PROSPERITY: WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?

Part 3

Who owns the earth – Who rules the world?

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.” Psalm 24:1-2 “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” Psalm 50:10-11

Although Satan robbed man of his estate, the earth still belongs to God. You will remember that after that God created the earth He did not give it to man. He gave man control over it. If we have to use today’s language we would say He leased it to man. Two words inform our conclusion; “subdue” and “dominion” The New Living Translation uses the word “govern” instate of “dominion.” The Message says “take charge” All these words give the same idea that God placed man on earth that man should take charge and govern the earth. In political language we would say man was appointed governor of the earth. The earth is God’s property under the governance of man.

When Satan deceived man; he lost his administration over the earth to Satan. The authority that God delegated to man fell into the hands of Satan. Man chose, out of his own free will to disobey God and obeyed Satan. This is the act that sealed the deal. It is this act that transferred all the rights to govern the earth over to Satan. “Don’t you know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” Romans 6:16.

What does this mean? Well, in a nutshell; here is what it means. The earth and all that are in it; every precious stone: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold and many others are no longer under man’s control. They fall under the government of Satan. The world and those who dwell therein – all the people, every beast of the forest, all the cattle on a thousand hills, all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are now under Satan’s rulership. All of these were left in our custodian by God; but we lost it all when Satan arrived on the scene. Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s lie and disobeyed God. This crowned Satan, Ruler of this World. Thrice Jesus referred to him as “the ruler of this world.” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) The Holy Spirit through Paul calls him “the god of this age” and “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Ephesians 2:2

Because of the sin of Adam and Eve Satan is now in control of this world. He rules over the governments of the world. He has a legal right to be ruler of this world because Adam who was delegated with this task disobeyed God and obeyed Satan and submitted to his suggestion. When he received that fruit from Eve and ate; he endorsed as though by signature what his wife did and the transfer was legalized. Can you see it? Fruit in hand – pen in hand! It is this irresponsible act that inaugurated Satan ruler of this world. He will govern until Adam’s lease expires.

But the earth and all that are in it still belong to God. Nothing has changed; only the administration has changed. Although He appointed man to be governor of the earth, He created it for Himself and He will continue to own it irrespective of who governs it. “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters” He will continue to own it until He renovates it with fire. “…both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” 2 Peter 3:10

God created the earth and gave man authority to rule over it. Man handed it over to Satan and we lost it all. We were physically not there; but we were all born into captivity. What Adam and Eve did in our absence changed the way we ought to operate here on earth ever since. Why? Because what was given to them was also given to us. When God gave them authority to rule the earth we were also given that authority. As long as Adam had it we had it too. What Adam and Eve lost we also lost. Their loss became our loss; it doesn’t matter whether we were there physically or not; we lost it.

Adam and Eve signed the contract and we are bound by the conditions of that contract. What are these conditions? Has anyone read the rules of the contract?

….to be continued