The Earth & Everyone In It Is God's (Psalm 24)
During one of my Scripture readings this week, my eyes happen to land on
Psalm 24:1
"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;"
And then I realized how often Christians focus on the devil and his "dominion" over the earth. That is the wrong way of thinking about the devil and in my opinion - thinking that way gives him power that he does NOT have.
Let's begin with a reminder of how Lucifer was kicked out of heaven:
"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:7-9
We know that satan roams the earth looking to deceive us:
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
1 Peter 5:8
The devil is the deceiver and the father of lies but as far as having "dominion" over God's creation - it is us, we (mankind) have been given dominion over the earth (see verses below):
You see, we (believers and followers of Jesus Christ) are NOT of this world - we are in it but not of it. In the Scripture passage below we see that Jesus said: "They are not of the world, just a I am not of the world."
Yes, the devil is still trying to tempt us and deceive us all the time (read Matthew 4:1-11 - when the devil tried to tempt Jesus) but because the Holy Spirit fills us, we are protected from the "evil one". (see verses below)
This constant temptation and deception by satan is a spiritual battle. Just as it is explained in Ephesians:
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 6:12
We need to read that verse above correctly - it does NOT say "against the owner and creator of this world." No!!! Because our Heavenly Father owns the earth and every bit of abundance in it!!! It says "against the rulers of the darkness of this age." That is a HUGE difference.
We live in the light of Jesus! See the verse above - when we follow Jesus who is the light of the world, then we have that light inside of us also!
We are NOT in the darkness of this world because Jesus made us alive (see verse below). The "sons of disobedience" are controlled by the devil - NOT Holy Spirit filled believers.
It is still a struggle and we need to test every prophet and leader (see verses below):
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
1 John 4:1-4
This is extremely important - since we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the power to make the devil flee from us.
(see below)
Again, notice the words - "he WILL FLEE from you". There is no doubt - he has no choice and MUST go away from you when you utter the Name of Jesus Christ.
Do not fear - God owns the earth and everything in it - submit to Him and the evil ones must leave!
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