The Position and
Possessions of a Son of God
Taken from John Sheasby's book "The Birthright"
Exercise: Think of
your heavenly Father
It’s probably fair to say that my image or understanding of
Father God was somewhat distorted by the images I had of my own Father. One who
was to be feared knowing that as soon as he came through the door each night
that our mother would immediately yell out our sins for the day so that our
earthly father could measure out his wrath upon us children. Growing up this
was the norm in our household and I became very good at placing blame upon
others for my own misgivings. Little did I know at the time that my mother
would do this to divert her own fears of our father and what he was capable of
doing when intoxicated?
Luke 15:31a the
Position of the Son
And he said to him, “Son,
you are always with me, and all that I have is yours”. In this verse Jesus
uses the noun “teknon” for the word son not the usual “huios” which spoke of
adopted sons.
‘Teknon emphasises
the son’s position not by behaviour but by birth right through the Father.
Our relationship with our heavenly Father is one not based on what we DO but who we ARE in him!
We are God’s children
not because of what WE have done but what HE has done for us! Whilst we
were still yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
We are born of
incorruptly seed (See 1Pet 1:23), not of human seed or blood but by God
(See John 1:12-13.
See John 3 Nicodemus
coming to Jesus by night...Jesus states we are born again by water and Spirit.
Vs.31 says “Son you
are always with me”. In the same way the Spirit is always with us as a seal
of the Father’s love and adoption of us. This position of intimacy is only for
his children, not strangers or hirelings or even neighbours.
See the parable of
the three loaves & the Baker in Luke 11:5-8.
The children of the baker know and feel the presence of
their father.
They know father is close and they can feel his warmth and
hear his voice. (Jesus said the sheep
know His voice in John 10:27)
The children need only whisper to ask of the father and the
father knows what they want because he is with them... (Matt 6:8).
The father is near to his children and they are dear
(precious) to him.
Jesus came into the
world to challenge and change our image of our heavenly Father. He did this by displaying the Fathers love in
his own life and ministry to others. He was accused of hanging out with
sinners, publican, prostitutes and tax collectors and in John 14:9 states “he
who has seen me has seen the Father.”
Luke 15:31 the
Possessions of the Son
“...and all that I have is yours.” The older son’s response
in grumbling about not have a skinny goat comes to light when really all along
he had full access to all that the Father has.
Mephibosheth
Jonathan’s Grandson Mephibosheth meaning from the mouth of
shame in Hebrew (2Sam9:7).
Mephibosheth was the heir of a covenant between Jonathan and
David due to their love for one another. Verse 7 speaks of restoration to
intimacy (presence) with the King
and his inheritance (possessions).
Just as the Father in Luke 15:31 states you are continually
with me and everything I have is yours. This
parallels so closely with the story of David and Mephibosheth.
Ziba (David’s servant) tried to usurp the land of
Mephibosheth and instead of declaring his rights as heir he relinquishes the land
to a servant. This happens over and over again as God’s children are usurped or
their rights by the devil.
The enemy comes but
to steal, kill and destroy... (John 10:10) “Resist him, steadfast in the faith
(1Pet 5:9)
Mephibosheth lived under the curse of his name believing he
was unworthy to take what the king had granted him, see 2Sam 19:30.
Everything that
Jesus had is now ours (See John 17:5-10)
What is it that he had? God words which are truth...
I Pet says we have “everything
pertaining to life and godliness” and Ephesians 3 says that we are “blessed in heavenly realms with every
spiritual blessing”.
This includes heirs of eternal life (Matt 19:29); salvation
(Heb 1:14); promise (Heb 6:17); Kingdom (James 2:5); grace of life (1Pet 3:7);
blessing (1Pet3:9); all things (Rev21:7); authority (Matt 28:18).
The estate of the
King of Kings has been willed to us, we are heirs of all that belongs to the
Father and by birthright, and every spiritual blessing is ours.
Conclusion
Gal 4:7 “Therefore
you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through
Christ.”
Position is about intimacy
whilst possessions are all about our inheritance.
But we must appropriate that which has been imputed to us! This is not just a
blab it and grab it gospel, but we must exercise our faith knowing who we are
in Christ and all that He has done for us! “Hold
fast the confession of our hope without wavering”. (Heb 10:23)
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