You walk into your home in a way that is different from the way you walk into any other home. In your home you have a sense of an order you prefer. In somebody else’s home you wouldn’t rearrange their furniture.
Where you live speaks of where you have authority. This is your domain. Domain and dominion have multiple related meanings. Your domain speaks of a place you rightfully occupy like your house, your yard, your office, etc.
Adam was given dominion by God and his domain was in the earth. When he sinned his dominion was lost. Jesus, the Second Adam, came to restore dominion to us in the earth.
Sometimes we see in Scripture that Jesus is referred to as The Son of God while other times He is referred to as The Son of Man. This is significant because citizenship in heaven coupled with dominion in the earth brings the release of God’s Kingdom. When we become Christians we are born again of heaven having already been born of the earth. Citizenship in heaven without dominion in the earth leaves us empowered yet disconnected from the expression of that power that has been entrusted to our care.
The book of Daniel opens with Babylon having conquered Jerusalem. Daniel was taken from his God-centered culture and placed in an ungodly culture, required to learn a new language and new customs of a new land. In this story we see it is possible to live a first class life in a second choice world.
Dan 1:20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. NIV
Why were they considered to be ten times better than those around them?
They made faith in God a priority!
They could have said let’s not risk rejection and just keep our faith private. They didn’t.
Dan 1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. NIV
They could have taken a position of being uninterested in this foreign culture but they took an active interest to make a difference.
If we don’t effectively invade and transform our culture then our culture will eventually invade us.
If a child at the dinner table tells the parents that they were talking about sexual preference at school today and the parents say well you just need to tell them about Romans chapter 1 the kid is then left with a frame of reference that works around the dinner table but does not work in society.
Ravi Zacharias says, “First you start with a point of relevance then you move to a point of reference and then you move to a point of disturbance. We must learn to argue truth from having discovered the point of relevance. We then illustrate from the point of reference and apply from a point of disturbance where we then confront with truth.”
In Daniel we learn you don’t have to agree with those in authority over you to wholeheartedly serve them.
Dan 1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
They didn’t stand up with a bold arrogance announcing what they would and would not do but rather asked permission to be allowed to do so out of honor for authority.
In all spheres of life we should strive to excel not announcing that we’re 10 times better or pridefully declaring how holy and separated unto God we are.
People should be saying of us
· Their attitude is great.
· These people love one another.
· They’re always there to help.
· They are so productive!
· They are people who are loyal and trustworthy.
· Any time they’re involved in our events things go so much better
We need every believer to be effectively engaged in this fight rising up in dominion and citizenship serving others. Humility is the enemy to pride. May we humble ourselves to purposefully serve others this week.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Every day make it a point to serve somebody else with joy.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
LEADER’S NOTES: In this season we are focusing on what it means to live our lives in light of eternity. Eternal priorities enlarge life’s perspective well beyond where temporal priorities exist. Our hearts were made to be enlarged by Christ, and all creation cannot replace his supremacy.
Knowing the supremacy of Christ enlarges the soul so that the world and its little thrills become as small as they really are. The human soul was made to see and savor the supremacy of Christ. Nothing else is big enough to enlarge the soul as God intended and make little lusts lose their power.
THE POINT: We are created to behold the eternal perspective of God. When we do this it changes our world from the inside out.
Open by reading these verses as a prayer you are praying over those in the group.
Eph 1:18-23 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. NIV
This prayer begins with the idea of having the eyes of our hearts enlightened to know the hope and call of God. People who live in other countries simply have no frame of reference for the things we experience in America. People who live in America have no frame of reference for that which other people experience who live in different nations.
People in third world countries have no idea what it is to experience super markets full of food or to have thoughts of entertainment as options to fill time. We live in a very different world in America. If your household income is over $34k/year you are in the top 1% of income earners in the world.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In your view do Americans live with a sense of appreciation for what we have? Why or why not?
2. What can people do in our society to develop a greater appreciation for all that has been entrusted to our care?
3. What comparisons can you see between Americans who live in a blessed Nation and Christians who live in a blessed Kingdom?
4. In your view do Christians live with a sense of appreciation for what we have? Why or why not?
5. What can we do to develop a greater appreciation for all that has been entrusted to our care and a deeper sense of responsibility for sharing that with others as Christians?
We are citizens of heaven. It is vitally important that we cultivate a blessed perspective. This actually empowers us to carry God’s blessing in a way that blesses others. Spending time in prayer and God’s Word awakens the perspective of blessing!
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
6. What is something God has been speaking to you or revealing in Scripture recently?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Purpose every day to rehearse the mind of God as you rehearse specific verses from God’s Word.