Newsletter/Bible study
Possessed by possessions
Possessed has many words in Hebrew, they have different meanings but by seeing the Hebrew word and the context we can see what the
Word is saying.
Yaras and Nahal mean:
To occupy, by driving out previous tenants and possessing in their place”. To seize, rob, inherit. to expel. impoverish, to ruin, cast out etc…
In Greek one-word ktaomai means to get, acquire, obtain, possess, provide purchase.
of the ways possess is spelled the word first appears as possessor in Genesis 14:19. It uses the Hebrew word Qana meaning to erect, create, to purchase to own. This word possessor is singular and is only found in Genesis 14:19 and 22. It is speaking of God possessing heaven and earth.
verse 19
“And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth”
verse 22
” and Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth.”
Interestingly Melchizedek (price of Salem/peace) is blessing Abram.
The Hebrew shows many meanings of a word so it is saying God is the creator and owner of the heavens and the earth. Qana.
Many times in the Old Testament God is saying He will give the land of Israel to His people, Deuteronomy is full of possess, possession, etc..
God has it planned from the beginning that He would give this land to His people. In Egypt they were slaves with little possessions but when they were in the wilderness what did they complain about?
Exodus 16:2-3
“and the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness”
“and the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by fresh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye has brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger”.
They are murmuring to Moses and Aaron and complained to God by listing what little they did had in Egypt.
Your possessions will possess you if you do not truly let them go. Like Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13
11:Not that I speak in respect of what, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am there with by content”
12: I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and suffer need”
Have you heard the saying “Possessed by an idea?” I know it happens to me. If a food idea pops into my head I try to do everything I can to make it happen. I am often not satisfied until I do. Prison has taught me more that you can’t get what you want when you want it. It shows us more to wait until God gives it to you. That is the right timing.
So what do we do with all these possessions possessing us? If it gets that far we need to look at the secret Paul learned. I believe this is one of the most taken out of context verse in the Bible.
People use it to justify what they want to do. But in the context, it is the secret to Godly contentment.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!!”
Many many times possession in the Old Testament is talking about God’s people and the land of Israel.
I want to look at the other meanings. In psalms 139 David is speaking on how God is always there and in verse 13 it uses qana for possessed. We saw before this also means created as well as owns.
Psalms 139:13
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb”
And in verse 14 we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Stop and think, whatever you possess will possess you. It will, Qana, make you into who you are today. Does your family, your wife, drugs, money, stuff change how you behave and act daily? Are you the same person you were in the past? What possessed you to change? if it is anything but God then you are going the wrong way.
Maybe you try to be a better person for family and responsible in your life but why does Christ say He is the only way!
Because all else will end up failing!
In Proverbs 8:22-23 God Qana us before the beginning of the world. Before there ever was an earth. He possessed us first, He loved us first, that is the only way we can possess/inherit Him!
In Jeremiah 32:14-15 God tells Jeremiah to buy a land because in verse 15
“…. Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land”
They won’t just have houses and vineyards but they will Qana, be made again. Be created, rebuilt!
In the Old Testament demonic possession was never mentioned as far as I could see. But you can see places of wicked people acting demonic. Pharaoh killing children under two. Canaanites sacrificing babies in the fire. Pharos magicians doing magic, the witch who Saul went to summon Samuel.
The New Testament comes in and shows Christ has power over what possess us.
The Greek uses words that mean possess as well as vex, have a hold on. The devils possessed, had a hold on and vexed. You see how things, desires, possessions can do the same.
Jesus healed them, He has power and authority over them. Philippians 4:13 We can be free of possessions and be content but only truly with Christ’s help.
Matthew 4:24 8:16,28,33 9:32 12:22
Mark 1:32 5:15,16,18 Luke 8:36
Jesus healed them of all the devils. This was unheard of and they were astounded.
Let’s look at 3 examples of people and their possessions and how it effects following and serving God.
First in Matthew 19:15-22 and mark 10:22 a man asks Jesus what shall I do to have eternal life (Have, possess). Jesus quotes the commandments, knowing no one can fully keep them. The man says he has done that since he was young, what else?
Does this show pride? over achiever? what to impress God rather than humble himself?
Jesus response, “If thou will be perfect go and sell, give to the poor, thou shall have treasure in heaven and follow me”
Then the man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.
Verses 23-26
“Then Jesus said unto his disciples, verily I say unto you. That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”
25 “When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying who then can be saved?”
26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”.
Why is it so hard for rich men to enter heaven? They were weighed down by earthly possessions. Why were the disciples shocked? Because men see the rich as blessed by God and the best. Jesus came to show different. Only with Christ/God all things are possible.
If a ship in the water has one anchor or many anchors it does the same thing. It stops the ship from moving. The same way earthly possessions will anchor you down whether you have many or only one. We need to release all possessions to God to be truly free from the early vexations!
More possessions make it harder and longer to get rid of but still “Just” one or “only” one sin or possessions it too much.
Don’t lie to yourself thinking your one sin or secret pleasure won’t interfere with God using you. You need to give it all to God. He is faithful to help you, it is only possible with God.
The second example is in acts 5
In verse 1-11 we see a man and his wife (Ananias and Sapphira) sold land. A possession. They donated money to the church but they lied about how much they gave. Why lie? Peter says it was their land and when they sold it they could give whatever amount they chose, so why lie?
They wanted glory from men and still keep what possessed them. Both husband and wife fell dead when each lie was found out and confronted.
We don’t truly own anything in this world. it is all temporary. If you do have possessions, they easily are possessing you and making you do things, control you, things you never thought would happen. How many people get angry enough to fight if their car gets hit in traffic? It is called road rage.
Also an unfaithful husband or wife? You feel betrayed because they vowed to be yours and true. Unless everything you “have” is given to God it can drive you crazy, vex you forever.
We can’t keep anything forever, give it to God before you lose it.
Also make sure you don’t put that possessions before God, He may remove it for your own good. But it wont feel good.
The third group of people are just before acts 5.
In chapter 4 verses 32-36 the new church after Pentecost was growing bold in Christ and sharing the gospel. Verse 32 says that multitude were of one heart and soul that they regarded their possessions as not their own but for the community and church. No one lacked and everyone who had land sold it and brought it to the disciples. It was distributed to who needed it. Guided by the Holy Spirit this system works but if it is done by man there is always corruption, like Judas as the purse holder.
We see the Bible doesn’t command all believers to give up everything they own. God amazingly speaks to us individually so each person has a different story, need, command from God. Pray and seek Gods specific will in your life!
Make sure your possessions don’t possess you. The more you give to God the less stress and less vexed your soul will be!
God bless you all
Jordan, A son of God!
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