Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren and let your mother.s sons bow down to you (Genesis 27: 29)
The most fascinating things in the world are not cars, buildings, computers, airplanes, cruise ships, spaceships, guns and what have you, They are dominion, power, authority, leadership and influence. These are related things but they apply differently and most of the time together. The world we live in has seen much progress and also much destruction and a mess because of the use of these elements of life. But what are they and how do they relate to us as blessings?
Dominion is the right to bear rule over a certain domain or jurisdiction. The one with dominion has all the four other elements - the authority, the power, the leadership and the influence.
Authority is the right to something or the right to exercise power over something. And power is the ability to do something effectively. For example, an armed robber has the power to steal, his gun gives him the power. But has no right to steal or to be in your house to steal. It's the reason he will run away when you call the police. The police has both the authority and power to stop the robber. You the house owner has the authority but may no have the power, the thief has no authority but may have the power. There are people who can drive and can move any car but have no driver license. They have the power but no authority to drive. It may not be a problem in some countries, but it's a big crime in Germany.
To be in leadership is to be at the helm of affairs, and leaders exercise authority and power. Interestingly, all the other elements give a person influence. And the use of this influence can make or unmake you, and others, because our influence on people can be positive or negative.
The fact is, all people are born with certain amount or degree of all these elements. Most people are born with the power or the ability or talent to succeed in life, to do certain things well, even some are trained for it. But they lack the authority that would permit them to succeed or to do those things. Some are legally hindered, or supernaturally blocked by the powers that be. Others also have authority, but no power, being it legal, financial or physical to enable their authority to work for their progress.
For Jacob not only power, authority and Leadership were conferred on him as a Abrahamic blessing, he was also given dominion to be the head and above. One of the good news of being a disciple of Jesus is that you are also conferred with the same kind of Abrahamic blessing of authority and power as a blessing of Christ. You are restored to the dominion Adam lost to the devil because of sin. Christ confers it back to you. So you and I have authority and power in Christ over certain entities, jurisdictions, and powers that work against us (Luke 9: 1, 10: 19). And we activate this blessing of authority and power through relationship (Act 19: 14 -16) and fellowship (Luke 24: 49, Isaiah 40: 31).
Let me end by saying, we have come out of dominion of darkness through the redemption of Christ (Col 1: 12 -14) and have authority of Christ to influence people and this world positively ad salt and light (Matth 28: 18 -20). How we use it depends on us and the truth is, we are held accountable to the who gave it to us (2 Cor 5:10)
May you see what have been bestowed on you by Christ and may He cause you to use it well to move people and your world in a godly and a positive way to the glory God. May your influence, dominion, power, authority and Leadership carry weight in all spheres of life and endeavours to afford you the leader Christ has made you in this world in Jesus name. Amen
Shalom, life and grace to you
Moving people onto God's purposes
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