PATIENTLY  POSSESSED

Jack Davis

Winners in Control

“In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19. Let us see to it (make it a matter of attitude and action) that we stay consciously in His hand by patiently waiting upon the Lord in each test. In “patience” we think of steadfast endurance, characterized by constancy and consistency. In the word “possession” consider the thought of taking control or gaining the mastery over. i.e. Winning ones soul for the purposes of God. What shall it profit a man to gain the world and lose his own soul?

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thy self also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him…For evildoers shall be cut off: But they that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” Psalm 37:7,9.

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God.” Psalm 40:1-3. 

In these and many other scriptures we find how our souls may be brought into gainful possession.

“For thou hast possessed my reins; (Heb. ‘Kidneys,’ i.e. my innermost being) thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-14. Our Lord would have us aware that He has determined to control our lives from within. “Possessed” here expresses to own, erect, create and also procure. We are His both by creation and redemption.

Oh how blessed, what glorious rest, to stay joyfully impressed, with being divinely possessed. For His timing is always the best. It will be worth every minute that we have waited in learning to lean on Him. Those faithful unto death are promised a crown of life. Those that keep the word of His patience will be kept out of the hour of temptation (tribulation) coming on this world.

There are so many ills today that abound in relation to impatience, whereby we seem to get out of proper control. There are many that teach ‘“self control,” telling us how to take authority of our lives. But How? How else, but by total commitment unto our living Lord. He says to us, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me.”

Consider The Context

This admonishment if given in relation to the later day signs, the things that are to take place in connection with Jesus return and revelation to His people. They had asked him, “When shall these things be? And what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass.” Luke 21:7, Therefore He spoke of “nation rising against nation, great earthquakes in divers places and famines and pestilences vs. 10-11. He tells of the times of the Gentiles coming to fulfillment v. 24. Then in v. 34 He said, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (Over indulgence); and drunkenness, and cares of this life, (earthly existence) and so that day come upon you unawares.”

I appreciate the way Paul said it in that thrilling and comforting chapter on our being caught away at Jesus coming. “That everyone of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.” I Thess. 4:4. Read verses 1 through 9.

We are often urged, in view of our dear Lord’s return, to allow spiritual possession of our triune being. When was there ever a greater need to put on the helmet of hope, and the breastplate of faith and love, in all soberness? I Thess. 5:6-8. These tell us of some controls that afford us timely protection for hearts and mind that may otherwise be susceptible to dangerous distractions.

Paul beseeches us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, and tells us how important it is that our bodies be under the control of the new creation life, lest we be disqualified to be crowned winners on this Christian race course. Rom. 12:1 and I Cor. 9:24-27.

We are taught by grace to deny ungodliness, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, while we look for that blessed hope and glorious appearing. Titus 2:11-14.

Peter urges those that are kept by the power of God, to gird up the loins of their mind, be sober, and hope to the end for that grace that is to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Pet. 1:5,13. We cannot allow our minds to run rampant or out of control. Let not our hearts get out of focus, our race is almost over. Oh, Yes we have been provided “Mighty” weapons whereby we are able to pull down strong hold, cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. II Cor. 10:4-6.

He has provided that we be consistent in a patience of hope, waiting for His Son from heaven. I Thess. 1:3,10. This is indeed intended to have a purifying influence in our lives I John 3:1-3. This hope, laid hold of, acts as an anchor for our souls. Heb. 6:19. How privileged we are to be able to allow our hearts to be divinely directed into God’s abiding love, and a patient waiting for Christ. II Thess. 3:5.

Let us walk with patience as Abraham did. “So after he patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” Heb. 6:13-15. Let us work with patience for He has promised; “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love…” Heb. 6:9-12, I Cor. 15:58 and Col. 3:23-24. Let us run with patience, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.