Message
When you read Bible verses like , which says that you have been bought with a price, you might begin to wonder, “Bought from who? When did I 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 (), 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 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? (). 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 . 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 :
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.