THE DOMINION FACTOR

1. The Creation.

a) 26Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. (Genesis 1:26-31 NIV)

2. God created man.

a) On the sixth day, God created man (male & female) and saw that all He had made was very good (v. 31). The past 5 days creation was only good (Genesis 1 verses 10, 12-13, 16-19, 21-23, 24-25).

i) 10God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:10 NIV)

ii) 12The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. (Genesis 1:12, 13 NIV)

iii) 16God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. (Genesis 1:16-19 NIV)

iv) 21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. (Genesis 1:21-23 NIV)

v) 24And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:24, 25 NIV)

3. For what purpose did God create man?

a) God specially created man for the purpose of allowing man to take dominion over his creation i.e. over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground (Genesis 1:26).

4. What was God’s creative framework for man?

a) A framework refers to a structure usually rigid serving to hold the parts of something constructed or stretched over or around it e.g. the framework of a house. It is the basic structure, arrangement or system.

i) God has a creative plan.

#1) 26Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26 NIV)

#2) A wise saying, “Without planning, we are planning to fail.”

ii) God implements his creative plan.

#1) 27So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 NIV)

#2) Application brings desired results.

iii) God communicates his creative plan to man.

#1) 28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28 NIV)

#2) Communication:

- Clears doubts and misgivings (fear, apprehension).

- Gives clear & intended instructions.

iv) God empowers man.

#1) 29Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. (Genesis 1:29 NIV)

#2) Empowerment involves

- Trust.

- Delegation e.g. Jethro’s principle (Exodus 18: 14 – 26 i.e. appointment of judges over 1,000, 100, 50, 10).

5. The Dominion Factor.

a) Dominion (Success) = Plan + Implement + Communicate + Empower.

b) We can see that there is a creative framework for the dominion factor.

6. Prayer focus

a) Pray that God will give us the boldness to take dominion over every challenging situation.