SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY – part 2

The Believer’s Authority –
Before we can find out about ministerial authority, we have to unmistakably apprehend the intrinsic authority of every believer. God never changed His mind. From creation until now, His purpose for creating humanity is to give us the divine imprint of His image and likeness. We ALL have the mandate of having dominion.

The passage in Psalm 8:3-8 more clearly elucidates that mandate: Humankind was created to have dominion over the heavens, moon, and stars. The works of God's fingers were all designed for us to enjoy, discover, and rule. Revelation tells us that each one of us was created to fill the earth with His presence (the image and likeness of God), to tame and master every living thing, and to continually exercise that mastery. Living in dominion means that we accept others as equal to ourselves. God sees no division between races, genders, or classes.

Adam (being both male and female) was the very first human created by God with ultimate authority from God. Adam had ultimate authority because GOD GAVE IT TO HIM/them (Adam (pl) understood and appropriated God’s WORDS – and they became revelation for his life).

* Having true authority is a consequence of revelation.
* Authority is given by God and apprehended by humans.
* Adam’s revelation of God’s WORD qualified him to function in the authority necessary to have dominion over earth as God’s chosen representative.
* Adam did not rule alone, but in relationship with God.

This Edenic garden wasn’t Gilligan’s Island! It wasn’t a place where Adam just had fun and lazed around. A decisive principle of dominion rule was given to both of “THEM.” It was God's intention for THEM (the first man and woman) to share authority and tasks and have authority. Notice that there was given a PLURALITY of leadership. And, their Apostolic mandate of dominion was all inclusive (Gen. 1:26-31). (Notice it isn’t “taking” dominion – but rather, “having” dominion – Having dominion is a matter of apprehending what was already theirs (and ours). Gen. 1:26).

1. OVER the fish of the sea—the distance downward and penetration of dominion
2. OVER the fowl of the air—the height and extent of our dominion
3. OVER cattle—the animals and natural world of dominion
4. OVER all the earth—the expanse and breadth of dominion
5. OVER every creeping thing -- the width and extent of dominion.
6. OVER every living thing that moves — the completeness of dominion.
7. They were to tend and keep the garden
8. Name all the animals

Each believer has an obligation to pursue the mandate of ruling our garden (area of dominion -- to tend and guard). This assignment to protect and guard that which the Lord has given, still remains. Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost (Lk. 19:10) and He now awaits the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21). Ruling in the Edenic template of dominion, power, and AUTHORITY defines our destiny.

In order for us to understand this reacquired authority, we must have a clear understanding of those Edenic instructions, and realize how they should apply to our understanding of leadership today.

To be continued --