\nCo-author: Mari Schmidt\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
When I was asked to write something on the topic of \u201cGod\u2019s inheritance,\u201d I wondered whether I should write about what I have spiritually inherited as a Christian or what I hope to pass on one day. As I reflected on this, I realized: In a way, the two are inseparable. We receive God\u2019s inheritance not only for ourselves, but so that we may pass it on.<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus Himself\u00a0said\u00a0in the Gospel of John: Sometimes Christians feel like a minority and overlook the fact that this minority belongs to the most successful group of people that has ever existed: the Church of Jesus Christ, which has been marching victoriously for more than 2,000 years. After so many years, it is still alive. The secret is not us at all\u2014the secret is Jesus. He and His position show us what we have received as heirs and what our mission is.<\/strong> This knowledge must be \u201cpassed down,\u201d just as Joseph\u2019s bones were passed down from generation to generation until they reached their destination (cf. Joshua 24:32).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Jesus promises that we will do greater things, we must ask ourselves what Jesus did and what that means for us. Jesus came into the world because the Creator finally wanted to live in relationship with us. He loves people and that is the core of our heritage: to love people, and even more than that, to love \u201call people.\u201d<\/strong> Herein lies our challenge: our community! Often, in the midst of conflicts and disputes, I\u2019m asked what the solution might be\u2014the solution is to love people, because no matter who leaves the church, there will always be someone who doesn\u2019t fit in with us. At one point, Jesus said to Peter, \u201cGet behind me, Satan!\u201d (Matthew 16:23; HFA)\u2014but that didn\u2019t mean Jesus no longer loved him; rather, Jesus knew which path he would take \u201cout of love for all people.\u201d Once we\u2019ve clarified this point for ourselves\u2014that we are called to love all people, not just those we like\u2014we can begin to consider what our legacy looks like.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The story of the forgiving father in Luke 15:11\u201332 shows us what we have actually inherited. In the story, the father divides up the inheritance while he is still alive. One son leaves home; the other stays. The older son\u2019s angry reaction to the younger son\u2019s return shows that he did not understand his position or his inheritance.<\/p>\n He\u00a0had\u00a0completely\u00a0forgotten\u00a0what\u00a0verse\u00a012\u00a0describes: \u201cSo the\u00a0father\u00a0divided\u00a0his\u00a0estate\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0them<\/strong>.\u201d (Luke 15:12; HFA) As the firstborn, the older son had even received two-thirds of the estate\u2026 and had not \u201clived it.\u201d He had had access to all of his father\u2019s resources the whole time\u2014and apparently had neither been aware of them nor made use of them.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n How about us\u2014do we know our inheritance? Are we living it? What do we expect from the inheritance that, in Jesus\u2019 words, holds \u201ceven greater works\u201d?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The fact that I walk with Jesus and serve Him is a divine calling and an \u201cinheritance\u201d from various people. My mother prayed that I would come to Christ; Nigel Sheldrick believed in me; Friedrich Nu\u00dfb\u00e4cher married us and supported us financially. Uwe Sch\u00e4fer believed in us\u2014without him, we\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0be where we are today! Werner Gunia, my regional director, gave me opportunities to preach. Manfred Lanz provided me with friendly support and pastoral guidance; Christian Knorr,\u00a0Bob\u00a0and Anke St\u00fcbner, and Petra Alvarez-Munoz challenged me immensely in my leadership role. Andrew Evans has walked alongside me without\u00a0my\u00a0ever having met him.\u00a0Johannes Justus prepared and supported me exceptionally well on the BFP board, and last but not least, without my wife, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today.\u00a0All of\u00a0these companions instilled something in me and shaped me during their lifetimes. Just as they left a legacy within me, so too should my life be a testimony.<\/strong> I want to have faith in people, to strengthen and encourage them. When I invest in God\u2019s kingdom, I have a share in something that extends beyond my lifetime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When we think of our children and the next generation, we should ask ourselves: What do I want to pass on? Are possessions, fame, and power important, or do we want to share the moments when God intervened, provided for us, or protected us? Our own stories are worth telling.