Possess Your
Possessions (Obadiah 15-18)
(Inherit
Your Inheritance)
What
do you possess in life and how do you possess them and handle them are very
important.
· Amazon founder possessed so much
wealth, but he is now with a broken marital life.
· Sheik of UAE and the Prime Minister
of Dubai is one of the wealthiest men in the world, but just last week his 6th
wife deserted him.
Possess
wrong things in life or give priority for wrong things in life, and you end up
in destruction. You will end up your life on earth as a failure and a disaster.
>>
Possess Your Possessions >> that is the title for our meditation of God’s
Word today.
In
the book of Obadiah, we have the story of Edom (Esau) and Jacob, the children
of Isaac. They were in rivalry all through their lives. This book, just 21
verses, pronounces God’s judgment on Edom for his actions toward his brother
Jacob (vv 3-4, 10-11, 15).
But
on the other hand, Jacob, the younger brother, stand on a different terrain.
There were many failures in him; he was a deceiver, but he was the one whom God
hath chosen to showforth His sovereign mercy and forgiveness.
Malachi 1:2-3, I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved
us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I
hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of
the wilderness.
And
therefore, we are told in verse 17 that Jacob shall Possess His Possessions.
He would be treated differently!
There
is a great truth behind this story and there is a great lesson for us to take
heart this morning:
·
We are God’s sovereign vessels.
·
If we truly love God, and come to
Him for forgiveness and mercy, He will guide us all the way. This is the story
of Jacob.
Verse
17 talks about two things of Jacob:
Salvation or Gospel Inheritance
(Spiritual Inheritance)
Though
Jacob was a sinful being, a deceiver, he experienced God’s bountiful sovereign
mercy in his life. God blessed him with spiritual inheritance.
1.
Deliverance (Salvation, “an escaped
one” or a “remnant”)
2.
There shall be holiness (“it shall
be holy”)
·
It means a remnant shall be set
apart for God’s purpose.
·
Jacob was a set apart vessel for
God’s purpose
We
read the real story of Jacob’s transformation in Gen 32:26-28,
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I
will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy
name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more
Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with
men, and hast prevailed.
God
has blessed us with an inheritance in Christ Jesus!
·
1 Peter 1:3-5
·
Hebrews 9:15 >> “they which
are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
·
Hebrews 11:8, by faith Abraham
received an inheritance
·
Ephesians 1:11, 14, 18
Land Inheritance or Blessings
(Physical Inheritance)
The
remnant has a beautiful earthly destiny, that is, to “possess their
possessions.”
·
All the intent of Edom and the
heathen nations to strip Judah of its identity and possessions will ultimately
fail.
·
A remnant of Judah will escape when
the rest of the nation has perished and shall possess or regain their ancient
possessions.
·
This is physical blessing.
When
we trust God’s mercy and obey Him, He will honor us with earthly inheritance.
·
Eg Caleb >> Numbers 14:24;
Joshua 14:6-15
·
As a church, for Covenant, this is
our testimony as well.
Conclusion/Application
What
should we possess in life?
·
Christ, Good Christian heritage, a
God-fearing church, a godly home, a responsible workmanship.
·
Genesis 48:21
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