TOPIC: WHO OWNS YOU?
MEMORISE:
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:6
READ: 1 John 4:1-7
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
MESSAGE
When you read Bible verses like 1 Corinthians 6:20, which says that you have been bought with a price, you might begin to wonder, "Bought from who? When did l consent to being owned by someone else which warranted buying me off that fellow?" This expression in itself tells us that every human being, whether they know it or not, and regardless of how they feel about it, is owned by a spirit. Everyone was conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5), and until they become born again, they remain properties of the devil.
Nobody is totally independent; every single person is owned by one spirit or the other. The question now is, who owns you? You can tell who owns a property by the way the property is being used, a property will reflect the character and personality of its owner. That is why Matthew 7:18-20 says:
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
If you are owned by Christ, people will see the character of Christ, which is also known as the fruit of the Spirit, in you. Does your character reflect Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance?
(Galatians 5:22-23). If these do not define you, then it is likely that it is not God who owns you.
Since there are only two divides in the spirit realm - the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God, anyone that God does not own, is owned by the devil. This person will automatically engage in the works of the flesh as listed in Galatians 5:19-2 1. When you read that passage, you will see that many of the people who do these things do not even know that they are acting in accordance with their owner the devil. For example, many people who envy think that it is just natural for humans to envy; they don't know that envy can only stay in their hearts because they are not owned by the One who is Love Himself. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:16:
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
When Christ becomes your owner, you Will no longer behave in line with the character of the devil. Surrender your life to Him today if you are yet to do so.
REFLECTION
Based on the fruits of your character, who really owns you?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 28-30
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 7: I AM THINE O LORD
1. I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!
4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.
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