“Birth of the Kingdom"

TEXT: Genesis 1: 26 Then God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them rule (have dominion) over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

Vs. 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of He created him; male and female He created them.

”Subtopic: “You Must Walk in Dominion”

First, it is essential to understand that before anything was, God is. The word God denotes “self- Existent One or self-Sufficient One” and describes a Being that needed nothing or no one to exist. So “God” is not, a name but rather a description of a character. Because of Who and What He is He alone qualifies for the title of God.

God created man at the beginning as the crown of His creation. God blessed man. Part of that blessing was for man to exercise dominion on God’s behalf over other works of creation.

 Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”, the (physical universe) over which He ruled as King. His intention was to establish His Kingdom in that physical world without having to come visibly into that world Himself. His plan would be carried out by creating from His own Spirit being a family of offspring (mankind), who would be just like Him, created in His exact image and likeness.

The word image here is not referring to physical likeness, but translated from the Hebrew words tselem and demut, both meaning nature, copy, characteristics. God is Spirit and He want to be seen but He needs a body. He created man so that He could be seen in man through His wonder working power of the Holy Ghost.

• John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
• Vs 2: And the same (US-His people) was in the beginning with God.
• Vs 14: And the Word was made flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
• Ephesians 5:30: We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
• 1John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world.
• 1 Peter 1:22-23: Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:  being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.

Yes, God knew exactly what He was doing creating man. We carry His traits. We have His DNA. God created man in the god-class and has given him (male & female) responsibility to exercise that quality as God’s agents on earth. In other words, He gave man power of attorney to act on His behalf.

At the beginning, man exercised dominion over all works of creation until sin came in. It was not part of God’s plan that nature and other works of creation should dominate or rule over man, the crown of His creation.

Man lost his dominion because of sin. It was a case of sold birth-right!

• Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
  “Sin entered”:  this is not stating that this is where sin started.  Sin was already in the world.  This word “entered” in the Greek means the point reached or entered or the attaining of a goal. “Wherefore as by one man sin reached or attained its goal” by taking hold of the “man” that was head of the creation that had incorruption and immortality or God’s life in him.

However, this dominion that God had given man (male & female) in Genesis is part of the redemptive rights restored back to us by Christ Jesus, when we become born again.

• 2Corinthians 5: 17:  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

You see, God has called us to be His kingdom representatives on earth, to establish a righteous paradigm (pattern; model).   It was God’s idea to share His invisible Kingdom with His offspring, which He called mankind and give to them His nature and characteristics.

As His representatives they would release, establish, and implement His invisible Kingdom in the visible, natural world. This is the original purpose for creating man. It was not an accident. It was God through His love and wisdom who constructed this awesome plan. Guess what? Man was right in the center of His plan.

Have you heard the saying, “God doesn’t need us, He is God all by Himself?  Well He might can do without “those” that believe that, but He can’t do without “us”!

• Genesis 1:26: 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 creeps upon the earth”.

It wasn’t just God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost there in the beginning “we” were there with them also! 

• John 1:2: The same (us – God’s people) was in the beginning with God!

Yes, He is God all by Himself, but He also, wanted a family, a Spirit family who would be just like Him. He gave His spirit family dominion to walk in authority.

Allow me to introduce just a few of His Spirit family members that exercised dominion and power in the earth:

1. Noah – exercised dominion over all (wild) animals at the time of the flood (Genesis 6, 7).
2. Moses – exercised dominion over the forces of nature in Egypt (Exodus 3, 7—12) and at the Red Sea (Exodus 13—14).
3.  Joshua – parted the River Jordan and led Israel across (Joshua 3—4); caused sun & moon to stand still (Joshua10).
4. Samson killed a lion with is bare hands (Judges 14:5-6) & David killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands (1Samuel 17:34-36).
5. Samuel brought down thunder from heaven when he prayed (1Samuel 12:18).
6. Elijah prayed and was fed supernaturally (1kings 17:1-7); he raised the mistress of the house dead son (1Kings17:17-22); he brought down fire and rain from heaven (1kings 18:36-46); he divided River Jordan (2Kings 2:8).

 What is dominion?

Dominion and rule are synonymous and their meaning come from the same Hebrew root word mashal, which means “ rule”, “sovereignty, “to reign, kingdom, power, master, to be king, royal rule, and kingly.

“Kingdom” basically means the same:  it’s from the Hebrew word mamlakah, meaning dominion; rule; a realm; royal; reign; king’s.  It’s from the Greek basileia (royalty; rule; a realm; a foundation of power).

Having dominion is knowing not just who you are but whose you are in Christ and understanding that in you, through Christ is the power to lay hold onto the promises of God.

Dominion is understanding that you can do what God said you can do,
have what God said you can have and be what God said you can be.

In relation to “dominion, rule, and kingdom” in actuality it is Christ and those reproduced in His own image after His likeness.  God’s “kingdom” is composed of His people!

• Exodus 19 (at Mount Sinai God speaking of Israel): vs 6: And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
• Mark 11 (Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem): vs 9-10: And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, “Hosanna; blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:  blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord:  Hosanna in the highest.
  [Jesus Himself was “the Kingdom”]!
• Revelation 1:6: (speaking of what Jesus has done):  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen. 
• Revelation 5:10: And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:  and we shall reign on (over) the earth.

Spiritual dominion begins in you. You will never be able to exercise power or authority over anything until you have first conquered self.

Flesh is our greatest enemy.

You are born and called for spiritual battle. As soon as you become born again in the spirit, the devil and his posse will become your adversary.

