DOMINION OVER YOURSELF
MEMORIZE: He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 25:28
BIBLE READING 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24 -27
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
MESSAGE
God created man in His own image so that he could have dominion (Genesis 1:26). This is why you’ll discover that there is no animal in the world that humans have not dominated – lions, elephants, giraffes, and so on.
Note, however, that the man who really has dominion is the one who has control over himself. You can have dominion over animals, birds, and everything in the sea, but if you don’t have dominion over yourself, you are like a broken down and unduly exposed city (Proverbs 25:28).
Let us consider some parts of your body you must have dominion over. 1 Peter 3:10 says if you want to live long and have a good life, tame your tongue – have dominion over it.
The tongue is very powerful and difficult to tame (James 3:5-8) but you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).
The Bible also says you should have dominion over your stomach. Philippians 3:19 urges you not to let your belly become your god. If you say you have dominion over everything but can’t control your stomach, you can’t fast, then you have no dominion because you have a strange god living within you.
The Yoruba elders say, “There’s no idol like the stomach; every day, it asks for a sacrifice”. You have to tame your stomach.
You must also have control over your sleep. For you to say you have dominion, you must be able to decide, “I am not sleeping tonight; I want to have a vigil”. Proverbs 6:9-11 says that if you don’t control how you sleep, you will experience ravaging poverty and lack.
You must have control over your body – your eyes, hands, and so on. There are certain things you shouldn’t touch or look at, places you shouldn’t go to, and kinds of music you shouldn’t listen to. If you want to finish your Christian race well, you must have dominion over your body (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
PRAYER POINT: Lord, please help me to have complete dominion over every aspect of my life and body, in the mighty name of Jesus.
BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: 1 CHRONICLES 5-6
HYMN 23: Take My Life, And Let It Be
1 Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine:
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6 Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
