Message #5 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"Spiritual Covering"

by Kaye Johns

Satan is not only a powerful enemy; he is the ruler of this world.

In Genesis 1, we learn that God gave Adam the right to rule over the earth: "Then God said...‘Let [man] rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. ...[Let mankind] ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’" [Genesis 1:26,28]

But Adam gave up his dominion over the earth [Psalm 8:6] when he sinned [Genesis 3], and from that moment the world has been under Satan’s rule. Many times Jesus Himself acknowledged Satan as the "ruler" [John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11] and "prince of this world" [John 12:31, 14:30, 15:30-31, 16:11].

It’s important to understand this or we may not take Satan seriously. It’s true that Jesus has won the victory over Satan on the cross, but until He returns, we are left here where "the whole world is under the control of the evil one." [1 John 5:19] It’s no wonder Jesus taught us to pray for protection from Satan [Matthew 6:13], or that He Himself prayed for our protection. [John 17:11,15].

Jesus took Satan and his position as ruler and prince of this world seriously--and so must we, or we and our loved ones are greatly at risk.

Pray with me now -- Father, help us not to fear, but to respect the threat Satan poses to our lives, and to defeat him through prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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