30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
03 Acts 09 32-43 THE MINISTRY OF PETER 11 Acts 09 36 The Creation Mandate
📖 Acts 09:32-43
11 – Sat08Jun2024 – *The Creation Mandate* - _Acts 09:32-43_ – THE MINISTRY OF PETER – _Genesis 01:26-28_
_Acts 9:36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. *This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.*_
The purpose for which the Lord has redeemed is for good works. _Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, *zealous for good works*._
We all are eagerly looking forward to being clothed with our eternal habitation. Yet, we have much work to do as we await the Lord. _I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, *always abounding in the work of the Lord*, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord._
The work of the Lord is being rulers of the household of God. (Some have interpreted the household of God as the church. We must see the Bible in totality. This corresponds with the creation mandate of _Genesis 1:26_ This is God’s governance of the earth, including the church, through us as His rulers.)
_Matthew 24:45-51 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom *his master made ruler over his household*, to give them food in due season? (46) Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. (47) Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. (48) But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' (49) and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, (50) the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, (51) and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth._
God has made us rulers over His household to give them food in due season. We have been made rulers in the image of God over all the earth. To manage all of God’s resources with the wisdom of God and ensure that everyone and all of God’s creation, which are His household, will receive their nourishment and interventions for growth and sustainable development.
When we look at what is happening in our world today, it makes us angry and frustrated. We see our leaders failing us and we are praying for wise leaders to emerge who will govern us well.
We are forgetting that the church has been given the mandate to bring the rule of God in all spheres of life, wherever the Lord leads and places us. *We are mandated to fill the earth, subdue it and have dominion.* *Filling the earth is considering every occupation as God’s. We are to subdue that occupation by conquering or harnessing the full potential of that domain. We are then mandated to bring the rule of God into that sphere by ousting the rule of the powers of darkness.*
All of us as the rulers of God, are appointed by Him to take care of His household till He returns. When He sees that we have done our work of governance of all the earth, which is the Lord’s, in faithfulness and wisdom, He will give us greater responsibility in the age to come.
However, if He finds that we have been unfaithful and unwise in our task of governance. If He finds that we have governed, not caring for the growth and development of the constituencies that have been placed in our care, but were only concerned in our welfare, then what will our Master do to us?
The answer to this question is in the _51 verse_ of the above passage.
This is God’s word and the Bible tells us that we will be judged by His word. _John 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day._
The good works are not necessarily the gentle, soft, caring and sharing kind of work that we would generally imagine. Good works include the task of pulling down the stronghold of our enemy the devil, and in its place setting up the system, rule, and character of the kingdom of God.
_II Corinthians 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (6) and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled._
There is much good work that the church must do till He returns.
I am deeply troubled when I see the attitude of most Christians. We live only to survive. We live for ourselves. This is how we raise our children.
We hardly raise our children to be those who will occupy the whole earth, subdue it, and bring the dominion of God into that domain. This is part of the creation mandate given in Genesis, which we have ignored. We have remained with the Great Commission given in the Gospels but have not realised that *the Great Commission is within the Creation Mandate*.
```As we fulfil the Creation Mandate, we will also be going to all the nations, in the authority of God, making disciples of Christ.```
Tabitha, in her domain, was fulfilling the Creation Mandate as a disciple of Christ.