⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.  Galatian 6:7-8

“Do not be deceived.” Some people say, “I don’t believe in God” or “I don’t believe in Satan.” My thoughts are my thoughts. My actions are my actions. However, human beings are not independent creatures. We are either governed by the Holy Spirit or the evil spirit, God or Satan. It’s hard to wrap our heads around this concept because we treasure our independence and freedom. We can choose to believe or not believe, right? We can choose to throw God out the window and live independently, right? Wrong. Human beings are governed by one of two spirits. It’s important to recognize these entities and live accordingly.

Before we plan. Before we act. Before we talk. Before we work. Before we do anything, there’s something we must absolutely do. We must decipher and recognize which spirit governs us. Is Satan operating in my heart? Is the devil influencing what I’m saying and doing? Or is the Holy Spirit at the core of my being? Is God in my heart? Before we do anything, we must recognize who is driving the bus. Is it God or the devil? If the devil is in your heart, you know it. You feel it. Repent and make sure the Holy Spirit governs you.

Without this initial stage, it doesn’t matter how much self-control, passion, hard work, or perseverance you show: if the evil spirit governs you, you will perish with more self-control, passion, and hard work. In other words, all the “good” you think you are doing ends up being good for Satan’s work. Some people work hard their entire lives doing what they think defines a worthy life. It could all go for naught if they failed to distinguish who sat at the core of all their thoughts, decisions, and actions.

How do we distinguish between the holy and evil spirit? How do we know if God or the devil governs us? They’re both invisible. We can’t touch or feel them. We can’t see the wind, but we can tell which way the wind blows by the evidence it leaves behind. Our actions and words show who governs us. Take a look at your words. “Are these words from God or Satan?” Take a look at your actions. “Is this something a godly person would do?” Take a look at your temperament. “Is this a God-given temperament? Would someone governed by God lash out like this?” If you’re not sure who is driving the bus, try it out. Your collective actions and thoughts will become a tangible event or crisis or happening. Take a hard look at it. Will God and others be pleased with the results? Or has it turned God and everyone you like against you? By observing the process and results, we get a clear idea of the governing spirit, and according to the results, make the right changes.

We must never deceive ourselves. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The first and most important step to rise above self-deception is to realize we are not independent creatures. God or Satan drives the bus. The bus is never without a driver. Our job is to recognize this and have God drive the bus at all times. When God governs our hearts, hard work, diligence, and perseverance are good things with good results. When Satan commands us, otherwise worldly virtues turn into vices that destroy us.

Click for Korean sermon https://www.yhpaikmobile.com/wp/?p=19199

Click for English reading https://youtu.be/fAkiKwS2HMw