We have been considering Jude’s doxology and have been considering the subject of ascribing dominion and power to the only wise God Who is our Saviour.
We have seen how that God is sovereign and His power is unmatchable. Every creature owes allegiance to Him because that is what we are, His creation. All inanimate objects and all living things including those existing in the spirit world were made by Him and therefore because of that alone owe allegiance to God and His son the Creator.
But we have noted that that deserved allegiance has not always been forthcoming. God has shared His power and authority with various groups down through the history of creation. But unfortunately, as we have seen those with whom power has been shared have abused that power, that rule. Instead of continuing to acknowledge the sovereign, supreme, overarching power of God they have rejected that power and instead of using the power granted to them under the controlling authority of the One giving it, they claimed that authority as their own and repudiated allegiance to God. In essence they rebelled and became their own masters rather than accepting the Lordship of God.
Satan rebelled and sought greater things for himself. Many angels followed and gave allegiance to him. Humans were given rule over creation but were tempted to disobey God’s clear instructions.
God then worked through individuals many of whom stayed true to Him. But the original rebellion of Adam and Eve now tainted their behaviour and their allegiance at times was flawed. Then God chose one nation, Israel, and gave this kingdom special blessing and power to achieve military dominance over the surrounding nations. But again, they often failed and God had to intervene in judgment which was manifested in various ways such as natural disasters and in the worst case scenario by captivity, allowing them to be defeated in battle, to have their possessions plundered and for them to be taken as prisoners of war, carried off to the home of the victorious army and in effect made to exist in a state of slavery.
When they eventually acknowledged God’s sovereignty, when they ascribed dominion and power to God, when they accepted that He was their God, and their only god, He would return them to their land.
Then we saw how that at the right time, God, in the person of His Son, Jesus, came in human form to rescue humans from their botched and disastrous attempts to retain a correct relationship with Himself. This solution was now extended to, not just one nation, Israel, but to the whole world, to both Jew and non-Jew. Now both Jews and Gentiles were included in God’s plan. It was to be a one-off permanent solution in which God, Himself, in the Person of His Son would accept the debt of judgment owed by humans because of their rebellion against God. The penalty required was death and Jesus willingly paid this debt on our behalf.
Any human being can now be forgiven, be relieved of the debt they owe because of sin, which is rebellion against the law and will of God. No cost is involved. Forgiveness is to be freely given as a gift from God.
When a person is willing to acknowledge his past rebellion and to accept God’s control of their life they will have all of God’s judgment for past disobedience removed. Satan and the forces of evil who controlled our thinking and acting have been defeated by the superior power of God. Death is no longer our enemy. Instead we have life which lasts for ever and no power in all creation can match God’s power to keep us safe. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. No one can snatch us from God’s hand.
ROMANS.
CHAPTER 8.
38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
JOHN.
CHAPTER 10.
28. And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never ever perish, and not anyone shall pluck them out of My hand.
29. My Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.
Many have entered into this new relationship with God and God now calls them His children. They have become members of God’s family. But the crucial question is, “Are you among them? Is God your Father? Is your allegiance to Him or are you still in captivity to Satan and to evil? Do you still face God’s judgment because you have rejected the salvation He is offering you and which you have so far refused?”
Believers recognise they belong to God not only because of creation but because of redemption as well. They recognise that at creation God breathed life into human beings and that through redemption, the new creation, they have also received life, everlasting life. They wish to serve God as their Lord and Master, but at present there are impediments to them doing this perfectly. Like Israel they often fail not because they want to but for two reasons.
Though Satan is defeated, as we have seen, God, for reasons that may not seem to be clear to you and me allows him to retain some of his functions and he continues not only to remain as the prince of the power of the air, but to lead humans, all humans, including believers in Jesus, into evil. He remains as the great tempter, as the seducer, as the father of lies, and our accuser. His evil kingdom of fallen angels, demons, evil spirits, and humans who have given themselves to actively serve him, is still intact. He remains a problem for all of God’s creation and even God’s children sometimes fall into his seductive traps.
And secondly all humans including those trusting Jesus for their salvation remain in their bodies of flesh which are still under the curse inherited from Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. The body of every human being is still subject to death, disease and decay. In these bodies we are led to disobey God. Our bodily senses can lead to areas that do not have the approval of God. Our hands do wrong things, our feet take us to wrong places, our ears and eyes hear and see things that are not conducive to doing what is right and good. Even our minds operate from wrong motives and intentions and devise evil schemes.
