I used to be so bound up in fear that I was basically immobilized in every way. Immobilized in my emotions. Immobilized in my thoughts. Immobilized from walking in the fullness of my true identity in Christ as a new creation…and that is no way to live…especially as one who has been promised an abundant life in Christ.

This all began to change for me as I learned more about the process of renewing my mind in Christ. Part of the process for me is to declare the truth of God’s Word through songs of worship. One of my favorite songs of this type of worship is a song called I Belong to Jesus. This particular song came during a time of spiritual warfare in my own life on April 14, 1992. My Friend, the Holy Spirit, prompted me one day to remind myself of who I belong to, and to actively take back the ground the enemy had stolen in my life.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have [it] abundantly.” John 10:10 NASB

The enemy is a liar. Deception is his only power. We take back the stolen ground whenever we recognize one of his lies and replace it with the truth of God’s Word.

This song came forth as both a prayer to the Father and a declaration to anyone or thing that might care to listen (or not!) – like my soul, the world, or the enemy! Lift Him up in your minds and in your flesh and in your spirit and with your emotions. All that we are now belongs to Jesus, whether we encounter good times or bad; whether we walk in darkness or light; whether we live or whether we die…we belong to the Lord because He has paid the price and covered the debt of our sin….with, by, and through the blood of Jesus!

18 Flee immorality. Every [other] sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NASB

In spite of our circumstances. In spite of our trials and tribulations. In spite of the things that tempt us. In spite of even suffering and pain, we have every reason to rejoice because of the fact that we belong to Jesus!

Let’s remind ourselves what that means for us today. All that He is dwells in us and we have been given the mind of Christ. That means we are already being transformed by the truth of who Father God says we are! Let’s simply think and act like we believe it today. We belong to Jesus! Hallelujah!

Dennis Jernigan

To listen to the podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song, I Belong to Jesus, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/i-belong-to-jesus/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo 2019/03/29/05/12/worship-4088561__480.jpg

I Belong to Jesus

WORDS & MUSIC•Dennis Jernigan•April 14, 1992

Verse

Satan goes around like a roaring lion

Seeking whom he may devour

But he has been defeated so I’m testifyin’

By the blood of Jesus he lost his power

Christ was lifted up with my sin upon Him

His life and blood came flowing down

So hear me I’m declaring Jesus Christ is Lord

I’m taking back his stolen ground

Chorus

I belong to Jesus!

I belong to Him!

I belong to Jesus!

Free from sin!

I belong to Jesus!

I belong to Him!

I belong to Jesus!

Free from sin!

Verse

All sin nailed to the cross and the Lamb’s blood flowing

Meant victory was sealed that day

But when Satan saw the blood he knew that Christ had won it

And he knew that Sunday was on its way

The ground began to quake and all of heaven’s power

Came bursting from the tomb within

The stone was rolled away and Hell was overpowered

By the King Who rose again!

Chorus

Bridge

He was lifted up!

He paid a costly price!

He bought me with the blood

Of His own life!

Christ the King now reigning

Wears the Victor’s crown!

Satan was defeated

When the blood flowed down!

Chorus