We read in Numbers 23:24, “The nation of Israel is like a mighty lion: It doesn't rest until it has torn and devoured, until it has drunk the blood of those it has killed.” (GNB)
Though this verse seems strange these are the words that were spoken by the Prophet Balaam about the people of Israel. The Israelites had been in bondage to the Egyptians for over 400 years. In a most miraculous way as they observed the Passover, the Lord delivered them in a mighty way as they crossed the Red Sea, and later were also led by God all through their journey in the wilderness. It was these people whom the King of Moab feared, and with the intent to stop their progress, he bribed Balaam a prophet of God to curse the Israelites.
As we delved deeper into each of these prophecies, and studied them in the earlier messages we discovered that each of these words that were prophesied about the Israelites can be appropriated to us who belong to the body of Christ. By so doing we are able to know who we are in Christ, and what is our identity in Him.
Balaam referred to the Israelites as a ‘mighty lion.’ Even children know that the lion is referred to as the king of the forest. A lion is a sign of royalty, and that is the reason why even kings in ancient times had the symbol of the lion on their throne.
All of us who are believers in the Lord Jesus must know that we have been endowed with His authority. When we are not aware of this we allow many things to overpower us, and do not exercise the authority that God has bestowed on us over them.
The authority given to man at creation
We read in Genesis 1:26, Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (ESV)
God made man in His own image and likeness. This is something we must bear in mind that we were created in God’s own image and likeness. Have you observed how a mother gets elated when someone tells her that her new born baby resembles her?
Also God gave man the authority to rule over all that God had created. This was God’s original plan. If we want to understand God’s plan for our lives, it is important that we know how, why, and what for we were created by God for only then we will live according to that plan.
We read in Genesis 1:28, And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (ESV)
This authority to rule rested on Adam as long as he was obedient to the God who ruled over him. However, when Adam sinned and rebelled against God’s authority, he also lost that authority that God has bestowed on him.
If we want to have a glimpse of how Adam would have lived before the fall, we can see it in the New Testament in the life of Jesus. When Jesus was here on earth, we see that He ruled over the winds and the sea, He ruled over sickness, and over Satan and nothing could overcome Him. Jesus also spoke with authority, and everyone was in awe of Him. Remember that before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples that those who believe in Him would do greater things than He did. This means that Jesus has given the authority into our hands.
The authority that Adam lost when he disobeyed God at the Garden of Eden, Jesus restored and has given it into our hands. If only we believe this and act accordingly, we will not allow the situation and circumstances to overcome us, but rather we will triumph over all of them.
Jesus ruled over want
As Jesus taught over 5000 people, the multitudes were hungry and the disciples were perturbed when Jesus asked that they be given food. All that was in their hands were only five loaves and two fish, but when they brought it to the Lord, He blessed it so that it fed all of the people who had gathered there, and there were also twelve baskets left over that were picked up. Jesus rules over our every want that could arise in our lives.
Jesus ruled over the sea and the storm
The disciples went in the boat at Jesus’ bidding, but when there was a storm they were fearful because they thought they would drown.
There are so many who are fearful because of situations that seem overwhelming, and to such the Lord reminds us that the Lord who reigns over all the storms of life is with us in our boat. Also the Lord has given us His authority into our hands.
We see that the lion is a symbol of authority, and let us ponder on how a king who is seated on his throne would rule. Any king in authority just rules by His word only, and that’s exactly how God has ordained for us to rule too. Just imagine if a king wants to build a mansion, all he has to do is just pass the orders with his words, and the work will duly be done. So also, God desires that we rule with our words. Often we keep saying negative things constantly, and thereby bring many problems on ourselves.
A lion is a symbol of royalty.
The bible clearly says, ‘as a man thinks in his heart so is he.’ Often in our minds we think we are nobodies or failures, but instead if we can understand who we are in Christ, we will find that our situations will change. When our words change our circumstances also change. We read in Psalm 33:9, “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” (ESV) That was the power and authority God has, and that He has also bestowed on us as His children.
Have you observed a policeman when he speaks to someone? He will observe a certain authority in their voice which we can easily identify though he may not even be in uniform. Often we are so fearful and timid in many situations, and presume that it is a sign of humility. We have authority that God has placed on us, and we need to exercise it and speak words of faith to those hard and impossible situations.
We rule like kings
We read in Romans 5:17, “Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.” (CEV)
When God created Adam, he was given the authority to rule. There were two roles that were given to Adam, one to tend and second to take care of the garden that God had placed him in. Adam did not have tools to take care of the garden, but did it with his words only. However, when Adam disobeyed God the life that was his to enjoy was replaced by death. Where there is sin, death rules. Nonetheless through Jesus Christ grace and righteousness became ours because of Jesus’ took all of our sins on the cross. Through Christ we receive life, and the authority to rule like kings.
The things about having authority is we can choose to use it or not use it. For instance if a person violates a traffic rule (for example by not wearing a helmet while riding a bike) can do two things. One can be fearful at the sight of the traffic cop or can speed off hoping he won’t be caught. However, it is up to the traffic cop to either stop the person who is violating the rule or to just ignore it. Though he has the authority, what he does with it depends entirely on him. So also if a traffic cop puts out a stop sign not only will small vehicles stop, even a huge ten wheeler truck will also stop when they see that cop with the stop sign. This is because behind the cop is the authority that has been bestowed upon him by the department that has employed him.
We have the authority over circumstances, sickness, and even the devil because God has given this to us. The staff in Moses hand could part the Red Sea because of the authority God had bestowed on Moses. When the feet of the priests touched the Jordan, the waters parted because of the authority God had entrusted to them.
As long as we don’t realize the authority God has bestowed on us, we will not be able to exercise this in our lives. There are families where the evil one works havoc, and they are in constant conflict, and have accepted their situation as unchangeable. Instead if only they realize the authority that has been given to them through Jesus, and rebuke the works of the enemy in their families, the quarrels and disputes will certainly settle down. The head of the family must take it on themselves to guard your family and exercise that authority over all the challenging situations that come into their family.
Let me give you an example from our everyday experience. When our children are young and when the mother is calling out to them to have their meal, if they are playing they will request for a few extra minutes to play. The mother will wait patiently, and after a while when the children don’t turn up, the mother’s voice will change in tone and just by hearing that change, the children will come running to the table. This is because the children recognize the authority in the mother’s voice which they know they must give heed to.
We too must speak God’s blessing over our family, our children and our finances. As we believe and exercise our faith in God, trusting everything to His Almighty hands, we will see changes take place in every area of our lives.
As we look again at Romans 5:17, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)
While Adam’s offense brought death, Jesus brought through His sinless life the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, so we can reign as rulers through Jesus Christ. Adam lost the authority through his disobedience, but through Jesus Christ God revealed to us all the authority that is ours through Jesus. That is why Jesus could with that authority and His words deal with want, sickness, perils and the devil too and overcome all of them. Jesus told that we will do greater things than He did, but sadly we have failed to exercise this authority.
A reading of Romans 5 will help us truly understand our position in Christ. Let us set aside all our fears knowing that Jesus lived the sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again to restore back to us all that Adam had lost. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus, and He has endowed us His children with that authority to live that triumphant life here on earth. We read that God has given us much more through Jesus Christ so we can reign in this life.
We read in Revelation 1:6, “and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (NKJV)
Jesus has made us kings and priests who stand before God the Father. No matter what our situation we are in let us confess that we are kings, who will rule over every situation that comes our way. We will not fear any difficulty or hardship that comes our way, for we will speak with the authority that God has given to us, and rule over all of them.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