They will try anything to attack you and destroy you. Their battleground is your flesh. It’s imperative to lay down your flesh. Don’t give in to his deceptions and the lust and desires of your flesh. Stay strong and awake in the spirit and don’t slumber and sleep.

The bible clearly states: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:1-2.

 The word of God has not changed! Except we first take dominion over ourselves, over habits and desires and unbridled lusts and passions that are in us we can never expect to have dominion over anything else. We must crucify, dominate and control flesh and make it bow to the dictates of God.

You must choose to be different. People who take dominion are leaders not followers. They learn through their test and trial. They learn through their experiences and they believe God to the fulfilling of His promises.

How many times in your life has the enemy tried to destroy you, set you up for failure. He caused accidents, injuries and sickness, but God kept you alive. He kept you able in sound mind and strength, ready for this day, this hour, this season.

 “Be steadfast unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know your labor is not in vain in the Lord” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

You must take dominion. You must take control.  Stop bowing to things you don’t have to bow to. Stop accepting things you don’t have to accept. Bring your body under control. Bring your mind under control. Bring your spirit under control.

• Proverbs 16:32: He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Watch what you say. Get your attitude together. Stand for righteousness. Stand for holiness. Uphold God’s word. Rejoice in troubles. Worship with commitment and stand in authority. Whatever that mountain is in front of you, take dominion over it. Don’t let it stand in your way. Don’t let it keep you from your place of power and dominion in God.

• Mark 11:23: Verily I say unto you, “That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”.
• Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”.

There is a spirit realm right above our heads, and until we can get some discernment of the spiritual realm we will never gain or have dominion. The devil is the prince of the air, and he operates in the dark and we need to recognize who we are fighting. You will need to know the weakness and power of your enemy in order to gain dominion over him.

Few Keys:

Know Your Source of Dominion

We must understand the exceeding great power we have through Jesus Christ. Jesus took the dominion from Satan and turned and gave the keys to the church. Now keys are made to lock and unlock things, so you have the power to bind and to loose situations in your life.

The power and source of your dominion comes directly from heaven (not from beyond the blue but from the higher realm of God dwelling within you).  It comes through Jesus Christ. You make Him Lord of your life and learn these principles and you'll get dominion.  It does not come through human ability but a spiritual power. We are a people of dominion.

Obtain Knowledge on The Effective Use of Your Weapon.

Just as the conflict is spiritual so our weapons are spiritual.

• 2 Corinthians10: 3-4: Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).

Take hold of the sword of the spirit and use it to protect yourself from harm. Use it to attack the enemy to overcome or kill him.

• Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
• Vs 11: Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
• Vs 17: Taking the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

Don’t forget that need to pray and our prayer is to be fervent. Everyone that is going to walk in dominion must be people of PRAYER, and they must know the WORD. It should come out of your mouth when you’re attacked by the devil.    The word of God must be hidden in your heart so that when an attack comes you can use that double- edged sword.

• Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.

 Prayer is the power that accomplishes things when nothing else will. Faith gives you dominion and a person with faith walks with God.

• Romans 10:17:  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:7: We walk by faith and not by sight.

The word cannot build faith in you until you learn to abide in it. Jesus tells us this in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

 Identify Your Enemy

 How can you win a battle if you don’t know who you are fighting? The devil is subtle. You’ll never have victory if you don’t learn to identify your enemy. It’s not your husband, nor your employer, nor people in your church, but it is the devil that you are dealing with, not people. 

• 1Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

It is the spirit of the enemy (the devil, Satan, the old serpent) using people, because you don’t see physical lions walking down the street “raising hell” so to speak, but you see it happening in people.  But we know that this is a “spiritual warfare”.

Listen, isn’t it amazing how in Revelation 20:2: And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.

Why is he called “that old serpent”? Because it is the same “serpent” in Genesis 3 that deceived the Woman but now he has changed his form and he’s called “the dragon”.

• Look at what the LORD God said to the “serpent” in Genesis 3:14: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, “Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life”.

From Genesis to Revelation, that rascal has eaten a whole lot of dust to grow from a “serpent” to a “dragon”, wouldn’t you say?

This “serpent” is not a “snake” but it is the devil and Satan that has been lying and deceiving the people of God from the beginning of time till now!  And the “dragon” is the systems that we today are dealing with, social systems on all levels (political; economical; ecclesiastical - ideas, philosophies, vain deceit, traditions and teachings of men) that Paul warned us about in Colossians 2:8.

• John 10:10 says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly”.

Christ wants us to have and take our dominion.

• Luke 10:19: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 In this verse of John 10:10, your enemy is identified as your benefactor. Battles are not natural, they are spiritual. We want to try to battle them by world principles, but the devil will laugh in your face and keep you in fear and in turmoil.

Take your weapons out and show him who you are. We must remind the devil that he is defeated, that Jesus already won the battle, and that truth and knowledge of His word gives you the victory.

• Colossians 2:15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 Always Be prepared

Stay in the blood, the devil tries to get us away from our covenant. He knows your weaknesses and he’ll come at you through them. Fortify your weakness with the word of God, and God will turn that weakness around and make it your strength in Him.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9: And he said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness”.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 Don’t ever let your guard down. You’re devil proof by the blood of Jesus, so hold on to your weapons and never lay them down. The devil wants you to stay confused and not battle ready. So watch for these subtle moves the devil does and you will begin to recognize your enemy and his plans.

Never take your eyes off Jesus. Don’t look at man, they will disappoint you. Your family will hurt you and friends too, so stay focused on Christ.

Now is the season, Church, to run with determination the race set before us.

Be encouraged, we are destined to rule in life with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Let’s move into our rightful position as righteous “Sons” establishing the dominion standard.  Amen.

Evangelist Brenda Hansley