We are taught early on that it is better to own than to rent. We are taught that you get more in the long run if you own your home versus renting because renting is like throwing your money away and there is no real pay off. The same principle holds true in our relationship with God. The majority of the believers are operating based on a rental contract with God. Whenever they don't understand what God is telling them to do, whenever they are uncomfortable with doing what God is asking them to do, or when they just don't want to do it......they in essence are evicting God and putting their own will before His perfect will. Then once we see that we have messed up the situation or we see that it was better to do it God's way, we go through the repentance process and invite Him back in, but still under the terms of the rental agreement. Just like with any rental agreement, there are clauses that state what can and can not happen and what the land lord will and will not do. Does that sound familiar in regards to our walk with God? Yes, God I will do it but only if......; Yes, God I will go but only if....... RENTAL AGREEMENT!
As I was studying Genesis 39, it talks of the familiar story of Joseph and Potiphar. If you are not familiar with that, take the time to read it as it is not a long chapter and it will help you understand more of what I am saying. There is a consistent statement made throughout the chapter and that statement is..."The Lord was with him and everything he touched was blessed." For those who are familiar with Joseph, you know that Joseph had many up's and down's. He was favored by his father Jacob, but his brothers tried to kill him. He was sold into slavery and then set up on rape charges and placed in prison. However, in spite of all of this the bible clearly declares that "the Lord was with him" and not only that, others who did not even worship the Lord took note of it. Why? Why in spite of all of these things that happened in chapter 39, there is no record of Joseph rolling in the floor and crying out and questioning God and all of these other things that we tend to do when craziness starts happening in our lives? Because Joseph did not have a rental agreement with God, he allowed God to have full ownership of him.
The bible clearly declares that our bodies are a temple for the spirit of God. Joseph allowed the spirit of God to have a permanent home within him and not a 6, 9, or 12 month lease. That is why Joseph's blessings and victories were consistent instead of sporadic. Yes, he obviously had things, situations, and people that came his way with the hope of destroying him. But because God had ownership of him, those things could do nothing but fail! How powerful is that! Now, listen carefully and pay close attention to what I am getting ready to tell you.......you can still be blessed by having a rental agreement! What?! Yes, you can. HOWEVER... you have to determine a couple of things: 1. Do you want your blessings and victories to be consistent or sporadic 2. Any tenant in a rental agreement has the right to leave when they want and not renew their lease, so do you want to be in an eternal covenant with God? He is not a yo yo and should not be used as such. Allow God to take up permanent residency in you and watch how your life will change. Now this doesn't happen over night. It is a process and a journey because you have to allow God to remove everything and everyone that would stand in the way of you and Him. Temptation will come and come some more. Distractions will come and come some more, but you have to keep your mind centered on what your ultimate goal is. Keep in mind Joseph and if everything he touched was blessed and other people were blessed just because they were in his presence, then God can and will do the same thing for you.
If you have any questions about this or any other posting, or just questions in general, please let me know by submitting a post on this blog and I will answer them within 24 hours. I pray that this blog is helping you to grow in your walk with God and to want Him more than you ever have. The bible declares that it is through God and by God that we move, breathe, and have our very being. So I pray that your relationship with Him continues to reach new heights each and every day of your life!
Blessings and Love,
Pastor Nichica Smith
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