“Inheritance”
CD#91
Q. Define the word or term inheritance?
A. Inheritance is the act of inheriting.
Q. With that being said then define to inherit?
A, To inherit is to transfer property to an heir.
We’re going to look at that very subject today “Inheritance”. Regardless of who you are, where you reside, how much or how little income you earn you will have an eternal inheritance. Your eternal inheritance will be according to your birthright! One key thing to note and to remember is somebody had to die for you to gain your inheritance.
It is built into the human minds to be independent and to want to make it on our own, in our way. In finding the way to accomplish our own way we sometimes lose sight of the big picture. Over a period of time we fall into a tunnel vision syndrome.
There are so many different things we want and things we desire to accomplish. This little study will hopefully remind us to see the big picture and inherit all good things! We know from Revelation 21:
- Revelation 21:1-2 says “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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Q. Why a new heaven and a new earth?
A. Because the old heaven and earth have been touched or tainted by sin. Let’s understand this word new from the original text. New was translated from the Greek word ” kainos” meaning new especially in freshness. The things created by God Almighty are good only His creation can taint them. This new is fresh by rejuvenation. Only the righteous will dwell permanently in this new heaven and new earth (see 2 Peter 3:13). Hold this thought in your mind as we work our way to Psalms 37:11 and the word inherit.
This new city is Jerusalem. Fully translated instead of only transliterated Jerusalem means, “founded peaceful” or founded on peace! Jesus Christ the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6) is the foundation meaning what this new city, new earth; new heaven is founded upon! This is why we must be taught His Word and become founded upon His sayings (Matthew 7:24-27 so we can do verse 21) so we can partake of this inheritance. Turn to the great book of Psalms please:
- Psalms 37:11 says, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
Meek was translated from the Hebrew word “’anav” meaning depressed in mind (gentle) or circumstances especially saintly, you could say even mild mannered. The mild mannered shall inherit the earth. Inherit was translated from the Greek word “yarash” meaning to occupy by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place. There will be an abundance of peace because everyone like the city will be founded upon the Prince of Peace the Lord Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone. The previous tenants that are not gentle and mild mannered will be driven out to a different inheritance. Let’s cover the thought in the New Testament, God’s Word is so complete.
- Matthew 5:5 says, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Here is our second witness from God’s Word about those who will be in the new earth. Hold that meekness in your mind:
- James 2:5 says, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”
Those who will inherit that new city are poor according to the things or the attitudes of this present day world. They have faith in abundance to store their riches on the other side not here:
- Matthew 6:19-20 says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”
- Matthew 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Heirs of that eternal kingdom founded upon peace have the richness of faith to store true riches along with their heart with the Lord! Now let’s turn our attention to those who are working to inherit the earth positively and negatively. Negatively first, turn to the 21st chapter of this Gospel please:
- Matthew 21:33 says “Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:”
Don’t you love how Christ teaches from nature to better help us understand the spiritual! The householder is God Almighty the vineyard is Israel. God even provided a Tower by which in advance they would know when danger was approaching. The husbandmen are those who were to help the vineyard produce fruit.
- Matthew 21:34 says, “And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.”
- Matthew 21:35 says, “And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.”
Those who we’re to help the vineyard to produce fruit had fallen into that tunnel vision we were speaking of earlier. They had lost thought of which they were as only tenants and the householder was God Almighty the Creator!
- Matthew 21:36 says, “Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.”
- Matthew 21:37 says, “But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.”
They did not reverence the Son, will you today? The Lord loves us His children and He has sent us teachers, preachers and even mentors to show us the right way. Now we even have His Son to talk with, to listen to by the Holy Spirit!
- Matthew 21:38 says, “But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.”
Here is why we came here to look at mankind trying to make his own inheritance. Remember the Son is an heir to everything the householder (God Almighty) owns.
- Matthew 21:39 says, “And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.”
- Matthew 21:40 says, “When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?”
- Matthew 21:41 says, “They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”
Let’s look at this cast him out from verse 39 for just a second. Hold your place here and turn to the great book of Hebrews please and let’s learn instruction of the way to inherit that new city.
- Hebrews 13:12 says, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”
Christ suffered and shed His Blood so we might be worthy of an inheritance. He shed His Blood so we could be made clean through and through. Those who would make there own way made God’s plan for the mild mannered to have His inheritance. In other words by them killing Christ we can now come under His Blood and into His inheritance.
- Hebrews 13:13 says, “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”
This is referring to the Old Testament, this is why we can’t leave off part of God’s Word or we’ll be lacking in the instruction He has provided for us His children! In your home study time look at Exodus chapters 32 & 33 at where the children made the golden calf. Once again they we’re trying to make their own inheritance. Let’s cover just the one verse that ties in with Hebrews 13:13 from those chapters:
- Exodus 33:7 says, “And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.”
You and I cannot seek the Lord, follow Him and His instructions for inheritance and live like everyone else! We must come out from among the world and be separate. When we do this we will bear His reproach as in Hebrews 13:13 because the world will persecute you! In Old Testament times to be outside the gate or camp meant you we’re unclean, today it’s right the opposite. The world will treat you and I as those was treated in the Old Testament times because we’re outside the camp, not following their ways. We’re not looking to this present day but to that new city founded on peace:
- Hebrews 13:14 says, “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”
“Continuing” was translated from the Greek word “meno” meaning to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy, abide. This is the same Greek word used in John chapters 14 & 15 often referred to mansion, abode, or abide. Those who will inherit that city founded upon peace will be those who are seeking it positively not negatively!
Q. How do we seek the New Jerusalem?
A. Let’s cover the following verses here in Hebrews and gain instruction:
- Hebrews 13:15 says, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Because of the Son and His life giving Blood we don’t have to make our own way. With that knowledge at all times praise should be spilling forth from our lives! It’s hard to be depressed when your praising God, it’s hard to be mad, it’s hard to sin when we keep our minds on God Almighty! Praise is for our good it’s not because God’s on an ego trip! Praise is the first step now let’s move to the next:
- Hebrews 13:16 says, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
To do something requires action on our part. We’re to work good in our lives and to communicate. “Communicate” was translated from the Greek word “koinonia” meaning partnership, to be a sharer from the prim. God Almighty has given us “everything” and we’re His stewards good or bad. From Psalms 50:10-12 we see that God owns everything! When we “share” like He has shared with us we are showing forth His nature and that please Him. The #1 sacrifice God Almighty wants now is your love, for obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). When we love Him we keep His commandments (John 14:15) and everything else will fall into place.
Now the next step of gaining the inheritance positively:
- Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
Rule was translated from the Greek word “hegeomai” meaning to lead. You have heard that old adage: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. If we’re where God wants us, has planted us then we must yield our will and follow. We don’t want that tunnel vision but rather to be able to see the big picture.
When we follow our leader that God has given us it makes it so much easier on God’s representative. Instead of grief they can be full of cheer. Imagine how hard it is when you know what’s best for your child and the child rebels and doesn’t listen. You are full of worry for them. It’s the same with God’s representative because they know what God is trying to do but we will not yield.
We must submit, yield and then pray for our leaders, for God’s representative:
- Hebrews 13:18 says, “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”
- Hebrews 13:19 says, “But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.”
God has shown concern for us, Jesus Christ has prayed for you, for me (John 17:20) and we’re begotten of Him kind after kind. When we pray and submit to those God has placed over us we gain the full inheritance.
Those leaders have many struggles just as you. They fight the flesh; they fight Satan and his lies. Our prayers hold them up and keep the going on for the Lord. Leaders usually fall by two tricks of Satan, #1 being depression and #2 being pride. Pray they don’t fall because they think that they are a failure and pray that with success that pride doesn’t fill their heart. If we do these look what happens to us:
- Hebrews 13:20 says, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”
- Hebrews 13:21 says, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
God of peace, that’s why Jerusalem is found on peace that we’re looking to inherit. Perfect was translated from the Greek word “katartizo” meaning to complete thoroughly. God will never ask us to do something without firstly equipping us to succeed at the task! This is why we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13)! We provide the action and He provides the strength to accomplish! Say Amen over and over in your mind meaning what God says is the way it is not our flesh and definitely not the father of lies Satan. Remember God Almighty your Father in Heaven can do whatever needs to be done for His plan, His will to come to pass. Satan is defeated meaning past tense, believe that and by the Lord’s strength keep him under your feet and behind you!
Speaking of going outside to inherit what God Almighty has for us let’s look at where by faith Abraham went for and inheritance. If you and I are going have an eternal inheritance in the city then we’re going to have to leave our present world (spiritually speaking).
- Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”
This is the richness of faith that loves God Almighty more than anything else we looked at in the great book of James earlier. Abraham left everything he had known and understood and then he received an inheritance. You and I must step out on faith and go where the Lord will have us to spiritually and then comes our inheritance!
- Hebrews 11:9 says, “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:”
Dwelling was translated from the Greek word “katoikeo” meaning to house permanently. Where? In tabernacles, this makes one think of the Tabernacle of the congregation we covered in Exodus 33:7 about those seeking the Lord! He took God for His Word and stored his riches with God Almighty instead of here. Look at the heirs your associated with each and everyday, good or bad they will have an effect upon your life (1 Cor. 15:33).
- Hebrews 11:10 says, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
We can say we are looking for the eternity but does our actions back that statement up like Abraham’s? Only righteousness will dwell in this new city, remember 2 Peter 3:13 we read earlier.
- Hebrews 11:11 says, “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”
Ever wonder what God Almighty has for you, for us if we’d only allow Him to work by faith? You and I are the vessel and God is the strength to create all things but our faith is the key.
- Hebrews 11:12 says, “Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”
Therefore means that by their faith, God can do all things but it takes our faith. See what’s possible when we have just the faith of the mustard seed (Luke 17:6). A lot of people only look at the size of that mustard seed but that’s not the key. The key is that even though that mustard seed is so very small it can not be divided. Man takes a lot of seeds and mixes them and makes hybrids it is impossible to do this with a mustard seed! Is you faith solid even though small or can Satan penetrate it and mix it with doubt?
The Lord Jesus Christ came through this lineage by faith. By faith look at all of the lives that have been touched positively because of Christ coming through them. Will you today let Christ come through you to have a positive effect on everyone in your world?
- Hebrews 11:13 says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
When we are rich in faith we will die out to the flesh and look for the promise of eternal life with the Lord in that new city. By your actions everyone can see if your making your permanent home here or if you’re a pilgrim passing through!
- Hebrews 11:14 says, “For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.”
Declare was translated from the Greek word “emphanizo” meaning to exhibit in person or disclose by words! Country was translated from the Greek word “patris” meaning a fatherland, the father. Each day of our lives we show with our actions and with our words what we are seeking, where we are laying our treasure.
- Hebrews 11:15 says, “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.”
These folks are no different than you and me, if they had so chosen they could have turned back. They we not hedged in, they had a choice just as we do today. Mindful was translated from the Greek word “mnemoneuo” meaning to exercise memory. We must be careful not to mediate on what the Lord has brought us from or we could get drawn back. Let’s learn from the Word so we can be successful.
- Hebrews 11:16 says, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
It takes effort on our part just as it took effort on their part. Desire was translated from the Greek word “oregomai” meaning to stretch oneself. Remember in the first day of gym class after a long hot summer. We had to stretch our muscles and get them back into shape. It hurt and we became sore but it was for our good and we became stronger because of it. After everything God has done for us let’s don’t bring shame and reproach upon our God who is the builder of that new city. Look at how Abraham stretched himself in the next verse:
- Hebrews 11:17 says, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.”
Abraham had waited 25 years for Isaac but he believed God and he knew God’s plan and a dead Isaac would not bring God’s plan to pass. God has a plan for you today do you believe Him or your circumstance?
- Hebrews 11:18 says, “Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:”
- Hebrews 11:19 says, “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
Lord help us to die figuratively speaking so You can raise us up from the dead to live for You! If we can have the faith to die off to this world then God can raise us up to work in His harvest field and fulfill the Great Commission! Remember we started this study in Revelation 21; let’s end there:
- Revelation 21:7 says, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
- Revelation 21:8 says, “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.”
We looked at the positive inheritance and the negative inheritance, it’s my decision as to which one I’ll inherit. To inherit everything God’s way all we must do is overcome. God Almighty has even made the overcoming into an easy formula:
- Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Jesus Christ shed His life’s Blood and in that Blood is all power to give cleansing, power and victory. Accept that Blood, testifies it and realize your life has been bought with the price of Christ’s life and you’re an overcomer! You’re an overcomer ready to “inherit” all things from your Father God Almighty!
This has been a study to help us see God’s way is the only way to inherit an eternal blessing of that new city. We can’t make our own way, our own way leads to death even though they seem so right (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25). Let’s by faith accept what He has for us and make a difference in someone else’s life. If we can help you please contact us we’re here to minister to you God’s child.
GAP Ministries
“REMEMBER GOD’S WORD WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!”
11/26/01 8:41:03 PM