The Gift To Believers Series

The Gift to Believers

Ephesians 1:11-14

After weeks of getting the cold shoulder from his wife, an unhappy husband finally confronted her.

"Admit it, Linda," he said, "The only reason you married me is because my grandfather left me $10 million."

"Don’t be ridiculous!" she shot back. "I don’t care who left it to you."

It is amazing what an inheritance can do to a person. You might even be like the guy who met with his friend looking forlorn, and almost on the verge of tears. His friend said, "Hey, how come you look like the whole world caved in?"

The sad fellow said, "Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, an uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars."

"That’s not bad."

"Hold on, I’m just getting started. Two weeks ago, a cousin I never knew kicked the bucket, and left me eighty-five thousand free and clear."

"Sounds like you should be grateful."

"Last week my great aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million."

"Then how come you look so glum?"

"This week . . . nothing!"

I want to talk about inheritances today, not the kind a grandfather, aunt, uncle or some forgotten relative might leave in their will, but the inheritance God has given which is described in the Scripture for believers. The kind of inheritance that will not leave you near tears but dancing and rejoicing every day of your life as you begin to understand all God has in store for you.

I have one main point today and several sun points to help us focus on what God has given. The main point is this…

I. As a Believer, I have a God given inheritance. You might not be listed as a beneficiary in someone else’s will, your parents or grandparents might not have left you anything but listen to me today, God has given you an inheritance far greater than anything else you might ever receive, far greater than the inheritance someone like Bill Gates may will to his children, and you don’t have to wait until someone dies to access it, it is yours right now if you call Jesus your Lord and guide. He has already died so you can receive fully all that is intended for you, and fortunately he lives to show us how to use it to its fullest.

In Ephesians 1:11 Paul writes, also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

Peter said in 1 Peter 1”3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

We have an inheritance which can never perish which is kept in heaven and as we continue to unfold the Scriptures we will find we have an inheritance at our disposal today which is used to shape our lives, to move into the vastness of the blessing or to squander it like the prodigal son allowing what could be to become what could have been.

There are some things that the inheritance does for us. First, our inheritance gives us a…

a. Destination.

Verse 11 says we have been predestined. Here is where things can get a little hairy depending if Armenism sways you or Calvinism. The Calvinists, and I am only lightly touching on this, believe that only those who have been predestined by God will be saved therefore there are some people who were born and not predestined so they will never have entrance to heaven no matter, and if they profess Christ, they were the ones predestined, and all those predestined, before they die, will accept Jesus Christ. It sure makes the work of evangelism easy however John 3:16-17 states, 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. The world is all-inclusive in the original language of all people. God predestined the entire world toward heaven but some people, even with the option open, chose regrettably to walk another path.

D.L. Moody use to pray, “Lord, save the elect---then elect some more.”

The ultimate destination God has for you is heaven and during your time on earth, there is a destination he has planned for you to walk which will optimize you life bringing blessing not only on yourself but on the world around you. Paul tells us in this passage not only do we have a destination, we also have a…