¡§Claim Your Possession¡¨
¡§Lay Hold on Eternal Life¡¨
By
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
Claim: - is a transitive verb, which means something is being done to something else- it literally means to ask for especially as a right, to take as the rightful owner of.
Possession: - is the act of having or taking into control, to occupy.
„« To claim your possession is the act of taking what is rightfully yours and having control of it. The word taking/take is to get into one’s hands or into one’s possession, power, or control: to seize or capture physically to get possession of by killing or capturing: to move against to acquire by eminent domain: to catch or attack through the effect of a sudden force or influence: to catch or come upon in a particular situation or action. Claim your possession.
Lay: - to beat or strike down with force.
Hold: - is to have possession of or at ones disposal, to have or maintain grasp of.
Claim your possession/Lay hold of eternal life is not just a pleasing saying, it is not something that would be nice to do, but it is a command given by a general to the soldiers in this spiritual warfare. It is the mission statement for those on the battlefield of the Lord and the command they must follow in order to be victorious.
We must understand that this Christian walk is not all fun and games. Contrary to what has been told to people down through the years, the Christian walk is not a bed of roses. There is not a party going on. Many times we say the phrase ¡§Ain¡¦t no party like a Holy Ghost party cause a Holy Ghost party don¡¦t stop¡¨. That is a great saying when we are under the anointing and the service is great, but that is not what the Bible says about this walk. The Bible says in Matthew 11:12 ¡§And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.¡¨
Therefore when we say claim your possession or lay hold on eternal life, it is not someone knocking on your door throwing confetti at you and giving you a big check, it is not walking up to the customer service counter with a ticket in your hand and getting your stuff. However it is forcibly taking what is rightfully yours from the one that has possession of it now.
I like the song we sing sometimes ¡§I¡¦m going back to the enemies and I¡¦m going to take back what He stole from me¡¨. It is rightfully mine and I am going to go and claim what is mine and in order to do so I am going to have to use force, but I¡¦m going to CLAIM MY POSSESSION.
What is your possession: Remember Possession is the act of having or taking into control, to occupy. However, what are we taking control of? 1st John 2:25 says ¡§And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.¡¨ Our possession is Eternal Life. We must take into our control and occupy eternal life this is what the enemy has stolen from us. Man was created to live forever; however, he was given a choice. He was told he could eat of every tree free but he was commanded not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, in the day he did he would surely die (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam and Eve, deceived by the devil, ate of the tree of knowledge, which was disobedience to the Word of God. This caused God to punish them, for sin must be punished. Their punishment was to be put out of the Garden of Eden before they ate of the tree of life, which was eternal life. Eternal life is our possession and we must go and claim our possession, we must lay hold on eternal life.
Contrary to popular belief eternal life is not living forever and ever.
Eternal Life: - John 17:1-3 says ¡§These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.¡¨ Eternal life is knowing God for yourself.
One of the greatest desires of a child of God is their enthusiasm to truly know God. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1 ¡§Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witness¡K¡¨ What this is saying is that there are plenty of people that have gone on into glory that had the desire to have a relationship with God and therefore have gained eternal life. If we were to look through the pages of scripture we will see how the desire to truly know God is the nucleus of a child of God¡¦s walk with God.
Moses said ¡§show me your glory¡¨
David said ¡§my soul panteth for thee oh Lord¡¨
The Disciples said ¡§teach us¡¨
Paul said ¡§That I may know Him.¡¨
Their determination was to have an interpersonal relationship with God, to know Him; therefore gaining the promise and possessing eternal life.
John 11:25 says ¡§Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live¡¨. We see by this verse that Jesus is the life. Psalms 90:2 says ¡§Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God¡¨. From everlasting to everlasting is eternity without beginning or end. Therefore since God has no beginning or end He is eternal and since He is life therefore it is eternal life. Eternal life is the life of God. Therefore when we lay hold onto eternal life it is not laying hold to living forever, but grabbing hold to God Himself.
How does one obtain Eternal Life: Romans 10:17 says ¡§So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God¡¨. He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. The Ear: is a very vital and important part of our lives. It¡¦s the organ of hearing and balance, consisting of 3 parts the outer, middle, and inner ear; it is one of the ways that we are connected to the world around us. Our ears afford us the ability to be able to hear the birds¡¦ sing, the children laugh, and the thunder roar. They alert us to potential danger that we are unable to see; for example when we are in our cars traveling in one direction and we are unable to see the ambulance or police coming from the side or from behind us, but our ears distinguish the sound of the sirens from all the other sounds around us and lets us know that danger is coming. The ear is able to distinguish efficiently, sound as low as a light whisper to a thunderous roar. Doctors and Scientist have said that the ear is a miraculous perfection of engineering that even with the most sophisticated computers and electronic digital equipment that it is impossible to duplicate the function of the ear in a machine the size of a refrigerator; however, the ear is capable of doing it in an area the size of a pea. WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE. The ear is responsible for hearing (TRUE), but it also has another function in that it provides us with what is called ¡§Equilibrium¡¨.
Equilibrium is the state of intellectual or emotional balance, it is adjustment between opposing, divergent influences, elements or actions, and it produces stability as well as mental and emotional steadiness.
