Preacher: Pastor (Dr) Otive Igbuzor
Text: Gen 1: 26-28. Rev 1: 5-6 Date: 4/5/24
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Introduction
When God created human beings, He gave them a mandate- be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over living creatures. This mandate gave man the responsibility to take care of the earth and all its creatures.
The Creation Mandate.
The creation mandate is both a command and a divine blessing.
Gen 1: 26-28 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 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 moveth upon the earth. (KJV)
Be fruitful and multiply: God want families to grow and multiply (not addition). God gave thesame command to animals (Gen 1:22). Animals procreate instinctively but men and women procreate purposefully.
Replenish the earth: The Hebrew word translated replenish simply means “to fill”. God wants the human race to fill the entire earth. But human beings rejected God’s command and wanted to stay in one location and build the tower of babel Gen 11: 1-4 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (KJV)
But God confused their language and scattered them throughout the world.
Subdue the earth: This also means to tame the earth. The earth did not come with houses and parks. Human beings are to subdue the earth and make it suitable for human use. Not to destroy it.
Have dominion: To have rule over the earth. We ere born rulers.
The Challenge of the Fall of Man
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the creation mandate was affected. (Gen 3)
Although humans were to continue to be fruitful and multiply, but it will be accompanied by pain and sorrow.
Jesus to the Rescue of Fulfilling the Mandate of Creation
Jesus Christ was born to save us from sin and bondage Matt 1:21-And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (KJV)
Jesus came that we may have abundant life John 10:10B-I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.(KJV).
Life of abundance is a life of multiplication.
Jesus died for us to rule and reign as Kings and Priests.
Rev 1: 5-6-And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (KJV)
Rev 5:10-And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (KJV)
Jesus commanded us to continue multiplication through the great commission Mat 28:19-20
Fulfilling the Creation Mandate
Understanding the creation mandate: The first step to fulfilling the creation mandate is understanding the mandate. We must understand that the first command that God gave to human beings is to be fruitful and multiply. This requires work in harmony with the earth, not to destroy the earth.
Teaching others to fulfil the mandate.
2 Tim 2:2 -And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (KJV)
Doing the work to fulfil the mandate
Be fruitful and multiply in every aspect of life (Spiritual, family, health, academic, career, finance, investment and relationship)
Subdue the earth: Work and make innovations and inventions that make the earth better but do not destroy the earth.
Have dominion in every aspect of life. Take the seven mountains:
Religion has a powerful impact on the character, conduct and values of people and the trajectory of society and its development. When a person gives his life to Jesus, everything about the person changes (2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new)
Influence the world with our thoughts, words and action through prayers, witnessing, mission work and deliverance
Signs that follow believers should impact and influence the world. (Mark 16:17)
Economy and Finance: Christians need money for feast and pleasure (Eccl 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things). But you cannot serve two masters (Matt 6:24) and the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim 6:10).
You can make money by sowing spiritual and physical seeds.
Spiritual seed is your tithes, offering and giving to Men of God (1 Cor 9:13-14), house of God (Prov 3:9-10); fellow believers (Acts 2:44-45) and the poor (Prov 14:31).
Physical seed is your investment of money that will bring to you more money. No venture, no success. When you invest money into business, you reap returns on investment. Work smart, be diligent (Prov 20:13), have financial knowledge and have diversified source of income. Most importantly, invest in what will give you returns. (Prov 22:29).
Christians should sow spiritual seed and physical seed to make money and live in financial freedom and do things to advance the kingdom of God.
Entertainment, Arts and Culture: Opinions and conducts can be formed and sustained through entertainment, arts and culture. There is the need for involvement of Christians to promote Christian morality.
Hotels with Holy Ghost environment (no smoking, no alcohol, no prostitutes)
Governance and Politics: Governance and Politics is about service to humanity. Christianity is about service to God and humanity. Whoever wants to be great must be a servant (Mark 10:43-45)
In the first three centuries, the church was separated from the State. But there was denunciation of corrupt leadership.
The rise of Catholicism and incorporation of church into govt. The church became a department of the state.
Separation of the State from the Church. The Church should lead the crusade for good governance in principles and values.
Education: Education is a device that trains all aspects of human being to enable him or her to live amicably in his/her environment. Education can be transmitted through formal and informal means. Education creates awareness; and inculcates values, morals and culture and can improve skills, knowledge and attitude. Christians should be involved in both formal and informal education.
Media: The media is a powerful tool of moulding public opinion, setting agenda and fashion. Christians have a duty to engage the media to promote godly values and promote the Kingdom of God on earth.
Family: The institution of family was ordained by God (Gen 2: 18-25). The family is the bedrock of any nation. It is in the family that the character and values of children are formed. Christians are enjoined to build Christian homes and train their children in the way of the Lord.
Challenge
Are you a born again child of God? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour? Are you saved from the bondage of sin? Are you living a life of abundance? Are you reigning as Kings and Priests? Are you multiplying disciples? Are you dominating in any area of life?
Conclusion
God created human beings with the mandate to be fruitful and multiply. The fall of Man affected the creation mandate. Jesus came to the rescue of fulfuling the mandate of creation. You have been saved from the bondage of sin. You can now live a life of abundance. You can now rule and regin as kings and preosts. You should continue multiplication of other disciples.
Prayer
Father, help me to fulfil the creation mandate and make other disciples.