Destined To Rule

God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Psalm 8:4–6 NASB95

What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

Man was appointed to have dominion of all earthly creation

It was declared in the day man was created.

Genesis 1:28 NASB95

It is expressed in the parables

Luke 19:17 NASB95

“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’

It is promised to the believers

Revelation 3:21 NASB95

‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 2:26–27 NASB95

‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father;

Adam’s Failure

God’s purpose was outlined in Genesis 1.28

Be fruitful and multiply

Fill the earth

Subdue the earth

Rule the earth (have dominion)

Adam failed before he even got to first base (be fruitful and multiply)

When sin entered, man still multiplied, filled the earth, subdued the earth, but NEVER RULED THE EARTH.

Man’s life was brought under the power of Satan, through sin and death

Hebrews 2:14 NASB95

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

power of death - dominion or controlling power of death

the devil rules by the controlling power of death

“render powerless” - grk. katargeo, to make inactive

God’s Work in Christ

Christ was raised up to have dominion over all the works of God

Ephesians 1:18–23 NASB95

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Notice: God’s purpose in us, the believers, is expressed in what He did in Christ:

He raised Him from the dead

He seated Him in the heavenly places - far above all rule and authority

He put all things in subjection under His feet

He made Him head over all things

But the work is not yet complete

Some things need to be done before dominion is complete.

Hebrews 2:6–8 NASB95

But one has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Notice - “we do not yet see all things subjected to Him”

Hebrews 2:14–15 NASB95

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Notice: the devil is “rendered powerless” (NKJV - destroy)

render powerless - grk. katargeo to make inactive, put under control

(set) free - the devil was rendered powerless enough to set God’s people free

Why is this?

Dominion is not achieved until the three requirements are accomplished or fulfilled first. These are:

be fruitful and multiply

fill the earth

subdue the earth

The Road to Full Dominion

Illustration: how European migrants built a powerful nation in the New World (America)

First, the gathered men and women are willing to go on an adventure

Then, they “settled” the wild country

Then, they “subdued” the indians and the wildlife

Finally, they established full control over the land.

Three Key Words

Rule or Dominion - Grk. kratos

Kratos also means controlling power, sovereignty,

Authority - Grk. exousia

Exousia also means jurisdiction, control

Power - Grk. dynamis

Dynamis is supernatural power displayed; outward power

God births His children

Christ died so that His life will produce many children of God

John 12:24 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

God places His children in the Heavenly places

Ephesians 2:4–6 NASB95

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Seated - placed in a position

John 1:12 NASB95

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

Right - grk. exousia, authority, right

Notice: your New Birth comes with 2 things:

It comes with Authority - as a child of God you have rights over and above the subjects of your Father’s kingdom

It comes with Dominion - as a child of God you will one day “rule” over the subjects of your Father’s kingdom

BUT - You will not rule until you learn how to use your power.

God expects His Children to use - exercise, practice - their power!

CHART #1 - Genesis 1.28

Column 1 - “be fruitful and multiply”

Children are born in the family of God

Column 2 - “fill the earth”

God’s children settle in the heavenly places

This is where we are “seated” in the heavenly places

Column 3 - “subdue the earth”

God’s people “conquers”

this is where we “subdue” the enemies

Column 4 - “rule the earth”

this is where we practice “dominion”

Acts 1:8 NASB95

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

1 Corinthians 4:20 NASB95

For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

Ephesians 3:16 NASB95

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

Ephesians 3:20 NASB95

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

Romans 1:16 NASB95

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 NASB95

for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 NASB95

and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

In the “Strength of His might”

The Promised Land was subdued but not possessed

Joshua 18:1–3 NASB95

Then the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled themselves at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; and the land was subdued before them. There remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes who had not divided their inheritance. So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?

the land was already subdued

but Israel was reluctant to “possess” the land

Joshua instructs Israel to “explore”, describe, and divide the land.

The source of our power

Ephesians 6:10 NASB95

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

be strong - grk endynamoo, be empowered

The source of our power is the kratos of God!

Ephesians 1:19 NASB95

and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

Strength - grk. kratos, dominion, rule, sovereignty

God wants to do the same thing to us!

God “seated” us, now we must take our “stand”

Ephesians 6:11 NASB95

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:13–14 NASB95

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

To “stand firm” is to “have dominion”!

Ephesians 6:14–17 NASB95

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We take our stand with...

the truth - we defend and proclaim the truth

righteousness - we live and act in righteousness

the gospel of peace - we share the gospel peacefully

shield of faith - we walk by faith

assured salvation - we enjoy our salvation

the Word of God - we do everything according the word of God

Conclusion

What is God telling us today?

Do not be afraid to send your children away.

Let them settle where God leads them.

Don’t let the enemy walk around - subdue them!

Our Joshua has subdued them already in the Cross

Let’s take the name of Jesus by faith and render our enemies powerless!

It is time to practice dominion!

Take charge of your spiritual lives

Take charge of your homes

Take control of your finances, emotions and other areas of life where the enemy what to overpower you!

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