December 19.2020 GOD’S OWN POSSESSION
Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own. For you have been bought with price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
Coming to the realization that we are God’s possession, and not our own, is a major spiritual breakthrough for us. We tend to see God as one entity, and ourselves as another entity trying to live our life in a way that pleases Him. The truth is that we have become one with Him, and have been joined to Him; we no longer belong to ourselves. That is major! At the very core of human nature is the motivation and desire to live OUR lives as WE see fit. The price God paid to ‘buy’ us, to make us His own, was enormous-the price was His Son crucified on the cross. For us to live or act independently of God grieves Him greatly and it also cost us dearly. If we think that giving our life up and taking own His life is costly and a bad deal, we are deceived. Nothing could ever be better than that of being God’s own possession. Think about it. God designed us and knows every intricate detail of our makeup; He knows exactly what brings us a sense of fulfillment; He is the provider; He is the God of creation; He loves us; and He has chosen to live in us. We are short-sighted if we primarily focus on the here and now. The Holy Spirit has been given to us as a PLEDGE-there is more to come! We have an inheritance yet to come-and it is greater that we can conceive, or even believe. “but just as it is written, ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. Not only do we have an inheritance to look forward to receiving in the future, we also have as a present blessing, the Holy Spirit living in us. It’s true-our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given as a pledge of our future inheritance; the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of scripture; He gives wisdom; He gives us power to live as unto the Lord; He convicts us if we sin; and He guides us. Knowing that we are God’s possession and that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, gives us an entirely new view and understanding of life. It is liberating to be set free from the self life and ushered into our true identity in the Lord-only then will we experience lasting fulfillment. The decisions we make, the thoughts we have, the choices we make-all we do takes on new meaning. We are eternal beings who have been purchased by God, and we now have the opportunity to represent Him to all we encounter in the routines of life.
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Blessings,
Buddy