“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7).
When God made people, He made us in His image. Then, in Genesis 1, we read that He went on to assign us dominion.
Genesis 1:26-28 says:
“Then 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 birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'”
The opposite of dominion is being under someone’s control—or even being enslaved. If you don’t dominate, you’re in subjection to something. So, when God said, “Man will have dominion over these things of the earth,” He was saying you would be in total control. He was saying that you would not be intimidated by the things of the earth.
Nevertheless, some people live in craven fear of things on the earth. If that’s you, you live in abject fear of even the natural creatures over which God gave you dominion! You live in craven fear of life events. But God said, “I’ve given you dominion over the earth. Be fruitful and subdue it.”
You need to understand that you are powerful.
You have dominion, and you need to understand your kingdom calling. You’re not passive. You’re not a has-been. You’re not a mistake or a surprise. You’re not a worthless somebody without purpose or cause. Some people may have tried to assign those things to you; but when God creates something, He doesn’t create trash. He creates treasure.
When God spoke the words of creation, the Bible simply says: “And it was so.” What He spoke happened—no questions asked; no negotiations. His dream happened at His Word, and His Word created and gave you dominion.
And because you have dominion, you also have naming rights.
Romans 4:17b says, “… before God whom he believed, and who raises the dead, and calls those things that do not exist as though they did.” When God created Adam, He formed Adam out of the dirt. He blew His own breath into Adam’s nostrils and gave him his kingdom assignment: the assignment to dominate his domain. But right after that, God gave Adam a job: to name all the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and even Adam’s helpmate, the woman, whom God had made.
At that point in the creation story, God was in Adam’s domain. Adam had already been given dominion in the land. So, God told him to fulfill his function as the master over the land by naming the other creatures on the earth. And when Adam named the things, by giving them names he gave them assignments. In being named, those creatures became what they were supposed to be.
It’s interesting that Adam and God were the only ones around to see what Adam was naming. Similarly, you and God are the only ones who can see certain things right now as well:
—You and God are the only ones who can see your vision.
—You are the only ones who can see your potential.
—You are the only ones who can see your kingdom mandate.
And just like Adam, you need to name what you see right now. You need to name the dream that God has conceived for you. You need to name the thing God created before eternity past; the thing He put in your spirit to do.
No matter what you’re dreaming, the Spirit of the Lord would have you name it right now. God has given you naming rights, just like He gave Adam. And when you exercise your naming rights, your dream will become what it’s supposed to be.
You’ve been afraid to name your destiny and exercise your dominion over it … because you’ve been convinced you can’t have it.
But you can have it. The Bible says to call into existence those things that be not as though they are. The Bible says that, whatever you call it, it shall be. Why? Because God has given you the dominion and the naming-right authority to command that thing to be—to come into existence.
This is why it’s so important to name your seed when you sow an offering. This is why you have to confess your dream out loud to God … because if you don’t name your gifting, if you don’t name your seed offering, it won’t become what it’s supposed to be.
You don’t have to dwell in the fields of unfruitfulness. You have dominion in the land. And if you have dominion in the land, you can speak to everything you want to exist—and it will come.
Some of you are going to think that’s flighty faith—but it’s not. That’s the Word. God gives you naming rights just like He gave Adam. And whatever God created that He wants to birth on the earth, you can name and see it become what it’s supposed to be.
Child of God, you need to name your dream right now. Name your vision. Speak out and write down exactly what the things are that God has put in your heart. You have dominion over those things, so call them forth by their names today—and then put action to your words. Don’t wait another day; begin exercising the dominion that God gave you today. {eoa}
Pastor Jamie Tuttle serves as lead pastor of Dwelling Place Church International. Born in Winston Salem, North Carolina, he was raised in a music-evangelism family. He began playing drums at the age of 5, which opened many doors for him and ultimately led him to Cleveland, Tennessee. He holds a master’s in divinity with an emphasis on marriage and family. In 1993, he married Pastor Judy Jacobs. Together they began ministering around the world through their ministry, His Song Ministries (HSM). In addition to leading Dwelling Place Church International, Pastor Jamie also serves as CEO of HSM, which includes Judy Jacobs International, His Song Music Group, Dwelling Room Studios and the International Institute of Mentoring.
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