Every believer is on a global mission as the light of the world, and the salt of the earth in a given area of calling. God wants to bring you into the exact knowledge of this calling and to empower you to execute it flawlessly.
Genesis 1:26-28
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 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.
28 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”
The above scripture shows us that man is God’s idea and not a product of evolution. This is clear in verse 26 where God said, “Let us make man in our own image.” God’s purpose for creating man was for him to have dominion over all the earth (verses 26&28).
God’s vision was for His man to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over everything on the earth. In other words God asked man to manage the earth for Him. Even though God’s plan was for man to have total dominion over the entire earth He put him in just one corner of the earth – a garden in the east of Eden.
Genesis 2:7-8
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Adam had an assignment and yet was stationed in a garden in the east of Eden. Though God had a big (earth-wide) plan, He started from the (small) Garden at the eastward of Eden. This teaches us that we should not despise small beginnings (Job 8:7). God will not start you from where He wants you to be eventually.
Unfortunately, Adam handed over this dominion to the devil. Adam, on hearing Satan’s lie felt inadequate in God. He felt he lacked something, and yet he was complete. When you feel insufficient in Christ, you will believe any lie from the devil. Genesis 3: 4-6 states what Adam and Eve hoped to get from believing a lie. And yet Adam single-handedly named all the animals in the earth. Isn’t that wisdom? If you listen to the devil, he will sell you the counterfeit of what you possess. Adam sold his dominion over the earth to Satan and led the entire human race into spiritual death and slavery. A wise man once said “What you don’t have is not your real problem; it is what you think you need”. In pursuit of your vision, guard against the suggestions of inadequacy and self-worthlessness from the devil.
The restoration of man’s dominion is the reason why Jesus came to the earth. Jesus said, “my meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work (John 4:34).” The following scriptures below reveal God’s will for man.
Genesis 1:26-28
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 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.
28 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”
Psalm 115:16
16 “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord\’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men”.
Psalm 8:5-9
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
When Jesus rose triumphantly from the dead, He declared in Matthew 28:18-20:
“All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth’’.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Now the authority has been restored to man. In addition, Jesus has given the earth-wide assignment to man to teach (make disciples of), ALL nations. In effect, we are to influence national agenda through the teaching of the gospel. The nations must be brought under the Lordship of the Word. The Father wants sons in Christ. His purpose can only be accomplished by sons empowered by the Holy Spirit. Adam lost the life of God in his spirit and the right to the presence of God; which curtailed his spiritual fellowship and intimacy with God. Jesus called Himself ‘the Son’ more than any other name and also refers to God as ‘the Father’. Our understanding of sonship and our intimacy with the father is the only way to effectively rule for God. It is instructive to note that the earnest expectation creature is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom 8:19). Therefore, there is nothing more precious in life than your personal knowledge and fellowship with the Father. You cannot operate as an effective son if you don’t have an obsession for intimacy with God your Father.
In Daniel 11:32 we read, “….but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits”. So your strength is tied to your personal knowledge of God. The assignment on your head cannot be accomplished beyond your intimacy with the Father; you cannot effectively represent God if you do not know Him intimately. It is when you have such intimacy with Him that you enjoy the wonders of His fatherhood (John 3:35; 17:1, 5-,11;21,25,26).
John 14:6-10 states, “… but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works”. So you see, it is intimacy with the Father (who indwells you) that determines the works you can do. The deeper the intimacy, the greater the works. That was so evident in the earthly ministry of Jesus. He would go early in the morning to have fellowship with the Father and do the same after the day’s work and sometimes continues all night in prayer. (Mark 1:35; 6:46 & Luke 6:12).
In conclusion, there is a call of the Spirit for us to deepen our intimacy with the Father. Ephesians 2:18 states,“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father…” The Spirit has brought us to the Father through the Son, so from Father God,we show up as light of the world and salt of the earth. This intimacy with the Father is mainly deepened by rightly dividing the word through study and prayer. Prayer is a channel to know Him more intimately and not just a means to get things from Him, because all things are yours as a son of Father-God. This will place a demand on your lifestyle. Daily communion with the Father must be priority in your life.
Rule the earth for God!!