\”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.\” Genesis 1:26 (emphasis ours)
Psalm 8 is a scripture that expresses the excellent and strategic nature of our God. After giving praise to God, David by the Holy Spirit, shows again the order we see in Genesis chapter 1.
In Genesis 1:1-3, (1) we see God, (2) the first creation,(3) the disruption of the enemy and then (4) the recovery (of creation) or intervention of God. Here in Psalm 8, after God is praised, David showed that God has an enemy and the divine strategy for dealing with him is in the mouth of babes.
Please note that it says \”babes\” as if to say only \”children\” can be used by God to deal with the enemy. Now, this is not just talking about children, literally speaking; it is talking about being like a child. Please read Matthew 18:1-4 (Please listen to more about this in the audio below)
Effectively, that means that man is the strategy God decided to use to deal with the enemy. In verses 3 & 4, David pointed out that out of all the things God created, man is the one that has God\’s special attention.
This is because man was made in God\’s image and to fulfill a strategic and eternal purpose. Remember, this is a man that depends on God like a child. It is a major mark of being in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Why did God create man?
\”Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.\” Psalm 8:6-8
From this Scripture, why did God create you? To have dominion over the other works of God\’s hands. God has put all things under your feet just because you are made in His image and likeness.
Although sin interrupted the plan of God, and disqualified man from his divine inheritance, God has made a provision for restoration to His original intention. All those who come to Jesus Christ will regain their place in God and are the ones who can rightfully exercise the authority that God has given over the rest of creation.
All things are not under your feet if you are still walking in darkness and have not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Just like in Genesis 1:26, we see the three spheres of dominion God has given to man in Psalm 8:
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Land (earth or field)
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Air
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Sea
Now, this dominion goes beyond the physical things in these environment. Take Genesis 3 for example. A serpent came to Eve and deceived her. That was the first mention of an animal after Adam named them in Genesis 2. And can you imagine that this first mention, exposed a manipulation?
If we are to use the law of first occurrence, as normally used in bible study, that means there is more to all the animals in the 3 spheres. It means these 3 spheres have been inhabited by satan and his hordes, and they are the actual entities for us to subdue and dominate.
NOTE: The reason why animals became wild was because of sin and through sin, came the entrance of rebellion. This is why it is easy for demons and satanic forces to possess animals. They will all be restored back to their \”domestic\”, pre-fall state in eternity. Romans 8:20-21, Isaiah 11:6-9.
What is man\’s mission?
The recreated man is the man that has been washed from the sin that Adam brought upon mankind. That washing restores you to the man that Adam was before sin with a single exception: You are now like an Adam that ate the tree of life rather than that of knowledge of good and evil.
The recreation of man is a very real experience without which no one can enter the Kingdom of God. John 3:3, 5. Although the effects of sin are still in this world, the life of heaven begins from now.
\”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.\” 2 Corinthians 5:17
This newly created man is the one that seeks for the establishment of God\’s Kingdom on earth. \”…Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.\” Luke 11:2.
It is this man that can exercise dominion over the territorial powers that are hidden on land, air and in the sea. Ephesians 6:10-12. Your mission as a Christian is to restore your location, occupation, nation (especially family) to God\’s original intention.
You are an undercover, so to say, within your occupation and location. What are you to do there? Be fruitful, multiply, replenish, subdue and have dominion.
That is, bear the fruit of righteousness where you have been planted. Increase your production as you translate and convert others from darkness into light until you replenish and subdue. Then, we will be ready to dominate a place with the life of Heaven.
Prayer: LORD, I thank you for the great inheritance you have called me into. I ask for your help today. Help me to enter into the fullness that you have for me in Christ Jesus. I receive the childlike nature required to live and serve in the Kingdom of Heaven. AMEN.
Next Lesson: Upsetting the settings of the old creation man (i.e. reversing the established behavioural patterns, worldviews & generational curses of the old life.)
Picture Credit: Ronald Gabrielsen