In the spiritual the ear is responsible for hearing what the Lord is saying as well as providing us with spiritual intellect and spiritual emotional balance. So we are able when the devil is wreaking havoc in our lives, when it seems that he has just about caused us to loose our minds, we have spiritual equilibrium and don¡¦t waiver or fall off the side, but have stability in the midst of our trails. We have spiritual emotional balance that we are able to declare when all hell is breaking loose in our lives that I still have joy, I¡¦m steadfast, unmovable, because I have spiritual equilibrium. ¡§He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.¡¨
John 6:68 says ¡§Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life¡¨. John 1:1 says ¡§In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God¡¨. The 14th verse says ¡§And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth¡¨. We obtain eternal life through the hearing of the Word of God. The hearing of the Word of God draws us. John 6:44 says ¡§No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day¡¨. This drawing causes us to develop the desire to know Him. Knowing Him produces eternal life. When we hear the Word of God and Draw closer to Him and Develop a relationship with Him that is how we obtain eternal life.
When does Eternal Life begin: Paul told Timothy to Lay Hold on Eternal Life. In order for Timothy, as well as us today, to lay hold on eternal life it would mean that eternal life can be obtained in this natural life and we would not have to wait until the hereafter to have eternal life.
Remember to claim your possession is the act of taking what is rightfully yours and having control of it. The word taking/take is to get into one’s hands or into one’s possession, power, or control: to seize or capture physically to get possession of. Eternal life is a spiritual attribute, but to lay hold of it is done in the physical realm; therefore, eternal life must begin while we are still here in the physical realm. John 5:24 says ¡§Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life¡¨.
Eternal life is not something we get once we die, but have it when we hear and believe. Throughout the Bible people have tried to do things to inherit eternal life, but the response Jesus gave in the simplest form was to hear and believe. Mark 10:17-21 ¡§And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me¡¨. Hebrews 11:6 says ¡§But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.¡¨ You must believe in order to have eternal life.
Eternal Life is a Process: 1st Corinthian 13:12 says ¡§For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.¡¨ A process is something that is marked by gradual change that leads to a particular result. Eternal Life is a process, we have eternal life when we hear the Word of God and believe on Him. However, the process is not complete until death.
John 11:25-26 says ¡§Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?¡¨
1st Corinthians 15:53-54 says ¡§For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory¡¨. The process is completed when our bodies are changed from this mortal into immortality. Romans 8:23 ¡§And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body¡¨. Once the adoption of our glorified body happens this will be the final step of the process of eternal life.
You Got To Fight for Eternal Life: The Bible says in Matthew 11:12 ¡§And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.¡¨
Remember Claim: - is a transitive verb, which means something is being done to something else- it literally means to ask for especially as a right, to take as the rightful owner of. The word taking/take is to get into one’s hands or into one’s possession, power, or control: to seize or capture physically to get possession of by killing or capturing: to move against to acquire by eminent domain: to catch or attack through the effect of a sudden force or influence: to catch or come upon in a particular situation or action.
Lay: - to beat or strike down with force.
Claim your possession/Lay hold of eternal life is a command given by a general to the soldiers in this spiritual warfare. It is the mission statement for those on the battlefield of the Lord and what they must do in order to be victorious.
Romans 8:7 says ¡§Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be¡¨. 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 says ¡§But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them¡¨.
Remember you gain eternal life when we hear the Word of God and BELIEVE (process). The god of this world, the devil, has blinded the minds of them which believe not. He has literally impeded the process of laying hold on eternal life. The Word of God still goes forth and is drawing people, but because their minds have been blinded that they believe not causes the struggle called spiritual warfare.
When Paul told Timothy to lay hold on eternal life he understood that there is a battle going on. It is not a physical battle that is fought with fist, or weapons, but is a spiritual battle that is being fought in the minds of men, women, boys, and girls.
The Trichotomy of Man
The Trichotomy Flow Chart of the make up of Man
-- 2nd Cor. 4:3-4
In Ephesians 6:10-12 the Bible says ¡§Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].¡¨ The word wrestle means to fight, and we are not fighting flesh and blood but spiritual things; therefore, we are in spiritual warfare. Therefore to have eternal life we must fight against these spiritual enemies. We must lay hold on eternal life.
Continuing to Hold On: Romans 8:35-39 says ¡§Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.¡¨ 1st Timothy 6:7 ¡§For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.¡¨ 1st Timothy 6:11-12 ¡§But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Reward of those that Gain Eternal Life: We shall forever be with the Lord. However let¡¦s look at Revelation 21: 1-27 ¡§1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life¡¨ those that have claimed their possession and have laid hold onto eternal life.
SUMMARY: Eternal life is the rightful possession of every person that will hear the word of God and believe that He is and He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. It was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world that man would have eternal life. However our adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour was constantly fighting and took that possession from them. If we would hear the Word of God and believe then we shall have eternal life, but it is not going to easy. It is the desire of the devil that we should not gain eternal life, but spend eternity separated from God; therefore we are in a spiritual battle. In order to be victorious in this spiritual battle we must put on the whole armour of God, fight the good fight of faith, go back to the enemies camp and take back what he has stolen from us and claiming our rightful possession, and lay hold of eternal life.
As a good soldier we must not be entangled with this world, but hold on to God¡¦s unchanging hand. We cannot let anything separate us from the love of Christ. We must follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, meekness, and patience. We must avoid perverse disputings with men of corrupt minds. We must be transformed by the renewing of our mind for our carnal mind is enmity against God.
Once we realize that we are more then conquerors and this mortal body has put on immortality and this corruption has put on incorruption, then we will have completed the process of claiming our possession of eternal life. We will have had our names written in the Lamb¡¦s book of life, we will forever be with the Lord, and we shall be able to walk on streets of gold.
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr
Assistant Pastor
Original Glorious Church
Boanerge Ministries
