神在宇宙中的故事，不外乎一个掌权的故事，也就是一个得国度的故事。我们知道主祷告文里题到三件事。‘愿你的名被尊为圣……愿你的国来临……愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。’这里给我们看见，旨意的通行就是一个掌权的问题。一个国家的主权，若不能通行到一个地方，那一个国家的法令就无法执行到那里。要通行一个法令，非得通行其主权不可。神要到地上通行祂的旨意，就必须把祂的权柄通到地上；神要通行祂的权柄到地上，就必须在地上得着一个国度。一有了国度，神就能掌权，就能通行祂的旨意，也能叫祂的名被尊为圣，祂就能得着荣耀。神的旨意、神的荣耀、神的名被尊为圣；这些重大的事都系在神的国度上。
在宇宙中，撒但惟一所要作的一件事，就是推翻神的宝座。以赛亚十四章告诉我们，撒但要高举他的宝座与神同等。（赛十四13。）这意思是，撒但要侵犯神的主权，要夺取神的权柄，要推翻神的宝座；撒但在宇宙中要设立他自己的国度。到了马太十二章，主耶稣说到神和撒但这两个国度。祂说，‘我若靠着神的灵赶鬼，这就是神的国临到你们了。’（太十二28。）‘若撒但…自相分争，他的国怎能站住？’（太十二26。）这给我们看见，在宇宙中有两个国，一个是神的国，一个是撒但的国。一个是神要掌权，一个是撒但要来夺权；一个是神要设立祂的宝座，通行祂的权柄，一个是撒但要推翻神的宝座，设立他自己的权柄。
圣经一开始就说到权柄的问题，创世记一章给我们看见，神给人一个权柄，管理海里、空中和地上一切的活物。我们都知道撒但是用什么方法把人偷去；撒但那一次所作的，就是引诱人背叛神，也就是夺取神的权柄。人犯罪不只是犯了规，更是反叛、背叛神，把神的权柄摆在一边，不承认神的主权，不让神在人身上掌权。结果，撒但背叛神，人也背叛神。
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Satan and Man Rebelled Against God’s Authority – Matt. 6:9-10
The story of God in the universe is nothing more than a story of sovereignty, that is, a story of gaining a kingdom. We know the Lord’s Prayer mentions three things: “Thy name be hallowed… Thy kingdom come… Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” From these verses we see the fulfillment of will is a matter of authority. If a country’s sovereignty cannot reach a certain location, then the country’s laws cannot be enforced there. To prevail a law, its sovereignty must be first prevailed. In order for God to prevail his will on earth, he must extend his authority to earth; in order for God to prevail his authority on earth, he must gain a kingdom on earth. Once there is a kingdom, God may reign, carry out his will, have his name sanctified and receive glory, God’s will, God’s glory and God’s name being hallowed. These important things are all tied to the kingdom of God.
In the universe, the only thing Satan wants to do is to overthrow the throne of God. Isaiah chapter 14 tells us that Satan would exalt his throne to be equal to God. (Isa. 14:13). This means that Satan wants to violate God’s sovereignty, seize God’s authority and overthrow God’s throne; Satan wants to establish his own kingdom in the universe. In Matthew chapter 12, the Lord Jesus spoke of the two kingdoms of God and Satan. He said, “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt. 12:28) “If Satan…is divided against himself, how then will his kingdom stand?” (Matt. 12:26) It shows us that there are two kingdoms in the universe, one is the kingdom of God and the other is the kingdom of Satan. God wants to take control of the kingdom, while Satan wants to seize power of the kingdom; God wants to establish his throne and exercise his authority in the kingdom, yet Satan wants to overthrow God’s throne and establish his own authority.
The Bible talks about the issue of authority from the very beginning. Genesis chapter 1 shows us that God gave man authority over all living creatures in the sea, in the air and on the earth. We all know the ways Satan used to steal men away from God; what Satan did that time was to induce man to rebel against God, which was to seize God’s authority. When men sinned, they were not just breaking the rules, but were rebelling against God. They put aside God’s authority and did not recognize it. Furthermore, men did not allow God to have authority over them. As a result, Satan rebelled against God, and man also rebelled against God.