THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20
WHAT? KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YOU, WHICH YE HAVE OF GOD AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN?
FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, THEREFORE, GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.
FOR THE NEXT LITTLE WHILE WE SOLICIT YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR ATTENTION AS WE ATTEMPT TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE SUBJECT, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.
AND SINCE WE ARE A MULICULTURAL CHURCH, THIS IS NOT YOUR HOUSE
MI CASA NO ES SU CASA
THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE
I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE THIS SUBJECT STRAIGHT FROM THE HOOD AND SPEAK TO YOU LIKE YOUR MAMA USED TO. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO GET FOLK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. BACK TO THEIR ROOTS
I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE GROWN UP AND MOVED AWAY AND YOU’RE A BIT CONFUSED NOW AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD.
YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOU’RE FROM THE PROJECTS, OR NOT. WELL, DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT; I’M HERE TO ENLIGHTEN YOU:
IF YOU EVER REFERRED TO DIABETES AS SUGAR, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD
IF YOU EVER HAD A CAR WITH A COAT HANGER FOR AN ANTENNA, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD
IF YOUR MAMA HAD THAT PLASTIC COVERING, ALL OVER HER SOFA AND CHAIRS, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD
IF YOU EVER LEFT YOUR HOUSE AND WENT DOWN TO MAMA AND NEM’S, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD
IF YOU EVER REFERRED TO RED AS A KOOL-AID FLAVOR, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD.
I HOPE THAT IN SOME WAY I CLEARED THAT UP FOR YOU.
AND WHILE YOU WERE IN THE HOOD, YOU HAD SOME FRIENDS AND SOME OF YOU MAY STILL HAVE THEM, WHO ASSUMED THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU ALLOWED THEM TO USE SOMETHING OF YOURS THEY COULD TREAT IT ANY WAY THEY WANTED TO.
YOU EVER HAD HOUSE GUEST THAT CAME TO YOUR HOUSE AND PUT THEIR DIRTY FEET ALL UP ON YOUR FURNITURE?
WALK THEIR MUDDY SHOES ACROSS YOUR WHITE CARPET
PUT THEIR GREASY GERRY CURL JUICE ON YOUR COUCH AND LAY THEIR HEADS AGAINST YOUR WALLS
AND THEN HAVE THE NERVE TO GO IN YOUR KITCHEN AND RUMMAGE THROUGH YOUR REFRIGERATOR LIKE THEY LIVE THERE
YOU EVER HAD PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR CUPS AND GLASSES; ALL OVER YOUR FRESHLY WAXED COFFEE TABLE AND WHEN YOU OFFERED THEM A COASTER THEY GAVE YOU THAT LOOK.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR IN-LAWS TO COME OVER TO YOUR HOUSE AND I’M PLACING THE EMPHASIS ON YOUR HOUSE ESPECIALLY A WOMAN WHO’S DEALING WITH HER HUSBANDS MAMA
SHE STROLLS IN YOUR HOUSE WALKING LIKE SHE’S THE CAT’S MEOW, AND SHE BEGINS TO REARRANGE YOUR LAMPS
SHE BEGINS TO CHECK FOR DUST
SHE FEELS LIKE THE END TABLE THAT YOU CAREFULLY PLACED LOOKS BETTER OVER THERE THAN IT DOES OVER HERE
THEN SHE BEGINS TO TELL YOU WHAT HER BABY AIN’T USE TOO
WHY IS HE SITTING THERE? HE AIN’T USE TO HAVING TO SIT IN THE KITCHEN, HE’S, HE’S
HE’S USED TO SITTING IN THE DINING ROOM, AND WHERE’S YOUR GLASSES AT, MY BABY DON’T DRINK OUT OF NO CUPS…HE AIN’T USE TO THAT
I DIDN’T RAISE HIM LIKE THAT WHEN HE WAS LIVING AT MY HOUSE
YOU EVER WANT TO TELL THAT IN-LAW, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE!
CUZZIN PUKEY NEM COME OVER AND THEY START REARRANGING STUFF. YOU’RE SITTING DOWN WATCHING YOUR FAVORITE T.V. SHOW AND SOMEBODY PICKS UP THE REMOTE AND STARTS CHANNEL SURFING LIKE THEY WAS AT HOME. YOU EVER WANT TO TELL PUKEY NEM, YOU NEED TO GO HOME CAUSE THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.
EVEN YOUR KIDS…START ACTING CRAZY. ANYBODY IN HERE UNDER 18 OR WELL NOW-A-DAYS YOU MIGHT BE 25 OR 40, BUT YOU’RE STILL LIVING AT HOME WITH YOUR PARENTS.
