But God was rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us. Even when we were dead in our trespasses, He made us alive together with Messiah. (By grace you have been saved!) And He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua – to show in the olam ha-ba[age to come] the measureless richness of His grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua. Ephesians 2:4-7 (TLV)
Do you think we have been raised with Yeshua and seated with Him in the heavenly places so we can get a better view of earth? Or perhaps so we can feel warm and fuzzy snuggling up close to our Beloved? Luke 22:69 and Col 3:1 tell us that Yeshua is seated at the right hand of God the Father. This is a reference to Psalm 110, where the king is ruling from the throne. If we are raised up next to Him in such an awesome position of ruling authority, how and over whom are we to rule?
Over creation
Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule …over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ Genesis 1:26, 28
One of the mandates given to the human race at creation was to subdue the earth and rule over the plants and animals. Gardening and training involve work. God blesses our work as we partner with Him to bring in His creative order, not just working as a necessary evil to earn a living. We are born to rule, as the head and not the tail (Dt 28:13).
Over sin
Adam was also to rule over the serpent who was lurking at the gates of the Garden. He did not and it slithered in to deceive and seduce the couple away from God’s best plan for them. If we are not aware and guarding the gates of our lives, we will fall into the same trap.
In baptism, we are buried with the Lord and raised again out of the water as a new creation now in Christ (Col 2:12, 2 Cor 5:17). We must turn from sin and not allow it to have a hold on us. We do not have to win the battle, for the battle has already been won by Yeshua at the cross (Col 2:14-15). Hallelujah! When we know the Lord’s strategies over each situation we face, we can enforce the victory.
… in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom 8:37His Kingdom rule
I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church [ecclesia]; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.’ Matthew 16:15-18
Ecclesia is the word Jesus used when He founded the church on Peter’s declaration of Him as the Messiah, the Son of God. Ecclesia is a governmental word, meaning an assembly or gathering to decide policy and law for the city. We are the city council of God for our area, and we are to decide the political policies for our cities, not just for religious issues but for all matters! Our gatherings are meant to influence the world. We are to reign with Him. If we abdicate our responsibility as citizens, then we cannot complain when we see ungodly people stepping up to fill the gap.
Over demons and over disease
Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. Luke 9:1-2
A policeman directing traffic, does not have the power to stop the cars, which are much bigger and stronger than he is. But he has the authority because it has been imputed to him by a higher authority, that of the governing state, which has endowed him with the responsibility to maintain law and order.
“Jesus’ obedience, death and resurrection granted Him all authority in heaven and on earth.”
Jesus’ obedience, death and resurrection granted Him all authority in heaven and on earth. Nothing is beyond His control. He commissioned His followers to go and disciple all nations. We have been given the authority to preach, to teach, to baptise, to heal, to cast out demons and to do miraculous signs in His name (Mk 16:15-18).
Over evil powers
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19
Note that we do not have authority over people. Our authority is given over the demonic realm pictured as snakes and scorpions. We do not fight people, nor do we demand, dominate, manipulate, mock or belittle people. We are not to fight in the flesh. We are to fight in the Spirit with the weapons God has given us to overcome Satan and the powers and principalities in heavenly places (Eph 6:10-17).
Jesus’ victory was won through suffering and sacrifice. He laid down His life for others, and as we pray for others, we must also be willing to sacrifice on their behalf. Our authority always comes as we mirror the attitudes of Jesus in humility.
Knowing our boundaries
The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much. Luke 16:10
Authority is something we must grow into. If we do not have the character to undergird the authority God invests in us, we will use it wrongly, which could be disastrous. We need to start in small matters in our own life by taking charge of disciplining our time, our appetites, our eyes and our tongues. As we gain the victory in overcoming the wiles of Satan in small matters, we can move on to family issues and wider responsibilities.
We also have to know what territory God is giving us, and when and how we are to take it. This will most likely be according to our professional training, life experience and/or spiritual gifting.
Over nations and over kingdoms
See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. Jeremiah 1:10
We can start by taking up our responsibility as the city council of God, deciding what can come into our region and what can reside there. As watchmen and gatekeepers, we need to close the gates of evil over our cities and open the gates of righteousness (ref earlier articles on Watching and Gatekeeping). Once the strongholds in our area are removed, it will be much easier to evangelise and see positive change in our region.
Our authority over Israel as Gentile Christians
Our chief calling as Gentile Christians is to pray for the salvation of Israel. Romans 10:19 says that God will call those who are not His people to make Israel jealous. The atrocities of persecution and pogroms against the Jews, often in the name of Jesus, have blackened His name in the eyes of the Jews. Love in action will soften their hearts and being a true, humble witness for our Messiah will help to remove the harness of heart. God promises that all Israel will be saved (Rom 11:26) and we can partner with Him to bring this to pass through prayer, words and deeds that reflect His true character.
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