Scripture: Genesis 3 v 22 - 24: "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."
Here we see divine authority coming from God to protect the tree of life, and to separate Adam and Eve from Eden, which was a reminder of Heaven and God's provision. Now they must grow their own food and miss out on the wonderful fellowship with God they had experienced. Eternal life was removed from them because sin had entered in.
Why and how did this happen? God said behold the man, Adam, is become as one of us......God was not alone, Jesus is the Creator of all things, and God the Father spoke the words of what was to be created. The Father said let there be light, and Jesus created light. The Holy Spirit was also present. The Trinity of God were in Eden.
Adam knew good and evil. He knew God and His love, peace and joy. He knew the Devil, the Serpent, and had sided with him contrary to God's will. He had betrayed God's trust and failed Him in the most vital way. Thou shalt have no other gods except Me. God knew how evil Satan was and that he had warped the souls of men with gross sin before the Creation. Psalm 51 says that we are born in sin from the moment of conception.
God knew us before Earth was created. He knew Satan had damaged us. He did not know how severe it was. That His original man, Adam, should hand every soul over to Satan, was a cause of great sadness to the Father of us all. It meant His Son would have to break the curse of sin by His own death. It meant every soul must be born again and have divine authority restored to them.
The Flood and the Ark were further signs of the awful damage to the souls of mankind. They were beyond help because of their evil, demonic ways. He would have to start over with the only righteous family, Noah and his sons and all their wives. The Flood would finish the job that the wipe out of Sodom and Gomorrah had failed to achieve.
Noah was a man under God's divine authority, challenging and overcoming the sin of the world - for a time. The ten plagues on Pharoah were evidence of divine authority invested in Moses to bring God's message to him with signs following. He had to let the Israelite slaves go free back to their own land. It took the death of Pharoah's son the soften his heart enough to let them go. The plagues had ruined Egypt for many years to come. God's divine judgment. Every nation that attacks Israel will be likewise judged.
The miracles of the Exodus from Egypt, manna, quail and water from the rock were enough to convince a woman, a harlot called Rahab, in Jericho to help Joshua and Caleb make a perfect plan. She and her family were the only survivors to be rescued when the great walls of that city fell through God's authority.
In the New Testament, Jesus was the express image of God. He said if you have seen Me you have seen the Father. He was God in human form and He wielded great authority over sin, sickness and demons. He withstood a forty day onslaught from Satan, who offered him every temptation without success. He showed us that we are able to overcome temptation through submission to Him.
As the late David Wilkerson wrote, God entrusts his divine authority only to what Peter calls the
"hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle spirit and quiet spirit" (1 Peter 3:4). Paul says, "The inward man is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Although the outward man is always on display before others, the hidden man is known only by God. The Holy Spirit is constantly at work in him, strengthening and preparing him to receive spiritual authority.
Beloved, you are being trained and matured in God's mercy and you're learning to grow in your hidden man. Trust in his Word in every crisis - and walk in your spiritual authority."
-Source- http://world.convio.net/site/R?i=DSMBga0Jiac0m7P3-9WE1w
We need the divine authority, our legacy from Jesus, to be a prominent feature in our lives. We have the same authority He gave His disciples to heal the sick and cast out demons. We can raise the dead when prompted by the Holy Spirit. I have witnessed this several times. We can calm the sea, storms and claim protection from them.
As a watchman appointed by God, He has shown me many strange things that needed His authority to flow through me. I asked Him if there was any married women in the Bible who had authority over men. He instantly gave me Judges 4 v 4: "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time." I was really surprised!
God gives us all authority to pray and perform miracles, to intercede for the lost and to prevail with God until He shows His power. We have to break through barriers erected by Satan and rescue people who are in harm's way.
If we neglect those things that we have been given, we not only miss out on many joyful victories, but we dishonour our Father and many may perish because of our attitude. He says ,What you do unto others will be done to you!
There is also a passage in Ezekiel concerning the punishment of a disobedient intercessor, or watchman.
Ezekiel 33 v 4 - 7: "Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me."
In Israel the sound of the trumpet is a warning of imminent danger is you take cover or follow procedure you are safe. Pooh pooh it and probably suffer the consequences. These blogs are a trumpet being blown so that we can be in right standing with the Lord on the day He chooses. We don't know the date but we know the season. We are slap bang in the middle of it.
Some people don't like my blogs as they are not the sugar-coated placebos they are used to. When the enemy attacks with unseen forces sweeteners will not help. We have Spiritual weapons, armour and divine authority which together with the faith, understanding and obedience of all believers can cause victory over adversity. We all have overcoming authority, we do not always use it!
If we pour out His love on the people He sends our way, He will cause that love to be returned upon us in many different ways. We can never outgive God. He multiplies the blessings back in hundreds of unique ways.
2 Corinthians 9 v 6 - 8: "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
Start using your divine authority in small ways like that annoying dog barking all day somewhere in the neighbourhood. Pray that whatever is disturbing that dog will be changed into calm acceptance and the dog will be peaceful. Cut off all agitation, fear, loneliness, and anxiety from that dog so that he has nothing to bark about. Use authority on this situation and watch what happens. Praise and thank Jesus for the outcome.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank You for Your love for us that entrusts us with Your authority to meet every situation from barking dogs to life and death emergencies. Help us build up our faith and confidence to meet whatever needs may arise. In Jesus' name. Amen.