But for His people God provides counter measures to overcome these tendencies, these temptations to do evil.
Firstly God assures us of the supremacy of His authority over all of creation, including every living creature whether from the material world or the spirit world, whether good or evil, all are under His control.
He has given that authority to Jesus but, of course that doesn’t mean that God the Father and the Spirit of God have no power. Members of the Godhead do not operate unilaterally, not independently, but while each may have a different function they operate in unity, consultation and cooperation.
MATTHEW.
CHAPTER 28.
18. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
This authority, this power given to Him, signifies His complete sufficiency to be able to do anything which pleases Him or that He wills.
And the Bible indicates that the kingdom over which Jesus rules is distinguished by action, not by mere words.
1 CORINTHIANS.
CHAPTER 4.
20. God’s kingdom is not just talk, it is power.
The completion of the work of salvation through the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus is a notable example of this fact.
But even before He made this declaration as recorded in Acts He demonstrated that authority by the different actions He took.
MARK.
CHAPTER 1.
27. Then they were all amazed, so that they were disputing among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this, that He commands even the unclean spirits with authority, and they obey Him?”
MATTHEW.
CHAPTER 9.
6. I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
And in addition to that He shared that power with His followers and gave them authority as well.
LUKE.
CHAPTER 9.
1. Jesus called the twelve apostles together. He gave the apostles power to heal sicknesses and power to force demons out of people.
And even after Jesus returned to heaven that power was still being exercised by His followers.
ACTS.
CHAPTER 6.
8. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
2 CORINTHIANS.
CHAPTER 10.
8. Maybe I brag a little too much about the authority that the Lord gave me to help you and not to hurt you. Yet I am not embarrassed to brag.
So God and Jesus share their absolute authority with those who believe the Gospel, the Good News that there is life and power in God’s salvation.
EPHESIANS.
CHAPTER 1.
18. I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people,
19. and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength
20. which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.
And this power is today exercised through God’s Spirit
EPHESISNS.
CHAPTER 3.
16. I’m asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his glory. I pray that he would give you inner strength and power through his Spirit.
He is the second help God provides to us to support us in our desire to give our allegiance to Himself and the Spirit who indwells every Christian, every true believer in God, testifies to their inner being that they are God’s children and should only serve God.
ROMANS.
CHAPTER 8.
16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
He is the power of God operating within us and it is through Him that we have evidence of God’s superior power and authority over the forces of evil opposing us.
COLOSSIANS.
CHAPTER 1.
11. His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy.
And we are to let God, in the person of His Spirit, control us and exercise His rule within us.
EPHESIANS.
CHAPTER 3.
16. that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man,
Listen to what the Bible has to say about God’s Spirit.
LUKE.
CHAPTER 24
49. And behold, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
ACTS.
CHAPTER 1
8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
ROMANS.
CHAPTER 15.
13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
But we must never take credit for any ability we have to achieve things for God or to resist any opposition against us which may hinder us in our desire to live and act in ways that please God.
It is God’s power that must be the source which gives strength to our actions.
EPHESIANS.
CHAPTER 6.
10. Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength.
Even when we feel inadequate or unable, God’s power will be the source of our strength.
2 CORINTHIANS.
CHAPTER 12.
9. And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me.
The apostles certainly give us wise counsel here. Let us listen to what they say.
ACTS.
CHAPTER 3.
11. They were excited, and everyone ran to see them at the place called Solomon’s Porch. The man wouldn’t let go of Peter and John.
12. When Peter saw this, he said to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed about this man? Why are you staring at us as though we have made him walk by our own power or godly life?
This is what he told the crowd who had gathered.
ACTS.
CHAPTER 3.
16. We believe in the one named Jesus. Through his power alone this man, whom you know, was healed, as all of you saw.
And the Apostle Paul said this –
2 CORINTHIANS.
CHAPTER 4.
7. We have this treasure {from God}. But we are only like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows that this great power is from God, not from us.
This truth should be well understood by us
And we have seen previously that it is only as we submit to God, as we acknowledge His power over evil and His Lordship of our lives that we should resist the devil. It is then because of the power of God that he will flee from us.
