We are sanctified only by a blood sacrifice. 1 John 2:2 says, "He [Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." The inheritance is for anyone of any age, race, culture, or nation on earth, but a choice must be made on the part of the individual.

Because of that perfect sacrifice of atonement, Jesus provides a divine inheritance of forgiveness, good health, contentment, peace, protection, and daily supplies for every believer. Such blessings belong to the believer, because they were purchased for them by Christ.

This divine inheritance is given in James 1:17. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." It is the believer’s divine right to enjoy the spiritual, physical, and material blessings God has waiting for them. That inheritance is available through prayer and received by faith.

God’s divine (and awesome) power is accessible to every believer and will work concerning our home, our employment, interaction with friends, and in every other situation where divine control, intervention, or guidance is needed. We should claim all those things because God’s power is in back of every promise. (2 Corinthians 1:20), "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ."

Only God can open our spiritual eyes to see the divine inheritance and the spiritual blessings He has for us. When we are informed of this inheritance, we can then claim those blessings in the name of Jesus. Ephesians 1:11 says, "In [Jesus], we have obtained an inheritance." A divine inheritance is a Bible promise and it belongs to the believer.

This gift is given to us through no merit of our own, but only because Jesus purchased it for us (on the cross). Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, "If you knew the gift of God," (or if you knew of the inheritance that is available), "and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water" (John 4:10).

God is only the Custodian of that divine inheritance, so He will not withhold it (when all conditions are met). It is necessary that we know of our inheritance, so that we claim it in the name of Christ. This inheritance includes peace, good health, strength, temporal supplies, protection, and salvation (which can only be received by grace through an enduring faith in Christ). When a person is born again, the way is open for blessings to be received.

The only truth worth hearing is the full truth from God’s Word. It is the same truth the Apostle Paul gave when he said, "I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God," (Acts 20:27). When a person hears the truth, they can begin to grow spiritually and to be perfected in their faith. To just say you accept Christ as your Savior, but without any commitment to follow Him as your Lord, is of no spiritual value. (Colossians 1:6), "All over the world this gospel has been bearing fruit and growing." There is a beginning and then a continuing to believe, so that our faith matures and grows. "Thirst, like newly-born infants, for pure milk for the soul, (the Apostle says) that by it you may grow up to salvation," (1 Peter 2:1-2).

Before this divine inheritance can be received, a right attitude toward God must be taken, because He is the Administrator of that inheritance. The only way for the Holy Spirit to empower us to see and know of our divine inheritance, is for our life to first be committed to God (without compromise). The believer cannot hand over some of their life (and withhold the rest). It doesn’t work that way.

We may not always understand God’s ways (when we accept Christ), but God has promised and He is always faithful. He will do what is best for us, simply because He loves us. Since God wants to do more than we ask, then it is only right that we give all of our life to Him (which includes our choices, our attitudes, our plans, and everything else).

The first and final decision we must make is, that "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God," is how we are going to conduct our life. God’s will is to be the last Word regarding any choice (or decision) made. We are to be totally committed to do God’s will (no matter what the risk or the pressure). When that commitment is made, the Holy Spirit can work to give us the spiritual light and the ability to claim our promised inheritance.

Many who claim to be Christians have drifted far from true faith and trust in God (unfortunately). What is all too common today is that their trust is on anything and everything but God. Multitudes read the Bible, but not many live by it. The number who actually follow the Word is very few (as Jesus said it would be). And this is especially so if it concerns divine healing or finances. It is the sinful nature (and definitely a sign of the times) that today no one wants to live by faith. Very few, it seems, are willing to take a risk on God concerning healing or money.

People in the Bible allowed God to teach them to be men and women of real faith who would go into a fiery furnace (or a den of lions) before they would disobey God. They were able to do this because God’s Spirit enabled them to do it. They made the decision to give up their life rather than disobey the Word. Jesus verified that that was the Bible standard for a believer. (Luke 14:26), "If anyone comes to me and does not hate...(naming closest relatives)–-even his own life--he cannot be my disciple." We either follow Jesus or follow the world. We are for Him or against Him (Matthew 12:30; Mark 9:40; Luke 9:50).

After explaining about making the decision to trust God and never look back, Jesus said (33), "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." There are many today who profess to be saved, but when it comes to parting with their money or trusting God for healing, they do not follow the Word. There are (unfortunately) many who profess faith in Christ, but if they are asked to give money, will make every excuse imaginable why they don’t have to give (instead of giving to obey the Word).

Not to give a donation (when asked to give) reveals a wrong attitude toward God, because the Word says, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you," (Matthew 5:42). It is just as important to obey God’s Word when someone asks us for something, as it is to obey His Word concerning anything else pertaining to life and faith.

