Possess ye your souls

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings All,

Please read the following "in context":

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

What scriptural application does this have for us today? Are there any examples of this given in scripture?

Thanks and God Bless,

Dad Ernie

[Ovedya]

In context the Lord is speaking about the persecution the saints will suffer at the hands of the nations (v. 10), and even by our families and friends (v. 16).

Therefore, in verse 19 the lord tells us that through our persecution we will posess or acquire, keep intact) our souls. Cross references: Rom. 5:3; Heb. 10:36; James 1:3.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings God-man,

Thank you for your response. Though the verses you provided were good, they pointed out the need of "patience" during tribulation or hardship. Do you think this is what was meant by "possessing one's own soul"? Did Adam "possess his soul"? Did Joseph? Abraham? David or Solomon? Jesus? Peter? Paul?

Now "soul" to me is one part of our tri-partite nature:

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The "soul" is what was created by God when He breathed upon Adam. The "soul" is that part of us that is concerned with the needs and desires of the body, as contrasted with the "spirit" which may either be subject to the "soul", OR in fact was given to us to put the "soul" into subjection to itself. AND the "spirit" is the one that has the ability to reach outside itself and the limitations of the body/soul to even "touch God", and of course, others. The "soulic" person is carnal, earthly, and has never grown past the stage of babyhood in that it ONLY wants for itself, never reaching out past itself.

So I am leaning toward the idea that our "spirit" needs bring the "soul" under subjection under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I think Jesus did this when He said: "Yet not my will, but thine be done."

Your thoughts?

Thanks again and Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[whatsitmean]

Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Rev 21:8 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.

Ecc 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

First death is separtaion of body and soul, is the second death separation of soul and spirit?

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings whatsitmean,

First death is separtaion of body and soul, is the second death separation of soul and spirit?

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

I had never thought of it in that way, perhaps the Lord will enlighten us further.

Thanks and Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[rockswillcryout]

The "soul" is what was created by God when He breathed upon Adam. The "soul" is that part of us that is concerned with the needs and desires of the body, as contrasted with the "spirit" which may either be subject to the "soul", OR in fact was given to us to put the "soul" into subjection to itself. AND the "spirit" is the one that has the ability to reach outside itself and the limitations of the body/soul to even "touch God", and of course, others. The "soulic" person is carnal, earthly, and has never grown past the stage of babyhood in that it ONLY wants for itself, never reaching out past itself.

So I am leaning toward the idea that our "spirit" needs bring the "soul" under subjection under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I think Jesus did this when He said: "Yet not my will, but thine be done."

Your thoughts?

Thanks again and Blessings,

Dad Ernie

I think your discinctions here are very made well, dad ernie. When I read your post, my conclusion came to close to the same as your - that our spirit, the part of us that connects with God - absolutely keep our soul under it's control.

In essence, if our spirit is in step with God, our bodies will be also.

Then I looked a little depper into the meaning of each of those words.

"Patience" I think of Job. (Doesn't everyone?) Despite the tremendous hardships, he remained faithful. Satan has his was with Job's life and not once did Job curse God. That's endurance.

"Posses" Complete ownership of. Maybe win? or gain? (several other translations I looked out suggest those words) but the KJV, and the NKJV use posses, which is acutally more poetic to me.

"Souls" a more broad view of what you said - our physical body (the earthly, carnal part)

The passage in context is Jesus speaking of the end times. Perhaps he is speaking of those who will have to endure so much hardship under the rule of the antichrist. And his promise is that if they remain faithful in God - satan will not own our souls - God will.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Rockswillcryout,

The passage in context is Jesus speaking of the end times. Perhaps he is speaking of those who will have to endure so much hardship under the rule of the antichrist. And his promise is that if they remain faithful in God - satan will not own our souls - God will.

Thank you. I see a terrible time of persecution coming for ALL Christians and we are going to need every bit of the Armor of God if we are to stand. Even today many are being swayed away from sound doctrine and becoming more "ecumenical" in their acceptance of homosexuality, abortion, euthenasia, pornography and even outright denial of the efficacy of Christ's blood. I frequent a few other forums and I see so much heresy today, I am just dumbfounded. Everyone thinks they have the truth, but they twist the scriptures so badly you can't even recognize them.

It is only going to get worse. But I know that God is going to seal HIS upon their foreheads BEFORE the enemy is fully released to wage war against the Saints, so there is still time to pull some from the fire.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie