The importance of our submission to God so that our authority given to us by Him could be effective

Peace be to you, precious children of God! Today I want to continue talking about the importance of the lordship of Jesus in our lives.

Yesterday we discussed the importance of our submission to God so that our authority given to us by Him could be effective. Now I want you to see how Jesus Himself submitted to this principle giving us an example of how it must be done.

Jesus Christ humbled Himself before God, and for this reason He could overcome Satan and receive the lordship, while being a man.

«..who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father» (Philippians, 2:6-11).

Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient unto death. And for this very reason God exalted Him and gave Him the name above every other name. Jesus, having taken the form of a man, demonstrated to us how we should behave. Jesus Christ came to the earth to help us see how we can exercise and display the authority of God in our lives in order to fulfill the calling and mission that God has given to every person.

«Then God blessed them, and God said to them „Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth» (Genesis, 1:28).

Jesus walked in obedience, and He submitted to God in all things; that is why He could exercise tremendous authority from God, and the people that knew Him were wondering where He got this authority.

«When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where did this Man get all these things?» (Mathew, 13: 54-56).

Demons obeyed Him and fled every time He commanded them.

«Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, „Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, „Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, „What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him”» (Mark, 1: 21-27).

Jesus walked under the authority of God; that is why He could also use it. He submitted to God, and that is why the devil fled every time Jesus commanded him to leave. If we are not under the authority, then we cannot use the authority. That is what the Roman centurion said; Jesus was amazed to see another person that understood this principle.

«For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go’, and he goes; and to another, ‘Come’, and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, He marvelled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, „I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”» (Luke, 7:8-9).

If we walk in the light, then the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us; then we have the protection of God and Satan cannot do anything against us. If we submit to God, then we can boldly resist the devil and he will flee from us.

Tomorrow we will talk about how we can protect ourselves from Satan’s accusations and have access to the power and authority of God. All this is possible if we allow Jesus to become the Lord of our lives.

Be blessed!

Till tomorrow!

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye