These are notes on the sermon, Claim What Is Yours, preached by Pastor Joseph Prince on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at The Star Performing Arts Centre, Singapore. We hope these sermon notes will be an encouragement to you!
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In last week’s sermon, Step Out and Possess the Land, Pastor Prince shared about the tribe of Asher and how they failed to fully possess their inheritance because of their laziness and complacency.
The tribe of Asher was one of the seven tribes rebuked by Joshua as they had been slack to possess the land that God had given them (Josh. 18:1–3). This allotment of land included the prosperous port cities of Tyre and Sidon, which would have put Asher in a position to spread the message of God’s goodness and provision had they fully possessed their inheritance.
Today, God also has a rich inheritance for us as His sons and daughters. Jeremiah 3:19 tells us that we have a right to this inheritance because of our relationship with God who gives us “a pleasant land” when we call Him “Father.” And because our Father’s heart is to give to us, there is so much that we get to receive as part of our inheritance.
Plus, we don’t have to wait—we can begin possessing our inheritance today! The Bible doesn’t say that we are heirs apparent waiting to receive our inheritance, but that we are joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). An heir apparent has to wait for the current holder of the inheritance to pass away before they can receive it. But Jesus has died and risen again, thereby releasing our inheritance to us! Through Jesus, we are reminded of the richness of our inheritance which can be found in Him, and empowered to fully receive it.
Consider the owner of a multi-million dollar company. When the time comes, the owner is not going to hand the company over to an employee, but to his own offspring. The employee can be impeccable in all that he does to serve the company, but the son or daughter will ultimately be the one to inherit it, even if they are imperfect and at times cause their father heartaches.
Why is this so? Because of their relationship to their father!
The same goes for us. As children of God, our relationship with our heavenly Father is what qualifies us to receive our inheritance today!
Every promise and blessing in the Word of God is relevant and applicable to us.
All the promises of God in Christ are “yes” and “amen” (2 Cor. 1:20)! This includes the blessings spoken over the twelve tribes of Israel and the promises contained in the Old Testament, such as the promise of protection in Psalm 91. They are not restricted to a specific time or a specific group of people, but are applicable to all of us who are born-again sons and daughters of God.
In fact, we receive salvation—eternal life—as the very first portion of our inheritance the moment we are born again. What a gift!
Our Father has also promised to us the renewal of youth. The Word says that our youth will be renewed like the eagles (Ps. 103:5), and that we will walk and not faint (Isa. 40:31). We can expect to remain fresh and evergreen, bearing fruit in old age (Ps. 92:14)!
Even the ability to live an overcoming life and to gain victory over every sin, addiction, and bad habit comes not by striving but by receiving and walking in it as part of our inheritance. First Corinthians 15:57 tells us that it is God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. This means that the power to reign and overcome sin is given to us, and is not something that can be achieved through our own efforts.
Is it peace of mind that you need? In the upper room, Jesus said to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Our Lord operated in peace and was never stressed or panicked. Even when He and His disciples were caught in a storm in the Sea of Galilee, He remained fast asleep in the boat. That peace—His very own peace—is what our Lord gives to us! And this shalom peace does not simply refer to peace of mind, but includes complete wholeness and wellbeing.
Our portion is to take care of our hearts by ensuring that we do not let our hearts become troubled or afraid. Whatever your situation may be, know that God will take care of it! As you take care of your heart, He will take care of your situation.
Our Father’s heart is also to see us experience true prosperity, where we are able to spend time with our loved ones and enjoy what we have, instead of being trapped in a constant cycle of trying to attain more and more. Many in the world are after more—more blessings, a bigger business, a greater measure of influence—but the Lord gives to us according to what He knows we can safely handle, because He loves us.
For example, there are people who enter into sudden wealth and their behavior and lifestyle change drastically, but the truth is that wealth has simply brought out what was already in their hearts. This is why tithing is important; it reveals what is really in our hearts, and keeps us safe from the love of money. Each time we tithe, we turn our focus to the Lord and demonstrate that we are faithful to remember it is the Lord who prospers us.
Finally, we can receive the promises of healing and divine health through the two prophecies spoken over the tribe of Asher.
