Are You a Son?
Luke 15:11-32
The second son knew his position as a son, and that is why he asked for his inheritance. Clearly, he knew what was entitled to him as a son.
On what grounds are you walking in the kingdom of God? Are you walking as a son, or are you walking as a slave?
Romans 8:14-17
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
We need to reach the level of understanding that we are sons (and daughters) in the kingdom of God, and that sons are not compared to slaves.
Even though, according to the parable, the son was squandering the wealth and was reckless, he realized his position as a son and went back home with a repentant heart.
We need to be ready to accept correction from God and also accept new converts in the kingdom of God. Based on the example of the prodigal son, the other son was not amused by the returning of the prodigal son. We should learn from that situation not to discriminate new converts despite their history. In God's eyes, we are all the same.
Always remember that through Christ you are now a son in the kingdom of God, with rights and an inheritance, and work towards renewing your mind according to your new identity in Christ. Enjoy your rights as a son. If you are not a son yet, accept Jesus today, and get to enjoy the God-given privileges of sonship.
Blessings.
-- Virginia Muthoni
(5/04/15 Sunday Service Morning Exhortation)
Sister Virginia is a Sunday School teacher, at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And
the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion
of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to
them his livelihood. 13 And
not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far
country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But
when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began
to be in want. 15 Then he
went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his
fields to feed swine. 16 And
he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and
no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’
The second son knew his position as a son, and that is why he asked for his inheritance. Clearly, he knew what was entitled to him as a son.
On what grounds are you walking in the kingdom of God? Are you walking as a son, or are you walking as a slave?
Romans 8:14-17
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
We need to reach the level of understanding that we are sons (and daughters) in the kingdom of God, and that sons are not compared to slaves.
Even though, according to the parable, the son was squandering the wealth and was reckless, he realized his position as a son and went back home with a repentant heart.
Questions to ponder
- Why am I alive and why am I here? In this kingdom we are called for a great commission as sons and daughters in the kingdom of God.
- Are you ready to be corrected by God?
Hebrews 12:5-11
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed bestto them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
We need to be ready to accept correction from God and also accept new converts in the kingdom of God. Based on the example of the prodigal son, the other son was not amused by the returning of the prodigal son. We should learn from that situation not to discriminate new converts despite their history. In God's eyes, we are all the same.
Always remember that through Christ you are now a son in the kingdom of God, with rights and an inheritance, and work towards renewing your mind according to your new identity in Christ. Enjoy your rights as a son. If you are not a son yet, accept Jesus today, and get to enjoy the God-given privileges of sonship.
Blessings.
-- Virginia Muthoni
(5/04/15 Sunday Service Morning Exhortation)
Sister Virginia is a Sunday School teacher, at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.
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Blessings.