(A summary of the Sunday morning teaching on 24-Aug-2014, in AFT Church, English service. From the series The Law of Faith)
Faith and the believer’s authority go together. Man has been given authority over everything except God and His throne.
But one testified in a certain place, saying:
“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him – Hebrews 2:6-8
This is a quote from psalm 8:
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor – Psalm 8:4,5
The second part of Heb 2:8 is his explanation/confirmation of the first part of verse. Nothing is outside of man’s authority. Absolutely everything else except God is under his control. But now in reality we don’t see man in authority as a ruler over everything. But we see Jesus crowned with glory and honour. This is a revelation of who man is. All other men seem to be living without power and authority, but we see the ‘man’ Jesus in all glory and honour. The revelation of man comes by looking at Jesus. We will not get a true revelation of who we really are, if we look around us at other men. But looking at Jesus, we come to a realization of who we are and who we ought to be. We see Jesus exercising His dominion, power and authority. When does He begin? He begins at the temptation. John baptized Him, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and then He went into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days and forty nights. When satan tempted Him, He started exercising His dominion by overcoming satan instead of succumbing to him.
Authority in what you ‘say’ based on what is ‘written’:
The devil tells Jesus to “command/tell” the stone. Even he knows that there is power in speaking. Jesus replies to Him saying, “It is written… man does not live by bread.
‘It is written’ is an important phrase. It means ‘It is established’. God has set some principles on how man ought to live. It is a spiritual law, the law of faith, the law of the kingdom that man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes for the mouth of God. God has ordained it thus.
What does ‘live’ mean here? In the Bible, we see that death and life are spoken of in broad terms. ‘Live’ does not mean to exist, to breathe. Death is not just falling down and dying. It denotes everything evil. God told Adam in Gen 2:17, “…you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”.He didn’t immediately fall and die, he died only after around 900 years. But in that instance, he had a spiritual death. Every derivative of death was evident in his life from then on – unhappiness, disease, sin, destruction, despair, and hopelessness. The bible describes thus state as“dead in sin and trespasses”. From that moment Adam and Even were not connected to God. When we don’t have a relationship with God, we don’t have happiness, joy, peace, fulfilment, health, prosperity, we are dead people in a manner of speaking. Life, on the other hand, is all things good.
The word of God has been given to us so that God can give that kind of ‘life’ to us. People who don’t understand this try everything else to get a good life. They toil and sweat and hustle and bustle, and even do unethical things in order to make a good living. But the Bible says that man lives by God’s word. Life, success, overcoming power, joy, peace, prosperity and fulfilment come from God’s word.
If it is true that ‘man lives by the word of God’, then its true that ‘man dies by the word of the devil’. During temptation, Jesus refused to listen to the word of the devil. In all three temptations, He chose the word of God. If He had listened to the word of the devil, there would have been spiritual death and failure. He counters satan with God’s word and wins that battle. He exercises His dominion over satan.
What is the devil’s word? Most of us would say that we do not speak the devil’s word. Let’s see what the devil’s words sound like. Many times some say“It’s impossible. I can’t do it.” We would think that it’s a pretty normal phrase that does mean anything serious. But we must realise that it is not God’s word. God’s word says that with God all things are possible and to him who believes all things are possible.
“I can’t afford it now” is another example of the devil’s word. Don’t say such words. You don’t have to explain your situation, you don’t have to open and show your empty wallet around. Don’t say anything that is not in God’s word. If you can’t afford something now, that’s okay, but there’s no necessity to say the devil’s words. The word of God says that He meets our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Everything in your life will align itself to your word, because by your words you shall live. That’s how God has ordained it. Spirit, soul and body, the work of your hands, your family, your health, your finances, your social life – everything will work well for you towards ‘life’, and you will live well, if you speak the word of God, which is ‘life’.
Abraham looks to the maker of Heaven and earth, and did not even accept a shoelace from other sources. That was the governing principle of Abraham’s life. And when it came to interaction with Lot, he gave Lot the first choice, because he knew that whatever he took, right or left, God would bless him abundantly.
It is necessary to live by the Word that proceeds from God’s mouth. That’s the example that Jesus shows us. He refused to pay heed to the devil’s words. Of course, He could turn the stones into bread, but He declined to listen to the devil simply because it was his suggestion. That’s the position Jesus took. He ruled and reigned and won victory over the devil by ‘every word’. “It is written” that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Out of the mouth of babes:
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger – Psalm 8:2
‘Ordained’ is also translated as ‘established’. The verse says “out of the mouth of babes” What does it mean? Does it mean that children will speak and establish strength? Have we seen any nursing infants speak the word of God? They can hardly speak. What it means here is “spiritual infant”. Even if you’re child, a nursing infant, a babe in Christ, the word of God in your mouth will give you victory. God has ordained strength in the mouth, in the words of your mouth.
Who is the enemy? The devil. What is he doing? The enemy is speaking ill of you, accusing you,finding fault with you and putting you down because he is the accuser of the brethren. The verse says – that you may silence the enemy and the avenger. The way to silence him is through the Word. Even a young Christian, new to the Christian faith can have dominion and victory over satan, if you understand this principle. God has established strength in your mouth. People think you one has to be an experienced, elderly Christian in order to be a victorious person.
