Saturday, October 23, 2004

"Prodigal Son"

A few thoughts below as I was pondering the story of the "Prodigal Son."


(Luke 15:22-24)
"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate."

The ring that the father called for is a wonderful picture of restored authority. The son had forfeited his position as a son and therefore his authority. The signet ring of the father placed on the son's finger would boldly declare the son's restored position as a member of the family, for the signet ring would carry the family seal. The gift of the ring was another covenant act of exchange. The son's forfeited rights were replaced by the imparted rights, not of a son, but the father's own authority.

Through Adam's sin, man has forfeited his position of dominion and authority in this world. Through Christ, the Anointed One, however, we have dominion and authority restored to us, not only over the works of God's hands, but also over the one who usurped that authority, satan, together with all of his demonic hosts. It is for this very reason that satan does not want you to ever lose your sense of unworthiness and guilt. As long as you feel condemned and unworthy, you will never be a match for his powerful deception and intimidation. He knows exactly what button to push to vanquish a self-conscious Christian from the fight.

Child of God, you are not a son or daughter because of your faithful service, but because you were born of God's seed. You did not qualify to be a child of God by what you did, but have received the nature of a son and daughter by the new birth.

1John 3:9 "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed (Greek, sperma") abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

1Peter 1:23 "for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God."

John 1:12-13 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."

The same word sperma is used in Greek for the sperm of conception and for the seed of the word of God. Like the son in the story, our right to the position of son does not come through our own performance or ability. It is established by the fundamental truth of the gospel that God has begotten us as sons and daughters by His "seed," which is His Word.

The accuser of the brethren is intent on convincing you that you have disqualified yourself from the blessings and benefits of being a son and from the joy of intimate fellowship with the Father because of your failure to live up to an impossible standard of perfection. It is imperative that you arm youself against him with the word of God in your mouth.

As in healing, it is vital to your victory that you never ever vary your confessin of the truth of what God says about you, even though your conduct might be far from fitting for a son of God. It is not your conduct that determines your sonship but your sonship that shapes and governs your conduct. I must declare: " I am a son. I have my Father's nature and character because His sperm, His seed "remains" (Greek: present tense, continuous action) in me. For that reason I do not continue in deliberate, habitual sin. Because I am a son. He has sent the Holy Spirit to me to guarantee my sonship and my inheritance, and to express the Father's nature in my daily behavior. Now, by the Holy Spirit indwelling me, I can cry out with confidence, "Abba, Father!""

Galations 4:7 "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God".

Romans 5:17"...Much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign( to rule) in life through the One, Jesus Christ. "


"The way to Reign is to Receive!"

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