There’s a new line of instruction that is available to eager and hungry learners that comes from individuals who have given time, attention, and energy to a specific field or practice earning them the right to provide valuable content called Master Classes. These classes provide years of knowledge, gathered through trial and error, at a fraction of the cost and time. In other words, you too can become a Master without the hardship that was experienced, yet gain tricks and tips that make you look, act, and sound like a Master!
In the year 2000 I spent three months with one of my closest friends in India preaching the gospel all over the country in outdoor crusades, orphanages and bible schools. During this period, I carried the book, Two Kinds of Righteousness by E.W. Kenyon. A section from chapter 4 reads, “The sense of lack, the sense of guilt, the sense of want, the consciousness of burdens and unpaid bills fill the hearts with anxiety and restlessness. Righteousness restores quietness and rest to the spirit. We are no longer afraid of bills, no longer afraid of circumstances (and if I may add, disease). Faith rises unconsciously and we face the most adverse conditions with a sense of superiority. We are masters.” Although righteousness is not my subject in this letter it is a prerequisite to my subject which is biblical authority. When you have an understanding of your authority, that delegated power, you become the devil’s master.
To fully grasp the depths of your position and authority, you must believe what God has made you to be and what Christ accomplished 2000 years ago.
Let’s solidify this mastery by looking at Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;” I want to stop there so you can sense the weight of what God did in this moment. God wanted mankind to have His nature, to be the same as He was. Likeness here means an exact duplication in kind. Adam had the same ability as God. This is very important. Adam was not God, don’t get that confused or think I’m saying that, but Adam was given a capacity that no other created creature had. “Image” here means model. Mankind is a miniature model with exact resemblance to God. Let’s continue reading in verse 28, “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion…’” Genesis 2:15 continues with, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep (guard) it.” Adam was given a command to make subservient, compliant, dominated and stomped down any and all opposing forces. These are strong words for an apparent threat to the life given in the garden. Adam failed to heed these words and Satan brought Adam into submission taking his place as the manager of the work of God’s hands.
Because of this act of treason by Adam and Eve, according to John 12:31, Satan became the god of this world by which he endeavors to blind the minds of mankind keeping them in darkness and ignorant to the reality of freedom given in Christ.
But God was unwilling to leave man in this state and immediately went into action by speaking the gospel concerning this event. Genesis 3:15b states, “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” This statement painted the picture by which God was going to reinstate mankind back to its place of dominion and authority. Jesus would crush Satan’s head by becoming flesh and by the act of justice of dying on the cross defeating the enemy and placing the keys of authority back in man’s possession. The bruising of the heel is the opposition that we face in the responsibility given to resist Satan steadfast in the faith and keep him subject to the body of Christ. Remember, that we, through Christ, are Satan’s masters and have the ability to control him where are lives are concerned.
Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I (Jesus) give you the authority to trample on serpents (demons) and scorpions (devils), and over all the power of the enemy, and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you.” Jesus has given you back the authority to reign in life and live above the lies and attacks of the enemy that try and stop or hinder you from accomplishing God’s will for your life. Through Christ’s demonstration, His Master Class, you have become masters over Satan.
I want to leave you with the Master Class that the book of John reveals for us. In this seven-point list, we see how Jesus dominated and ruled as a man, fearless and full of the knowledge of His righteous position as an heir of the kingdom of God. The gospel of John was written to persuade us that as He is, so are we in this world!
- John 2:1-11 The Changing of Water into Wine – Jesus reveals Himself as the Master of Quality.
- John 4:46-54 The Healing of the Nobleman’s Son – Jesus showed Himself the Master of Distance, or space.
- John 5:1-9 The Healing of the Impotent Man – Jesus, by curing instantly an affliction of 38 years, becomes the Master of Time.
- John 6:1-14 The Feeding of the Five Thousand – Jesus showed Himself to be the Master of Quantity.
- John 6:16-21 The Walking on the Water – Jesus demonstrates He is Master Over Natural Law.
- John 9:1-12 The Healing of the Man Born Blind – Jesus showed that He is Master of Misfortune.
- John 11:1-46 The Raising of Lazarus – Jesus was irrefutably the Master of Death.