Topic: Possessing the Nations [Archbishop Margaret E. Benson Idahosa] Above Only Daily Devotional 19 May 2020
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Possessing the Nations
Obadiah 1:17-18 & 21 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; 21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
Psalms 2:8 (NKJV) Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.
We must always interpret the scriptures based on who Christ is and the things He has done for us. As regards our first text above, the Bible tells us that in Christ we have come to Mount Zion (Heb. 12:22). The Bible also tells us that in Christ we have been delivered from the devil’s power (Col. 1:13). In the Good News Bible, 1 Peter 1:2 says, “You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood.” 1 Peter 2:9 also shows us that we are a holy nation.
Now what are our possessions and how do we possess them? In our second text above, God says we should ask Him for nations and for the ends of the earth as our possession. In Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV), Jesus said, “… All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; …” Amen. In Acts 1:8 (NKJV), Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Our possessions are nations and the way we possess them is by preaching the gospel of Christ to them so that they are reconciled to God. The word nations in Matthew 28:19 is from the Greek word ethnos and one of the meanings of the word ethnos is people of the same habitat. The word nations does not just mean countries or geographical locations. It also means various fields and spheres of influence in society. God has sent you into your field or area of society to influence people with His life and word and reconcile them to Himself.
Prayer Focus:
Ask God to use you to preach the gospel of Christ to influence people and reconcile them back to Himself.
Bible in one year reading plan:
- 1 Chronicles 10-12
- John 6:45-71