EVERY NOW AND THEN WE WANT TO LOOK AT YOU AND TELL YOU, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT; THIS IS FOR YOU KIDS WHO FEEL ENTITLED BECAUSE YOU LIVE THERE AND BECAUSE YOU’VE LIVED THERE AS LONG AS YOUR PARENTS IN SOME INSTANCES
YOU KNOW THE ONES I’M TALKING ABOUT, AND SOME OF YOU HAVE SOME CHILDREN WHO ARE JUST LIKE THEM.
THEY MAKE THE MISTAKE OF BELIEVING IT’S THEIR HOUSE, AND SO THEY SAY CRAZY STUFF LIKE, STAY OUT OF MY ROOM…I NEED MY PRIVACY
WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS GOING THROUGH MY DRAWERS AND MY CLOSET, YOU NEED TO KNOCK BEFORE YOU COME IN MY ROOM.
NOW TO BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOU, THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ONLY ONCE IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE, AND I THINK I TOLD YOU BEFORE THAT HE DIDN’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH CHILD ABUSE. HE HAD AWAY ABOUT HIM AND HE’D SAY…
LISTEN BOY, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT; I DON’T HAVE TO KNOCK BEFORE I GO ANYWHERE, UP IN HERE, AND YOU NEED TO REALIZE FIRST OF ALL, YOU JUST LIVE HERE BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE!
AND ANOTHER THING, WHILE WE’RE ON THE SUBJECT, EVERYTHING IN THIS HOUSE BELONGS TO ME AND THAT INCLUDES YOU AND THE DRAWS IN YOUR DRAWER, UP IN THIS HOUSE! (PAUSE)
AND DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT THEM LATE NIGHTS, BECAUSE THAT WAS A NO, NO…WAIT A MINUTE SON, YOU AIN’T COMING UP IN HERE AT NO 3 OR 4 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
I GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AND I PAY THE BILLS HERE AND I DON’T COME IN AT NO 3 OR 4 AND WHICH PART OF THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE ARE YOU HAVING THE MOST DIFFICULTY WITH…
AMEN LIGHTS…AND IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT YOU CAN BE EVICTED AT ANYTIME
YOU CAN BE REMOVED WITH NOTHING BUT THE CLOTHES YOU HAVE ON YOUR BACK AND THAT’S ONLY IF I’M IN A GIVING MOOD, WITH NO LEGAL RECOURSE BECAUSE THIS…AIN’T… YO…HOUSE. PREACH BENITEZ
I KNOW THAT MAY BE FOREIGN TO SOME OF YOU, BECAUSE YOU’RE IN THIS NEW AGE WHERE YOUR CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM TO HAVE IT BETER THAN YOU HAD IT, EVEN THOUGH YOU TURNED OUT ALL RIGHT AND THEY’RE ALL CONFUSED SO THIS MAY NOT SOUND RIGHT TO YOU EITHER.
NEW HUSBANDS AND NEW WIVES, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR MONEY TOGETHER HOWEVER YOU CAN AND BUY YOU A HOUSE TOGETHER.
DON’T MOVE THEM IN YOUR HOUSE
DON’T YOU MOVE IN THEIR HOUSE
OK, YOU MAY NEED TO FOR A MINUTE, BUT YOU NEED TO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE GET A HOUSE WITH BOTH YOUR NAMES ON IT BECAUSE WHEN THE STUFF HITS THE FAN AND WHEN FOLK REALLY GET MAD AND YOU MESS AROUND AND DO THE WRONG THING, DON’T BE SURPRISED IF THEY REAR UP AND SAY, WAIT A MINUTE BABY, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.
I HAD THIS HOUSE BEFORE I MET YOU, OH YES THEY WILL, YOU KNOW THEY WILL.
AND DON’T HAVE ANY STEP CHILDREN CAUSE THEM CHILDREN WILL TELL YOU, HOLD ON A MINUTE PLAYER, YO DOG
THIS IS MY MAMA’S HOUSE. YOU JUST GOT HERE. MY DADDY BOUGHT THIS HOUSE.
DON’T BE STEPPING UP IN HERE LIKE YOU THE NEW MAN OF THE HOUSE OR SOMETHING CAUSE THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.
WE’VE ALL BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WANTED TO TELL SOMEBODY, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.
AND THE TRAGIC PART OF THIS SCENARIO IS WE TREAT GOD THE SAME WAY. HE’S SAYING TO YOU, DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE AND YOU DIDN’T COME CHEAP EITHER?
