The Choice of Masters: A Path to Sanity, Safety, and the Sovereignty of God By: Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture: No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
Introduction
In a world increasingly defined by chaos, confusion, and cruelty, the human soul is confronted with a foundational and inescapable choice. We are all, at every moment, serving a master. The passage before us today speaks with urgent clarity to this reality, laying bare the profound difference between serving the one true God and being enslaved by the many masters appointed by the devil. This is not a lesson about an abstract theological concept; it is a vital guide to navigating a world that has become a battleground for the allegiance of our hearts and minds. The text reveals that the consequence of this choice is not merely a matter of spiritual preference, but a determination of our very sanity, safety, and ultimate destiny.
This lesson will systematically unpack the deep truths revealed in this message. We will begin by confronting the gravity of the choice to serve one master over many, and expose the destructive nature of the rule of the wicked. We will then turn our attention to the glorious alternative: the merciful and sovereign rule of God, who offers us a plain path in a world of delusion. A central and powerful theme we will explore is the spiritual root of the "rise of insanity" we see all around us, understanding how demonic influence manifests as confusion, contradiction, and the inability to think independently. Finally, we will be assured of the ultimate futility of evil's power and the eternal security found in the "ark of safety" that God provides for His people. This lesson is a call to awaken from spiritual slumber and to make a resolute choice to serve the One Master who offers not only life, but clarity, peace, and an unshakable hope in a time of great darkness.
________________________________________
The Ultimate Choice: Serving One Master or Many
The very first principle presented to us is a stark and uncompromising one: "Serve not many masters." This is the core instruction, the central axis around which all other truths revolve. The consequence of failing to heed this command is a state of being "a grief to Me." God desires His people to be faithful and true to Him alone, recognizing Him as the "One who bears rule." This is a call to exclusive allegiance, an undivided heart. The passage immediately contrasts this with the reality of the world, where "many masters who are appointed by the devil" bear rule over the multitudes. The purpose of this evil rule is unequivocally declared as a mission "to kill, steal and destroy."
The biblical foundation for this truth is found throughout scripture, most notably in the words of Jesus himself. No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24). While Jesus used the specific example of money, the principle extends to anything that vies for the throne of our lives. These "many masters" can be anything from personal ambition, worldly approval, addiction, selfish desires, or even the subtle allure of comfort and compromise. The text makes it clear that this multi-master service is "born of destruction." It leads to a life that is "ugly and grossly deceptive." God's way, in contrast, is described as "beautiful," a path that directs us in truth and reveals His very nature. The choice is not between two equally valid options; it is a choice between a beautiful, singular allegiance and a destructive, fragmented one. To serve many masters is to open the door to confusion, contradiction, and ultimate ruin.
________________________________________
The Cruelty of the World's Rulers: A Rule of Destruction and Deception
The text does not shy away from describing the nature of the "many masters" and their earthly representatives. These are men and women who are sent by the devil "to kill, steal and destroy." They are characterized by their cruelty, their desire to take advantage, and their aim to see people devastated. The passage states that the darkness we see throughout the earth is a result of the wicked bearing rule with cruelty. Those who are full of "demonic powers" and imagine themselves to be rulers are deeply deceived, believing the lies of their father, the "liar."
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10). This powerful verse from scripture perfectly aligns with the message. The rule of the world is a rule of oppression, intimidation, and cruelty. It seeks to steal our joy, kill our purpose, and destroy our hope. However, the text provides an anchor of truth: "There is none who bears rule over My true ones except Me." We are explicitly commanded not to "bow down to the fear that such ones rule by." This is a call to resist intimidation and to stand firm in the knowledge that our ultimate Master is the Living God. The cruelty of the wicked is a direct manifestation of their own spiritual bondage and deception. They are not acting independently, but as agents of the liar. Recognizing this truth frees us from fear and empowers us to look to our true Ruler in every circumstance, knowing that His power infinitely surpasses theirs.