Each time you partake of the Holy Communion, remember Jacob’s prophecy over Asher (Gen. 49:20)! The bread from Asher was so rich with healing that even a little crumb was able to drive out a demon (Matt. 15:21–28). The health conditions that you face may appear insurmountable, but there is rich healing power to be found in the Communion. Today, you have access to more than just a crumb; you are a child of God seated at the Father’s table, and you can freely partake of the children’s bread to receive the healing that you need!
Moses’ prophecy over Asher (Deut. 33:24–25) also paints a picture of the divine health that we can receive: “Let him dip his foot in oil. Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; as your days, so shall your strength be.”
Oil refers to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which means we can expect to walk in spiritual strength. But God doesn’t only care about our spiritual wellbeing, He also cares about our physical wellbeing. Iron and bronze speak of God-given physical strength that doesn’t wear out.
So don’t succumb to the world’s way of thinking! It is the world’s way to see your health problems as part and parcel of aging, but the Word tells us to think differently. Instead of believing that your weakness will increase according to the number of your days, why not believe God’s Word that your strength will increase as your days increase? This promise is part of your inheritance. Start claiming it, speaking it, and walking it out!
The key to receiving and claiming our inheritance lies in actively meditating on the Word of God.
God’s promises and blessings have been given to us as part of our inheritance, but we have to claim them in order for them to actually become ours! This begins with the knowledge of our inheritance, and is why it is important for us to lay hold of God’s Word.
If you are unaware of what belongs to you and what our Lord Jesus has paid for you to receive, then how can you claim it? Conversely, if you know from the Word that Jesus has given you His peace, and that you have a blood-bought right to be free from anxieties, worries, and cares, then you will be able to claim it and experience it in your life.
The word “meditate” is hagah in Hebrew, which means to mutter. But what does it mean to meditate on the Book of the Law (Josh. 1:8) or the law of the LORD (Ps. 1:2)?
This does not mean that we are called to meditate on the Ten Commandments. Rather, we are called to meditate on the entire Word of God. The law, or torah in Hebrew, contains three meanings:
In reading God’s Word, it is important that we derive the right meaning as we are no longer under the old covenant.
Hence, Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2–3 are telling us that we are called to practically lay hold of and claim our inheritance by meditating on God’s Word as a whole! So find a verse that speaks to you and meditate on it, whether it’s during your breaks at work, while you are driving, or if you are unable to sleep at night.
The peace and wellbeing that you need comes by meditating on God’s Word. Even before Pastor Prince had a teaching on how to live the let-go life, he first meditated on John 14:27. Through meditating on this verse, Pastor Prince caught the revelation that God’s peace has already been given, meaning that there has to be a blockage somewhere if we are unable to experience God’s peace. Many times, this blockage stems from fear which causes our hearts to be troubled. So, as long as we can guard our hearts from being fearful and troubled, God’s peace and wellbeing can flow to and in us.
Friend, are you struggling with anxiety? The moment you feel troubled, recite John 14:27 to yourself. Say it under your breath again and again. Ponder on what the verse is saying, and as you meditate like that, God’s shalom peace will begin to flow.
Many might think that the solution to our troubles, whether in our bodies or in our minds, lies in what we eat and do, but what truly matters is what is in our hearts. A sound (marpe) heart is the life of the flesh (Prov. 14:30 KJV). Marpe is the Hebrew word for tranquility and peace. This means that a tranquil heart is life to our body! We can be eating well and going to the gym, yet our heart is full of bitterness, anger, guilt, anxiety, and worry. This is not a sound heart! We are to guard our hearts, for out of it flows the issues of life (Prov. 4:23).
Don’t feed on the world’s news, feed on the good news. Are you worried and fearful about old age? Meditate on Psalm 92! Are you in need of healing? Meditate on healing scriptures.
When you meditate on God’s Word, something good will happen to you. And when you hear God’s promises being shared in a sermon, or read God’s blessings in the Word, receive it and say amen!
The word “amen” means “so be it” and shares the same root word as “faith” in the Hebrew, which is emunah. So when we say “amen,” we are exercising and expressing our faith and God is glorified.
