Legal and Actual Possession

God has given Christians many things to possess: their own spirit, soul, and body, the nations, the earth, the heavens, all of God's creation. All things belong to those who are coheirs with Christ. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things" (Revelation 21:7).

God has given all things to us legally through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. In actuality, however, many of the good parts of our inheritance are still occupied by a hierarchy of wicked spirits. The only answer to the illegal occupying presence of wicked spirits is war—Spirit-led, determined, consistent, never-say-die war!

How else can one take possession of an occupied territory?

There can be a difference between the legal and the actual possession of something. In most instances we actually possess the things we own legally—our car, our house, our clothes. But when the car is stolen or the house burns to the ground or the clothes are lost, we can see at once that there may be a difference between legal and actual possession.

We still own the car but someone else is driving it. We still own the house but it is a blackened ruin. We still own the hat but we left it somewhere and it no longer can keep our head warm. When someone steals our car we still own it but we no longer possess it. We cannot drive the certificate of title to work.

The state government may authorize the funds to provide a college education for every citizen of the state. The state "gives" each young person and adult a college education, so to speak. But the state does not give him or her a diploma. The person must go to school before he can claim to be a college graduate.

The King of England granted certain rights of settlement to pioneers in what is now New England. The king gave them a charter but the settlers had to set forth and possess the rocky and forested land by years of backbreaking labor. They encountered severe hardships and fierce opposition while making their homes in the New World.

The difference between the legal and the actual possession of a place or thing is an important distinction and must be understood by anyone who wishes to make a success of the overcoming Christian life.

God has given us all things by Christ. Do we possess all things?

Christ died for the sins of all men. Do all men have their sins forgiven?

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:2)

Through the lashes laid on Jesus all of us were healed from every sickness. Have all been healed?

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (Psalms 103:3)

The Holy Spirit is ready to enter the dead spirit of every person. Does everyone have the Spirit of life from God?

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)

To be continued.