UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOMINION IN CHRIST JESUS
By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1: 26-28.
WHY GOD CREATED THE EARTH
God’s main purpose of creating the earth was to give it to man. Psalms 115:16 says “Ps 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.”
WHY GOD CREATED MAN
God created man on earth for him to dominate the earth and take charge of it under God. God made man in His likeness. Man was created to have dominion on earth just like God. Since man is the only creature created like God, it is unfathomable that man would be subservient to any other creature. Dominion was Adam’s natural status just like God.
Gen 1:26-27 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
God’s purpose for creating man was made very clear in the above Scripture. He created man to take charge of the earth under His authority. For that to be achieved, man had to be created to be like God to have control over everything on the earth under the authority of God. The devil has been around since the beginning. Adam was to keep the devil in check and prevent the devil from corrupting the creation of God. Only Adam was created to be like God, in the class of God, no other creature had that privilege.
FIRST EXERCISE OF DOMINION
Adam had a supernatural intelligence, far above that of all other created beings. He knew things that had never been seen or created before by name. When God finished the work of creation, God brought every creature to Adam so he can name them. Remember Adam had never seen them before. They never existed before creation. Yet, he knew their names and called them by their names. God never said Adam misnamed any of the creatures, he got their names all right. When Eve was created, Adam knew exactly how she was created though he was in deep sleep when God created Eve. This man(Adam) was acting like God. He was created to be like God so he could exercise authority like God.
Gen 2:21-23 “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
THE FALL OF MAN
God’s regent on earth sold out to the very devil he was supposed to rule over. When Adam disobeyed God, he became subservient to the devil and lost his dominion over the earth.
Rom 6:16″ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness?”
For as long as Adam obeyed God, he was God’s representative on earth, clothed with the nature of God, full of glory and authority from God. But, when Adam disobeyed God, he adopted a new boss, lost his position with God, fear, and shame took over his life. The glory of God had departed from him. This is not the picture of the man that was made in God’s image to rule and reign.
Gen 3:7- 11 “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?“
SATAN; THE RULER AND PRINCE OF THE WORLD
The devil took over from Adam, as the god of the world and even dared to say so to Jesus. The authority to reign wasn’t given to the devil by God. It was Adam who handed devil the privilege to rule the earth.
Luke 4:5-7 “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
After Adam disobeyed God, Satan became the ruler and prince of this world.
John 14:30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me,”
2 Cor 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,”
THE RESTORATION OF MAN
God restored the original plan of creating man through our Lord Jesus, also known as the second Adam. This second Adam was born of a woman, the son of God and the son of Man.
Matt 28:18-19 “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
After Christ defeated the devil on the cross and rose triumphantly, all the authority of heaven is now vested in Christ Jesus.
Col 2: 9 “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”
Phil 2:9-11 “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
THE BODY OF CHRIST NOW HAS ALL THE AUTHORITY
God handed all the authority vested in Christ to a new set of men created anew to be like God and have his image and glory. In whom Christ now lives and reigns through on earth. These rulers are fondly known as The Body of Christ, His Church.
Eph 2: 10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Eph 4: 24 “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
God through Christ Jesus restored man to a place of authority. He put all things under this new man’s feet. All believers are now seated with Christ in a place of dominion, far above demonic powers and all other principalities.
Eph 1:19-23 ” I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”
DOMINION IS FOR ALL BELIEVERS
The church must understand that this dominion is a privilege that is available to all members of the body of Christ. We receive this dominion by accepting Christ as our Lord and personal savior. This dominion is impartial, it is not only available to a certain elite group of people. Again, it is available to all who have given their lives to Christ. Anyone who has accepted the free gift of righteousness given in Christ Jesus has dominion over sin and death.
Rom 5:17 “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”
DOMINION OVER SIN
Sin is no more your master. The power of sin was broken by our death with Christ Jesus when our old nature was crucified on the cross with Christ. A new nature that works righteousness took over and is now at work in us to produce a harvest of good works.
Rom 6:5, 6, 11 “Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. ……11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”
We now reign over sin by refusing to allow it to control us anymore.
Rom 6:12-14 “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”
DOMINION OVER THE FLESH
Put your flesh, emotions, tongue, intellect, etc. under control.
1 Cor 9: 27 “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”
Resist the devil, do not be afraid of him and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
In fact, the devil is afraid of you now! Do you know that? See the verse below.
James 2;19 “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”
We need to understand that until we rise in faith and resist these defeated powers, they will still seek to rule over us. Ignorance in this matter is not an option. Seeking deliverance from others isn’t the best option either. Learning, knowing, and using your authority in Christ is the best option. The devil, sin, and the world will always try to dominate Christians. This is a lifelong attempt from the enemy. We need to walk in the light of the word always. Focus on Christ, the source of our faith and reason for victory.
In conclusion, we must ask ourselves this. “What am I doing with the authority I have been given? Why am I afraid to engage these weak, defeated spirits that are under my feet?” This battle is one-sided. You have won already! So live freely as overcomers and conquerors!
Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel is the Senior Pastor of Fountain Of The Living Word Church, New Jersey.
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