A pastor shared a story of how a brother in their church was delivered from the grip of Satan. This brother had been cornered by a lady who wanted to sleep with him. He was already undressing when a call came from the pastor; “Where are you? Leave whatever you are doing and come immediately to see me.” It was when he showed up that he confessed he was already sinking into sin, but for that voice of accountability and covering.
Friend, what is governing your life (Hebrews 13:17)? Your life will always be under an influence or governance whether you admit it or not. There are no free thinkers anywhere. That mindset of being a free thinker is a thinking pattern itself governed or influenced by something or someone. Wisdom and maturity would help you to willfully submit yourself to the right influences (Psalms 1:1-3).
The Christian life is a life of Christ’s governance. We were servants to sin, but we are now servants to righteousness (Romans 6:16-20). It is not a free life. It is a life of freedom from sin and Satan, but bondage to Christ and righteousness. Unlike the governance of sin, which is by compulsion, the governance of righteousness is willful (Hebrews 10:26).
The beauty of our walk with God is the allowance to use our will to serve God (Genesis 6:3). The greatest force in the entire universe is the force of the will of man. Without man cooperating with the will of God, the will of God would not stand. This is why in Christ, God works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). Who or what you allow to work in you matters.
When next someone mocks you for going all the way with Jesus, ask about their own obsessions (Philippians 3:10-14). While you are obsessed with God and Church, some are obsessed with club houses or sports centres. While you are obsessed with prayers, others are obsessed with movies and the likes. When someone asks you why you love giving your money to God or church, ask them why they also love giving their money to wrong things (1 Timothy 6:10-19). It is a choice.
You need to choose to be under the right governance (Hebrews 13:7). Be under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the right church, pastor, and other accountability relationships (Psalms 68:6, Hebrews 10:25). A life that is not accountable is a life that will not count. Life becomes beautiful and meaningful when we submit to kingdom structures and flows. Be proud of your heritage in Christ. Amen.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria