The word heritage means inheritance, birthright, legacy and an allotted portion. Spiritual heritage in the context of today's discussion is a believer's allotted portion or inheritance by reason of the work Christ Jesus accomplished for him/her on Calvary. God's children have a spiritual heritage as clearly depicted in Isaiah 54:17. The tragedy facing many believers today is that they are not aware of their spiritual heritage, or worse still, familiarity with our spiritual heritage has made us to embrace religion and yet deny its power (2nd Timothy 3:5). Consequently, many of us are living defeated Christian lives contrary to God's purpose for our lives.God's purpose for mankind in Genesis 1:28 was fruitfulness, increase/ multiplication and influence. Made in the image of God, man was destined to subdue the earth and rule over every living creature. However, sin corrupted mankind and separated man from his source- God. Notwithstanding, God's love kept reaching out to man and at the appointed time, God gave His Only Begotten Son to be the sacrificial lamb that would pay the ultimate price for our sin. By reason of what Christ did at Calvary, we were made a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1st Peter 2:9). We are children of the Most High God and we need to walk in that power that is available to us and in us, for our daily living. As 2nd Peter 1:3 states "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness!"
Our spiritual heritage as believers includes the following:
The Word of God
Thinking about it, we often spend much time reading varied literature: newspapers, magazines, catching up with news online, inspirational books etc. In 2017, may God help us to immerse ourselves in reading and meditation of God's Word. Any believer who desires to live a victorious Christian life must maintain the discipline of bible study. This was God's counsel to Joshua: Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).
God's Word is life (John 1:4a). It brings to life dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14). In 2017, continually meditate on God's Word and out of the abundance of your heart, may you speak that Word into your situations. God's Word is able to bring physical healing to your ailing body; it is able to cause fertility where there is barrenness; it is able to bring healing and restoration to your struggling marriage; it is able to break all the shackles of sin that hold you in bondage; it is able to resurrect the seemingly dead areas of your life! I challenge you in the name of Jesus to continually speak God's Word to your dry bones in year 2017. Choose to proclaim the truth of God's Word over your situation rather than wining and murmuring.
The Word of God is a great spiritual weapon as depicted in Revelation 19:11-16. In that portion of scripture, The Word of God is also called Faithful and True and His description is that of the Messiah: eyes like blazing fire; head with many crowns; a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself; dressed in robe dipped in blood. Something profound is mentioned in this scripture: "The armies of heaven were following him [The Word of God]...out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations." When we speak God's Word to our situations, the armies of heaven follow that word and wage war for the fulfillment of God's purposes.
God's Word is light unto men (John 1:4b). God's Word brings insight, foresight and wisdom where there is none! In 2017, you need not stumble in darkness for God's Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path (Psalms 119:105). As you meditate on His Word, God will order your footsteps, for He delights to do so for the righteous. As God's Word unfolds during your quiet time with Him, His light will permeate your inner being and give understanding.
God's Word sustains. Hebrews 1:3 states that Jesus Christ sustains all things by His powerful word. In a tumultuous and turbulent time, God's word will preserve His children. We shall not live in fear of the arrow that flies by day nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness for God's Word will sustain us and our families. We live at a time when pain, suffering, anxiety, wars are at an unprecedented high. Believers today are faced with the danger of living a life of worry, unbelief and defeat. However, we need not fear. God's promises over our lives will sustain us. In year 2017, I pray that when faced with pain, danger or suffering, that we will confess as David did: My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life (Psalms 119:50).
The Holy Spirit
Christ left us a helper (John 14:16), the blessed Holy Spirit. A believer without the Holy Spirit is a powerless Christian. Such a believer not only lacks power over sin but also lacks the power to fulfill the great commission. God never intended that we go through life in our own power and might; He understood our frailty and limitations and thus left us the gift of the Father. That is why with much emphasis, Christ instructed the disciples not to leave Jerusalem before receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). In 2017, I pray that you will deeply hunger for the Holy Spirit and desire for His infilling.
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is both an instant and continuous event. If you are not baptised in the Holy Spirit, you need to ask the Lord for His gift in prayer. Many of us do not receive because we do not ask. God is eager to release His gift of the Holy Spirit to you and He only awaits for you to ask. If we who are human beings know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will the Lord give us the blessed Holy Spirit when we ask (Luke 11:11-13)? The starting point for you being baptised in the Holy Spirit is desiring Him. Secondly, you need to ask in prayer. Thirdly, wait upon God in expectation for He is faithful to do that which He promised. As for those who are already filled with the Holy Spirit, we need to continually desire for a fresh infilling. May our cups overflow with His Spirit, for only through Him are we able to minister to others. Many of us are guilty as charged for quenching the Spirit in the past. I pray that in 2017, we will thirst after Him as a deer pants for streams of water (Psalms 42:1).
The Holy Spirit is your Counsellor & Teacher (John 14:26), Comforter (John 16:7), Enabler (Acts 1:8), Guide (Romans 8:14), Intercessor (Romans 8:26), Enlightenment (John 16:13), Seal of God's Ownership and Guarantor of our inheritance (2nd Corinthians 1:22). In 2017, I pray that we will walk in step with the Holy Spirit. God's presence with us is enough, for it is His presence that distinguishes believers from non-believers! In year 2017, may God saturate our hearts, minds, soul and spirit with His Holy Spirit.
The Name of Jesus
Acts 4:12 states, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." The Name of Jesus is our salvation from all attacks of the enemy. Philippians 2:9-11 states, "God has highly exalted him (Jesus Christ) and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
All attacks of the devil (diseases, political unrest, calamities), kingdoms, principalities, rulers and spiritual hosts of wickedness bow down at the Name of Jesus! That Name has power to free us from curses and bondages, destroy the works of the kingdom of darkness and deliver us from harm. In 2017, may all works of the kingdom of darkness be subject to us in the Name of Jesus (Luke 10:17). As we stretch out our hands to pray for the sick, may they be healed; as we share the gospel, may signs and wonders be performed through the name of Jesus (Acts 4:30).
The name of the Lord is a strong tower that the righteous run to and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). In Jesus Name, may we find rest and shelter in the Most High God in year 2017. May we find rest in His Shadow and under His wings find refuge, that we may testify of Him, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust" (Psalms 91:2).
The Blood of Jesus
Revelation 12:11 states, "They [believers] overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony...." The blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for remission of our sin speaks of better things than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). It speaks mercy and forgiveness of sins. The blood of Jesus upon our lives has made us the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2nd Corinthians 5:21).
When God looks at us, He sees His blood! Through the blood of Jesus we have obtained eternal redemption and our conscience have been cleansed from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:12-14). Through the blood of Jesus, we are saved from eternal condemnation! His blood has washed our robes and made them white, in readiness for the Groom (Jesus Christ). In 2017, when we soil our garments in sin, we need to immediately repent and plead the blood of Jesus upon our lives. His blood cleanses our sins to the uttermost and we need not live under the burden of guilt and condemnation. Our justification is by the blood of Jesus.
I wish you a victorious and prosperous 2017!
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