Scripture Reference:
Genesis 1:27-28
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
Reading Guide for Mom and Dad:
God had one Vision since the beginning:
A multitude of spirit-filled believers in His Image, ruling with Him over all creation.
This is the mystery of the Kingdom.
1. A multitude of spirit-filled believers
2. In His Image
3. Ruling with Him over all creation
According to Genesis 1:27-28 man was designed to be an extension of God's authority and an expression of God's character. This was God's original Plan and Purpose for man.
When Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, this original Plan and Purpose was hidden from them. Their eyes were opened to the Wisdom of the World and closed to God's Vision. Instead of multiplying in the Spirit (see lesson 1 for more on this) they could now only multiply in the flesh. Instead of ruling with God, man started to control and manipulate. Instead of being an extension of God's glory and character, man now had a sinful nature.
Jesus Christ came so that we could be restored to God's original Plan and Purpose. His death and resurrection enables one to have a face to face relationship with God. The veil was torn and we can enter into the Holy of Holies with boldness. All by the Blood of the Lamb. Jesus was the Final Sacrifice without blemish, the Perfect Atonement made for us by the Son of God Himself. Once and for all, it is finished!
Jesus sent out His disciples with this mandate: They had to be restored back into God's Image, they had to receive His authority to rule and they had to multiply and make disciples.
Let's look at this 3 Part Commission for all Believers:
John 20:21
So Jesus said to them again, " Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Just like God breathed life into Adam, Jesus now breathes on His disciples.
Also
Acts 2:4
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Jesus had the full measure of the Holy Spirit. Jesus restores the disciples to the full measure of the Spirit that He had when He walked on earth. By what Jesus did for us on the Cross, we now have access to the fullness of the Spirit, IN CHRIST JESUS.
The Great Commission, like God's original Plan and Purpose, has 3 areas. Jesus reveals God's Vision to His disciples.
Acts 2:4 only takes care of the first part: restoring us back into the IMAGE OF GOD. What about ruling and multiplying?
In Matthew 28 we see these two parts of our mandate: to rule and to multiply:
Matthew 28:18-19
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (in the Amplified this word authority is translated as all Power of Rule)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen"
In verse 18 it says that Jesus has ALL authority. If Jesus has ALL, then the enemy has NONE.
Teaching Reference on YouTube by Gavin Porter: God's Plan and Purpose
Conversation Starters with the little ones:
Take a bowl of fruit. My children loves grapefruit, so we started with 6 of these.
Give all six to one of them. How many do you have if your brother has all of the grapefruit? You have none!
Explain that Jesus received ALL AUTHORITY when he rose from the dead. The enemy doesn't have any authority except that which we give him.
This helps my children when they are confronted with fear. Help them realize that they do not need to fear anything, because IN CHRIST we are able to rule over all creation with God. We can rule over sickness, poverty, fear and lack.
Teach them to Rule and Multiply:
Do some crafts together. We made crowns with paper, glitter pens and stickers. My little girl enjoyed this so much! (We are still very much in the princess stage)
Talk about what a KING does during your time together. He rules the Kingdom! God is our Father and He is King over all.
Kettle Prayer Suggestion:
Father let your Kingdom come - now, here in our lives even as it is in Heaven! Let Heaven and Earth meet in my children's hearts, and may it extend everywhere that they go. Fulfill your Plan and Purpose in their lives Jesus, all glory and honor to You! King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen
Visual aid - you are welcome to download this visual aid for your own personal use:
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