Gtcotr/ws042413
Why
be born again? Why get saved? What changes … what are the benefits? These are
reasonable questions asked by many who are sincere but lack the knowledge of
the scriptures. What are the benefits of being a “Born Again” Christian instead
of just calling yourself a Christian because you go to Church, don’t lie,
cheat, steal, murder, commit adultery or take the Lord’s name in vain? What
really happens when a person recognizes their need for a Savior, repents of
their sins and personally receives Christ as Lord?
The
person who believes in and calls upon the name of Jesus steps into Christ and
therein becomes a New Creature in Christ. Although it cannot be observed with
the natural eye, nonetheless an eternal change takes place: Old things pass
away and all things become new in that person’s life. Suddenly, to the joyful
resound of heaven’s choir, reality changes.
Along
with salvation and eternal forgiveness of sins and acceptance into heaven come
other New Creation realities designed to benefit the Born Again Believer in
this life. One such reality is the element of Dominion.
Key Scripture: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our
image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the
sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and
over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
God
created man like Himself and gave them Dominion. Dominion is the God-given right
and power to govern and control the works of God’s hand upon the earth. It is
simply the position of being in charge. Man was not designed to be equal with
the animals, subject to sin, or controlled by the elements of this world. Life
is not meant to unfold in unpredictable, unmanageable or uncontrolled chaos.
God created Adam like Himself and gave him the right and power to accomplish the
five original commandments of Genesis 1:28.
Genesis 1
27 So God created man in His own
image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and
God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it;
have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over
every living thing that moves on the earth."
The
Original 5 Commandments
1.
Be Fruitful
2.
Multiply
3.
Fill the Earth
4.
Subdue the Earth
5.
Have Dominion
Psalms
8 records King David putting forth the age old question of “Why am I here?”, then answers that question
with all certainty:
Psalms 8
6 You have made man to have
dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his
feet.
Dominion
reflects the positional authority delegated to mankind by God. This authority,
like any other, is meaningless unless acted upon. God expects His children to
“take charge” and make concerted efforts to influence and positively affect our
surroundings and the course of this world. Taking charge immediately began in
the Garden of Eden even in the seemingly little things like Adam naming the
animals. It was clearly his responsibility because he was put in charge. He
even named Eve, because it was his responsibility to make things happen.
In many instances we are either letting things happen or making
things happen.
God has fully equipped His children with the tools necessary to exercise the
dominion given them.
· Voice of
Prayer
· Voice of
Confession
· Voice of
Command
Jesus
plainly declared that all authority was given unto Him and therefore He
commissioned us to go in His name and heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
the leper; freely we have received, and freely we are to give.
Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give
you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power
of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Matthew 16
19 "And I will give you
the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Important Points
1.
Man was originally created to have dominion
2.
Man is born again to a New Creation position of authority
3.
God expects His children to be in charge and influential
4.
Believers exercise dominion through prayer, confession and command.
Commentary
Some notable changes occurred when men first
began to believe Jesus really was the promised Messiah, Son of God and therefore
Savior of the world. One such evidenced change took place in the lives of men
whom Jesus commissioned and sent out to minister in His name. (Matthew 10; Luke
10). To these men Jesus gave both instruction and authority. They were told to
go proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom and wherever they went they were to heal
the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils. In other
words, exercise dominion … be in charge.
Following their faithful obedience these men
began to experience miracles in their ministry. After completing their journey
they returned with much joy excited to report that even the demons were subject
unto them when they invoked the name of Jesus.
This was a brief glimpse of but one New
Creation Reality we receive when we are Born Again and come into Christ.
Believers in Christ experience the reality of dominion – the right and power to
govern and control. Dominion is a God-ordained position from which the Believer
exercises spiritual authority and demonstrates spiritual abilities.
God has not left His children in subjection
to demons or disorders of this world. Sin, sickness, poverty, worry,
frustration, anger, lusts, fear, disease, oppression, depression, possession
and pride all must bow their knee to the authority we have in that name above
every name, Jesus. We exercise our dominion through prayer, confession and
command.
Birds were made to fly; fish were made to
swim; man was created to have dominion. Refuse to be controlled by the lesser
elements of creation. Instead of being out of control, embrace your God ordained
position and begin to exercise dominion through your faithful obedience and
faith-filled proclamations of the Gospel of Christ. This is a Kingdom Reality!