Even you are in one-day old in Christ, you can defeat the devil because God has kept that power in your mouth. It is a principle and it gives glory to God. You don’t have to call up or write to the oldest, most famous, experienced evangelist in town to pray for you and solve your problems. You can speak the Word and conquer your problems.
Let’s read further down. Psalm 8
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor – Psalm 8:5
If we look at this logically, the second part of the verse seems to contradict the first part of the verse. If he is lower than angels, how can he be crowned with glory and honour? An entity that’s crowned with glory and honour ought to be higher than angels. The Hebrew word used in this verse, which has been translated as angels, is ‘Elohiym’. It’s in plural form to refer to the Trinity, God. Genesis 1:1 uses the word ‘Elohiym’.
Some Christians have a problem with accepting that such a high status has been given to man. They are fine with calling themselves worms, dust, nothing etc. They seem unable to accept the honour, power and authority given to man.
The subject of Hebrews chapter 1 is about how Jesus is superior to Moses, angels. How would he say in chapter 2 that he is inferior to angels?
Everything under man’s feet:
Man has been a little lower than God Himself. Everything except God is under man’s feet.
Where else in the Bible does the position of man as being just a little lower than God appear? Who else says that man is just a little lower than God?
Jesus talks about many things in John 10 and ends by saying in verse 30 that He and the father are one.
“…I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “ Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God”- John 10:30-33
Of course, they didn’t understand that Jesus, being God was equal to God. He is a divine person, come now as a man. From all eternity He existed. They were angry that this man, son of Mary and Joseph, born in Bethlehem was equating himself to God.
Jesus answered them, “ Is it not written in your law, “I said, ‘You are gods” – John 10:34
Jesus answers to them saying that He quoted their own scriptures, where God said, ‘I tell you—you are gods”. Were they going to get angry with God for calling men gods? Were they going to accuse God of blasphemy?
If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken) – John 10:35
What does calling a man ‘god’ have to do with the ‘word of God coming to them’? The word of God is powerful. All creation came into being due to His word. Therefore, when the word of God comes to a person and he says it with his mouth, he becomes god over his situation. That’s how a person becomes a god. I’m not saying that you are Jesus Christ the Lord. I’m not saying that you are Elohiym God. I’m not saying that you are the Father God or the Son God or the Holy Spirit God. I’m saying that you can become god above your situation.
What the Bible says is that with the word of God being in our mouth and dispelling the darkness, the chaos, the troubles and the emptiness in our lives and making everything good and right, makes us god over our situations and circumstances. Using our power and authority in the Word of God makes us gods.
If God said in the midst of darkness, “Light be”.
Then we must say in the midst of sickness “Health and healing be”.
Then we must say in the midst of lack “Abundance be”.
Then we must say in the midst of confusion and strife “Peace be”.
Then we must say in the midst of stormy situations “Peace, be still”.
We are little gods, because we have been made in the image and likeness of God and because we have the Word of God in our mouth.
Jesus said that God called us gods. Where in the Bible does He say it?
God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods – Psalm 82:1
The word ‘Elohiym’ appears three times in that verse – for ‘God’, ‘mighty’ and ‘gods’. God stands in the midst of people and says that they are the might ones, they are gods. He judges among the gods. Some people think that God was judging the Trinity.
How long will you judge unjustly,
And show partiality to the wicked – Psalm 82:2
Is the Father, Son or the Holy Spirit judging unjustly and showing partiality to the wicked? No! This is about man. God is judging among men and He calls them gods. He says that we are rulers on the earth, and that we ought to take care of what going on the earth. He says that man should bring order, peace, prosperity, security and righteousness on the earth. Instead, we are judging unjustly and being partial to the wicked.
Defend the poor and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked.
They do not know, nor do they understand;
They walk about in darkness;
All the foundations of the earth are unstable – Pslam 82:3 – 5
God is talking about how most men are in darkness and the world is in a mess. And man has not used his position, responsibility and authority to turn the darkness to light. God is judging them for not fulfilling their responsibility on the earth.
We have to ‘reign’ through Jesus:
The knowledge of our position, responsibility and authority will alter our understanding of prayer. Most people seem to think that praying means begging to God. Praying is ruling on behalf of God, ruling with God. Prayer is declaring what ought to be done on this earth. (This is covered extensively in the series on “Prayer”.)
I said, “You are gods,
And all of you are children of the Most High – Psalm 82:6
After judging and chiding men for not behaving responsibly, he again calls them ‘gods’.
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- Romans 5:17
Through one man, sin entered and death reigned over everyone. But since we have received salvation through Jesus Christ, we ought to reign having received God’s grace and righteousness.
One translation says, “reign in this life through Jesus Christ”. Most Christians when they read the part that says “we shall reign in life”, they say it’s will occur in the future 1000 year reign. Most Christians are either postponing God’s blessing to the future or they say that it happened in the past, in the time of Abraham. They don’t want to possessGod’s blessing now. They don’t want to take up the responsibility that God has given them now.
You and I have to reign now in this life through JesusChrist, because we have received ‘grace’ and ‘righteousness’. Grace is “God’s willingness to show His ability on our behalf”. Though God is willing, many people are not ready to receive it.
How does God give His ability to you? – through the Word. When we take the word in our mouth and speak it, we begin to rule and reign in our life.
– Summary by AFT Team
