Divine Order for Spiritual Dominance

The church is the Kingdom of God on earth, operating with a governmental structure. Unlike a business, which exists for profit, or a family, which exists for relational and generational purposes, the church exists to represent God’s rule, enforce his authority, and expand his order on earth. Its leadership, offices, and practices are functional, not symbolic, and every believer has a role in the governance of God’s Kingdom.

Every authority, every governmental office, and every sphere of dominion flows from Christ person and position. His work on the cross secured salvation, but his reign on the throne establishes the functional administration of the Kingdom. Isaiah 9:6–7 declares that “the government will be upon his shoulders,” signalling that all governing authority in heaven and on earth is vested in Christ. This is the constitutional foundation of God’s administration, showing that every structure, order, and office ultimately reports to Christ as King.

In Matthew 28:18 Christ affirmed “All authority has been given to me,” Christ has executive power over all creation and the spiritual realm, and authorising him to delegate authority (exousia) to his followers for governance, not merely service. Thus, the church and every believer function as part of his Kingdom administration, serving under his delegated authority in offices, spheres, and functions that reflect his throne and rule. Spiritual authority, dominion, and enforcement of God’s will are extensions of Christ’s executive authority, exercised by those aligned with his order and governance.

All major Christian doctrines—redemption, covenant, priesthood, judgment—make perfect sense within this governmental framework. Salvation is becoming a citizen of this Kingdom, sanctification is training for office, and the Great Commission is an ambassadorial directive.

God created humanity to exercise dominion. Genesis 1:26 commands, “Let them have dominion (mashal) over the fish of the sea… over all the earth.” Psalm 8:6 confirms, “You have made him to have dominion (mashal) over the works of your hands.” Humanity’s dominion is active governance, not passive blessing. Man originally intended dominion was restored in Christ. That is why he taught us to pray his will be done on earth as it is heaven.

The church is given authority to exercise dominance on earth. The chaos, powerlessness, and immaturity prevalent in many churches often arise from disorder. When God’s prescribed order is ignored, ministries begin to operate without coordination or accountability, resulting in conflicting priorities, doctrinal confusion, and fragmented efforts. Prayer, spiritual warfare, and outreach lose their effectiveness because authority is misapplied or misunderstood, with leaders and members acting independently rather than under divine delegation. As a result, believers remain dependent, passive, and spiritually underdeveloped, since there is no structured process for training, impartation, or accountability that would move them toward maturity and responsibility within God’s Kingdom.

By contrast, in the early church under apostolic order, power, unity, and effectiveness were evident. Miracles, conversions, and bold ministry flowed from submission to apostolic teaching (Acts 2:42–43). Spiritual gifts were exercised under oversight, producing tangible Kingdom impact. Believers were of “one heart and mind” (Acts 4:32), with differences channelled through godly structures, including leadership roles, councils, and shared ministry responsibilities. Apostles equipped the saints (Ephesians 4:11–13) for service, teaching, and governance, so that every believer knew their role in expanding God’s Kingdom, resulting in growth, discipline, and lasting influence.

Paul reinforces this principle in 1 Corinthians 14:33 and 40: “God is not a God of disorder… but all things should be done decently and in order.” Just as a machine fails when assembled incorrectly, spiritual life fails outside God’s prescribed order.

God’s design has always been orderly, and the Old Testament provides types or foreshadows of perpetual principles of spiritual governance. The Tabernacle was carefully designed, measured, and assigned, with specific areas, furniture, and duties. Each division; the outer court, holy place, and Holy of Holies; this represents levels of access and authority in God’s presence. Only those properly consecrated could enter each area (Exodus 26–28). Spiritual authority and access flow through prescribed order, and bypassing the process produces failure or judgment, as Nadab and Abihu experienced (Leviticus 10:1–3).The Levitical Priesthood was divided into families, clans, and roles (Numbers 3–4). Some served as priests, others as gatekeepers, musicians, or assistants. Each had assigned functions, authority, and limitations. This serves as a blueprint for spiritual offices and operational roles in the church today. Authority is delegated, functional, and structured; it was never arbitrary. Government in the Kingdom requires assigned roles, accountability, and hierarchy. Just as Aaron’s line was responsible for priestly ministry, spiritual offices today operate under Christ’s ultimate authority (Hebrews 5:4–6).

Kay Alli