If someone asks us for ten dollars (and we have ten dollars), we are to give it to obey the Word. It is that simple and it is very easy (to give cheerfully) if we love God more than we love money. The most important command (Jesus said) is to, "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself,'" (Matthew 22:37-39).

The world loves their life on earth and their money (with all of their heart, soul, and mind). And (unfortunately) the world’s attitude is to do as little as possible for a neighbor. The way of the Lord is opposite to the way of the world. We are to love God (and His Word) with all our heart and to do for our neighbor (or for anyone who needs help), all that we would do for ourselves. When we think of how we take care of our own interests and how little we care for the interests of others (at times), we can see how easy it is to drift from our walk with Christ.

God’s Word commands that if we have five dollars and someone asks us for five dollars, we are to give it (and not ask what the money will be used for). What they will do with the money is not the issue, it is whether we will part with our money to obey the Word, (that is the issue)! If we love God more than we love money, we gladly give it!

If we loved our neighbor (or anyone), we would help them (if they needed it). Loving others means we are willing to share food, clothing, or anything else with them. Jesus said the teaching of the entire Bible hinged on whether we loved God with all our heart (and whether we loved others as we love ourselves) or not.

God does not want to take our money, but He does want us to love Him more than our money. It is simply a test of our faith in Him. He wants us to eliminate self (that holds on to everything), and He just wants us to be ready for His kingdom. He knows what horrible suffering awaits the unbeliever (in the lake of fire), so He is doing everything possible so that we avoid that fate.

God placed the command in His Book ‘to give when asked to give,’ because He knows that if we will obey His Word on money, then He would be in first place (in our life). He knows that if we love Him supremely, we will be ready to receive the inheritance He has promised every believer. It is not a question of money, because God’s Word says that anything we give up for His sake, we will receive back (many times over).

(Mark 10:29-30), "No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age...(naming the same things)--and with them, persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life." Money is a salvation issue! Eternal life is the inheritance!

God promises to give us all the friends, loved ones, houses, or anything else we could want or need (if we will obey His Word first)! We are promised all those things in return (but obtained in a scriptural way). They should never be obtained by going into debt or being dishonest or greedy, etc.

When someone asks for money we should rejoice and think, ‘This is a privilege to obey God’s Word. He is giving me this opportunity to prove my love for Him and to prove my faith in His promises to supply all my needs, if I will obey His Word, first.’

And when we give (when asked for a donation), we should pray, ‘Dear heavenly Father, I have given this money to obey Your Word, and You have promised to bless anyone who follows Your advice, so I am claiming the divine inheritance You promise to give.’

If we would do that (and truly believe God will bless us), we would receive many times more than we give away, and (most valuable of all) we would be following Christ. Walking with the Savior on the narrow path of faith is definitely more valuable than all the money this world has to offer.

It was no accident that God wrote ‘we are to live by every word He gives.’ As we grow in the faith and learn to trust God each day, we will come to the place where we will gladly obey every command God has given in His (N.T.) Book. It is all part of being a faithful follower of Christ. (John 10:27), "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

It is the devil who makes people rebellious and has them make every possible excuse not to part with their money (when someone asks). The devil doesn’t want anyone to follow Christ, but everyone to follow him.

God wants to teach us, so He allows circumstances to arise in our life that will search our heart (where it needs to be searched). He wants us to receive the inheritance in Christ He has promised. Cornelius was ready to receive the truth, so God had the apostle to give him the Word. Cornelius said (Acts 10:33), "Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

He meant, ‘We are ready to listen to (and to follow) every word God gives you to say to us.’ That is the attitude we are to have toward God’s holy Word. God was able to do much for Cornelius because Cornelius was willing to listen and ready to learn. And God will do much for anyone else who is ready to learn lessons of faith and trust.

Simon Peter told the people about Christ and His sacrifice. He explained that every sin and sickness was nailed on the cross, and whoever believed that, could be victorious over sin. As they accepted those words, they were filled with the Spirit. (44), "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message."

The Word was planted on the fertile soil of a willing heart, so they were ready to grow in the faith and to receive the divine inheritance God has for all who believe in His Son. "As it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God," (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

The world cannot see that truth, (cannot believe those words and will not receive that inheritance), because it is only available by faith. (12), "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."

When we take a right attitude toward God, the devil must flee. "The punishment that brought us peace was upon [Christ], and by his wounds we are healed." That is the message of the cross and it is everyone’s choice to believe it (or reject it).

A divine inheritance is promised to every believer in Christ, and it is everyone’s choice (as well as their responsibility) to claim it and receive it. It is the choice God gave Adam and Eve (to love and obey Him), or to reject the offer and go their own way. It is the choice every person on earth will face sooner or later. It is a choice to be among the many on the wide road of this world, or be counted with the few on the narrow path of faith.

(Ephesians 1:11-13), "Because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. God’s purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God. And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago."