Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible. When we pray to Elohim, we remember that He is the one who began it all, creating the heavens and the earth and separating light from darkness, water from dry land, night from day. This ancient name for God contains the idea of God's creative power as well as his authority and sovereignty. All authority belongs to Elohim—God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore, God gives His authority to whom ever He pleases. I believe God is calling us to understand His Kingdom Authority and how it relates to us today.
God’s Kingdom Authority was gloriously given to mankind.
When God created man and placed him in the Garden, He bestowed authority to Adam according to Genesis 1: 26: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion (authority) over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepth upon the earth.” We notice that in this statement that the plural “them” was used establishing that mankind would have authority over all the earth. In Psalm 2: 6 we read: “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of they hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.” The Psalm speaks primarily of what God bestowed upon the human race as represented in Adam but is prophetic pointing to Christ, the second Adam. God’s original plan was to create mankind for fellowship with Him as Father and with His heavenly host—“That His Kingdom would come, that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God desired for His heavenly host and His earthly host—mankind to be in harmony and relationship as His family.
Kingdom Authority Was Legally Lost.
How did mankind loose the authority originally given by God? It would be through a crafty serpent, aka Lucifer, son of the morning, Satan, the father of lies, the great deceiver that had been banished from heaven as Jesus said, “Behold I saw Satan as lightening fall from heaven.” His desire for dominion and power like God would tempt Adam and Eve to secure for themselves what he himself had tried to accomplish in heaven. Adam and Eve believed the lie and they disobeyed God which dethroned God from their hearts. They were created in the image of God with body, soul and spirit and He had given them the right to rule on earth, but Adam legally forfeited that right and the Spirit of God departed from them and the old sin nature of Adam was passed down to all generations. When he dethroned God, he did not really enthrone himself but enthroned Satan—becoming a slave yielded to him. Consequently, the authority given by God to Adam to rule the earth was then delivered to Satan—who became the god of this world. (2 Cor. 4: 4) Satan stole what God had ordained for mankind. In Luke 4:6 we read about the temptation of Jesus by the devil. Satan said to Jesus: “And the devil said unto Him. All this power will I give unto thee, and the glory of them…” (He’s talking about the kingdoms of this world) “for that is delivered unto me; and to whosoever I will give it.” Jesus knew that it was delivered to Satan and he wanted Jesus to bow down to him and receive the kingdoms of the world. Jesus responded and said: “Get thee behind me, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord they God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Jesus overcome Satan by the power of the Word—He is the Living Word and the Written Word. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. (I John 3:8)
Kingdom Authority Has Been Righteously Regained.
Jesus came to set the captive free—all that had been enslaved by the god of this world could be saved—delivered and brought back into a relationship with the Father—to become children of light rather than children of darkness. Jesus Christ left heaven, came to earth, to gain back man’s lost estate. It was legally lost; it was righteously regained. God’s plan of redemption had been set in motion before the creation of the earth as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth. (Rev. 13:8) The first Adam sinned—the second Adam was victorious! Paul reveals that victory in I Cor. 15: 20-21: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.” Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit—born without the sinful nature of Adam and was perfect righteousness—the perfect Lamb slain for redemption of mankind. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Heb. 2: 14) Through His death, He destroyed the power of death—separation from God and the authority of the devil! When Jesus was raised out of the grave as the Son of God, Satan’s kingdom came crashing down. Then the Lord Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives and says to His disciples before leaving this earth: “All power (authority) is given to Me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Mt. 28: 18-20) Jesus has the authority and now He has given it back to His sons and daughters. Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 10: 19: “Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall be any means can hurt you.”
Adrian Rogers had this to say: “Now most of us have a problem accepting the fact that Jesus Christ is King and He has authority, but we fail to understand that He our King has given that Kingdom Authority to His subjects and we too with Him may exercise Kingdom Authority.” Jesus has given the Church the authority over all the power of the enemy. Jesus is far above the powers and principalities and we are seated with Him in heavenly places. (Eph. 1:19-21) Someone has said, “If those liberal theologians ever really let Jesus out of that grave, and if those Bible preachers ever really explain this to the people, all heaven will break loose.” Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:5: “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” Man has made rules about how to live the Christian life and has enslaved many people just like the Pharisees did at Jesus’ first Advent. God is bringing us back full circle after 2000 years—what we thought was dead He is reviving! Jesus has given the Church the authority over all the power of the enemy. The question is “What are we doing with that authority?” God does not need a majority but a faithful remnant who is willing to boldly stand on the authority of Jesus Christ. It is time for us to stand on the promises of God in His Word, to put on the whole armor of God, to pray without ceasing knowing the LORD of hosts is with us! J.C. Ryle says: “To be ever looking for the Lord’s appearing is one of the best helps to a close walk with God.” John in 1 John 2: 28-29 through 3: 1-3 gives us our marching orders as God’s children before the Lord’s return. Read and mediate upon these words and be encouraged to stand in the authority of Christ at such a time as this!