"Even as I exhorted you, when I was going into Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus in order that you might charge certain ones not to teach different things nor to give heed to myths and unending genealogies, which produce questionings rather than God's economy, which is in faith."

                                              1 Tim. 1:3-4 (The Recovery Version)

      Paul Nevin summarized dispensationalism as follows: "God's distinctive method of governing mankind or a group of men during a period of human history, marked by a crucial event, test, failure, and judgment. From the divine standpoint, it is an economy, or administration. From the human standpoint, it is a stewardship, a rule of life, or a responsibility for managing God's affairs in His house. From the historical standpoint, it is a stage in the progress of revelation."

      In creation, we find that God made man in his image, after his likeness. He gave him dominion over all the earth. Not just to be its custodian, but more important to be its governor and sovereign facilitator. Man was put in charge of this whole planet. What started in the Garden of Eden was to extend beyond, where his rule would encompass all the earth. This dominion was not intended to be used just for man's own purpose, but for God's purposes to be carried out. He was charged with the job of managing, overseeing, and maintaining the order of heaven on earth. In other words, man was responsible for seeing to it that everything that was done on earth coincided with the will of God, that nothing was done that conflicted with heaven, or how heaven operated.

      When man sinned it interrupted that process. Not only was there a disconnection made between earth and heaven, but there was a disconnection made with man's governing abilities. Not only was he unable to rule his own life (because of sin), but he was incapable of administrating the affairs of heaven on the earth (because of being stripped of his sovereign governorship). His fallen nature made him unsuitable as earth's administrator, impotent in dispensing the economy of God.

      Redemption was God's means of restoring man the power and privilege of facilitating his divine administration on the earth. Jesus himself said, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven..." (Matt. 6:9, 10). Jesus was instructing his disciples that it was God's desire that heaven and earth be connected, so that the will of God in heaven could be made manifested in the earth. This is and always has been the central purpose of God, and the only way he could re-institutionalize his will on earth was through the cross of Christ. The whole purpose of Jesus coming was "To do thy will O God" (Heb. 10:7).

      This is why we are constantly exhorted with the charge to know and understand what the will of the Lord is (1 Peter 4:1-2; Eph. 5:17; Rom. 12:2; 1 Thess. 4:12; Col.1:9; Eph 1:9, 10). It is also why God sent his Holy Spirit, the Divine Administrator in order to guide us and direct us in facilitating the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially in the area of prayer, so that we, as the church, can stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

      Each of us has been called to stewardship, which means we have the solemn responsibility of dispensing the economy of God into the earth. This is what the great commission is all about. Men have been so distanced from the reality of heaven by the effects of sin that many don't even believe it exists! It is our job to bring into manifestation God's divine purpose and will so that men will acknowledge the truth of the gospel and be restored back to the Father.

      God's will is much bigger than who we marry, what job we take, where we live, or where we are to make our investments. It is about influencing those we come in contact with each day, so that the order of heaven, the treasury of heaven, and the atmosphere of heaven is felt in a very powerful manner.  

      The economy of God functions in and through us the moment we implement the will of God. It is crucial we give our all to this purpose so that the realities of that unseen realm can be witnessed by those who have been blinded by sin.