So, what happens when you meditate on God’s word?
When we rightly interpret what David, who wrote Psalm 119, is referring to in the light of the new covenant, we see that the law here refers to God’s Word, not the Ten Commandments. So Psalm 119:97 is actually saying: “Oh, how I love God’s Word!”
Under the new covenant, the commandment that makes us wiser than our enemies is not the Ten Commandments, but the commandment found in 1 John 3:23: “that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”
When we meditate on God’s Word, we become men and women with divine wisdom and understanding!
The word “understanding” in Psalm 119:99 is sakal in Hebrew, which is the same word used in Joshua 1:8 when referring to success.
Sakal is God’s wisdom, instruction, and insight that causes us to prosper and experience good success. In the Greek Septuagint, the word for sakal is suneisis, which is the ability to put two and two together.
Have you ever listened to preachers who are able to bring out new and fresh revelations from familiar passages and wondered, “Wow, how are they able to do that?” That’s suneisis in action! Bible teachers and scholars may have extensive knowledge about God’s Word, but those with suneisis wisdom and understanding are able to receive a deeper revelation by putting together insights from various scriptures and going beyond a superficial reading of the Bible.
This is a portion we should desire to receive and experience for ourselves as we read the Bible. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but it is the glory of kings to search it out (Prov. 25:2). God intentionally hides treasures in His Word so that we may enjoy the thrill of finding them!
Note that Psalm 119 is a messianic psalm pertaining to our Lord Jesus. This tells us that Jesus did not just possess knowledge; He possessed understanding (sakal or suneisis) that surpassed even the Bible scholars and teachers of His day.
In fact, Luke 2:47 says that at the age of twelve, all who heard Jesus inquiring in the temple were “astonished at His understanding (suneisis) and answers”. Through this, we see the fulfillment of Psalm 119—not only does Jesus embody divine suneisis wisdom and understanding, but His wisdom is also part of our inheritance that we get to receive today!
Apart from Jesus, there were others in the Bible who were also described as possessing suneisis wisdom. Daniel had this wisdom; he was not only able to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, but also able to recall it for him.
Joseph in the Bible is another clear example of someone with suneisis wisdom. No one was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams except Joseph, who made the connection that Pharaoh’s dream about the seven stalks of wheat and his dream about the seven cows were in fact conveying the same message: that Egypt would experience seven good years of prosperity followed by seven bad years of famine.
Interestingly, God provided no further instruction to Pharaoh on what he was to do with the information given in the dream. Yet, Joseph advised that Pharoah find a discerning (biyn) and wise (hakam) man who could gather and set aside a portion of the harvest during the good years as a reserve for the bad years of famine.
“Discerning” is biyn in Hebrew, which is the same word as suneitos, the adjective form of suniesis in Greek. While others may know the relevant facts and information, a person with suneisis wisdom is able to prepare themselves with that information and translate it into action.
That is what Joseph did when he looked beyond the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream to advise that Pharaoh appoint a discerning and wise man over the land of Egypt. In doing so, Joseph was able to actively work toward the larger goal of saving his family. Joseph also experienced good success—he was promoted from the position of a slave to Pharaoh’s right-hand man as a result of his God-given wisdom and discernment.
This is why it says in Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2–3 that good success comes by meditating on God’s Word! When you meditate on God’s Word, you will receive supernatural wisdom that enables you to take ground and experience good success.
What is in your hands today? Whether it is your work, family, or ministry, God’s promise is that if you will meditate on His Word, whatever you do and touch shall prosper.
Although Joshua in the Bible was described as being full of the spirit of wisdom, he still had to claim and possess this wisdom by spending time meditating on God’s Word (Josh. 1:8).
This week, will you ask God for a portion of Scripture that stirs your heart and speaks to you? As you meditate on God’s Word and carry it with you throughout the week, you will surely receive the wisdom you need to experience good success in every situation!
We hope these sermon notes blessed you! If they did, we encourage you to get the sermon and allow the Lord to speak to you personally as you watch or listen to it.
© Copyright JosephPrince.com 2024
These sermon notes were taken by volunteers during the service. They are not a verbatim representation of the sermon.
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