Satan was cast down to the earth but he was not given any authority. Adam and Eve were given authority over the earth in Genesis 1, when God told them to be fruitful, multiply subdue the earth and rule over it. Satan knows better than we do who has been given authority. Therefore, Satan went to Eve and asked for the authority God had given her and she gave it to Satan and then Adam gave Satan his authority. From that moment in Genesis 3 until Matthew 4, Satan had authority over the earth. But in Matthew 4 when Jesus encountered Satan, Satan used the same tactic, but received a very different response. “The devil *took Him (Jesus) to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” The enemy has no new tactics, he is always looking for authority from the image bearers of God, for he knows we have been given authority, and the only authority he has comes from us giving it to him. Jesus knew Adam and Eve had given Satan their authority, so when the devil tried the same tactic on Jesus, Jesus knew what Satan was after and He was not giving it away, for He knew His authority came from God to rule and reign on the earth.

The theology of passivity has caused many believers to give away their authority and then they wonder why they are bored, helpless, powerless and frustrated in their Christian walk. When you give your authority away, you cannot operate by original design. Jesus said in Matthew 28, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me and I give it to you now go and make disciples of all nations.” We have been given authority over nations, Satan knows this, why do you think he wants your authority? Church, our job is to keep the authority we have been given, not to give it away and then wonder why the enemy has authority over our nation now. It is time to take back what is rightfully ours and wield the sword of the spirit against the spirit of the age, for we are called to disciple nations in the ways of the kingdom of God!!!