Don't Miss Out on Your Inheritance! By Tom Shanklin

"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:7, KJV.

Today I'd like to encourage you concerning your inheritance as a child of God.

The most important decision you can make is to receive Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. It's not getting religion, joining a church, being baptized, or going through confirmation. It's a heartfelt decision to repent of sin and accept the sacrifice of the Son of God. He died for you. He was buried. He rose again the third day, ascended in to heaven and He's coming back again to judge the quick and the dead. These are the facts, and today He lives to give you the victory!

Yes, there is victory in Jesus, because He conquered sin, death, and Satan. And He has given you an inheritance which is much greater than any earthly father can provide.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12, KJV. Think of it! When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God gives you the right to become His child. You are adopted into the family of God, with the full rights and privileges of a son.

Now, ladies, don't worry here about God calling you a son. The reason is that he is trying to teach you something about your inheritance. In Bible days, the family inheritance was passed on to the son. So, ladies, God is saying you are a son spiritually. In other words, you have a full inheritance. Besides that, he also calls us the "bride of Christ," so we all just have to "cool it" here and know that God is speaking "spirit talk." In Christ, there is neither male nor female. (Gal 3:28)

As I said, the son received the inheritance. So for every Christian this is a truth to embrace wholeheartedly. "I am a child of God with a full inheritance." "I'm a joint heir with Jesus Christ." (Romans 8:17) So lift your head up, put your shoulders back, breathe in a breath of fresh air and enjoy what is rightfully yours in Christ Jesus.

There are no second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God. The Lord is not looking at some great well-known minister and saying that he is His favorite son. No! "The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." Psalms 145:9, KJV. You are God's "piece of work" so realize that his mercy is over you now.

The only difference between any of us pertains to our capacity to receive His truth, mercy and grace. Notice what it says in Romans: "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17, KJV.

So you see, God has done the giving,. We must do the receiving. We must receive Jesus Christ by faith and the walk in the light of the Word. Realize that God accepts us, based not on what we have done, or what our parents have done, but based on what Jesus has done. That's the Good News. They that RECEIVE that abundance of grace and the GIFT of righteousness are going to REIGN in life.

Now that's an inheritance. You are created to be on top, not on the bottom, over and not under. Even in the trials of life, He will see you through and put you over. It's your inheritance! The devil is defeated and you have the victory.

The scripture says that we are "heirs of God." Through the New Testament, we have gained an inheritance. Jesus has given us his last will and testament through the Word of God, ratified in the blood of Jesus. He forgives our sins, He writes His laws in our hearts, He will be our God, and we will be our people. (Heb. 8:10)

In the natural, it's good to be from a rich family. If my name was Rockefeller you might think I was "some kinda rich." But I tell you, my father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Rockefeller has nothing on me!

As Christian believers, we are adopted into the family of the King of the universe through the covenant which was ratified through Jesus' death. He has brought us into His dynasty and given us authority in His name. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13, KJV.

Let me give you three keys to walking in your full inheritance:

1. Make a total surrender to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, calling upon His name for salvation. It you do this you will receive the witness in your heart that you are a child of God.

2. Study and meditate the New Testament scriptures that talk about who you are, what you have, and what you can do as a Christian believer. You can learn more about your inheritance in the books of John, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Hebrews.

3. Activate your faith by putting it into practice every day. Act like a child of God. Treat people and love people that way that God does. Relate to God in prayer as your heavenly Father. Reverence Him as Almighty God, but realize that you are now in the family of God and you can relate to Him as your daddy. Act like the Word is true and have confidence that your Heavenly Father hears and answers your prayers.

It's now time to ask that you may receive. Begin to claim what is rightfully yours-righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, a life filled with God. God Himself is your inheritance,. All that He is, and all that He has is yours. It's time to walk in your inheritance as a child of God, in spite of whatever is going on in your life. Rejoice! Rejoice! God is on your side!

I am praying for you, that you will receive a great revelation of your inheritance!