When God gave Adam dominion over His
creation in Genesis chapter one, He never relinquished
ownership. He equipped Adam to rule over His creation
by giving him spirit. The spirit on Adam is what gave
him the authority to rule God’s creation.
Genesis 1:26-28:
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.
God gave Adam dominion
in the Garden of Eden. This is what Adam delivered unto
the serpent (Luke 4:6) when Adam disobeyed God's Word,
sinned and lost the spirit upon him. When Adam lost
spirit the serpent gained dominion over him and over
all mankind who would thereafter be without spirit.
What God gave Adam and Adam delivered unto Satan
was dominion not ownership. Dominion is the power to
rule, govern, or control. Ownership is the legal right
of possession whether present or not. God always retained
ownership of the earth.
Deuteronomy 10:14:
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the
LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein
is.
Psalm 24:1:
The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the
world, and they that dwell therein.
(See also Psalms 50:12;
89:11; Exodus 9:29; 19:5; I Chronicles 29:11; Job 41:11;
Daniel 4:25; and I Corinthians 10:26,28. The parable
in Mark 12:1-9 is also interesting in this light.)
Even in Old Testament times believers, with spirit
upon them, who believingly operated it, were able to
exercise dominion over the adversary (e.g., Elijah and
the prophets of Baal). Even Old Testament believers
without spirit upon them could claim dominion over the
adversary by recognizing God's ownership and man's stewardship.
This was commonly done with the tithe, which demonstrated
their awareness of God's ownership and man's stewardship.
(Genesis 14:17-24, Malachi 3:6-11). Thus they prospered
when they followed men with spirit upon them whose authority
sanctified them.
Exodus 9:29:
And Moses said unto him As soon as I am gone out of
the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord;
and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be
any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth
is the Lord's.
The difference between
dominion and ownership is implied in John 10:10a. “The
thief cometh not but for to steal..." Why steal
what you already own? In the parable in Mark 12:1-9
they kill to maintain their dominion, their control
over the vineyard.
When Christ, by way of the holy spirit came into
believers on and following the day of Pentecost. All
the power and authority was re-established in believers.
What man had lost in power, authority, rulership, and
dominion as noted in Genesis 1:28, he regains when the
holy spirit comes within.
Ephesians 1:17-23:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope
of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of
his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according
to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ,
when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his
own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality,
and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that
is named, not only in this world, but also in that which
is to come: 22 And hath put all things
under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all
things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the
fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 1:19-23 sets
the standard for us. The Devil may exercise dominion
over natural men and those born again of his seed. However,
he has no right or claim over believers who recognize
God's ownership of the earth and claim their legal right
using their power of attorney in the name of Jesus Christ.
We are to use the ability that God gave us. So
let’s recognize our authority and exert our dominion
as fellowlaborers with God.
1 Peter 4:11:
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;
if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability
which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion
for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus Christ reclaimed
all we lost in Adam and more. We have our dominion back.
Let’s use it as God intended and bring praise
and glory to Him.
