Mensa Otabil - Possess Your Possessions
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Welcome to day number 31 of our 40 days of power. As you know, this week we are looking at possessing territories, so we go to Obadiah verse 17, and it says, «But on Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness. The house of Jacob shall possess her possessions.»
Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament; it’s a one-chapter book, and it records the words of the prophet Obadiah, who was raised at a very critical time in the history of Israel. Although it’s just a short prophecy, it is very influential in the history of Israel. Obadiah was raised at a time when Israel was about to go into captivity, and there were all kinds of things happening. It was a dark moment in the life of the nation; there were betrayals all over, and people were coming against them. So God raised him to speak into the situation, and his prophecy is critical to what happens later to Israel.
There are two ideas in this verse that we want to look at. The first one states that on Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance. Mount Zion is a place where the temple of Israel was located. Mount Zion was considered a holy place; the temple was holy, and the mountain it was on was also holy. So Mount Zion represents the presence of God or the house of the Lord. The prophecy is saying that those who lived in the presence of the Lord or in holiness, those who live for the Lord, shall experience deliverance. Now, this is coming at a time when Israel is just about to be taken over by the Babylonians. God is saying that if you want to survive this, then you have to live for me; stay in my presence. On Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance.
There is hardship coming into the world; there is danger coming into the world. But on Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance. That is something we can lay claim to as we see all the troubles going on in the world and all the difficulties arising in our world, with all the inflation and economic misalignment that is coming into our world. On Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance. Those who live for God will be delivered out of the calamities befalling the world.
So that’s the first thing we see here. Second, it says that the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house of Jacob is another word for Israel. God says there is danger coming, but you shall possess your possessions. What does that mean? The possessions of Israel are the promises of God. So God says that in the midst of all the danger, I will fulfill my promise towards you. He also indicated that although they may go into captivity, they will come back and possess their possessions again.
This is an assurance to Israel. It looks like things are bad; they are going very terribly for you. You may lose some things; some things may get out of your hands. But you’re not going to lose them permanently because those who live for the Lord on Mount Zion shall be delivered, and even if they lose something, they will reclaim it. They will take it back. So it’s a prophecy about restoration; it’s about recovery; it’s about reclamation.
How does that apply to us today? It applies to us in many ways because sometimes things happen, and things get lost, like what happened during COVID. A lot of people lost so much; businesses were lost. But if you live for the Lord, if you’re on Mount Zion, there is deliverance, and even if you lose something, you will go back and recover your possessions. God says there will be a recovery of your possessions, of His promises, and of everything that we have lost. That is a promise we claim into reality, into fulfillment in our lives: that on Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance. The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, today I possess all my possessions. I receive the manifestation of all Your promises. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.