Fall
2006
Restoration
of Dominion
Wade E Taylor
The Word tells us that Jesus was slain before the foundation
of the world (Revelation 13:8). Thus, the transgression and
failure of Adam did not take God by surprise, as the Lord
had a purpose in mind when He created man.
“In the beginning, God ...” (Genesis 1:1a). Before
anything was created, God already existed. It is very difficult
for us to comprehend that God is “without a beginning.”
Also, the vastness of the universe is incomprehensible. I
have wondered why such a vast universe was brought into being.
When I ask, the Lord always responds with the following understanding:
Because God is a social being (we are created in His likeness),
He has from eternity, desired personal “fellowship,”
which will produce the deep inner satisfaction He desires.
Thus, God created the universe, seeking, but never finding,
that which He desired. He returned from searching the universe,
to a small planet called “earth” and created a
man in His image and likeness, and placed him in a desirable
environment. Then, He came to fellowship with this man.
“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in
the garden, in the cool of the day ... and the Lord God called
to Adam, and said to him, where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9
Adam hid from the presence of the Lord because he had transgressed
the word of the Lord to him. The Lord asked this question,
not because He did not know where Adam was hiding, but rather,
to expose the condition of his heart in order to restore fellowship
with him. Any counselor knows that to be successful, he must
come to the root of the problem. Here, man is hiding, but
the Lord is seeking restored fellowship. We should be encouraged
in knowing that our Lord takes the initiative in seeking fellowship
with us.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after
our likeness.” Genesis 1:26a
“Let us…” This speaks of the totality of
God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, having a part in our Creation.
“Image” has to do with the fact that God has
shape and form. He sits on a throne. He is Spirit, but He
has shape and form. He fills heaven and earth, and yet has
a localized Presence.
“Jesus answered and said to him, If a man love Me,
he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We
will come to him, and make Our abode with him.” John
14:23
“Likeness” has to do with our personality being
like His. He, unlimited, but we, limited. We desire to be
loved and have fellowship with others, so also, God has these
desires. “Likeness” also has to do with our moral
character, meaning we have the ability to think, to choose,
and to act.
Man was formed to have fellowship with God, but there is
a further purpose - “Let them have dominion” (Genesis
1:26b). This speaks of man being given an authority over his
environment, the climate, weather, and over all that was created.
If this “dominion” were active today, as originally
given and intended, there would be none of the tornadoes,
hurricanes, or the devastating storms that we experience.
We would have the authority to speak to, and calm these storms,
just as Jesus did.
It was never the Lord’s intention that these storms
exist as they presently do. Many say, “If there is a
God, why does He permit these destructive storms?” The
answer is that through “the tree of knowledge,”
man chose to go his own way and rule himself, apart from God.
He forfeited the “dominion” that had been given
him at the time of his creation, and we bear the consequences
of Adam’s failure and the judgment that came on him.
But there is more. In redemption, we become a “new
creation” and all that Adam lost is restored to us.
This is a progressive restoration, and we must learn to act
on all that we have received. I had a home in Florida and
some time ago, was told that a tornado was headed directly
toward this property. I earnestly prayed that this storm would
turn northward in the Atlantic ocean and never touch land.
This unexpectedly happened, and I thanked our Lord for this
experience in “dominion.”
God created man in “His image and likeness.”
This speaks of a “potential” which must be acted
on. There is a present working of the “dominion”
that we gained in our redemption. It is very possible that
we can turn a hurricane, a tornado, or a bad storm, if we
will believe and speak forth the authority we received in
our redemption. At least twice recently, I have heard of areas
where there had been no rain for a prolonged time, and a person
who is walking close to the Lord prayed, and soon it rained.
Satan deceived Adam and Eve, and robbed them of the authority
they had been given. But when they hid from the presence of
the Lord, it was the Lord who sought to restore that which
had been lost. Our “salvation” is the beginning
point of this restoration, and has two purposes. The first
is to prepare us for eternity, which is much emphasized. But
there is a present restoration of all that Adam lost, which
is much neglected.
God created the earth, and placed man on it with a purpose.
He came “in the cool of the evening,” during which
there was a special atmosphere, in order to walk and fellowship
with man. He found pleasure in doing this. A desirable atmosphere
is very important, especially in a church service. Some time
ago, I spoke in a meeting, and the person that introduced
me told several jokes, which made everyone laugh, and then
turned it over to me. I struggled, and had a hard time speaking.
Several months later, I spoke again in the same place. This
time the person who introduced me, acknowledged and made room
for the presence of the Lord. This time, the word of the Lord
easily flowed out from me.
“And the Lord took the man, and put him in the garden
of Eden to dress it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15
That which the Lord had created was perfect in every way.
But Adam was to change, or improve what God had created, and
during the day, he did this very thing. Then in the evening,
the Lord came and said, “Adam, I would like to go for
a walk with you, to see what you did in the garden today.”
And Adam said, “Lord, I trimmed this, and then I moved
it to a different place.” The Lord found pleasure in
the fact that He had created a man with a freedom of will
and ability. Although the Lord had created innumerable Angels,
he never found this level of pleasure and satisfaction in
them.
But, an enemy came and marred it by destroying the place
of dependence and intimate relationship that Adam had with
his creator. Now, by sweat amongst thorns, he would function,
and as a result, life has become very difficult for all of
us. Nevertheless, the Lord’s intention is to bring a
restoration of the dominion that Adam forfeited. All that
was lost is to be restored before there is any return of our
Lord.
“Dominion” has to do with authority with consequence.
In past times, the Lord has given a measure of authority to
those He called into places of responsibility. At times, this
authority was misused, in the building of human kingdoms.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon His shoulder.” Isaiah 9:6a
We are the body of Christ. The government – that which
comes from the Head, is to rest on the shoulders. Therefore,
the outworking of this government is dependent on the body
functioning under the head in total obedience. This “obedience”
must be tested and established. Only then will we become the
overcomer that the Lord desires, for the outworking of His
purposes in the earth.
“To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me
in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with
My Father in His throne.” Revelation 3:21
Adam was placed in the garden, in a perfect environment,
but there was a point of testing. He was to remain dependent
on the “tree of life.” But the tree of (self)
knowledge was very attractive and in time, Adam and Eve partook.
The tree of life is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our “Head,”
and to whom we are to be totally submitted. Our mind and ways
must be committed to the cross.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil “appears”
to be very attractive, but it represents our choosing apart
from God, becoming independent of His government and provision.
Because of this choice, mankind came from under the place
of divine provision and protection, and became subject to
all the forces of nature, apart from God. We are still paying
the price for Adam choosing to go his own way.
For us to come back into the original intention of the Lord,
the first step is for us to give up the right to our self-life,
and submit the totality of our being to His dominion and authority.
We are to become subject to His government and submissive
to His will. We do this by establishing the preeminence of
the Lord over every aspect of our lives, and then “walk”
as the Lord directs.
May each of us come to the place where we are fully submitted
to the headship of our Lord Jesus Christ. Only then will we
be able to function in the spiritual authority that He gained
for us through His death on the cross. Our lives, and all
that pertains to us, will be brought into divine order and
purpose, and we will be able to affect the environment in
which we live.
Then, the Lord will again come “in the cool of the
evening” so we can share with Him the victories we have
gained. And, the purpose for which we were created will find
its full outworking, as we fellowship with our creator.