It's a Gift: How to Receive Provision, Your Inheritance in Christ Jesus
"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts." — Haggai 2:8
There is more wealth in the Kingdom of God, held at God's disposal to give freely, than in any business, industry or economy on earth. Every ounce of silver and gold belongs to Him (Haggai 2:8). "The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof" (Psalm 24:1). "Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills" (Psalm 50:10). Let that sink in!
That same God is our Father. If we belong to Him through Jesus Christ, we are not beggars at His gate. We are His children and His heirs. Yet many believers live as though they were spiritually and materially poor, struggling to lay hold of what their Father has already provided. Why is that?
You Are an Heir of God, Know Your Inheritance In Christ
The Bible is clear about who we are in Christ: "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:7). "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17).
Heirs are entitled to an inheritance. As heirs of a Father who owns everything, we have a rich inheritance, spiritual and material, already provided for us in Christ Jesus. The scripture says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
But an inheritance you don't know about, don't understand, or never lay hold of is of little use to you. That is the problem Paul addresses in Galatians 4.
The Heir Who Lives Like a Servant
"Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father" (Galatians 4:1–2).
Think of it this way. A wealthy father dies and leaves his whole estate to his young children. On paper, they own everything. In practice, they are no better off than servants. They live under guardians and can't use what is theirs until they grow up.
What changes when they come of age? They don't earn the inheritance, because it was always theirs. They mature. They come to know their rights under the will, gain confidence that the estate belongs to them, and step forward to claim it. It is pertinent that you know your inheritance in Christ so you can receive it.
The same is true for believers. Our Father's "will" is His Word. Many Christians remain spiritual children, not because God is withholding anything, but because they don't know what the Word says is theirs. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). As we grow in the knowledge of God's Word and in faith, we begin to walk in what He has already given.
Earned Wages and Free Gifts
Scripture makes an important distinction between what is earned and what is given.
"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:4–5).
When you work a job or run a business, your salary or profit is not a gift. It is a wage you have earned, a debt your employer or customer owes you. That is right and honourable. God commands us to work diligently: "The hand of the diligent maketh rich" (Proverbs 10:4). "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings" (Proverbs 22:29). In our work and business, it is right to pursue excellence, seek fair and good reward, and grow our income in honest and healthy ways, doing everything "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23).
But the blessings of the Kingdom work on a different principle. Righteousness, the Holy Spirit, healing and God's provision for His children are not wages. They are gifts of grace, received by faith. We are made righteous not by our works, skills, connections or efforts, but by faith in God, who gave us His righteousness through Christ Jesus as an undeserved, unearned and unmerited gift.
The Great Exchange at the Cross
Paul describes this divine exchange in one of the most remarkable verses in Scripture: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).
At the cross, Jesus took what was ours so we could receive what was His. He took our sin and gave us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). He bore our sicknesses and carried our pains (Isaiah 53:4–5; Matthew 8:17). He became poor so we might be made rich, above all in grace, and also in God's abundant supply for every need.
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). If God has already given His greatest gift, His Son, He will not withhold lesser things from His children.
Seek the Giver, Not the Gift
Because God's provision is a gift, we don't chase after wealth. We seek the Giver. Jesus said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
This is a crucial safeguard. "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10). God does not bless us so that money can become our master. He blesses us so we can live in His provision and be a blessing to others. Paul instructs those who are rich "that they trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate" (1 Timothy 6:17–18).
Scripture describes the purpose of God's wealth this way: "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant" (Deuteronomy 8:18). "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22).
A Warning for Those in Ministry
In the work of God's Kingdom, the motive must be completely different from the marketplace. When Jesus sent out the twelve, He told them, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).
If money becomes even a small motive for ministry, it opens the door to financial struggle, loss of the anointing and loss of integrity. Peter told the elders to feed the flock of God "not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind" (1 Peter 5:2). Simon the sorcerer tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit with money, and Peter rebuked him sharply: "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money" (Acts 8:20). Gehazi ran after Naaman's silver and inherited Naaman's leprosy (2 Kings 5:20–27).
God's gifts can't be bought, and they must never be sold. Those who serve in ministry should trust God, not the offering bowl, as their source.
How to Receive What God Has Freely Given, Your Inheritance in Christ
God wants us to work hard, and He has promised to bless the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28:12). But the gifts of grace, including righteousness, healing, the Holy Spirit and His abundant provision, are received by faith, not earned by effort. Here is how to lay hold of them:
Know what is yours. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (1 Corinthians 2:12). Search the Scriptures to discover your inheritance in Christ. You can't claim what you don't know you have. Read the Bible through, and before you begin any Bible study session, always sprinkle the Blood of Jesus over the session, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you, and ask God to open your eyes to see the mysteries and treasures in the scriptures. See How to Read the Bible: Tips and Techniques for Effective Bible Study
Walk in obedience. Seek God first, honour Him with your substance (Proverbs 3:9–10), and live in line with His Word. God's blessings flow to those who walk with Him.
Ask in faith. "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2). Jesus said, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11).
Believe you receive. "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24). "He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Give thanks and be a channel of blessing. God blesses us so that we can bless others. As you receive, give generously and freely. Thanksgiving does produce miracles and breakthroughs.
No Situation Can Lock Down God's Provision
God's supply doesn't depend on the state of your economy, the condition of your country, the size of your salary, or even a national lockdown. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
Consider how God provided for Israel in the wilderness, a place with no farms, no markets and no rivers. The people asked, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" (Psalm 78:19). He did. He rained down manna every morning (Exodus 16), sent quail in abundance (Numbers 11:31), and brought water out of a rock (Exodus 17:6). For forty years, their "raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell" (Deuteronomy 8:4).
During a famine, God fed Elijah by ravens (1 Kings 17:6) and kept a widow's barrel of meal and cruse of oil from running dry (1 Kings 17:14–16). In another famine, "Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him" (Genesis 26:12).
No situation can shut down the provision and blessings of God. Grow up into the knowledge of your inheritance, seek the Giver with all your heart, and put a demand on the promises of God by faith. What your Father has given freely in Christ Jesus is yours to receive. Hallelujah!
A Call to Surrender
Every blessing described in this article belongs to God's children, and the greatest gift of all is eternal life. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Like every other gift of grace, salvation can't be earned. It can only be received by faith.
If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus, you can become a child of God and an heir of His Kingdom today. "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).
If you want to surrender to Jesus today, pray the Salvation Prayer here.
If you prayed that prayer for the first time, we would love to hear from you. Email us at newlife@lovefaithandmiracles.com
About the Author
Apostle Steve Adonai is a member of FaithWriters and a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, always ready to share God's Word to save, heal, deliver and bless.
Comments