We have been created in God’s image and given authority over all the works of the enemy. Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) clearly states, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth.’” However, when Adam sinned and handed over that authority to Satan (Genesis 3), mankind lost that dominion. In the Old Testament, this relationship was temporarily restored through animal sacrifices. In the New Testament, Jesus—our perfect Lamb—restored it fully through His death and resurrection. Hebrews 10:10 (NIV) tells us, “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Though sin has been dealt with, believers must still fight to walk in their God-given authority. The devil constantly seeks to deceive us into surrendering our rights through fear and lies. But Jesus made His purpose clear in John 10:10 (NKJV): “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19, KJV). His promises are true, and our authority in Christ is real.
So why does mankind suffer? It is because we have an identity crisis. Many believers do not understand that all power has been restored to us through Jesus. Matthew 28:18 (ESV) reminds us of this truth: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” And then Jesus commissions us to go, make disciples, and exercise that authority.
The problem is that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) says, “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.” The enemy operates in darkness and deception, hiding behind false idols, worldly distractions, and even secret symbols scattered across the earth. It is more convenient for many to believe these are just myths than to take up the responsibility of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
God never intended for us to walk this out alone. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” When believers gather, there is power. Matthew 18:20 (NKJV) assures us, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Deuteronomy 32:30 (KJV) declares, “One shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.” If we do the math, the impact of unity among believers is exponential.
The devil has no legal access unless a human grants him that access through their God-given authority. It is time to recognize who we are in Christ—redeemed, victorious, and seated in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2:6, NLT). We are the ones called to set the captives free (Luke 4:18), cast out demons (Mark 16:17), and walk in dominion. Let us stop allowing the enemy to operate in our lives and rise up to do what we were created for—to be God's children, taking dominion over the earth as He originally instructed.
