Fill & Subdue What God Has Given to You

By Doug Snyder

Adam 1 - The setting - God blessed them and said… “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue (or govern) it.” Genesis 1:28

Yep, God gave us that much authority. But Adam bought the snake oil from the slippery serpent and gave it away in the garden. So, Jesus came to reclaim us and it.

Adam 2 - The reset - “All authority in heaven and earth has been given me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:18-19

Same commission - fill and subdue or multiply and govern. God wants His will and ways to cover and govern His earth.

Let’s review - We’ve been translated (moved) into God’s Kingdom, by grace through faith. (Colossians 1:13)  We’ve explored God’s Kingdom, transforming our old thinking to the new. (Matthew 6; Romans 12&14) Now our job to express His Kingdom on His earth. You and I are the agents that pray, then model “your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Don’t miss that point. We’ve been called, empowered, and equipped.

This spring Beth and I battled in the garden. Knees to the earth, pulling weeds, and reminded why it’s called crabgrass. Arrrgg. Liken sin and evil to weeds…They can overtake a healthy good-looking garden or yard if not eradicated. So we dig, pull, apply preen and mulch. 

This work is similar to the garden of our own life and community. We must be active Kingdom agents digging and uprooting sin and evil, applying God’s preventative and procurable Word. Through much prayer, worship and witness we enrich our families and subdue the potential of evil reemerging.

But if we stop weeding, set up camp comfortable, and take our ease, the enemy will stop fleeing before us. He will turn around and encroach upon our camp until we no longer know the difference between righteousness and evil. 

It is time to pick up the Garden mantle again…fill and subdue.