Inheritance

Sermon for 3/8/2009

Inheritance from Ephesians 1:7-12

Introduction:

A. After weeks of getting the cold shoulder from his wife, an unhappy husband finally confronted her. "Admit it The only reason you married me is because my grandfather left me $10 million." "Don’t be ridiculous!" she yelled. "I don’t care who left it to you."

B. It is amazing what an inheritance can do to a person. You might even be like the guy who met with his friend 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!"

WBTU:

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. We talked about this briefly last week. I want to spend more time on it this week.

This is The kind of inheritance that will not leave us near tears but dancing and rejoicing every day of our lives as we begin to understand all God has in store for us.

Thesis: This morning we are going to talk about our inheritance, God’s inheritance and how we can be an heir to the inheritance.

For instances:

I. Our inheritance

A. Vs. 11 in the New International Version really doesn’t do justice to all that this verse is saying. From the Amplified Version of vs. 11 it says, “In Him we also were made God’s heritage and portion, and we obtained an inheritance, for we had been foreordained (meaning chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will.

B. Our inheritance is in heaven. (1 Pet 1:4 NIV) and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you

C. (Rev 21:4 NIV) He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

1. Wipe every tear- No tears? Not even tears of joy? Can we imagine tears flooding our eyes when we meet Christ or reunited with love ones? I can. These are the tears of suffering over sin and death, the tears of oppressed people, the cries of the poor, the widow, the orphaned, the unborn, and the persecuted.

2. No more death- The promise of no more death is a promise of no more sin. Sin causes mourning, crying, and pain. Any sorrows that plague us now will disappear on the New Earth as surely as darkness disappears when the light is turned on. No graves on the hillsides of glory.

D. (Rev 22:3 NIV) No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

1. No more curse- The curse came about because of Adam and Eve’s sin. The earth is cursed because our work is painful toil. The earth yields thorns and thistles. One day we will returned to the cursed ground from which we were taken. In heaven, work (heaven will not be boring) will be satisfying. In heaven, our work will not produce thorns and thistles. (Every job has some drawback, this will not be the case in heaven).

2. Servants will serve him. Serve is a verb. Servants are people who are active and occupied, carrying out tasks. We are not just hanging around playing harps. Work in heaven won’t be frustrating or fruitless; instead, it will involve lasting accomplishment, unhindered by decay and fatigue, enhanced by unlimited resources.

C. I haven’t been to heaven, but it is far beyond what I have just described. (1 Cor 2:9 NIV) "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—

F. Sandi Patti- So, I’m waiting for another time and another place Where all my hope and dreams will be captured with one look at Jesus’ face Oh, my heart’s been burnin’, my soul keeps yearnin’ Sometimes I can’t hardly wait for that sweet, sweet someday When I’ll be swept away To another time and another place

II. God’s inheritance

A. From the Amplified Version of vs. 11 it says, “In Him we also were made God’s heritage or portion, and we obtained an inheritance, for we had been foreordained (meaning chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will.