THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE

**baby_blue4u** Wed 16 Apr 2008, 10:55 am

Many Christians have been misled into thinking that God is running everything in the Earth. And while it may sound religious to say, "God is in control," according to the Word of God, man has dominion in the Earth. Through the prayers of His people, God is able to change circumstances and situations. It is up to you to exercise the authority that God has given you instead of allowing Satan to control your life and wreak havoc in the Earth.

If God were truly running things on this Earth, do you think that the world would be in the terrible state that it's in? Wars, natural disasters, violent crime, death and destruction do not come from God. On the contrary, it is His desire to bless people and give them abundant life (John 10:10).

As long as Believers continue to think that God is in control of every situation they will continue to abdicate their God—given authority. Instead, they should exercise the dominion God has given to them through speaking the Word of God and praying. Doing this releases God to get involved in the affairs of men. It's time to unmask the deception. Yes, God is sovereign, but He gave man dominion over the earth.

Dominion is the power and authority to control, direct and govern. In the beginning, God made man in His image and gave him dominion over everything in the Earth (Genesis 1:26–28). With dominion, man was supposed to control everything in the earthly realm, and walk in authority just as God does in the heavenly realm. Psalm 8:6 in the New Living Translation speaks of the power God has given to man. It says, "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority."

Man's dominion over the Earth was evidenced when God brought the animals to Adam so that he could name them. God could have easily named every creature on Earth, but He gave Adam that job. He was training his son to walk in his authority and operate like his heavenly Father.

So it is clear that man was originally given control over the Earth; however, Adam did not use his authority when the enemy approached him and his wife. Satan entered the Garden of Eden illegally and spoke deceptive words that contradicted what God had said. Instead of exercising his authority, Adam disobeyed God's instructions and committed high treason in the Garden of Eden; he turned the keys of authority over to Satan. God had to get His power back in the hands of mankind, but He could only accomplish that through a man. His plan to redeem the human race from the clutches of the devil included the birth of His son, Jesus.

Jesus was God, but He operated as a man while He walked the Earth. As a man, Jesus had total mastery over circumstances, situations and all the works of Satan. By dying on the cross, He became sin and was able to enter Hell in order to take back the authority that Adam gave away. Thank God that Jesus snatched the dominion from Satan and put it back where God intended—in the hands of men.

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you gain control over the enemy. Jesus said, "Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you," (Luke 10:19, The Amplified Bible).

This year, make a decision to use your God–given dominion. Do not be deceived by religion which tells you that "God is in control." Walk in the authority God has given you by submitting to Him through prayer. As you pray the will of God to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, you can prevent bad things from happening and God's perfect plan for mankind can be accomplished in the Earth.