Time for some good news!
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule … 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule!” … And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
(Genesis 1:26-31)
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
(1 John 3:8)
Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
(Colossians 2:15)
When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
(Matthew 9:8)
Over the past two days, we have noted that the Bible teaches us that God created human beings to reflect his glory by ruling over the world for him, and that the devil has usurped that rule from human beings today. Time for some good news! Jesus became a human being so that he could evict the usurper from our God-given throne. Have another read of 1 John 3:8. Jesus came into the world in order to restore humanity back to God’s plan.
When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the penalty for our sin, removing the authority that the devil had to make us down-and-outs in a world that we were born to rule. When Jesus rose from the dead, he became the firstborn of a new humanity. If we believe in him as our Saviour, then we no longer belong to the family of Adam. We belong to the family of God. We are restored to our former rule.
This isn’t just theory. It makes a massive difference to how we live our lives. Don’t miss the way in which the crowds worship the Lord when he heals a lame man in Capernaum. They don’t merely celebrate the fact that God has granted such authority to “a man”. Read Matthew 9:8 a bit more slowly. They celebrate the fact that God is restoring the lost authority of “man” in general – that is, restoring rule on earth to anybody who believes in Christ!
When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the penalty for our sin, removing the authority that the devil had to make us down-and-outs in a world that we were born to rule. When Jesus rose from the dead, he became the firstborn of a new humanity. If we believe in him as our Saviour, then we no longer belong to the family of Adam. We belong to the family of God. We are restored to our former rule.
This isn’t just theory. It makes a massive difference to how we live our lives. Don’t miss the way in which the crowds worship the Lord when he heals a lame man in Capernaum. They don’t merely celebrate the fact that God has granted such authority to “a man”. Read Matthew 9:8 a bit more slowly. They celebrate the fact that God is restoring the lost authority of “man” in general – that is, restoring rule on earth to anybody who believes in Christ!
1) What difference does it make that Matthew 9:8 says that God has restored rulership on earth, not just to the man Jesus, but to mankind in general, if we believe in Jesus as our Saviour?
2) A few years ago, a London lawcourt awarded a multi-million-pound property to a group of squatters because the homeowner had not evicted them in time. Where is the devil squatting in your own life and in the life of those you love? How can you evict him from those areas through your prayers today?
3) How do you tend to think of the devil – as a powerful enemy or as a defeated foe? The truth is that he is both, but as you pray Gospel truth back to God you will begin to experience victory more and more. See Romans 16:20.
2) A few years ago, a London lawcourt awarded a multi-million-pound property to a group of squatters because the homeowner had not evicted them in time. Where is the devil squatting in your own life and in the life of those you love? How can you evict him from those areas through your prayers today?
3) How do you tend to think of the devil – as a powerful enemy or as a defeated foe? The truth is that he is both, but as you pray Gospel truth back to God you will begin to experience victory more and more. See Romans 16:20.
Father God, I thank you that your Son Jesus became a human being in order to create a new humanity. I thank you that I am no longer part of Adam’s family. By faith in Jesus, I have been brought into the family of God. You have recommissioned me to rule. Please help me to live in the good of the victory of Jesus over the devil today. Amen.
If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.