Origins of Faith Series: In His Image
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

Scripture reading:
Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Gen 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Gen 1:28 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.”

Three attributes of God that is revealed through us if we believe in Jesus His Son:

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, “THE FIRST MAN ADAM BECAME A LIVING BEING.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1Co 15:46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

1. Only when we are born again do we again reflect His likeness.
When an artist paints a portrait, the challenge is to derive the likeness of the subject onto the canvas using technique and observation.
It takes a special discipline to be found in the derived image of Christ Jesus. It takes skill to follow in His footsteps and the help of the Holy Spirit to bare the fruits that Jesus bore as a person, for his God and in service to His people.
A key is made in the image of a lock…
Asa we are made in His image, we can unlock the kingdom of heaven for others.

2. He gave us an identity.
Interesting that the origin of gender is here in Genesis to too. Male and female He created them, so that they can be fruitful and multiply. It is biologically true that a male and female human being are compatible for procreation. Fact.

3. He gave us the power to be fruitful and multiply.
God is in the multiplication business. A few years ago, when the world ground to a halt, God showed the power of exponential thinking. I was led to do a few thought experiments about exponential growth and realized that Harvester’s Orbital Network is going to experience exponential growth in the earth. I kept my experiments in faith and started to proclaim that over the last few years and it has happened supernaturally and as a result of the faithful sent ones who made divine connections through great personal sacrifice and suffering. That is why what we are doing in this move of God has a holiness and set apart value to it, it is not cheap, and we are not after numbers. But we are seeing God multiply what we are doing, and it is glorious, and He gets the glory.

Take that concept and apply it to your personal growth and evangelistic work for God. Write down the people you reach weekly and start to pray that God will multiply your efforts to win souls and lead many to righteousness. Ask for wisdom and guidance by the Holy Spirit to operate in sings and wonders, the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit to confirm the word and good news that you are sharing in every circle where you have influence.
We are commanded to Subdue and have dominion like God.

The first thing we need to subdue is our own spirit and soul.
Psa_66:7 He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
Psa_103:19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
Pro_16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Pray this prayer in spiritual warfare:
Isa_54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

Power to judge matters:
1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Spiritual Dominion:
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Co 10:5 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,
2Co 10:6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Church Dominion:
Eph 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.