Few of us are privileged enough to inherit millions. Even
so, those who do must wait to tap into their inheritance. That is not so with
the believer. We receive a portion—or “down payment”—of what eternally awaits
us when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse by His death, paid
our debt and has called us to an eternal inheritance. We read in Hebrews 9:15,
“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those
who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (emphasis added).
As heirs of God, you now have access to the benefits of an
inheritance that can never be exhausted! It is forever unlimited. Everything in
the natural on Earth will end at death, but your benefits in the inheritance
roll into your eternal domain with you! You have access to God’s wisdom
(Ecclesiastes 7:11). God becomes your portion. Your inheritance is God Himself!
(Psalm 16:5)
The New Testament gives the same promise of revelation knowledge! You have inside
access to God’s wisdom. Wisdom, in Scripture, is knowing what to do!
Notice that this inheritance comes with the Holy Spirit. It
is guaranteed, and it releases revelation knowledge and the spirit of wisdom.
This opens your spiritual eyes to see all that God has for you. Look closely at
God’s management of your life. There are seven gifts of God’s wisdom and five
promises of your inheritance in Him. These seven gifts are listed here.
The Seven Gifts of God’s Wisdom
- God
orders your steps (Ps. 37:23). - God gives
good things (Ps. 16:6). - God
gives counsel through dreams and visions (Ps. 16:7). - We
have an awareness of His continual presence (Ps. 16:8). - There’s
removal of fleshly anxiety (Ps. 16:9). - We
have clear direction for the abundant life (Ps. 16:10-11). God brings us
out of that which kills, separates, and destroys. - He
fills us with joy and pleasure (Ps. 16:11).
In Psalm 37, David instructs us on the fivefold benefit of
our inheritance. First is a lifetime guarantee as seen in Psalm 37:18: “The
Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance is forever.”
Second is a life of fullness at all times: “They shall not
be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied”
(Ps. 37:19).
Third is generous prosperity. It is clear that those who are
heirs of God understand the power of giving and will receive financial
prosperity (see Ps. 37:20).
Next is recovery from failure (Ps. 37:23-24), and last is a
lasting legacy (Ps. 37:25).
Is there a protocol to receiving your inheritance? The
answer is yes. Above all else, you must be positioned to receive and enjoy these benefits and promises. You
must be in the kingdom. You enter
the kingdom by being saved (Acts 26:17-18). Salvation delivers you from Satan’s
power, forgives your sin, and offers the full potential of your inheritance.
You must love the church. Acts 26:18 talks about “an
inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith” which is the church. You
must receive the sealing, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, “…having believed,
you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our
inheritance.” (Eph 1:12-14)
You must have faith in the supernatural realm of God. The
inheritance that is now yours can only be activated by faith! It’s easy to hear
all these things and get all excited, but we must remember as in every covenant
relationship, there are two sides to the equation: promises and conditions.
We’ve seen some of the promises, so what are the conditions?
First, you should act like an heir in every circumstance (Col. 3:22-25). Next,
live a transformed lifestyle (Gal. 5:19-25). Then live an overcoming life (Rom.
12:21). It’s also important to support Israel (Gen. 12:3) and never let wealth
diminish your relationship with God (Luke 18:18-23). Lastly, control your
attitude toward others (1 Peter 3:9-12).
If we do these things we “inherit a blessing” and will “love
life and see good days.”
Adapted from An Essential Guide to Baptism in the Holy
Spirit: Foundations on the Holy Spirit,
published by Charisma House, copyright 2011. As a Spirit-filled Southern
Baptist pastor, Ron Phillips brings a welcome balance to this topic and
biblically demonstrates how the Holy Spirit can help us preach the gospel, cast
out devils, heal the sick and expand God’s kingdom. To order a copy click here.
PRAYER POWER WEEK OF 8-8-2011
This week tap into
your inheritance by asking God for His “promise” of the baptism in the Holy
Spirit so that you can experience Him more fully and be empowered to do the
work of the ministry. Continue to pray for revival and ask God to pour out a
spirit of repentance and intercession upon His people so that He may heal our
land. Ask for a great harvest of souls to expand His kingdom. Continue to pray
that our nation would once again lead in righteous ways. Remember the
persecuted church, Israel and our military. Eph. 1:12-14; 2 Chron. 7:14.
To enrich your prayer
life and learn how to strategically pray with power by using appropriate
scriptures, we recommend the following sources by Apostle John Eckhardt: Prayers that Rout Demons, Prayers that Bring Healing, Prayers that Release Heaven on Earth and Prayers that Break
Curses. To order any or all of these click here.
