The Daily Word of Righteousness

Preparing the Army of God, #5

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (Psalms 8:4-6)

The Scriptures assign to mankind dominion over all the works of God's hands.

The context reveals that "all things" refers to the heavens, the moon, the stars, and all animal life on the earth.

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (I Corinthians 3:21-23)

Adam and Eve chose to obey Satan and in so doing they lost the authority and power to rule the works of God's hands.

Dominion over the works of God's hands was usurped by Satan and the other fallen nobles of the spirit realm.

As we look out on the world today we can behold the fruit of the rule of evil spirits. The earth, originally a paradise of love, joy, and peace, has become a howling furnace of rage, agony, and despair. What we are seeing is the personality and works of a spiritual nobility that in time past chose to defy God Almighty.

Man today cannot control the works of God's hands nor can he control his own spirit, soul, or body. The spiritual control of the material creation is held in the vengeful, malicious grasp of rebellious spiritual lords and their demon offspring.

The traditional understanding of the Christian salvation is that belief in Jesus qualifies us to go to Heaven when we die.

To die and go to Heaven is not to inherit all things. It is not the reward of the overcomer set forth in the Scriptures. To die and go to Heaven is to rest from the battle while awaiting the moment when the Lord Jesus and His saints descend from Heaven and seize the rulership of the material creation.

The conquering personality is formed in us during our days on the earth. If we learn to conquer now we will rule with the Lord Jesus when He appears from Heaven. If the world, Satan, and our lusts and self-will are able to overcome us now, we will not inherit all things. We will come short of the glorious destiny of the sons of God.

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Joshua 1:5)

The trusting saint is invincible and indestructible. Each of us who has been baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ has been baptized into His death and resurrection. In order for Satan to overcome us he would have to be able to overcome Christ's resurrection.

Many believers either do not understand this or else they are unwilling to believe it. They are timid and fearful. They become moody, introspective, allowing themselves to be bound by oppressive or lustful spirits. They permit Satan to overcome them.

Faith in the Lord Jesus is the victory that overcomes the world.

To be continued.