WE TREAT GOD WHO IS THE LANDLORD OF OUR BODY AND SOULS AS IF OUR BODY WAS OUR HOUSE AND HE DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE THERE, BUT I STOPPED BY TO REMIND YOU CALVARY THAT YOUR BODY, YOUR MIND, AND YOUR SOUL BELONGS TO CHRIST BECAUSE YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE.
THE TITLE IS IN GOD’S NAME AND BY HIS GRACE AND MERCY YOU HAVE A DAY-BY-DAY LEASE BECAUSE THE CONTRACT STATES THAT TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED TO YOU
YOU DON’T HAVE ANY RIGHTS AND PRIVELEGES IN THIS HOUSE AND IN THIS STATE, ANYTIME YOU DON’T OWN A HOUSE, YOU CAN BE EVICTED ANYTIME AT THE OWNERS DISCRETION.
I LOST ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS TO MYSELF BY PLAYING A GAME IN THE CASINO CALLED SIN
I LOST ALL RIGHTS TO MYSELF GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL WHO WAS PLAYING WITH A STACKED DECK
I SOLD MY BIRTH RIGHT FOR A FEW MINUTES OF PLEASURE
I SIGNED OVER MY INHERITANCE AT THE WHEEL OF CHANCE AND THE TABLE OF DESPAIR
AND WHILE I THOUGHT I WAS ENJOYING YOURSELF, I SOON DISCOVERED THAT I HAD RUN UP A DEBT I COULDN’T PAY
WHEN JUSTICE TAPPED ME ON THE SHOULDER AND DEMANDED PAYMENT FOR THE LIFESTYLE I WAS LEADING, I FOUND OUT THAT MY VISA CARD WAS NOT ACCEPTED EVERYWHERE
MY MASTERCARD WAS THE MASTER OF NOTHING
MY AMERICAN EXPRESS HAD TAKEN A TRIP OF ITS OWN
MY DISCOVER CARD WAS OUT LOOKING FOR ITSELF AND HAD REACHED ITS LIMIT
MY DINERS CLUB CARD HAD BEEN REVOKED
AND MY DEBIT CARD HAD DEBTS OF ITS OWN
THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD DO TO BUY MYSELF BACK
MY HEAVENLY ACCOUNT WAS OVERDRAWN
I COULDN’T BUY BACK MY MIND
I COULDN’T BUY BACK MY DESTINY
I COULDN’T BUY MY FUTURE BACK
I COULDN’T BUY MY HEALTH BACK
I COULDN’T BUY MY PEACE BACK
I COULDN’T BUY BACK MY JOY
PAY DAY LOAN COULDN’T HELP ME BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE ANY COLLATERAL
ALL OF MY REFERENCES TURNED THEIR BACKS ON ME
MY MAMA AND MY DADDY COULDN’T CO-SIGN FOR ME
AND WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE ALL WAS LOST
WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS NO WAY OUT
WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE THE DEVIL WOULD WIN HIS CASE,…JESUS, GOT UP FROM THE THRONE OF GRACE
TOOK OFF HIS OMNIPRESENCE AND LAID IT ACROSS THE MERCY SEAT
TOOK OFF HIS OMNISCIENCE AND LAID IT ACROSS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
TOOK OFF HIS OMNIPOTENCE AND HUNG IT IN THE CLOSET OF TIME
TOOK THE SPOKEN WORD AND THE WRITTEN WORD, WRAPPED SOME FLESH AROUND THEM AND BECAME THE LIVING WORD
STEPPED ON A CLOUD AND RODE DOWN TO THE DEPOT OF TIME
BOUGHT A ONE WAY TICKET ON THE HALLELLUAH EXPRESS
GOT OFF IN A LITTLE TOWN CALLED BETHLEHEM ON A COLD WINTERS MORNING
33 YEARS LATER HE STEPPED IN THE CASINO AND BOUGHT BACK MY I.O.U.’S AND THEY DIDN’T COME CHEAP BECAUSE
I WASN’T ON SALE
I WASN’T ON THE CLEARANCE RACK
I WASN’T IN THE BARGAIN BASEMENT
I WASN’T A DISCONTINUED ITEM (PAUSE)
IT COST HIM 39 STRIPES FOR MY HEALING
HE HAD TO BE WOUNDED FOR MY TRANGRESSIONS
HE WAS BRUISED FROM HEAD TO TOE BECAUSE OF MY INIQUITIES
HE WAS HUNG UP FOR MY HANGUPS
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE
I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU NOT MADE BY HANDS...
