The Battle I'm In - Part 3 - Territories & Rules of Engagement

Dear Jesus - I praise You for the veil You have put over our eyes that protects us from the unseen.  What we SEE in life is often too hard for us to handle.  Today I ask that You will reveal to each heart that which You long for us to know most - a revelation of Your everlasting love...

We're looking at the Biblical paradigm of our lives in this series.  Thus far, we've looked at the creation of our world which was designed creatively by the Godhead and handed as a precious gift to Adam.  That's here in Part 1.  Then we looked at the antagonist in our story in Part 2.  So we know there IS an antagonist and we have an outline of how he works.  But is there more we can we know that will help us in our daily walk with Jesus - in our desire to see loved and hurting ones saved and healed?  The answer to these questions is an amazing YES!

In the previous parts of our series - we've established that our Earth was created to be the domain of Adam.  It was to have been ruled and overseen by him.  We've also seen that our adversary (Lucifer) was cast out of heaven to the earth.

In Genesis 2:9 we get a very interesting look into the idea of TERRITORIES in this epic battle between God and Lucifer:

Genesis 2:9 (CEB)
In the fertile land, the Lord God grew every beautiful tree with edible fruit, and also he grew the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Of course, Genesis chapter 3 recounts Eve's encounter with the tree - which we will look at in greater detail tomorrow.

God has granted Lucifer a TERRITORY on the planet Earth.  The ruler of Earth is aware of this and is educated by God about the risks surrounding it.  We recall from Part 1, that rulership of Earth is handed to Adam.  Adam is also instructed that there is this tree he is never to eat from - to ensure his own happiness because in the day he eats from it he will surely die.

In fact - as we take a moment to consider things - we can even see that this new planet is considered a TERRITORY UNDER DISPUTE.  At this point in the story, we know the Godhead is the creator of the planet and of Adam.  We know that Adam is the ruler of Earth.  However, we now see that this planet is part of a larger, overarching story line.  This storyline is one of disputed rulership.  Will beings created by God with free will choose God as their Supreme Ruler because they believe He is Love or will they choose Lucifer out of belief in his charming deceptions that in fact God is NOT love?

Yipes!  This suddenly puts us all in an uncomfortable position of being aware we are part of something much larger than my daily struggle with the alarm clock, my daily commute 'nightmare' or my battle with the M&Ms.

In this scenario - what are the key elements you can see?

• A planet is a TERRITORY
• The battle of Good vs Evil predated the creation of the planet Earth.
• Earth was a planet/territory UNDER DISPUTE
• Lucifer has limits corresponding to that territory under dispute e.g. after the war in heaven he was cast out...  Revelation 12:9 makes it emphatic stating he was cast out / cast out / cast out.  Yup - 3 times that is stated for us.
• A human heart is a TERRITORY - Lucifer went after Eve just as much as he went after Adam even though she was not designated the 'ruler' of earth.  

Now as we consider this epic battle between good and evil, let's revisit some scriptures and see if the Holy Spirit reveals more to us about the details of the conflict.  Let's go:

Job 1:6 (KJV)
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

Revelation 12:7-9 (KJV)
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Luke 8:30 (KJV)  *Note:  beautiful story of the demoniacs here...
And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Matthew 26:53 (KJV)
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

John 18:36 (KJV)
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Sometimes, I think I get caught up in the culture and details of my life and I forget something super important.  I'm part of something bigger than myself and my own issues.  And as I ponder that, I am reminded once again of the blessings of God that veil my eyes to the truest extent of evil.  He is such a God of love He sends the rain on both the just AND the unjust.  

Check out the story below - but now with your BATTLE GLASSES on!

Luke 10:17-24 (CEB)  The Seventy-Two Return After Jesus Has Sent Them Out...
The seventy-two returned joyously, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit themselves to us in your name.”

18 Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Look, I have given you authority to crush snakes and scorpions underfoot. I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the spirits submit to you. Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven.”  

<Just gotta interrupt here for a second:  Beautiful view into the heart of God here don't you agree?  See - Jesus MADE the angels, even the angels that are now with Lucifer.  There was a point in time where He had loving personal relationship with each and every one of them.  He had given them their names!   Oh beautiful spotlight on Divine Love!  Here we see how even in the midst of the great evil they have done, His heart of love still aches over their long-ago loss.  He sees our human hearts rejoice in victory over evil - and He understands that.  Never forget - He sent OUT the 72 with that very intent!  However, we get a glimpse into the overall battle as we, with the disciples, get our perspective straightened out here:  Focus on the battle - that your name is in and that you can wage war in the battle too!  Hallelujah - Jesus is OURS!>

21 At that very moment, Jesus overflowed with joy from the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and shown them to babies. Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. 22 My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.” 23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Happy are the eyes that see what you see. 24 I assure you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t.”

Dear Jesus - I just want to praise You for Your unfailing love towards me.  I want to recommit myself this day to actively reminding myself that ALL Your ways are unbounded love towards me - especially when I don't see beyond the immediacy of pain.  Thank You Jesus for the gift of Yourself...