Thursday: Restoring “Dominion”
Through the Fall we as humans have lost so much, including the kind of dominion that our first parents were privileged to have in Eden. Christ came in order to restore to us what we lost.
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
And because of what Christ has done for us, we, too, have been called by God to reach out to others, helping them regain in Christ the salvation and dominion lost at the Fall that He has given back to us. Though this process will not be complete until the second coming of Jesus and beyond, there’s much that we can do now in reaching out to those who are needy, lost, and overwhelmed by the world. We can be used by God to help start that restoration even now, as we reach out and help those in need.
What do the following texts each say that can be applied to helping others regain some of the “dominion” lost through sin?
As a church body there’s much that we can do, that we must do, that we have been called to do, to reach out to those in need. Sometimes it’s as basic as providing food, clothes, or shelter to someone in urgent need. Even though giving relief is necessary, something beyond giving relief is needed to help people restore dominion in their lives.
Though we must always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, we must when and where we can meet their physical needs and point them to a better way of life.
Though each situation is different, and the needs are different, we have been called by God to be a light and a source of healing and hope in our communities. This is an essential part of what it means to be a witness to the world of the loving and saving God whom we serve. We must do all that we can, in the Lord’s strength, to be a beacon of light and hope to those in need. As Christians, we can’t do less. As we fulfill this role of service, we are helping them learn what God is like. And, too, by ministering to their physical needs, we are paving the way for their hearts to be reached by the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus did, and this is what we are called to do as well.
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Even though we have the gift of choice, how often do we exercise this gift? We sometimes find ourselves allowing others to make choices for us, conforming to the majority decision and not actually choosing what God would have us to do. Let us standout and establish our God given domain living by Godly principles and being a blessing to others.
I like today's lesson. I thank God that guided the authors to address us this message. Let'us apply as church bodies.
The church should work in unison. Members should be united and stop pretending. Showing an upright character both at home, at work and in church, this will go a long way in winning souls to Chris
Christ came to restore dominion. He openly spelled out how although in a sinful world we can practice leaving dominion life but we deliberately choose to live a dominant life. Paul in Phillipians 2:5 clearly spells out the mind of Jesus that should be in us for us to embrace s dominion life.
By fulfilling the will of God as expressed through His word, we will be fulfilling the Gospel commission given to every believer in Christ, the Savior of the world. In these instructions, the law is fulfilled through supreme love to God and equal love to our neighbor. The world we pursue here will be the world we will gain at last. One will stand forever, the other will be destroyed. We can only choose one of them.
Dominion of the earth.
There is a chapter in the Bible that speaks of Dominion Restored.
It is Daniel chapter seven.
Mankind seeks dominion over the earth, but follows the pattern of the prince of this world (satan) who usurped the dominion from Adam.
Four beasts -- representing four mighty empires or kingdoms arise, seeking dominion over the earth.
The lion, bear, leopard, terrible beast with it's horn all seek dominion by the sword, conquest, and subjugation of the nations.
The word "dominion" is oft repeated in Daniel seven:
Earthly human dominion:
• Daniel 7:6 Dominion was given to the leopard.
•Daniel 7:12 the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged
•Daniel 7:26 judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his (that is the horn's) dominion,
Something else takes place in that heavenly judgment when the Son of Man is brought before court.
Daniel 7:13-14 "behold, one like the Son of man (none other than Jesus) came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."
Jesus, here described as "son of man" standing at the head of the human race, the second Adam, since the first Adam sold out the dominion to the enemy. Jesus, standing at the head of the human race is brought before the heavenly court and declared to be the One worthy to receive the dominion of the earth. He wins back mankind's lost inheritance!
He does more in front of that court --
Rev. 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Yes, He presents the names of the saints who will enjoy the dominion that He, Christ has bought back for the human race.
And because of what Christ has done, these saints will inherit the dominion of the earth with Him.
Meanwhile on earth the horn power will do his best to take dominion of the earth.
But the judgment is made in the heavenly court --
Dan. 7:26 the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
Dan. 7:18 And the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Dan. 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
The dominion of the earth is a contest between Who is the Prince of this world.
Satan wants it and uses people, war, oppression and conquest to subjugate people and control them. He usurped that place from Adam.
Christ, takes humanity upon Himself, standing as the second Adam to win back the lost dominion for mankind. He does so through His perfect life as a man, by His death taking our guilt and punishment, and by His resurrection, giving us newness of life.
Now we chose which one to give our allegiance to?
The one who offers us the dubious and short pleasures in his dominion of this sinful world,
Or the one who purifies us and fits us for a glorious eternal dominion with Him.
Well said...great post! We all most certainly have a choice, the multimillion question is which choice we make as individuals (destruction or everlasting life?)