? Over demons? Over Satan?
e. Jesus regained authority on earth, imparted this to followers.
What does this
imply about
our authority in “natural events”? Examples?
f. Do we have all the authority God has? What is extent of
our authority? Can we
use it for our
own satisfaction or advancement? All authority is delegated by one
in higher authority
and is limited.
g. After resurrection, Jesus had all authority in heaven and
on earth. Supreme
authority added
to supreme power; literally unbeatable combination
h. Jesus has restored man’s ability to rule effectively over
this planet.
i. The only way man can regain authority given to Adam is to
serve God. Because
of Jesus’ victory,
we’ll ultimately have greater authority and power than was
given Adam.
4. Scriptures that show we are
God’s assistants; he works through us:
a. 1 Co 3:9 “For we are God’s fellow workers”
b. 2 Co 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though
God were making
his appeal through
us.”
c. 2 Co 6:1 “As God’s fellow workers ...”
d. God works through us to do his will on earth. We act in
his authority, which he
regained for
man through the cross.
e. Activity: have everyone stand and repeat in unison: “I have
authority in Jesus.”
5. Another perspective
a. What does it mean to be the body of Christ?
b. What authority do we have as his body?
c. We are acting in his behalf, under his authority, in his
name, as his legal
representatives.
6. Specific authority Jesus gave
his disciples
a. Lk 9:1-2 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he
gave them power and
authority to
drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to
preach the kingdom
of God and to heal the sick.”
b. Lk 10:19 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes
and scorpions, and to
overcome all
the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
c. “Power” (dynamis) is the strength or ability we have from
the Holy Spirit’s
residence within
us; this cannot be interpreted as an ability mankind has, or
everyone would
be able to overthrow demons and to cure diseases. Practical
experience and
understanding of spiritual authority demonstrate that isn’t the
case.
d. Authority (exousia) is the right to exercise power, such
as the authority of an
official.
e. Jesus gave us the power necessary to do his work, plus the
authority to use that
power. We therefore
empowered and authorized to perform miracles; keep in
mind that we’re
to do God’s work, not our own whim.
f. Satan is liar and uses deceit to prevent Christians from
using their authority. He
entices us to
sin, which weakens us spiritually and separates us from God. Satan
uses fear, discouragement,
embarrassment and all other mental weapons to keep
believers disarmed.
If a soldier in combat is convinced his weapon won’t work,
will he rely
on it? No; he’ll abandon it. Satan knows that.
g. Regardless of what you think, you have authority over demons,
disease, the
physical world
and everything in it. You exercise your dominion by acting,
most typically
by speaking; you can believe all you want, but it’s your speech
that commands
the circumstances, translating spiritual power into the physical
world.
7. Mt 11:12 “From the days of
John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has
been forcefully advancing, and forceful men
lay hold of it.”
a. “forcefully advancing” and “forceful men”; root word is
biazo, to force
violently; its
use indicates that person has special interest, something personal to
gain from his
act.
b. “lay hold of it”; root word is harpazo, to carry off by
force, to snatch away;
used in Jn 6:15
(people attempted to seize Jesus to force him to be king), Acts
23:10 (Roman
guards rescued Paul from rioting mob), 1 Th 4:17 (Jesus snatches
the saints up
into the clouds, the “Rapture” of the church).
c. Mt 11:12 “kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing,
and forceful men
lay hold of
it.” Image of men seizing enemy territory with overwhelming force,
overpowering
the enemy and overthrowing all resistance; image of great wealth
being captured
by men who grab all of it they can get, not letting anyone stand
in their way.
Very vivid image in Jesus’ day, because armies looted territory
and enslaved
people they conquered.
d. Does that characterize your Christian experience? Have you
done everything
you can to get
what God has promised you? Have you spoken and acted with
authority to
advance God’s kingdom? Have you trampled on the enemy as if he
were pebbles
in the street? Or have you stood on the fringes? “Well, I’m not
sure that’s
for me.” That’s a lie straight from hell!
8. Satan’s’ area of influence is
your mind.
a. He will confuse you, deceive you and scare you, but you
have power and
authority to
overcome his every trick.
b. When you’re doing God’s will and confusion or fear overwhelms
you, speak
Word of God,
verbalize his will and guidance; don’t let anything stop you from
doing God’s
will.
Conclusion
You have authority over the earth and every creature on it. It’s your
God-given responsibility
to use that authority for God’s glory.