The Power of Grace and Faith: Embracing Your Divine Inheritance

Have you ever found yourself waiting for a breakthrough, wondering when God will finally move in your life? What if I told you that you might be waiting for something that has already happened? This profound truth has the power to transform how we approach our faith and our relationship with God.

At the heart of this revelation lies the Greek word "sozo," which appears over 100 times in the New Testament. Often translated simply as "saved," its meaning is far richer. Sozo encompasses not just eternal life, but also healing, deliverance, and power over poverty. When we truly grasp this concept, we begin to understand that through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we have already been granted a complete package of salvation that addresses every aspect of our lives.

But here's where many of us stumble: we've been taught to wait for God to do something He's already done. We pray for healing as if it's a future event, when in reality, it was purchased for us 2,000 years ago on Calvary. This misunderstanding can lead us into a cycle of begging God for things He's already provided, instead of learning to walk in the fullness of what we've already received.

To break free from this cycle, we need to understand the interplay between grace and faith. Grace is God's part – what He's done for us independently of our actions. Faith is our response – our choice to believe and align ourselves with what God has already accomplished. It's not about moving God; He's already moved. It's about moving ourselves into alignment with His finished work.

Consider Mark 11:24: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Notice the tenses here – believe you have received (past tense) and it will be yours (future tense). This scripture invites us to shift our perspective from waiting to thanking, from begging to believing.

But how do we cultivate this kind of faith? The answer lies in immersing ourselves in God's Word. Romans 10:17 tells us that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." As we saturate our minds with Scripture, our ability to hear God increases, which in turn increases our faith. It's a beautiful, self-reinforcing cycle that draws us deeper into the reality of what Christ has accomplished for us.

This understanding also challenges us to reexamine our search for significance. Many of us tie our worth to the fulfillment of our dreams or goals. But true significance in God's kingdom isn't found in achievement; it's found in servanthood. Jesus Himself said, "The greatest among you will be your servant" (Matthew 23:11). When we embrace this truth, we free ourselves from the constant striving for validation and instead find our identity firmly rooted in Christ.

As we grow in this revelation, we begin to see ourselves not as victims waiting for God to act, but as conduits through which His power flows into the natural world. We are called to be the bridge between the spiritual and physical realms, bringing the kingdom of God to earth through our faith and actions.

This shift in perspective is beautifully illustrated in Colossians 2:9-15. This passage, rich with past-tense verbs, reminds us of all that has already been accomplished in Christ:
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

These verses paint a vivid picture of our complete redemption in Christ. We have been brought to fullness, circumcised spiritually, buried and raised with Christ, made alive, forgiven, and set free from all condemnation. The enemy has been disarmed and defeated. This is not a future hope, but a present reality for every believer.

So what does this mean for us practically? Colossians 3:1-2 gives us the answer: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
In light of all that Christ has accomplished, we are called to align our thoughts and desires with this heavenly reality. We are invited to live from a place of victory, not towards it. This doesn't mean we won't face challenges or that everything will instantly change in our circumstances. But it does mean that we approach these challenges from a position of strength, knowing that in Christ, we already have everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

As we embrace this truth, shame, guilt, doubt, and regret lose their power over us. We begin to see ourselves as God sees us – complete in Christ, empowered by His Spirit, and commissioned to bring His kingdom to earth.

So today, let's choose to believe what God says about us rather than what our circumstances or feelings might suggest. Let's shift from waiting to thanking, from begging to believing. Let's live as conduits of God's power, bringing His healing, deliverance, and abundance into every situation we encounter.

Remember, you are not waiting for a breakthrough – you are the breakthrough. In Christ, you have already been raised to new life. Now it's time to set your heart and mind on things above, and watch as the reality of your heavenly inheritance begins to manifest in your earthly experience.