Possessing Our Inheritance

[Martin Schmaltz]

It seems there was this man that for all of his life lived in need. No matter what he attempted, it seems he could never get ahead. One day he received notification that a distant relative had died and left to him their mansion. Obviously this man was elated. Finally something had gone right for him.

Upon receiving the deed and keys to the mansion, this individual proceeds to his new possession. As he arrives, he is struck with awe and amazement at its size and grandeur. With great excitement, he inserts the key and opens the massive polished oak doors stepping into the most elaborate and beautiful foyer he has ever seen.

The floors are a gleaming marble. The walls are decorated with priceless paintings. The curtains are what you would expect in the most opulent of homes. The chandeliers are of exquisite cut leaded glass reflecting the sunlight into a myriad of rainbow colors. The man is so overwhelmed with joy that tears begin to flow down his cheeks. He pauses for a moment thinking about this distant relative who he has never met, yet this relative has given him the best gift of his life.

Suddenly, the man turns and walks out with a smile on his face, locking the door and returns to his meager dwelling. All through the week, he lives his life of existence, thinking about his mansion. He has told his friends at work about it. Even given some directions to it. Yet every day he returns to his same old abode.

A week later, we find this man back at his new mansion. With similar excitement he places the key in the door and swings open that large door and steps into the foyer. Once again, he is overwhelmed with the beauty, and it is all his! He revels in the wonder that he could be so fortunate and mentally thanks his relative for this gift. After a few minutes he turns and once again, walks out the massive door and returns to his routine life of meager existence.

Unfortunately, because he did not venture further into the mansion, he missed the envelope his relative left in one of the other rooms. Inside this envelope were instructions to access the safe in the office that obtained the keys to various lock boxes where further valuables were stored.

This process of weekly visits to his mansion is repeated week after week, month after month, until the man has developed a pattern of accessing limited benefits of his new mansion.

Now we all understand this is a fictitious story. We really don’t believe anybody would be that foolish, not taking full possession of his inheritance.

However, we find this happens week after week in churches throughout the body of Christ. With the traditional focus of the church on the salvation message, we constantly focus on entering the kingdom of God. Our message is continually presenting the door to this wonderful spiritual domain. Week after week we encourage believers to focus on entering into the experience God has for them and making sure that they have continual access.

There is more to the kingdom than the door. Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven -- the good news of the dominion of a spiritual realm. Inside the kingdom God has for us much more than we could ever imagine. There is provision, protection, peace, joy, power and demonstration. We need to venture deeper into our fathers house and seek what He has placed there for us.

How can we accomplish this?
- Change our prayer to abiding prayer - stay until we hear from Him.
- Seek to mature beyond being a child of God to becoming a son of God.
- Walk in the empowering of the Spirit, demonstrating apostolic authority.

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[Martin Schmaltz]

Sid, Thanks so much for the comments. Just trying to share what the Lord has given me. Always open for comments and insights.

[Martin Schmaltz]

Had not given much thought to the parallel.

[Donnie Gillum]

Quote -Nathan:...Simply a lack of proper teaching? Or is it that too many people haven't found the proper environment for them to really grow and mature spiritually--to develop God-given gifts because maybe they weren't recognized as such?

Summing up my observations, I think the quoted section above is, sad to say, accurate. Not on purpose, of course, each assembly is probably doing all they know to do…and therein lies the problem. While they are sacrificial and willing, they themselves don’t know what else to do – been there, done that! The new one is pretty much on his own to figure out how to stay interested. If he isn’t a singer, musician or willing to help teach a children’s Sunday School class, their outcome seems pretty much set in stone.

I’ve taught new convert classes (using different materials), been over various fellowship activities etc.. I’m not willing to say that it was no help to them at all, it was better than none…but not near as efficient as was hoped to be. This, and other factors I’ve noticed over the years has caused me to rethink a lot of traditional things we do. While I definitely don’t have all the answers, I have come to realize I have not been “doing things by the book” as much as I thought I was. As a result, I’ve started reaching out to brethren that are out of my area of fellowship for interaction…thus my reason on this Network. I agree with you, Bro. Martin is onto something. Have you read his book yet?

[Martin Schmaltz]

Nathan.
I believe the answer is both improper teaching which has created a poor environment.

Both stem from the traditional views of christianity. I believe, that from the dark ages, the clergy was able to manipulate the masses thru the fear of eternity. Thus creating the goal or objective to be achieved was heaven. After a salvation experience because of fear, they were controlled or manipulated by fear. All behavior was based on how it affected their eternal destiny.

This same process goes on today. Maybe we do not come out as blatant, but it is the motivating factor to most evangelism and discipleship. All our behaviors are judged in regards to how it will affect my salvation status. There is little focus on true discipleship - becoming like Jesus.

Jesus came preaching a kingdom dominion, not heaven or hell. When we return to a biblical/kingdom focus we will change our teaching and eventually change the environment for people to develop their gifts, thus entering their spiritual inheritance.

Anyways, just my opinion.

[Nathan Miller]

Wow, Bro. Martin, you really are on to something. I've been thinking the same things that you have just written about for quite some time. I still wonder what makes people just OK with being a baptized, spirit-filled believer and never really moving on to really know the Lord in a deeper way? Simply a lack of proper teaching? Or is it that too many people haven't found the proper environment for them to really grow and mature spiritually--to develop God-given gifts because maybe they weren't recognized as such?

[Martin Schmaltz]

Please excuse the previous posts typos. In a hurry on the way to the airport. Sorry.

[Martin Schmaltz]

I am going out on a limb here; one of the problems that has been created in mondern christianity is the main focus of most churches is on the saved/lost ratio. We preach/teach heaven or hell, saved or lost in such a way that the goal presented is bet saved and wait for heaven.

Because the goal preached is get saved/heaven, the only way to motivate the majority of of people after that is the continual fear missing heaven.

Jesus came preaching a kingdom that was to be manifest. His commission to the disciples was to preach the good news of the Kingdom and to make disicples by teaching them to obey His commands. What He did not preach was get saved and hang on to go to heaven.

Also, suggestion RE Jn 1:12, do a word study on "son." Hint, there are two words used for son. Only one of them is used RE Jesus. The Lord gave me a powerful message "Becoming A Son of God" that I usually minister at the end of my apostolic authority series. This is when we typically see the miraculous.

Thanks - always appreciate your insights.

[Donnie Gillum]

Brother, this is a pretty accurate rendition.
Quote: - Seek to mature beyond being a child of God to becoming a son of God.

I have often thought of John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become …. The impression is too often left that one has arrived by just being “born again”. I believe much good could be accomplished if the saints were encouraged to get acquainted with the Spirit of God. While many have had wonderful experiences, there seems to be a place in the Spirit that few (including myself) have reached. It’s that joy unspeakable (unutterable) and full of glory. I have had some precious happenings…but none that I cannot express to someone…yet. So there is much more than “entering the door” as you have so picturesquely shown. There has not been much emphasis on the “power to become” that Jesus gave.

[Martin Schmaltz]

Keith, Thanks for the comment. Trust all is well.

[Keith Wood]

That is a wonderful analogy...Keep up the good work!