The Purpose of Mankind Through the Christ: Pt. VIII - Dominion Power

Return of the Prodigal

Dominion Power

For centuries the level and character of “sonship” was completely ignored, leaving no benefit to be gained this side of death. Then, in the last half of the 20^th Century, the pendulum swung to the other extreme to the point that everything was sonship and stopped there. It was as if everything was epitomized in sonship and nothing more was available. Both Paul in Romans[1] and Jesus in the parables entreated the Believer to so much more.

While the “dwellers of the heavens” (us, the Believers), can walk in dominion over all of creation, we must seek to walk past sonship into the realm of the “joint heirs.” If we develop the mind of the Christ,[2] we then have the mind of the Father to do His will (works)[3] and speak His words.[4] If we truly reach that place, then we can move in power without the prodding or leading of God. Knowing the will of God through the word and taking authority and dominion, acting in faith, we act in the will of God because the Father is in us as He was in the Christ, Jesus. It no longer becomes necessary to wait on the will of God. We become the will of God as He confirms our actions and words with signs and wonders.

We know when to move in the creative power to heal, deliver, prophesy, and take dominion over the evil that Adam birthed. When will the body realize that we already know the will of God and declare it boldly, no longer praying weak and vacillating prayers…, “O Lord, if it’s Your will…? Jesus said that He came to bring us a life of abundance[5] in all things, physically, spiritually, and financially. If God intended for His people to remain sick, diseased, lame, or infirm, then His word would have said, “I am the God that might heal you.” I do not think that is what the passage in Exodus says.[6] Did He say, “Lay hands on the sick and they might recover?” The only reason we do not see abundant healings, deliverances, and other miracles in the body and from the body is because we approach our works in doubt!

The shallowest statement concerning the blessings of God is, “I know God can…” Of course, He can! We have to act and believe as if we expect it now! “I know God is, because the word says so and the word is in and for us!” The word gives us dominion over all things physical and spiritual. This is what Jesus said in Matthew. “All authority is given me in heaven (spiritual things) and in the earth (physical things).”[7] Then, He said, “You go…” because in Luke[8] He gave us all authority to share with Him as equals. Yes, we are equals to Jesus, and that is not heresy. Remember, Paul tells us not to be satisfied until we are joint heirs—equal heirs; equal with Him in anointing, authority, and dominion.

Why can we expect this and not be considered heretics? First, He told the Disciples in the Upper Room that the works He had done were ours to carry on, “and greater works.”[9] Before anyone tries to suggest this was only for the Disciples, let us read the whole verse. It begins with, “He that believes on Me.” That would be any born-again Believer. Second, it must be recognized that Jesus was, as are we, man. He was born of a woman, flesh and blood, of Adam’s seed. He was the one that emphasized this in every way. Of the forty-six instances in the Gospels where He was referred to as the “Son of God,” all of them were others identifying Him. In the eighty-five times He referred to Himself, it was always as the “Son of man.” Had it not been so, He could not have qualified to become the payment for our sins. Only a descendant of Adam could do so.

Finally, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.[10] One might think this is where we differ from the Christ, but this is the “sameness” that binds us to Him the closest, as we are also conceived by the Holy Spirit. Do not doubt the credibility of this statement. One only has to look at the instructions given to Nicodemus. Did He not say born of the “water” (flesh) and the “Spirit” (God)?[11] This was not a suggestion. It was a commandment. “You must be born again.” We had to complete the steps He took to reach perfection; not only the birth, but also the steps to become “sons” (and daughters) by believing on Him.[12] John makes it clear in this passage exactly what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus, “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

We must also allow ourselves to be perfected as He was perfected; through trials and obedience.[13] This one is hard for many to accept. So many in the church today want the “sloppy agape” feeling and nothing else. We do not see them going through trials because they seldom extend themselves past the “comfort zone” wrapped around them. When one wants to grow, then one must be tried. This is a rule we all grew up with as children. Each grade in school forced us to endure “testing” to be found worthy. Each endeavor was a trial that often took more than one try to experience success. Did you just jump on a bicycle the first time and ride it like Lance Armstrong, or did you fall and scrape your knee a few times? Even further back; did you walk the first time you tried, or did you fall on your…diaper…a bit at first?

There is nothing more pitiful than a bunch of crawling, Christian babies that do not want to go any higher or farther because it might take a little work, a little faith, and more than one try. Even worse, it might cause someone to …dare I say it?... have to be responsible for their own actions. Let me assure you of one thing. At each level we reach, there is a new measure of faith and a new measure of grace that we receive. God is not some awful, abusive parent waiting for us to make a mistake just so He can punish us. On the contrary; He wants us to succeed, and at the highest level. He gave us that ability and that authority. It is high time we use it.

We are commanded to be like Jesus, speak like Jesus, and do greater works than Jesus because He restored to us the dominion and access to the Spiritual realms that Adam lost. Jesus had authority over all humankind and the ability to bestow eternal life,[14] and He sends us just as He was sent.[15] What did He instruct the seventy that were sent forth? “He who listens to you, listens to Me; and whoever disregards you, disregards me.”[16] He even went a step further to say that if someone rejects Him, then God is also rejected. Consider this passage from the Gospel of John,

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”[17]

The impact of that statement is incredibly powerful in regards to the position of the Believer. We are to speak according to the same commandment given by God to His Christ, and that commandment is to speak life everlasting. This agrees with the statements of Paul in Romans when he relates the effect the Spirit of God has on the Christ and through the same Spirit on the Believer. We are free of earthly things and can focus on the spiritual realms because the Spirit of God in the Christ is the same Spirit of God in us. This means that the battle is over, the flesh must submit to the Spirit, and we must, and can, speak life.[18] This means much more than just leading a separated child of God to grace and salvation. Yes, Paul reminds us that the Spirit brings life after the death of the body, but also implies that we do not have to die at all. Yes, the message of salvation brings eternal life, but the gospel of the kingdom goes so much deeper than the surface, which is all the church has “skimmed” for 1500 years.

No, I will not leave you hanging there. Observe the next verse. “And if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead is dwelling in you, He who raised up Christ from the dead will give Life also to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who dwells in you.”[19] First, consider the “and” at the beginning. This means there is more than the previous verse promises. Next, Paul says this Spirit of God that is in the Christ and now in you raised Jesus from the dead. So, the next step is too obvious for words. That Spirit will bring life to the mortal body. And it should! Jesus spoke life into dead eyes, into dead limbs, and into dead bodies! We are commanded, not asked, to do the same works if we are in the Christ.

Remember, the Greek “Christos” and the Hebrew “Moshach” both translate to “anointed one.” We are to be a nation of peoples, the Nation of the Christ, that take His place as the “anointed ones” to continue His works, and do greater things. When we grasp on to the impact of these words, we will then grasp hold of the dominion returned to us and literally begin to heal creation from the effect of Adam’s sin. That, my friends, is the power we are to possess through the resurrected Christ. Eternal Life is a requirement, not an elective choice, as we cannot gain access to the dominion restored by the Christ until we become like the Christ.

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We must be conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born of woman. We must be born of woman. Now, this is where it becomes a bit harder. Jesus was crucified and laid down the flesh. We must become the same and crucify our flesh. No more jealousy, hatred, bitterness, gossiping, lying, lust…what is best for the kingdom of God is what we must be. The Christ performed the works and spoke the will of God, the Father. And we must do the same! That is dominion power, to perform the will of God without thinking, without question, not ashamed to consider ourselves equal with the Christ any more than He was not ashamed to consider Himself equal with God.

No, we will not be perfect all of the time and all of the way up the ladder. There are times we will feel like complete failures. Just remember, when that happens, you are in good company. When you feel like you have totally failed, just think, so did Peter; so did Paul; so did David; so did Abraham, and every one of them are listed in the 11^th chapter of Hebrews as “heroes of faith.” They were not always perfect, but they never quit trying. That is why Paul was finally able to say, “I have fought the good fight… I have finished my course…there is laid up for me a crown…”[20] We just have to keep on fighting; keep on running; until we finish the race. Until we do, there is always one more test and one more trial, but each one takes us to the next level.

[1] Romans, chapters 6-9 inclusive

[2] Philippians 2:6-7

[3] John 9:4, 10:25

[4] John 14:10

[5] John 10:10

[6] Exodus 15:26

[7] Matthew 28:18

[8] Luke 10:19

[9] John 14:12

[10] Luke 1:35

[11] John 3:1-7

[12] John 1:12-13