________________________________________
The Sovereignty of God: The Only True Ruler and Provider of Sanity
When the world seems to be ruled by chaos and cruelty, it is easy to assume that God has departed from His people. The text directly addresses and refutes this notion. "I do not leave nor forsake the ones who are Mine." God remains sovereign, and it is He who "bears rule over My people and desires them to look to Me in every circumstance and situation." The most powerful evidence of this is the gift of the Holy Spirit. God has given His people the Holy Spirit to "dwell with them and give them exactly what they need in every situation."
This is the source of our strength, our clarity, and our sanity. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7). The Holy Spirit provides a "plain path," a clear direction in the midst of the world's confusion. While the world eats of the "table of demons" and lives in delusion, we are called to eat of the "goodness that I give to you," which provides "strength, safety and sanity." The "insanity" we observe in the world—the jumbled thoughts, the contradictions, the inability to think straight—is a direct result of being "fed by many masters." But we, as God's people, are guided by His Spirit, who does not lead into confusion. We can be thankful that in serving Him alone, we are kept in a state of clarity and sanity that is a precious and beautiful gift. God's rule is not one of cruelty, but one of mercy, wisdom, and steadfast love.
________________________________________
The Rise of Insanity: The Spiritual Roots of Confusion and Delusion
The passage provides a chilling and insightful description of the spiritual reality behind the widespread confusion and delusion we witness today. It declares that the "rise of insanity will be evidenced more and more" as "demon powers manifest and show themselves through lost humanity." The description is not a casual observation but a profound spiritual diagnosis: "those spirits have put chains around their bodies and clamps around their heads." The result is people who are "totally incapable of independent thinking." They are "as people in harnesses, unable to think in any way but confusion."
This imagery is not to be taken lightly. It reveals that the spiritual battle is not just for our souls, but for our minds. The inability to think straight, to reason logically, or to hold a coherent worldview is a direct consequence of spiritual enslavement. The many masters lead their captives into a mental prison of lies, contradictions, and subjectivity. The text highlights a key blessing for God's people: being led by the Holy Spirit "which will lead and guide you into all truth." We do not have to live under lies or be "subject to the liars." The provision of "sanity and clarity" is a "sweet blessing" from God, a divine shield against the spiritual oppression that is gripping the world. To resist the temptations to subjectivity hurled at us by the enemy is to maintain our spiritual and mental freedom. The ability to think clearly and independently, grounded in the truth of God's Word, is a sign of our freedom in Christ.
________________________________________
The Futility of Their Power: Why God's People Need Not Fear
Despite the perceived power and cruelty of the wicked, the passage offers a resounding message of hope and reassurance. It declares that the end for those who are subject to demonic powers is "ruination." Men and women who are "drunk on pride" may imagine they are invincible, but they will come to "utter and complete ruination" and find themselves "desolate and desperate." Their power is temporary, their invincibility is a delusion born of lies. God's people, on the other hand, are "kept even when the enemy forces think they have brought them down and totally destroyed them."
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17). The text reminds us that God's people are "resurrected time and again" because God Himself "brings them back up and shows that I am able." Our God is "the God who does miracles," and the workers of iniquity "cannot stop Me." This is why we are commanded not to be "fretful, nor fearful at their threats and intimidating tactics." The enemy's power is limited and ultimately futile against the sovereign power of the Almighty. The truth is that none is more powerful than God, and those who believe otherwise are simply deceiving themselves with lies. We can walk in confidence and peace, knowing that our ultimate victory is guaranteed by the God who rules in mercy and demonstrates His power time and again.
________________________________________
Personal Responsibility: The Final Accountability
The passage concludes with a sobering reminder of personal responsibility. While the world may be under the sway of demonic powers, each individual remains accountable for their choices. "When any stands before Me, they are responsible for the choices they have made, the actions and reactions they have given themselves unto." We cannot blame our confusion, our actions, or our ultimate fate on the deceptions of the enemy if we willingly gave in to them. The text warns against being "lured from the way that is Mine," because the "ways of deception will cause you delusion and death," leading to hell in the end.
