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Volume 33   Number 25 Jun 21, 2009

        God created us for dominion, to rule and reign in life. However, we must first know who we are in Christ. Romans 8:14-21: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
        The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
        For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
        The liberty that God gives which brings freedom is what we are to bring to the world today. People are seeking freedom from the things that bind them in spirit soul, and body. Our minds especially need to be set free from the twisted things of the world, TV, and the media. Our minds and thoughts are being constantly bombarded by the enemy of our souls to defeat and ensnare us. However, Jesus is the answer, for He says in John 8:31-32: "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
        The more we commit our hearts to the Lord, the more freedom He gives us. Galatians 5:13: For you brethren have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. In other words, we are to use the freedom God has given us to serve one another in love. Creation will also be delivered from corruption through the revealing of the sons of God and His Kingdom and glory. God is raising up an army to take back what the enemy has taken. The enemy should be under our feet. 1 Corinthians 15:25: For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
        Liberty and freedom are what the world is looking for today. God's Word says we are anointed to bring liberty to the oppressed. Luke 4:18-19: (Jesus said) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
        Let's look at Galatians 4:1-7. The Apostle Paul wrote: Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. This is describing a child growing up in the Middle East. Even though a child was heir to all that his father had and may have had an inheritance worth millions, still he was subject to a guardian and steward while he lived in his father's house.
        While he was a child there was no difference between him and a slave. As a child, he had no authority in the household but had to grow into maturity. He had a guardian who not only taught him everything he needed to know but also was his protector and helped to manage his affairs. It was the guardian's responsibility to train the child to be a good steward of his father's inheritance. The steward was the administrator who managed all the household affairs. Then at the appointed time, when the father recognized that the child had come to a place of adulthood and maturity, he was allowed to manage his own affairs without the assistance of a guardian or steward.
        Growing up into maturity is described in 1 Corinthians 13:11: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. As we grow and mature in God, we have to put behind us our childish thoughts and actions. God has created us for dominion and has given us the power and authority to do so. We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That means we will look at things from a heavenly place. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that God has ....raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
        There are three important things that God requires from us:
        (1) ACCOUNTABILITY. Romans 14:11-12: For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
        Every person will have to give account for every word and action. Matthew 18:23 says: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants." A servant must be accountable to his master.
        (2) STEWARDSHIP, not ownership. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2: Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. Stewardship involves managing well the resources, gifts, and callings God has given us. In Luke 16:10-11, Jesus said: "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust (dishonest) in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon (wealth and riches), who will commit to your trust the true riches?"
        (3) OBEDIENCE. Jesus is our pattern for obedience. Hebrews 5:8-9: ...though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

Rev. Stephen Presson