Authority from Heaven

Daily Devotional – I’m Normal.™  I AM Ministries

“To promote Godly living in a culture committed to destroying it”

Normal I AM

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Authority from Heaven

Who’s in charge here? After all, some days this world looks pretty bleak. The news reports of wars, famine, perversion, and corruption combined with destruction through natural forces such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and other disasters can be pretty depressing. We struggle with relationships, finances, job security, diseases, and other issues. Many people wonder why God allows all this suffering and misery.

One of the reasons suffering persists is the person in authority here on Earth. His name is Satan. Despite his evil intents, he has been given a large amount of authority in our lives. This authority comes from above, with Scripture providing numerous references. For example, we read in Luke 4:5, Satan led Jesus up to a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. In verse 6, Satan says “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Uncharacteristically, Jesus remains silent on the matter and does not challenge Satan’s statement or authority. Instead He answered the devil by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, saying “Worship the LORD your God and serve Him only.” In most conversations, silence is assumed to be acceptance. It is up to the listener to challenge the speaker when unjustified statements are made. Yet Jesus did not challenge Satan’s statement of authority.

God mysteriously allows Satan to rule what Scripture calls the kingdom of darkness (John 3:19, Romans 2:19, 1 Peter 2:9), the kingdom or the air (Ephesians 2:2), and calls him the “prince of this world” (John 12:31, 14:30, and 16:11). As prince, “the whole world is under control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), at least for a time. Paul calls Satan “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) and Scripture indicates humanity has been under Satan’s grasp since Adam and Eve opted to follow his words instead of God’s Word. Satan’s express intent is to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10), which helps to explain the world’s suffering.

Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again (John 3:3). Why is this necessary? This proclamation still confuses people today as much as it did Nicodemus 2,000 years ago. The reason is we are born into sinful flesh that is influenced by Satan. Thus, Nicodemus, as we all do, need to be born into a new, spiritual, and Heavenly world, separate and distinct from this Earthly and sin-filled world. Jesus longs for us to be born again through Him, and He told us that He and His kingdom are not of this world (John 18:36).

It is normal for God to have the final say in how Earthly events play out. Satan will continue to have his day here on Earth until Jesus Christ comes again and will be attacking you at every opportunity (1 Peter 5:8). After that, God will banish Satan from this world. Satan has been allowed certain authority by God, but only for a time. God is ultimately in control of all things and Satan’s time in authority is limited. Jesus Christ will rule all that is under His feet, including the prince of darkness.

Jesus Christ is our great hope, and we can escape the devil’s fate by following Him. The devil’s ways seem right to us as sinners, but Jesus’ ways are normal and true. The devil has temporary power here on Earth, but that will be replaced by Jesus’ power for all eternity. Be sure you’re headed to eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

In His love and service,

Jeff Myers
A servant of Jesus Christ

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