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Our Role in Healing, Reigning, and Expanding God’s Kingdom

There is a certain tension within the Christian faith—a wrestling between the world we see and the promise of the world to come. We often pray for healing, longing for tangible, immediate results. Yet, when those results seem absent, we find ourselves asking why God has not acted. We can be tempted to think that unanswered prayers are simply God’s silence or reluctance. But what if we’ve been given more authority than we realise?

We are expressly commanded to resist the devil and to heal the sick. Jesus told us,

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons” (Matthew 10:8).

and James reminds us to,

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

These aren’t suggestions but direct orders. As believers, we are not merely waiting for God to act; we have been called to act, empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring forth the work of the Kingdom of Heaven.

This brings us to a powerful reflection. Is the true reason people we know have not yet received healing, is not because God is unwilling, but because we, as His people, are not fully stepping into the responsibility He has entrusted to us? Could it be that the lack of action is not on God’s part but on ours?

At the core of this question is the invitation to recognise the responsibility we hold. The command to heal the sick, to resist the devil, to take dominion—these aren’t idle words. They are, instead, a call to rise into the authority given to us from the beginning of time.

This idea traces its roots back to the very beginning. In Genesis 1:26-28, God speaks to the fullness of our calling and responsibility. He says:

“Then God said, Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground. So God created human beings in His own image… Then God blessed them and said, Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Here, we see God’s original design for humanity—to reign, to govern, and to fill the earth with His glory. We are created in His image, reflecting His nature as co-rulers and stewards of His creation. This concept of dominion isn’t one of tyranny or destruction but of stewardship, reflecting God’s reign on Earth.

But there’s more beneath the surface of these verses. When God speaks of ruling over the “fish” and the “birds,” He is not merely referring to animals in the natural world but to spiritual realities as well. In the Gospels, the term “fishers of men” is used to describe the calling of the disciples (Matthew 4:19)—the fish represent people. Meanwhile, birds often symbolise spiritual beings. In Luke 8:5, 12, demons are depicted as birds. In Matthew 13:32, nesting in its branches, representing the expansiveness of the Kingdom of Heaven and the spiritual beings who inhabit it.

In light of this, we can interpret the command to rule over “fish” and “birds” as a dual mandate. We are called to heal the sick (the “fish” or people), resist the devil (the “birds” or spiritual beings), and expand the garden of God—the Kingdom of Heaven—on Earth. Consider the example Jesus set for us as described by Luke in Acts 10:38,

“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

This is the work of believers: not simply to wait for God’s intervention but to actively participate in the unfolding of His Kingdom. We must remember that God is with us as we are with Him.

In Matthew 6:10, Jesus teaches us to pray,

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

This prayer is not passive; it is an active invitation for God’s rule to manifest here and now. Just as we pray for God’s will to be done, we are also called to bring His will to Earth, extending His dominion by living out His authority.

This is where the work of healing fits into the broader picture. We must ask ourselves: Are we actively pressing into the promises of God, taking up the authority He’s given us to resist the enemy and to heal the sick? The healing ofpeople we know may not solely be about God’s response to our prayer but about our participation in the work of the Kingdom. As we act in faith, standing firm in resistance to the enemy, and pursuing the healing of others, we join with God in His mission to redeem the earth.

Ultimately, this reflects the deep symbology of Psalm 78:1-3 and Hebrews 1:1. Psalm 78:1-3 speaks of God’s revelation of truth to the generations, urging us to listen and learn the mysteries of the kingdom, which He has packaged in parables.

As His image-bearers, we are not passive observers in the expansion of His kingdom. Instead, we are called to reign—over sickness, over darkness, over all that opposes the will of God. In doing so, we participate in the grand expansion of the garden of God.

The next time we ask, “Why hasn’t God healed so and so?” We might want to reframe the question to include all relevant information and also ask, “Have I taken up my responsibility to heal, to resist, to reign?” I might not know how to cooperate with God’s kingdom expansion plan, and that is OK, but it is not OK to frame mankind as the victim in the scenario that unfolds from Genesis 1:1 to Reveation 22:21.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a distant dream—it is here, it is now. It is in us, among us. And as we step into our authority, we participate in making heaven’s reality manifest on earth.

THE BIG PICTURE

In the grand narrative of creation and redemption, the imagery in Genesis 1:26-28, as well as the references to “fish” and “birds,” calls us to a profound understanding of our role within God’s cosmic plan. To clarify: when Scripture speaks of “fish,” it refers explicitly to human beings. There is no spiritual connotation to fish in this context—fish are symbols for people, for the souls of men and women created in the image of God. The “birds,” on the other hand, represent spiritual beings—both the heavenly messengers of God and the rebellious forces of darkness, as seen in their various manifestations throughout the Bible.

This distinction is essential, for it frames our responsibility as stewards of God’s creation. In Genesis, when God commands humanity to “reign over the fish of the sea” and the “birds of the sky,” He is not only entrusting us with dominion over the natural world but also calling us to actively engage in the spiritual battle between light and darkness. Dominion, as defined here, is not about domination or exploitation; it is about control and care. It is the task of enforcing God’s rule over the chaos and the insidious evil that seeks to subvert His creation, bringing about dysfunction and disorder. Dominion is the act of restoring order where there is chaos, peace where there is strife, and righteousness where there is evil.

Indeed, there is a war at hand—an eternal conflict between two kingdoms: the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Hell. We are not mere spectators in this war; we are participants. The battle for dominion is not a passive one. It is a decisive, active choice to stand against the forces of evil, to resist the devil, and to fight for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is the heart of our calling: to take sides, to choose whom we will serve, and to enforce God’s Kingdom on the earth, wherever we are.

As Edmund Burke wisely stated,

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Edmund Burke

Burke was an 18th-century Irish philosopher and statesman. This sentiment aligns closely with his writings, particularly his views on morality, liberty, and political responsibility. Burke believed that individuals have a duty to act in the face of injustice, and his philosophy emphasised the importance of virtue and public duty in maintaining a just society. His views were significantly influenced by his Christian faith, particularly his Protestantism. Although he was not overtly dogmatic in his writings, his deep commitment to Christian values played an important role in shaping his moral and political philosophy. Burke was raised in a Catholic family, but he became a member of the Church of England, a Protestant denomination, as an adult. His Protestant beliefs were rooted in his respect for tradition, morality, and the concept of natural law, which he believed were divinely ordered.

To this, we can also note that the will of God does not unfold without our cooperation, a matter that is influenced by the earth’s lease—a topic we’ll explore in a future post. What is clear, however, is that we cannot remain indifferent to the forces of darkness and the chaos and suffering they cause.

This is amply evidenced in Scripture and in the world around us, the situation we face is not a result of God’s indifference or impotence, but rather the consequence of a lack of good men and women willing to sacrifice and engage in the struggle against spiritual powers. As Paul writes in Ephesians 6, we are called to “put on the full armor of God” and stand firm against the forces of darkness, for “our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil.”

This is the reality of the spiritual war we face. The forces of darkness are relentless, and they will seek to infiltrate, corrupt, and destroy (John 10:10). But the victory belongs to those who choose to act in the strength of God’s power. If we do nothing, evil will continue to take root. However, when we stand firm, resisting the devil, and fulfilling our God-given responsibility to care for and rule over His creation, we become active participants in the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.

SUMMARY

Our role is clear. We are called to fight, to engage, and to reign—not in the power of our own strength but in the authority of the One who created us. We must stand, not just in the face of evil but in its confrontation. In doing so, we actively participate in bringing heaven to earth, enforcing God’s dominion, and fulfilling His mandate to restore and renew all things under His reign.

Ultimately, whether we are aware of it or not, we are all participants in this cosmic battle. We are all part of the spiritual ecosystem and must learn what that implies. As believers, we are entrusted with the responsibility to actively engage in the healing and restoration of a world placed in our care.

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER

Lord, we acknowledge Your authority over all creation and thank You for the gift of dominion that You have entrusted to us. We confess that too often we have hesitated to act, waiting for You to intervene when You have already called us to take part in the unfolding of Your Kingdom. Forgive us for our passivity and empower us with the Holy Spirit to step boldly into the authority You have given us. Help us to heal the sick, resist the devil, and expand Your reign on earth as it is in heaven. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done through us, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• What is the meaning of “dominion” in the context of the source and how does it relate to stewardship?
• How does the concept of “co-creators” as mentioned in the source connect to the responsibility of healing and expanding God’s Kingdom?
• What practical steps can individuals take to “participate in making heaven’s reality manifest on earth“?