A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, I want my share of your estate now before you die. So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
A few days later his younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve, Luke 15:11-14. (When his money was gone, so was the women and friends he partied with. They would not help him.)
He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods (slop) he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.
So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him, Luke 15:15-20. (The son was dirty and stinks, smelling like pig.) His son said to him, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son, Luke 15:21. (The father heard his son repent, but did not allow him to continue on with his words.)
But his father said to the servants, Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. So the party began, Luke 15:22-24.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. Your brother is back, he was told, and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.
The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, All these years I have slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf! (He refused to call him his brother.)
His father said to him, Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found! Luke 15:25-32.
In this story the Spirit of the Lord revealed to me some important key factors that He pointed out to me on the righteousness we have in God and how you are missing out on the blessing of God. Here is what He said:
The father in this story is the Heavenly Father, the creator of all life and material sources, He owns everything. He has two sons that He loves and that believes in Him.
The oldest son is a symbol of being the Church/Christian/backslidden:
The oldest son stays, believing in the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. He is serving to earn the Father’s love by doing good works, being obedient, and being good—doing it his way, so he had the wrong attitude in his heart—living by the Law of Moses. The son not living by the grace of God; the father always loving him from His heart, protecting, and caring for him and already gave him two thirds of His wealth—the Father’s way.
He does not know the inheritance and ownership that he has with his Father and that he had the material and financial blessing all that time. He does not understand the true love of the Father in his life and to others. He does not know the authority and dominion he has over the influences in his life.
The oldest son had anger, jealousy, and not forgiving his brother—blockage to the Father's blessing.
He refused to ask or accept the blessing of his Father.
He is in bondage and does not have a true relationship with the Father, and he is without a forgiving heart toward his brother, which leads to death.
The youngest son is a symbol of the Jewish people/backslidden/restored life:
The youngest son asked and received one third of the material and financial blessing of the Father. He is in bondage and leaves, believing he can do it on his own without the Father and left behind the Father’s greater blessing for him. He lived his way in the worldly, ungodly way and lost everything. He started thinking, how the servants lived with more than enough with the Father at home. He began rehearsal of repentance and how unworthy he is toward his Father.
The Father not giving up on His son was waiting patiently for him to come home to Him. His Father running toward him with a compassionate love for His son and embraced and kissed him with a forgiving heart.
The Father having the servants to put the best robe on him—right standing with the Father--to not see His son’s sins no more —and to reign as a king. The Father had the servants to put a ring on his finger—to have authority and dominion. The Father had the servants to put sandals on his feet--peace in the gospel. The Father had the servants to get the fatted calf to eat to celebrate--unlimited abundant of blessing. The youngest son is now alive living in an abundant life with his Father.
Many believers are like the older son trying to earn their right standing with the heavenly Father by being kind, serving in the church, and working in the community, this is all good, but with the wrong reason and attitude. You eventually lose the love and relationship you once had with your Heavenly Father.
You should want to do well and serve from the love that is in your heart for your Heavenly Father in what He has done for you.
You already have right standing with the Father through grace. The Father wants to give you your heart’s desire and provide you with all your needs, and you do not have to earn it, just ask for it and you will receive it by faith. You already have ownership in everything the Father owns.
The Father wants to protect and take care of you and He wants to help you in every situation you are in, good or bad. He wants to have a loving relationship with you. The Father’s love for you is not like any kind of love you have ever seen before. The Father is kind, gentle, patient, and forgiving towards you. He does not see your sins or wrong doings—you repent and He is forgiving.
The Father will never let go of you—He is waiting patiently for you to come home and allow Him to take care of you. He loves you that He sent His only begotten Son to die for you, to save you from the enemy of destruction and death.
When you continue to have a forgiving heart towards others, you always have life and the blessing flowing your way.
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