Dominion

The word 'dominion'  used in Genesis 1:26 and 28 is an interesting word. Words in our culture such as leadership, control, domination, and authority come to mind and relate  to what we perceive the word 'dominion' to mean.

26 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 always wanted man to have dominion over this world. But, alas, man surrendered that dominion even after God had provided a beautiful, idyllic environment to enjoy. We got "dominion" back with Jesus Christ. As you look at 'dominion' in the word, it is quite a bit different from the world's view of 'dominion'. A study of this word tells a beautiful reality.

Man needs the help of God to overcome the pressures and negatives that the world has to offer. However, throughout the historical accounts in the Old Testament, we can read about man establishing his own way. Even religious leaders had problems.  The same is true today what Jeremiah referred to in Jeremiah 5:31 (24th use of the the same word for dominion or rule):

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means;
and my people love to have it so:and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Jeremiah 5:31 

Why do people 'love to have it so' ?   People have a tendency toward 'spiritual co-dependency' in two ways.  One is that they'd rather not think about it. Second, they are willing to let someone else think for them in this category. They give over control to someone else. Genesis 3 all over again!

The seventh use of the word for dominion is in Numbers 24:19a:

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion,

19 

This is reference to the coming of Jesus Christ who is the source of the dominion we can have today :

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

 Jesus Christ does not lord over us, he IS the Lord and he helps us. In the four gospels his authority is recognized throughout, but he really did not display authoritarian behavior. He presented the truth in a powerful way and gave people a choice.

5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. I Peter 5:1-3

We are not to lord over one another either (see Leviticus, 25:43,46, 53, the 3rd, 4th and 5th uses of the word for dominion). We serve each other as we believe God for ourselves. As we mature in the application of the word in our own lives we really have something to share because we learn a thing or two about God because we've seen a thing or two spiritually.

Godly Jealousy

Recently I listened to a popular TV preacher who compared godly jealousy to human self-orientated jealously.  As I went to check scriptures about his statements about godly jealousy, his comments really healed my heart.

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Exodus 34:14

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:  2 Corinthians 11:2a

 I can honestly say I have experienced the godly jealousy in regards to my family and people I love. When someone or some false ideology starts hanging around, alarms go off in my head. Handling it the right way keeps the godly emotion in the 'godly' category. There is nothing wrong with sharing the truth in love.

Godly jealousy should be construed as love and not considered a product of a negative heart.  It is not the same as human jealousy that arises out of self-interest that produces negative emotions like envy (I haven't found any references to God being an envious God), ungodly anger (to see what is said about godly anger look in the Bible-Ephesians 4:26) and pride (there may be a godly pride-Galatians 6:4) to name a few.

Jealousy can be a positive feeling about what is the best benefit of living according God's wisdom. We, as believers, are going to feel that same godly jealousy in response to things that misdirect people.  It is not something to be ashamed of.  Our culture, our ceremonies, celebrations, holidays and entertainment are loaded with subtle and not so subtle pagan substitutions for truth. Lack of truth has its effects. Its substitute practices drag people away from the beautiful joyful reality of God's peace and his love.

We need to be mindful that the Bible says the evil in the world will wax worse and worse. Just turn on the news and negative emotion and clouds of deception are everywhere:

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation (deliverance) through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. II Timothy 3:13-17

True godly love furnishes us with the tools to handle life. Chaos and drama swirls around constantly and tries to cut these tools out of our lives.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God for the purpose that those who love God can be furnished with the right tools! 💗

First Fruits of the Spirit

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Romans 8:20-23

Romans 8 is a great chapter as it magnifies the great significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in our lives. It starts out comparing the walk after the flesh to the walk after the spirit. The word 'flesh' represents our human qualities; the walk after the spirit reflects the holy spirit as it works in our lives. When Jesus said he had come that people might have life more than abundant (John 10:10). the spiritual walk is what is at the root of this abundant life.

Many people do not understand the effect of holy spirit in our lives and probably wouldn't have any concept of what is meant by  'first fruits' of the spirit.  'First fruits' refers to the  the earnest (partial down payment) of the of our full inheritance from God:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:12-14

One thing implied in the word 'first fruits' is that there is more coming  Depending on the context of how it is used it can refer to people (Romans 11:16, I Corinthians 15:20,23, I Corinthians 16:15, James 1:8, Romans 14:4), and first fruits of the spirit in Romans 8:23 as the new initial qualities that come with the spirit that are the earnest until the full manifestation of the redemption. This word is used 8 times in the New Testament (new beginning)

'First fruits of Achaia' indicate that there would be more of Achaia that would believe. Christ as the 'first fruit' of them that slept (I Corinthians 15:20) indicating that more resurrections would follow.

As far as the the first fruits of the spirit and its benefits, we don't exactly have the whole enchilada now as we are not living in the evil-free world of eternity. We have the expectation of eternal life which is what hope is more accurately. Now what we have  is power in the nine manifestations of holy spirit (I Corinthians 12:7-11), righteousness, sonship, justification, fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-24) and we are set apart from this world in not allowing it to effect our lives. We still live in this world and that's why 'groaning' occurs. Things are not perfect now but we look to the expectation that someday it will be:

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. I Corinthians 13:9-10

In the meantime, we have the first fruits of the spirit that enable us with power, love and a sound mind! (II Timothy 1:7).