The Place of Man’s Authority

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26 NKJV)

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men. (Psalm 115:16 NKJV)

God’s kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19)! He is greater and He must allow![1] Yet, significantly, at creation, God delegated authority over the earth to man (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 115:16). Man, who was made in the image of God, was to join in relationship and agreement for things of the earth. At first, there was order and things were good. Sadly, however, just as the earth had been delegated to man, man relinquished it to Satan at the fall (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2). Indeed, because of the sin of Adam, all creation has been subjected to “futility” and has suffered greatly (Romans 8:19-23). The beauty of God’s creation has been enslaved to the enemy. That which God intended has been confused.

Notwithstanding these consequences, through Christ Jesus—and in alignment with God’s greatness and His heart—we can, again, move in a place of triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). Without Christ—and by God’s allowance—man is under the dominion of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 6:16; Ephesians 6:12). In Christ, however, man is set free and sits with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:18-23; 2:4-7; Colossians 1:13-14).

TIMES OF RESTORATION

It’s a new day! In Christ, old things are passed away—all things have been made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Consider the power of the cross:

• He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. . . . For it pleased the Father that in [Jesus] all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:13-20 NKJV)
  

• Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15 NKJV)
  

• “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” (Ephesians 4:8 NKJV)
  

• “[Jesus Christ] whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:21 NKJV)
  

• “He [Christ] is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:21 NKJV)
  

• Then comes the end, when He [Jesus] delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. . . . Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28 NKJV)
  

• [In the end] “The kingdoms of this world . . . become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NKJV)
  

Times of restoration are near—in Christ (Matthew 10:7; Acts 3:21; Colossians 1:19-22; Philippians 3:21)! Through the death of Christ Jesus, the victory has been won! Now, however, “we do not yet see all things put under him” (Hebrews 2:8 NKJV). Creation still awaits its full deliverance (Romans 8:19-22; Colossians 1:16-20).

The Place of Our Agreement

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19 NKJV)

In the beginning, God delegated an authority over the earth to man. In Christ, that position is restored. Consider afresh the words of Christ:

• “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV)
  

• “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:12-13 NKJV)
  

• “In this manner, therefore, pray: . . . Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV)
  

• “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:21-22 NKJV)
  

• “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19 NKJV)
  

• “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20 NKJV)
  

God’s kingdom rules over all! The enemy was defeated at the cross (Colossians 2:15; Philippians 3:21)! Notwithstanding these truths, as stewards of the earth, we must agree with the Lord for the thing He would do: “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). We must come into an agreement with and appropriate His rule (Matthew 18:19-20; 1 John 5:14-15)!

Individually—in agreement with Christ—we become “loosed” from the domain of Satan! Not only so, but, in alignment with God’s will and “if [we] have faith and do not doubt” (1 John 5:14-15; Matthew 21:21), we may again, through prayer, move in the place of our authority. Even mountains may be moved—if we have faith and do not doubt (Matthew 21:21). We can effect a release unto things of the earth (Ephesians 4:8).

IN CONCLUSION

God rules over all—He must give permission for a thing to occur! Notwithstanding, in His sovereignty, everything has not been predestined. Truly, as believers, we must be solid in this truth. We must be solid in order that we may fulfill our part—even to take our positions against the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-12; Matthew 21:21-22; Matthew 11:11-12).

Prophetically, God has given strong witness to the place of our authority. (For sure, God often will use an event to speak many different things to many different people.) Just as I had entered into my computer the words “The Place of Man’s Authority,” the earth began to shake. Virginia experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. Yet—instead of fear—joyfully, at once, I felt the Lord had affirmed: As we will know and take our positions in alignment with Him, things of the earth will move. Moreover, and with great likeness, just as one of my daughters would rise up, one night, to take authority over her emotions unto the “the mind of Christ,” Virginia experienced a 4.5!

In truth, Satan has been defeated. The victory has been won through Christ. Only now, we must take our places.[2]

The above excerpt is the entirety of Chapter 8, found within the book God’s Sovereignty and Our Responsibility: His Heart for All Men. Copyright © 2016 by Pamela K. Gourley. PlainFocus Books. Fredericksburg, VA. All rights reserved.                                                         

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FOOTNOTES

[1] See the chapters “Significant Scriptures—Part 1” and Significant Scriptures—Part 2.”
[2] Most significant to note: Although, under the name of “God,” some have distorted the place of spiritual warfare, in Christ Jesus, our engagement is not against men—“we wrestle not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12). To the contrary, ours is to be engagement through prayer. (See 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:12; and Ephesians 6:17-18.)