Sermon: The Call To Reign In Life Through Jesus Christ

Sermon: The Call to Reign in Life Through Jesus Christ

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

Romans 5:17 “It is certain that death ruled because of one person’s failure. It’s even more certain that those who receive God’s overflowing kindness and the gift of his approval will rule in life because of one person, Jesus Christ.”

Introduction: It is both mysterious and amazing to think that God created man in his own image and likeness, then allow him to rule over His creation. Man was created to be wise in his mind, holy in his heart, and righteous in his actions. Then God made man free moral agents over his creation. Man was to live in the light of knowledge, reason and common sense. Besides that, God made man to live in community with one another. God said, it is not good for man to be alone. We need other people and other people need us! Mankind is called to live connected to God, to one another and to this world around us. The image of God was marred by sin. Mankind was deformed by sin, informed by the Law, reformed by Jesus Christ and restored by the renewing of our mind. Now believers proclaim the good news of Jesus, cultivate loving relationship in community, practice justice to all, and engage the culture we encounter each day in life changing ways for the kingdom of God.

The message of the Scriptures above is clear. Believers are created in the image and likeness of God to reign in life. Why? Because in Christ Jesus we have received “the gift of righteousness”, we have received “the abundance of grace”, and finally, believers are call to reign in life “through Jesus Christ.”

The call to reign in life does not include ruling the world of others or trying to rule the Country or trying to rule the state or the community, it must begin by taking authority over your personal world and in the sphere of our influence? Ruling over those things that have a great impact on our life. It means ruling your thoughts, words, attitude, and actions. Our words have created power. They can build or destroy. Our attitudes control our emotions and feelings. If we allow our emotions to run wild, our lives will be chaotic. Our actions are seeds that will always produce a harvest. Our thought life guides our whole being. We must rule our world so we can guide our thoughts, control our words and our attitudes and our actions. God proclaims two outrageous ideas in these Scriptures: First, we are created in the image and likeness of God with unlimited potential and creativity and told to have dominion. Second, we can reign in life through Jesus Christ regardless of the environment in the world, country, or the state. If we rule our own personal world, we can live a life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

At creation, God invested Adam and Eve with full authority for managing their lives and ruling their personal world. They were God’s agent on the earth to make sure His will was done in the garden of God. The garden of Eden was under their sphere of their influence. Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan into transferring their authority to Satan through willful disobedience of God. Remember the Scriptures teach us by saying, “for the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” Sin always brings death. Death became king. It ruled the lives of every person born from Adam. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” By contrast, Paul now writes, those who receive the abundance of God's grace and the free gift of righteousness will themselves reign in life through Jesus. For those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior, everything changes.

Yet we must be aware that any authority given to us by God must be protected and used wisely. As with Adam and Eve, Satan will try to get every believer to hand their authority over to him. Or Satan will deceive believers into believing they have no power or authority to reign in life. Or Satan might encourage believers to adopt a skewed or distorted view of God, His love for mankind and the power they have been given. Sometimes, Satan may tempt believers into allow others to rule over their lives, set their limits and control their influence. It’s not until believers accept their rightful place in Christ Jesus and decide to reign in life, walking with God’s wisdom, obeying His laws and precepts can we experience all the benefits in life and make a lasting impact in the world. God has saved us, redeemed us, and empowered us to reign in life through Jesus Christ. Yes, God reigns over all, but He has given you and I dominion on earth to reign in life. Opposition, difficulties, and challenges will come, lightning will still flash, and thunder will still roar, but we have been given strength for every battle. Bones will still break, joints will still hurts, pandemic will still come, but we can live victoriously. Psalms 18:39 reminds us, “For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”