God originated us, therefore He owns us! This idea that someone owns us is contrary to our current culture. Some might even find that offensive. But the problem is that that leads to people thinking they are their own ‘god’. It’s a lie. Satan told Adam and Eve the same lie in the garden of Eden. And because God made everything, it gives Him a natural right of ownership.
Last week, we discussed the law of ownership and how, if you’ve made something, you own it! Why does a potter make a vase? So he can use it and enjoy it, right? He doesn’t make it for the vase’s own benefit and gratification! God made us, He owns us and we were made for His pleasure and enjoyment!
Now what’s so awesome about our God is that He wants us to enjoy Him and take great pleasure, security, comfort, joy and satisfaction in belonging to Him.
In Genesis we see that God made us in His likeness and He delegated His authority to us for running the world. He granted us authority on this earth. That’s huge! Psalm 115:16 is hugely important. Look at what it says here: The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Delegated authority by God to man is one of the most important truths that is missing from the pulpit today. We need to understand this. God doesn’t cause disasters or diseases. Have you ever heard someone say ‘if there was a loving God, He wouldn’t allow all this evil in the world’.
There is no one higher than God. He is the king of all kings and the almighty God. There is no question about that! But God didn’t make you to be a slave or a robot. He made you to be like Him! In order to be like God, we have to be able to make decisions, to create, to exercises out faith and the power that He’s given us over the created realm.
God delegated some of His authority to us. The earth has He given to the children of men. God owns the earth but He delegated rightful authority over it to us! This is fundemental. So what happened? Adam and Eve sinned and things went south from there! There was actually a legal event that took place in the garden. When they listened to Satan and turned from God they gave away their delegated authority. They gave it to Satan.
God had put them in charge and they had the authority to give away that position. Ephesians 2:2 refers to the devil this way; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.
Luke 4:5-7
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
This is Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. Look at what Satan says. All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. How did Satan get that power and authority? He says right there; ‘delivered unto me’. From whom? Adam and Eve! When Adam and Eve sinned, they surrendered the world to the devil.
2 Corinthians 4:4 says Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.
Satan is the god of this world! So many Christians are blaming God for stuff the devil is doing. This is huge folks! Don’t be deceived. Just boil it down to this: Good God / Bad Devil. Whatever is good is coming from God. Whatever is bad, is the devil! That’s an oversimplification but essentially it’s a good way to tell if something is from God or not.
When this event happened in the garden, God could’ve come in and wiped out the world, hit a reset button and tried again. But in doing that He would’ve violated another law, an eternal law; the Law of Justice. It’s number 4 on our list of The Laws of Grace. If you’d like to see the list again, click here.
Have you ever wondered what the word ‘redeemed’ actually means? If you’ve ever taken something at the pawn broker, he will buy it from you for a certain amount, but then if you want it back, you’re going to have to pay a lot more right!? Here’s what God did; He paid the price for our redemption. What is that price? Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Wages. What’s a wage? It’s what you pay someone when they have earned it. When we sin we’ve chosen death and everything contrary to God and we earn the result of that. Everyone who’s born in the natural world already owes a debt. 1 Cor. 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
We were bought with a price. What was that price? The sinless, precious blood of Jesus Christ. He lived on earth without sin. Many people want to imply that Jesus was somehow a sinner. That’s Satan poisoning the gospel in your mind. Jesus voluntarily gave up His sinless life on the cross and it paid the price for our redemption. God was buying back His children, His property! He bought back all of creation. Who would buy back something that was already theirs? That’s the love and grace of God. Wow!
Now we have the opportunity to step back into that position of stewardship, of having the delegated authority just like God intended. Next time we will talk about that in detail as we discover the Law of Agency. This is going to revolutionise your walk with Jesus. It has the potential to take you from being a victim to a victor, from someone who is subject to circumstances and situations to someone who is above only and not beneath, the head and not the tail, from someone who begs and pleads with God for miracles to someone who confidently walks in the power and promises of the New Covenant. Hallelujah!
Until then, have a blessed week!
Upstream Ministries
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