This is a powerful call to vigilance. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (2 Peter 3:14). Our choices have eternal consequences. The choice to serve many masters is a choice to walk in delusion and death. The choice to serve God alone is a choice to be kept in the "ark of safety that I provide." This ark is not a physical boat, but a spiritual state of being, where we are "kept from the filthy waters of death and destruction, uplifted in the salvation mercies I give to My own." The final judgment will not be a judgment of the devil's power over us, but a judgment of our own decisions. We are responsible for the master we have chosen to serve. We must therefore be thankful that we can choose to serve God as our Master and Lord and find eternal salvation and safety in Him.
________________________________________
Summary
This lesson has been a deep and urgent call to choose our master wisely and with eternal perspective. We have seen that serving many masters leads to a life of spiritual grief, while serving God alone leads to beauty and truth. We have examined the cruel and destructive nature of worldly rulers, agents of the devil whose purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy. In contrast, we have affirmed the unwavering sovereignty of God, who never forsakes His people and provides the Holy Spirit as our guide and source of sanity. The rise of insanity in the world has been revealed as the spiritual consequence of demonic chains and clamps on the minds of the lost, while God's people are gifted with clarity and independent thought. We have been assured of the ultimate futility of the enemy’s power and the certainty of God's miraculous keeping power. Finally, we were reminded that each of us is responsible for the choices we make and that the ultimate safety from death and destruction is found in the "ark of salvation" provided by God for those who serve Him alone.
Conclusion
The reality of the spiritual world is laid bare before us: there is a cosmic war for our hearts and minds. The battle is for our allegiance, and the outcome determines our eternal destiny. We have been shown the terrible consequences of choosing to serve many masters, a path that leads to spiritual insanity, bondage, and ultimate ruination. We have also been shown the glorious alternative: the merciful and sovereign rule of God, which provides a "plain path," absolute clarity, and an unshakable peace. The choice is urgent and personal. Let us not be lured by the fleeting deceptions and cruel threats of the world. Let us instead stand firm in the knowledge that we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us and that our God is well able to keep us safe in the midst of the storm.
The Call to Action
Therefore, I call upon you today to take a decisive stand:
• Renounce All Other Masters: In a moment of intentional prayer, renounce any worldly master that has taken a place in your life—whether it be greed, pride, fear, or a desire for approval. Declare that God alone is your Lord.
• Seek the Holy Spirit Daily: Actively ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in all truth. Pray for clarity, sanity, and the ability to think independently, free from the world’s delusions.
• Reject Fear: Do not be intimidated by the threats or cruelties of the wicked. Remember that your ultimate Master is God, and no one is more powerful than Him.
• Stand Firm in Truth: Commit to knowing God's Word, which is the source of all truth. Let it be the foundation of your thoughts and actions, protecting you from the subjectivity of lies.
• Live in the Ark of Safety: Continually give thanks for the salvation and protection God has provided for you. Live your life in the full assurance of His mercy and power, knowing you are safe in His keeping.
Final Word of Encouragement
Remember, the enemy's power is a lie; God's power is the ultimate truth. You are not alone in this battle. You have been given the Holy Spirit to dwell within you, providing everything you need to resist the temptations and threats of the world. Be thankful today that you can serve the Living God, whose way is the way of beauty, truth, and eternal life. Hold fast to His promises, and know that you are kept by the One who loves you with an everlasting love.
________________________________________
Sala ya Wokovu (Prayer of Salvation)
Dear Lord Jesus,
I come to you today and I confess that I have served many masters. I have given in to the deceptions and temptations of the world, and I have lived a life apart from You. I confess my sins and my foolishness. I believe that You are the Son of God, and that You died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and were raised from the dead. I choose to serve You alone as my Master and Lord. I ask You to forgive me and to fill me with Your Holy Spirit to guide me into all truth and sanity. Thank You for saving me and giving me a place in the ark of safety. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
