Genesis 1:26-28
“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.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 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.””
When you get some time I would admonish each of you to take a serious look at the work of Dr. Miles Monroe regarding kingdom, dominion, and power. Dr. Monroe was one of the great thinkers and teachers on this subject. And today I would love to discuss just what it means to have dominion, and what it means to have power.
Now if you’re like me, most of the time I’ve considered dominion and power to be about the same thing. But as we look at our chapter in Genesis, we begin to understand the true significance of dominion, power, and their relationship; and we even better understand the reason for our creation as well.
Dr. Monroe teaches, we weren’t created to be religious. Religion is our response to the fall of man, and our feeble attempt to appease a holy God. We were created to exercise dominion over the earth. We were created without the need for religion because we were with, and under the direction and care of God. He has all power, and we were able to exercise dominion as long as we were in fellowship with Him. Once we were no longer endowed with power from being in His presence, we could no longer, exercise dominion over the earth. Our dominion was never taken away, it just doesn’t work without the corresponding power to activate it in our lives. Dominion and power are like two sides to the same coin. One doesn’t work without the other.
I found this definition online that seems to perfectly explain the subtle difference between dominion and power. The word, dominion, carries with it, an idea of empire. It is the law, which gives authority; it deriving all its might, from thence. Power, is invested in delegates, those, to whom the execution of the laws is entrusted, and is, consequently, in subordination to authority. Did you catch that? Plainly stated, dominion establishes law for an area, locality, people, place or spiritual entity. Power is the privilege given to those carrying out those laws. This is a very significant concept to understand.
From the time of our creation to this very moment we’ve always had dominion. Mankind was created to have dominion over the earth. God never took away our dominion. We just walked away from our power; and without power we are not able to exercise dominion. Within ourselves, and of ourselves, we don’t have the authority. But aren’t you glad with Christ we can do all things?
To truly exercise our dominion, we’re going to need our power back. And that’s exactly what God has done through Jesus Christ. After the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, He spoke with His disciples and forecasted this blessed inheritance. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” Acts 1:8
Do you see the transaction value here? The power we lost in the Garden of Eden was rekindled at Calvary. With the infilling of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost we are completely restored to reengage with God in worldwide dominion. Those filled with His presence are authorized and deputized to carry out the edicts and orders of our King. And those orders include representing the Kingdom of Christ throughout the world. And being a witness is not simply affirming you believe in Christ. It’s living a life that confirms His power, authority and love. We are called to live the life of a witness. A life that demonstrates not just our ability to worship and praise, but a life of power that takes back what Satan stole from us. We are entitled to live a life of victory, purpose, unlimited potential, freedom and grace. Because we not only have dominion; we have the power!
God Bless