<\/strong> Children\u2019s church services shape young people. And children are our future: mayors, politicians, teachers, and tradespeople. The younger generation thirsts for our living testimonies.<\/strong> I am certain: When we live out what we believe, others will believe what we live out.<\/strong> Through our living example, they will become people who bear witness in their workplaces. <\/p>\n It\u2019s\u00a0not about what I want to pass on, but what Jesus wants me to pass on. As in the parable of the talents (see Luke 9:11\u201325), I am a steward of His legacy and should add what Jesus would add. Jesus\u2019 \u201clast will\u201d (see Mark 16:15) is not a command but an authorization\u2014because He knew we are capable of it. That doesn\u2019t mean we have to stand on street corners and shout the Gospel to the world\u2014everyday acts are enough: for example, letting the woman with the overflowing shopping cart go ahead of us\u2014because she needs every second to manage her large family.\u00a0Let\u2019s\u00a0get creative with \u201cgood deeds.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>Let\u2019s\u00a0always be kind, knowing that Jesus loves that person\u2014even if\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0the neighbor no one likes\u2014because it was precisely for that person that Jesus went to the cross.\u00a0Let\u2019s\u00a0be different\u2014without being creepy<\/strong>\u2014let\u2019s\u00a0just start and see what happens. We can only let the salt that we are (cf. Matthew 5:13) be effective when it\u00a0comes into contact with\u00a0food\u2014because salt is a flavor enhancer.<\/p>\n The salt has to come out of the shaker!\u00a0So\u00a0if we want to be \u201cgood stewards,\u201d let others feel it, no matter who they are\u2014we often know so little about them!\u00a0Maybe it\u2019s\u00a0your smile, of all\u00a0things,\u00a0that\u00a0brightens\u00a0their day.\u00a0Maybe that\u2019s\u00a0exactly what prompts them to ask\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0different about us\u2014and then we can talk about the reason: the love that has set us free through the inheritance of Jesus!<\/strong><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Source: BFP<\/p><\/div>\n About the Author:\u00a0Pastor Friedhelm Holthuis (born in 1971), married to Elke, with three children. He is senior pastor of Credo Church, a congregation with seven locations. A matter close to his heart is building relevant, multiplying churches. Since September 2022, Friedhelm has been President of the BFP. He is also\u00a0Chairman\u00a0of the Assemblies of God in Europe and Vice-Chairman of the Pentecostal European Fellowship.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Born to\u00a0Inherit\u00a0and Pass On! or\u00a0\u201cThe Salt\u00a0Must\u00a0Come Out of the Shaker!\u201d by Friedhelm Holthuis,\u00a0President\u00a0of the BFP (Federation\u00a0of Free\u00a0Pentecostal\u00a0Churches in Germany) and Senior Pastor of Credo Church\u00a0 Co-author: Mari Schmidt\u00a0 When I was asked to write something on the topic of \u201cGod\u2019s inheritance,\u201d I wondered whether I should write about what I have spiritually inherited […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21762,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1392],"tags":[2227,3512],"class_list":["post-21771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-devotional","tag-erlebt-en"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\u201cI\u00a0tell\u00a0you\u00a0the\u00a0truth:\u00a0Whoever\u00a0believes\u00a0in\u00a0me\u00a0will do the same\u00a0works\u00a0as I do\u2014and\u00a0even\u00a0greater\u00a0ones; for I am\u00a0going\u00a0to the Father.\u00a0Whatever\u00a0you\u00a0ask\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0name, I will do, so\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0Father\u2019s\u00a0glory\u00a0may\u00a0be\u00a0revealed\u00a0through\u00a0the Son.\u201d (John 14:12\u201313; HFA)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nOur\u00a0Heritage Through Jesus<\/h3>\n
What\u00a0do\u00a0we\u00a0inherit? And do\u00a0we\u00a0live out\u00a0our\u00a0inheritance?<\/h3>\n
Passing on a Spiritual\u00a0Inheritance<\/h3>\n
What do we want to leave as\u00a0a legacy?<\/h3>\n
\nLet\u2019s\u00a0make sure we build preschools and schools that educate our children to become articulate individuals.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0not just Christians who will appreciate the values that a Christian education brings. In my experience, parents apply because they want their children to receive a values-based education, regardless of their own beliefs!<\/p>\nBringing the Legacy to Life<\/h3>\n
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