AT the beginning of a new year, there is need for you to ask yourself this vital question: Who is ruling or in charge of my life affairs? There is no way you can shy away from this question. The truth is that, whatever or whoever is at the helm of your life affairs reflects in your thought, which later manifest in your action, attitude and behaviour. God’s word states emphatically that your input in life, to a large extent is determined by your output.  “By their fruit you will recognise them.  Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them”- Matthew 7:16-20
 
The Bible does not leave man in darkness regarding life issues. God’s Word highlights the fruit of Holy Spirit, as well as that of the flesh, which is the evil manifestation of evil spirit.  “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelling…But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” Galatians 5:19-23

There is no vacuum in life.  You are either for God or the devil. You cannot be neutral. You cannot belong to God and the devil at the same time.  God’s word made this clear in Matthew 6:24 24 that, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Also in II Corinthians 6:14-15 the Bible says,“…For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?  What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
 
God is light and there is no darkness in Him. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”-James 1:17.  On the other hand, devil relishes in darkness.  It, therefore, follows that he who gives his life to Jesus Christ is on God’s side, dwells in the light and automatically the Holy Spirit is in control of his/her life.  “Because those that are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”- Romans 8:14.  Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian does tremendous things, as enumerated by Jesus Christ in John 14:16-26, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor, Who will never leave you.

17 He is the Holy Spirit, Who leads into all truth…when the Father sends the Counsellor as my representative—and by the Counsellor I mean the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.” The Holy Spirit will open the inner being and you will understand the deep things of God.

The Bible says the heart of man is always full of evil imaginations.  No one overcomes the corruption of the heart except by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Anybody who is yet to accept the Lord Jesus Christ, as Saviour, is automatically open to satanic influences. That person dwells in darkness and has evil spirit ruling the affairs of his life.  There is no doubt that the thought of such will be polluted and at every given opportunity, he will display his evil intentions.  If you look around us today, wicked acts have multiplied greatly.  The people perpetrating this evil have sold their hearts to the devil and therefore their conscience is dead.  
 
• Prophet (Dr.) Abiara is General Evangelist, CAC Worldwide
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