The Joy of Ruling and Reigning

Your assignment as a child of God is no less than that of Adam in the Garden: to rule and reign. Genesis 1:26 is clear—God gave humanity dominion over the earth, a mandate to steward creation with wisdom and love. This calling hasn’t changed. You and I are called to reign according to our identity and rule according to our authority. But let’s not make this too heavy, like some cosmic job description. The word "authority" might sound serious, even intimidating, but it’s not meant to drag you down. The very essence of God’s presence is marked by joy, and this calling to rule and reign in union with Christ is meant to be an adventure marked by joy and overflowing with grace.

The Bible declares, "In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11). If you’re not experiencing the abundance of enjoying life, don’t worry. You’re just beginning to discover the depth of your identity and authority in union with Christ. Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10), not a life of religious drudgery or endless striving. The Christian life is not about grimly checking boxes or proving your worth to God and the church—it’s about living in the freedom and delight of who God created you to be. If you find yourself bogged down by seriousness, religion, or legalism, it’s a red flag telling you that you’ve forgotten the joy that marks God’s presence.

This joy is deeper than happiness. It will sustain you in grief and suffering. It is not a fleeting emotion but a reflection of God’s nature. In the context of this joy, God, whose very essence is love, prophesied you into being. He thought of you in a happy mood, with a heart full of delight. The Psalmist writes, "How precious are your thoughts toward me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand" (Psalm 139:17-18). Every thought God has toward you is precious, filled with love and purpose. He spoke you into existence with His voice and breath, crafting you as a unique expression of His heart.

No other creation in the universe is made like humanity. While God spoke the stars and seas into being, He formed humanity with His hands, voice, and breath together. This is union with Christ, our creator and sustainer, from the very beginning. The Bible tells us, "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature" (Genesis 2:7). Picture this intimate moment: God, the Creator of all things, kneels in the dust, shapes Adam with His hands, lifts him to His face, and breathes His Spirit—the very Word—into his lungs. The first breath humanity took was the Holy Spirit, the life-giving presence of God Himself.

This truth shatters the idea that the Holy Spirit’s presence was a new phenomenon in Acts 2. The Spirit has always been the means of our existence, the breath that animates us. Acts 2 was not the arrival of the Spirit but a fresh outpouring, an upgrade in our awareness of what we’ve always had access to. The Spirit has never left us, for "in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17). You cannot lose the presence of God; you can only lose your awareness of it. On a cellular level, you are held together by the power of His Word, a constant reminder of your origin in Him.

The joy of ruling and reigning comes from this awareness. When you know that you are held together by the Word of God, that His Spirit is the source of your life, you can step into your calling with confidence. You are not alone in this assignment. The God who created you is with you, empowering you to reflect His image and exercise His authority. This is not a task to be endured but a privilege to be enjoyed, a partnership with the Creator who delights in you.

(From an upcoming book on New Covenant Identity by Bill Vanderbush)