Embracing Our Divine Mandate: Exercising Dominion in Christ

Understanding Our Identity in Christ

Human beings are made in the image and likeness of God to exercise dominion on His behalf (Genesis 1:26-28). This dominion was corrupted by sin and the fall of man (Genesis 3). However, through various covenants God made with men like Noah, Abraham, and David (Genesis 12, 15, 17), this dominion was ultimately restored forever through the Lord Jesus Christ. His death, resurrection, and ascension fulfilled God's promise. The mandate given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-2) mirrors the command Jesus issued to His disciples and all believers in Matthew 28:18-20. This summons was made by the King of kings over two thousand years ago. The church is called to respond by faith.

The dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ, alongside His people who overcome by faith, is consummated over every tribe, tongue, people, and nation as described in Revelation 21 and 22. This is the end of the story as God has authored it.

The Special Relationship of "Image and Likeness"

The two words, “image and likeness,” convey the unique relationship humans have with God and creation. The term “image of God” highlights two important aspects: 1) rulership and 2) sonship. Simply put, when we face God in communion, we can face the world in dominion. If we do not face God in communion, we will face the world in domination, not dominion.

Dominion is of the kingdom of God. Domination is of the empire of the beast.

Daniel exemplified this principle by facing the God of Israel in communion, which allowed him to confront the world of Babylon in dominion. In the twenty-first century, it is our turn as the church to reflect sonship and rulership, stewarding dominion in all spheres of society.

Dominion Within: The Heart's Governance

Believers must first exercise dominion within their hearts, which involves personal choice, before they can extend that dominion outward to their families and communities. In Daniel 1:8, we read, “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine that he drank.”

Daniel walked in the fear of the God of Israel and chose to do what was right in His eyes. Growing up as a Jew, he understood that he served a God of covenant. He recognized the requirements of Jewish law alongside the cultural expectations in Babylon. The kingdom of God within him—characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy—was displayed outwardly (Romans 14:17). God's command to Solomon, as he took over from David, was clear: “And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness (righteousness), doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father” (1 Kings 9:4-5).

Governing oneself in all situations of life is crucial before exercising any form of dominion in the outside world. This governance involves bringing our desires, minds, wills, emotions, aspirations, and everything else in our hearts under the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. A heart that is not under the kingship of Jesus is a rebellious heart. A rebellious heart and life are akin to divination (1 Samuel 15:23). Divination is detestable in God’s eyes because it opens the door to deception and pulls one’s heart away from the loving, gracious Father in heaven.

Divination seeks knowledge of the future through ungodly means. If we do not address these heart matters, we risk raising idols in our hearts that the Lord detests. Idols demand our worship, but as King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lord alone has the first right over our worship since He has already purchased us with His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20). He alone is worthy of our worship, not the gods of this earth. God was God over Daniel’s life.

Dominion Without: Influencing the World

In Daniel 2:21, we find the secret to Daniel’s impactful leadership: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.”

Despite being forcefully taken captive to Babylon, Daniel served four pagan kings and brought a godly influence over their lives, leadership, and lands. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged with his mouth that there was no god like the God of Daniel. Such was the dominion exercised by Daniel through his leadership. Daniel had an unclouded vision of God as the One who changes times and seasons, who sets up kings and removes them. For Daniel, the final word was not with any earthly king but with the God of Israel. This spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17) and boldness to speak truth lovingly without apology (Acts 4:29) is what we need to learn to operate with as we live, work, and relate to our families and friends. This is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God was God over Daniel’s leadership.

Dominion Beyond: A Burden for Nations

In Daniel 6:10, we see Daniel’s burden for nations. Even when an edict was passed against the God of Israel, Daniel knelt three times a day to worship Him. Although a captive in Babylon, he lived and demonstrated sonship and allegiance. Allegiance and loyalty to the kingdom of God and His righteousness are what God looks for in His people. Sons are loyal to the King and His mission on earth. As a result, Daniel was given understanding of the end of the captivity of his people and a vision of the last days return of the Messiah and His kingdom. In Daniel 7:14, 27, he received insight into God’s everlasting dominion and the dominion of the saints of the Most High. His intercessions on behalf of his people and land demonstrated an ownership that even the land could not ignore. God was God over Daniel’s land.

Once we exercise dominion within, when we bow our knees and humble ourselves in the fear of God, the lands will respond to the voice of the sons of God. This is the remnant God is raising throughout the earth in these last days.

Our Call to Kingship and Priesthood

As believers in Christ, these truths apply even today. We are made kings and priests unto God (Revelation 1:5-6). We must learn how to walk in rulership and sonship to advance the kingdom of God on earth. In the Old Testament, the duties of kings and priests were distinct and separate. Kings were chosen from the tribe of Judah, while priests came from the tribe of Levi. Kings were not permitted to perform the duties of priests, and vice versa. Saul, anointed as king of Israel, tried to fulfill the priestly role and was severely judged by God.

However, with the coming of Christ and the establishment of the new covenant in Him, kingship and priesthood are united in Christ and in us. This was the meaning of the institution of the Lord’s table (communion) before Jesus went to the cross (Matthew 26:26-29). In Christ, the kingship and the priesthood of Melchizedek, which were temporarily suspended since the days of Abraham (Genesis 14:17-20; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 7), have been permanently reinstated. We are now of the order of the Melchizedek priesthood by virtue of our faith in Christ. This is an enduring priesthood, unlike the Levitical priesthood, which was cut short by man's death.

Fulfilling Our Divine Calling

As part of making our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10), we must understand what we have been called to in Christ. We must fulfill our priestly duties before we can fulfill our kingly duties. It is vital for us to function as priests, kings, and prophets first in our homes before we can hope to exercise dominion in the world around us.

Priests offer sacrifices and gifts (Hebrews 5:1). As new covenant believers, we are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). If we fail in this most important priestly role, we will not discover God’s will for our lives (Romans 12:2) or function as kings and rulers on God’s behalf. There will be no dominion; instead, we will try to dominate one another. We see this all too often in marriages and families. We cannot choose one and opt out of the other. They go hand in hand because, in Christ, both sonship and rulership are one.

In conclusion, let us embrace our divine mandate. As we cultivate our relationship with God, we will find the strength to exercise dominion in our hearts, our families, and beyond, reflecting His kingdom in every aspect of our lives. Together, we can transform our homes into places that reflect heaven's culture and make a positive kingdom influence in the world.