A Heritage of Hope

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Other than the character of the Holy Spirit, John 14 speaks of the Lord Jesus’ reminders before leaving. It
is the Lord’s reminder to His disciples that everything they have seen and heard, and all the great things
which He had begun shall be carried on to them.

Heritage (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

1. property that descends to an heir

2. something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor

Peace - "to be complete" or "to be sound." The verb conveys both a dynamic and a static
meaning" to be complete or whole" or "to live well."

Heritage in the Bible

1. Isaiah 38:19
“It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today;

A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness.”

2. Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every
encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is
set before us,

Heritage can mean one’s identity as well as a descendant’s link to his/her ancestors, providing instances
of reminiscing of old memories, stories, and lessons.

It is determined by our everyday decisions. Hence, the choices we make every day may make or break
the legacy we have.

Why your heritage matters:

1. The heritage we have is a product of our Faith.

(John 14:12)
a. It is a product of our tears and our struggles.
b. It is a product of countless answered prayers.

2. Heritage can be forgotten.

(John 14:18-19)
 In the West, Christianity is in decline. Many attribute this to decline in Christian birth rates, but
some state that the issue lay with the failure of the previous generations to inculcate
Christianity in the younger ones.

Instance:
(Exodus 1)

3. Your Heritage can also be a calling.

(John 14:22)
a. It can be a guide for future generations
Example of a godly heritage:
(Zadok the Priest – A heritage of loyalty); (2 Samuel 8:16-18) (Ezekiel 44:15)

Conclusion:

A heritage without purpose will fade to dust but if we are willing to lay down our heritage of
hope and allow the Holy Spirit to lead our every decision, we will need not fear for the Lord shall
establish our heritage.