1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:1-4 NASB (emphasis mine)
The writer of Hebrews says that God appointed the whole earth as Jesus’ inheritance. What a shame it is that so many Christians are willing to give up the earth to the dominion of the enemy! Just this morning, I read this testimony of Christian Martyrs in China under Chairman Mao’s Communist regime:
Christians were faced with a stark choice in 1969. They were told to choose between Jesus Christ and Chairman Mao, but warned that if they chose Christ they would face dire consequences. A local official announced, “The land belongs to Mao. You cannot till it. The cattle belong to Mao. You cannot pasture them. Every blade of grass belongs to Mao.”
—-The China Chronicles (Paul Hattaway)
Popular but misguided would-be Christian sentiments such as, “This world
is not my home; I am only passing through,” play right into the hands of the devil’s desire to claim Jesus’ and our inheritance! In contradiction with the Chinese Communist claim, the Psalmist said,
1The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.
2For He has founded it upon the seasand established it upon the rivers.
Psalm 24:1-2 NASB
Again, the Psalmist said, speaking on God’s behalf:
6“But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
7“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
Psalm 2:4-8 NASB
The earth and the nations of people on it belong to God’s King Jesus, the Messiah.
In this same Psalm above, the power brokers of the nations rage against God’s anointed because they want His inheritance (Psalm 2:1). God gave the nations to Jesus. They are His by rights.
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” Matthew 20:18 NASB
And the book of Revelation says,
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15 NASB
Finally, the book of Daniel says,
‘Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’
Daniel 7:27 NASB
The nations belong to Jesus and to those who are in Jesus. We Christians must give up our weak stomachs for dominion and must learn to walk in it. “For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.” Romans 8:19 NASB
When we are in Christ, walking in His holiness and power, we are what the world is waiting for. In Christ, we are God’s solution to the problem of evil and the key to making every nation on earth great in the most Godly sense of the word.
Coming to accept the God-given mandate to rule and reign on the earth naturally brings up questions about what it means, in a Christian sense, to exercise power. And how do we Christians define power? These are essential questions, but step one is acknowledging and accepting God’s intention to exercise dominion through us.
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