Who Owns You- God or Satan?
by Kraig Josiah Rice
by Kraig Josiah Rice
Does the Bible really teach our ownership by God or Satan or have I
made the whole thing up? I don't want you to believe me or any other
teacher on any Biblical matter (because there will be false teachers
who come into God's flock to lead many away captive by false
doctrine)- rather, I want you to believe God's Word and what He has
to say. If God says it- it is true. If He has not said it- then it is
either false and/or somebody's opinion. So check out any teaching in
God's word. That way you will know for yourself if a matter is true or
not and what I say is the truth.
To begin with Satan lays claim to every person who is alive on planet
earth. He claims you and he claims me. However, God claims a few who
belong to Him (a remnant if you please). Now, let's take a look at
some "ownership" scriptures that bring this nugget of truth to the
surface for us to examine.
I. The Bible uses Direct References so we can easily
understand it's "ownership" meaning:
"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour
was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father,
having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them
unto the end."
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of
mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I
lay down my life for the sheep."
(John 13:1).
(2 Timothy 2:19).
(John 10:14 & 15).
II. The Bible uses Titles that denote ownership:
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not."
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God."
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and
whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them
he also glorified."
"Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ."
(1 John 3:1).
(John 1:12 & 13).
(Romans 8:28-30).
(Romans 1:6).
III. Ownership is intended when a specific purchase is made:
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of
God, which he hath purchased with his own blood"
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
"For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's
freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's
servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of
men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide
with God."
(Acts 20:28).
(I Corinthians 6:19 & 20).
(I Corinthians 22-24).
IV. Ownership is seen in other Biblical passages:
"Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call
over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We
adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
The above scriptures become clear when one understands them in the
light of ownership. Here you have unsaved people- people owned by
Satan going around casting out Satan's demons by the POWER that is in
Jesus' magnificent name. Satan's kingdom is being divided against
itself and will fall if allowed to continue. The demon acknowledges
that Jesus and Paul are genuine and thus on God's side. But then puts
a stop to people he owns who have no business doing what they are doing.
"Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil- he
disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing
accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."
The above scripture also becomes clear when one understands it in the
light of ownership. Because Moses was one time a murderer and idol
worshiper, he belonged to Satan. However, Moses changed sides and was
then owned by God. The matter that Moses belonged to God was so
obvious and cut and dry that Michael did not pay the controversy much
serious logical attention. But you can see that it meant a whole lot
emotionally to Satan! Moses had been used by God to thwart Satan's
plans- this seriously hurt Satan's pride! Satan wanted vengeance and
wanted to discredit Moses even after he was dead. But God would not
permit it. God has greater power and authority than Satan does and
will not allow Satan to take away any of His servants without His permission.
And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the
priests, which did so.
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and
Paul I know; but who are ye?
And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on
them, and
overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of
that house naked and wounded.
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also
dwelling at
Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus
was magnified.
And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed
their deeds."
(Acts 19:13-18).
(Jude verse 9).
V. In the matter of ownership God always deals with a remnant:
"Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the
children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be
saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in
righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth."
(Romans 9:27 & 28). Folks were saved in the Old Testament days by
looking forward to the cross of Jesus Christ. We are saved today by
looking back to the cross of Jesus Christ.
In the above scripture God deals with a remnant in regards to
ownership. This principle of His always remains constant.
Satan's forces have God's forces out-numbered on planet earth. There
are more unsaved than saved folks. Satan claims that he owns all humanity-
but God has a few folks who love Him for who He is.
Since we understand this we do not have to be overwhelmed by sheer
force of numbers against us because God helps us.
A person cannot "do any kind of work" to change masters.
In other words some think that "if you do something" then you can switch
masters and so now you will no longer belong to Satan but now you will
belong to God. The cults erroneously teach that salvation can be
accomplished by works, however, the Bible teaches that salvation is
offered by God thru grace only and that it is a free gift from Him.
You and I can have a lot to say about who our master is. God has given
to modern mankind the freedom of choice. Each of us can choose God to
be our Master and be His love slave (servant). This is the best and wisest choice.
Or, each of us can choose Satan to be our master. This can happen in
one of two ways:
Here is the scripture reference on this fact: Then said Jesus again
unto them,
"I go my way, and ye shall (literally) seek me, and shall die in your
sins: whither I go, ye cannot come."
That is why in all gospel leaflets or salvation tracts (that are
printed in regards to the 4 spiritual laws)- each one starts with this
type of individual being in a spiritually "lost condition" in need of
a Saviour. If a person does not know
that he or she is lost then that person will not willfully seek a
solution for his or her lost condition. And that solution is to accept Jesus Christ.
"Spiritually lost" means from
God's point of view that a person belongs to Satan. That person is
spiritually lost to God. And it is Satan's job to keep a person in
unbelief and ignorance so that person will not accept Jesus Christ as
his or her solution to their sin problem. Hence, Satan's will is that
person will physically die eventually in his or her unsaved condition.
He or she will die in his or her sins. Then Satan's ownership of that
person is sealed and that person is eternally destined for Satan's
destination: a lake of fire called hell. That person has been
spiritually lost to God.
1. Satan does have servants who choose to love and serve him also.
Most of these folks are demon possessed by their own choice and live
"secret lives" not seen by the general public...these are
his willful servants who do Satan's will and carry out his evil plans
and schemes on purpose. Satan has his evil servants in every occupation.
2. This is the unsaved person, who doesn't love and worship God. This
person just blunders along through life not knowing why he or she is
here- or, just does not care about God or eternal things. This person
is in a "lost condition" and, unfortunately, belongs to
Satan and does not even know it. This is the condition that I used to
be in. Jesus warned that such a person would die in his or her sins.
(John 8:21).
Some unsaved folks think that they are "good folk" and that
during their lifetime their good deeds have added up to more than their evil
deeds so therefore, they have a ticket to Heaven when they die.
Thinking yourself righteous does not make it so. This is called
self-righteousness. The bible says, "There is a way which seemeth
right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
You have to come God's way. You can't come your own way. And God's way
is the way of the cross through the shed blood of Jesus Christ only.
Even though it is Satan's will for a person to belong to Satan, here
is the good news: (and you can read about this in any of the 4
spiritual laws tracts) you do not have to belong to Satan. Instead,
you can belong to God. God loves you. He died on the cross in your
place and God wants you to repent of your sins and turn to Him. Even
though you may have gone your own way like a lost sheep, He wants you
to invite Him to come and live in your heart and He wants to live on
the throne of your heart. He wants to possess you with Himself- to
possess you with love and kindness and other-centeredness. God wants
you to be His love slave (or servant). If you belong to Satan, God
wants you to change sides.
You must decide to choose God on purpose- with Satan, death, and
depravity against you, it is an uphill swim and
not a downhill coast for you. No one is going to get to heaven by
accident. And no one is going to get to Heaven without God's help.
There is spiritual power in the blood of Jesus Christ- this is called
resurrection or redemption power- this is God's enabling in helping us
change sides.
God has to enable a believer to change sides and God has to enable a
believer to live a victorious life after that decision has been made.
One can't simply
"turn over a new leaf." It has to be God's work
(on the inside of a person or in their heart) and also man's work. It
is not just one-sided. It involves man's choice and God's power and enabling.
Since you are His creation He is here to help you every step of the
way if you will believe...
And once you have changed sides Satan will forever want you back. So
be on your guard because "old slew foot" will place
temptations in your pathway and entice you to sin against God and
then tempt you to sin and remain unrepentant towards Christ in the
hopes of getting you back again on his side.
Because of the ownership
seal on a person's heart, it is impossible for a person to be God
possessed and demon possessed at the same time. One or the other has
ownership- there is no joint custody over one's soul.
(Proverbs 14:12)
CONCLUSION:
Whose side are you on? God's side or Satan's side? There is no
middle or neutral ground- you are either on one side or the other.
How do you change sides?
"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed
God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called
the Friend of God."
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
(James 2:7).
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
(Romans 12: 1 & 2).
(1 peter 2:9).
How did I change sides? I joined a Christian Bible study group on board an aircraft carrier while at sea. One night we formed a circle of men holding hands with one another and all prayed out loud at the same time. I repented of my sins and invited Jesus Christ to come into my heart. I did my part. Then He did His part: He came into my heart literally. I felt Him do this. And he changed my nature on the inside.
He gave me peace in my heart where there was no peace before. He cleared my conscious mind of guilt. He gave me a reason for living. He created a desire in my heart for God-- a desire to read and study His word and a desire to go to church where there was none before. I then knew and understood with the help of my friends there that I had changed sides. I changed from Satan's side to God's side. And after over 30 years of being on God's side I still have that wonderful peace in my heart that only He can give me. And I have no regrets at all about choosing God's side.
If you don't love God then you are invited to change sides right now.
Remember, not to decide (whose side you are on) is to decide...(because then you are on Satan's side by default-- Satan claims you). To change sides simply say a prayer of sincere repentance like I did. This will open the door to your heart and Jesus will take away the ugly black sin there and replace it with Himself--this is what is called the "born again" experience and this is what makes people "Christians" (John 3:3). If you need help saying this prayer or seeking a good church to go to once you are a Christian-- I recommend that you contact an Assemblies of God minister or missionary (or mainline Christianity minister) and talk to him.
For those of us who are saved-
What do we do with this gigantic mass of humanity here on the earth?
We respond the way our Saviour told us to respond to it-
recognize it as a huge
harvest field white and ready for God's harvest with lots of
opportunities to evangelize everywhere. Each of us should do a part in
sharing God's word with others (Christ's Great Commission).
presented to you by the Bread On The Waters Ministry
of Kraig Josiah Rice
www.breadonthewaters.com
Where do you go to after you die?
"I Know Who I Belong To" article
