CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION

 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 66:1-9; Luke 10:16-20

Introduction

Authority is the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. It is a mandate to be in charge. This reminds me of what the Centurion said to Jesus, "... I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:9 NIV) Being in authority is one's legal right to command power.

The Beginning

God created man with dominion mandate, authority, in mind He says, "Let us create man in our image, according to our likeness. Let them rule and have dominion... over all the earth..." (Gen. 1:26). To this first family, God gave authority over all creation including the earth [delegated authority]. 

Through pride and rebellion, Satan fell from his heavenly position of beauty, authority, and power. Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18; see also Ezekiel 28:11-17 and Isaiah 14:12-15)

The authority of dominion was lost to Satan when he succeeded to trick man to disobey God. (Gen. 3) As a result, three things happened;

1. Man lost the covering and authority of God. The image of God was marred.

2. Man lost the right of authority over God's creation.

3. Man came under the authority of Satan. The symbol of authority - the scepter and crown were both taken away from humanity.

Authority Restoration Plan

In the garden of Eden, God slew a lamb and made clothing out of the skin for Adam and his wife (Gen. 3:21). John reveals to us that God sacrificed His Son from the foundation of the world to reconcile humanity to Himself and restore the lost authority (Rev. 13:8). "For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was chosen before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times for you." (1 Peter 1:18-20 HCSB). This is in fulfillment of one key attribute of God, "GRACE". 

God assured Satan that the redemption will be from the seed of the woman which he would strike the heel and the seed will crush his head, saying, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 NIV). The phrase "crush your head" has an added meaning of great importance to our theme of authority. The term "head" is that of headship or governmental authority (covering). Paul uses the term in setting forth the lines of spiritual authority and responsibility: "Now I want you to realize that the head [authority, rulership] of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." 1 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV). 

From the above discussion, the lost authority of man was to be restored by the seed of the woman [Jesus Christ]. 

Jesus Christ as the Redeemer

When the right time had come, God sent his Son to be born of a woman and live under the law. He did this to redeem those who were also under the law. In this way, we were bought and brought back into God's family [authority] as His very own children' 'For this reason, he sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. From our hearts to His, the Spirit now cries out, 'Father, dear Father.' No longer are we slaves, but God's beloved children. As his children, everything that belongs to Him now belongs to us too. (Gal 4:4-7).

Apostle Paul at this point links the birth of the Lord Jesus to the promised Seed in Genesis 3:15. We see many instances in the life of Jesus where the devil tried to avert this plan of God, Matt. 2:16-17; 4:8-11; 16:21-23)

Jesus has all Power And Authority

After Jesus' resurrection, He showed us the shift of authority saying, All power in Heaven and on earth has been given unto me. Therefore go and make disciples in all nations. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt 28:18-20).

The word "power" means power to rule, to take authority, and have dominion. Now if Jesus has all power and authority, that means the devil has none. Through His death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus dethroned the devil and took away his authority of dominion (the crown and scepter). Jesus strongly stated this truth again to the Apostle John in his heavenly vision. Don't be afraid, l am the first and the last. I died, but see, I am alive for evermore. I have the keys [authority] of death and the grave (Rev 1:17,18).

Authority In Jesus' Name

For the sacrifice, Jesus made, "...God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name" Philippians 2:9 (NIV). In the exalted name of Jesus, the authority has been established. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11 (NIV). "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:17-18 (NIV). This is the absolute authority, therefore, "Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7)

The 70 who were sent had the practical experience of exercising this authority in Jesus' name.

1. The authority is in the sent. Anyone who rejects the sent rejects the sender (Luke 10:16).

2. The authority in Jesus' name causes the submission of demons (Luke 10:17)

3. The authority in Jesus' name causes the downfall of Satan (Luke 10:18).

4. Authority in Jesus' name crushes the head of Satan (Luke 10:19) and he has no power to harm us.

5. Authority in Jesus' name brings our names into the Heavenly book of life (Luke 10:20)

Applying the Authority in Jesus' Name

a. Do not run from the devil. Like a roaring lion, he comes but he is as good as dead. He is a toothless bulldog. Resist him and he shall flee.

b. Do not give him power. The only power the devil can have is as much as we give to him. He has lost it all except those that we still give him to fight us.

c. Guard against his seed of deception. He is able to roar his way into our daily lives through our thought and feelings. He saw seeds of doubt and fear in our hearts and mind and then use it to manipulate us. Guard against it.

d. Resist him by standing firm in the faith. We can do this by imitating what Christ did, the Word of God, and the power of God's Spirit.

Conclusion

Elisha exercised his faith in God by calming the king to send Naman to him for healing, "...Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 2 Kings 5:8 (NIV) The practice of our faith in God is in the actions we take in the faith. By application of the authority in Jesus' name we come to sing, Come and see what God has done, what we prayed for has come to pass. Psalms 66:5 (NIV)

Shalom aleichem...