The next way God provides for us to live under His authority has been to supply us with His written Word. This is our handbook for living, our instruction manual to show us how to proceed. It is directly inspired by God and is absolute truth. It is by following its guidance that we will live as the worthy servants of God. We will know what to do and what not to do. It will allow us the opportunity to measure ourselves against the image we should be, a perfect reflection of the image of Jesus. God desires that we become familiar with His Word so that we can be directed to be like His Son, Jesus.
As subjects of the kingdom of God do you know how you should behave, how you should present yourself, how you should serve the King? Or because of your lack of knowledge brought about by neglect of God’s commands do you bring shame and dishonour to the Majesty you claim you serve? What are your duties and responsibilities, what are my duties and responsibilities, as they relate to God’s Word?
I am sure we are all familiar with these verses.
2 TIMOTHY.
CHAPTER 2.
15.Do your best to win full approval in God’s sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God’s truth.
2 TIMOTHY.
CHAPTER 3.
16. Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.
17. The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds.
The next thing that we are equipped with is the power of prayer. We prayer in the name of Jesus, and because of that we can be assured that our prayers are heard and answered, not always when we expect or how we would expect, but they will be answered.
1 JOHN.
CHAPTER 5.
14. We have courage in God’s presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will.
15. He hears us whenever we ask him; and since we know this is true, we know also that he gives us what we ask from him.
We can ask for help when we are tempted. We can seek aid to do what is right and how to live a holy life. We can make confession when we do go astray from God’s will and purpose. We are able to make intercession for others regarding their spiritual welfare or their requirement for comfort or other material needs. Prayer is a privilege God gives us to call on His vastly superior power when our ability is inadequate to overcome opposition and hardship. Let us use it often and use it effectively. We are told that as we live the Christian life we will have trouble.
JOHN.
CHAPTER 16.
33. I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”
We will need to seek God’s help in prayer.
Then we need to be aware of this verse.
1 CORINTHIANS.
CHAPTER 10.
13. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
This is another example of how God uses His superior power to defeat the attacks of our spiritual enemies. They can have no success against us if we seek out God’s way of escape.
So how do we demonstrate our allegiance to God as those who are His by redemption, who have been bought at tremendous cost?
1 CORINTHIANS.
CHAPTER 6.
19. You know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God, don’t you? You do not belong to yourselves,
20. because you were bought for a price. Therefore, glorify God with your bodies.
So how do we do that? How do we glorify God in our bodies?
Let me suggest that these ways would be appropriate.
1. resist temptation and evil
2. submit to God and be obedient to God’s written Word which tells what he wants His people to do and think.
3. follow the leading of God’s Spirit and do not follow the leading of our old nature, our old way of thinking and what our corrupt bodies would want us to do.
4. contend for the faith. Remember we saw this right back at the very beginning of Jude. We are to resist and reject any teaching or suggestion which does not agree with God’s Word. God’s Word is the standard. It alone is the truth.
5. give to God and to our Redeemer and Lord, Jesus Their right to our continuous adoration and service. In all our affections and aspirations, may God be supreme, May we love the Lord our God with all our heart, and soul, and strength.
How faithful am I to my Creator and Redeemer? How faithful are you? Does it pain us when we fail and in essence give Satan and evil our allegiance and allow those forces, even for a short time, to have dominion over us? How quickly do we confess our disloyalty and bring ourselves back under God’s control? Do we persist in our waywardness or do we quickly use the way of escape which we have seen that God provides for us?
The scenario we have looked at today brings us up to the present and to the immediate future. It is a scenario in which God allows Satan to have a strictly controlled measure of power. Why that is so is not for us to judge. We just have to acknowledge that reality.
It is a setting in which we remain in our corrupt bodies and in them we are tempted to sin and be disloyal to the One Who is our Master. Those bodies are still under the judgment of God because of human disobedience and as a result of disease, decay, disability, weakness and other infirmities we are unable to serve God as we should or we would like.
But let us heed what God’s Word says.
ROMANS.
CHAPTER 6.
12. Don’t let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don’t obey its desires
The apostle Paul says this –
1 THESSALONIANS.
CHAPTER 2.
12. We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory.
Today I want to make the same plea to myself and all of you. May our continuing allegiance be to God, our rightful Lord and Master.