Faithful on Fridays Blog

Twenty-first Octave

I’ve never understood royalty in today’s world. Norway and the United Kingdom have it: position without power. However, that’s not true in the Kingdom of God. Today the Hebrew word that begins this section is the topic of authority: princes, rulers, or powerful people.

We’ve arrived in our journey through Psalm 119 at the next-to-the-last section. A shout-out for those who’ve stayed with me! Let’s keep in mind one vital truth today; dominion was God’s idea. He created mankind with authority over the earth and creation, however, we forfeited that position in the garden. Satan was temporarily given the title deed of the world until Messiah, Jesus Christ, would receive it back again for us. Satan’s name describes his position of limited authority: prince of demons (Matt. 9:34, 12:24), ruler of this world (John 12:31, 14:30), and prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2).

Unlimited and permanent authority belongs to the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6), Prince of princes (Dan. 8:25, 9:25), Prince of Life (Acts 3:15), and our Prince and Savior (Acts 5:31). His kingdom will never end and ultimately believers will be ruling and reigning with Him. This final kingdom will restore our position with power in His name. That’s our final destination but what about now?

The Psalmist has the answer; he directs all attention to God. He repeatedly writes: your word, your law, your righteous rules, your salvation, your commandments, your testimonies, and your precepts. That’s how we live the higher life in the Spirit.

Jesus used an analogy to show us how to gain victory over our adversary.

But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. Mark 3:27

Our enemy, as the Psalmist realized (vs. 162), can be defeated like a military victory, by standing in the authority of His name and His Word. We recognize Satan’s schemes in our life and families (disharmony, deception, shame, lies, oppression, etc.) and declare his demise; that’s entering his house. We render him powerless by using God’s Word (power) and standing in His Name (authority). That’s a spiritual victory but we must take it by force:

… the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12b

The author of Psalm 119 had a revelation:

I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. Psalm 119:162

Spoil is defined as goods or property taken by force from an enemy after a conflict. What a great word! When Satan is exposed in our life we don’t have to take it; we stand against him. Jesus gave us the right as His representatives on earth to live in great peace (vs. 165) and we maintain that peace or wholeness by ‘taking’ authority over the devil. Don’t let him rule over your life; rule over his.