THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD (FATHERS DAY)

The Prodigal Son -  Luke 15:17-24
¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

This is the story of the famous Prodigal son and how he came back to his father after spending all he had taken from him.  Then the scripture says he came to his senses.  When can we come to our senses in the spirit to know that our heavenly Father have enough food and blessings for us that we don’t have to starve to death.  The word says, “I will go back to my Father”  

When we call God our Father, it means that we enjoy a covenant relationship with him.  We are also attesting that God is a person, one who we can know and have fellowship with, because father is the language of human relationship.  He is not an impersonal God. He cares for us and does provide for us. He loves us and sees our needs.

Firstly, in Luke 15:19  the son says, ‘I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’  

That is what the devil wants us to confess when we sin and fail God every time.  But God forbids that.  Today God the Father is restoring the revelation of son-ship.  The revelation of son-ship is what will take the Church to a greater level of doing the same miracles that Jesus did. It is not just our inheritance to do the miracles that Jesus did - it is the absolute will of the Father to do the same miracles that Jesus did.

In 1 John 3:1-3 - King James Version (KJV)  -  “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 

Notice the word now we are the sons of God whether we have failed or sinned, our status remains as it is. God is not our employer he is our father and we are his beloved sons of God.

Secondly, notice the phrase that the Father said, “My son was dead but have come alive”.  Why was he ‘dead’ all about?  He was ‘dead’ because He felt the father did not love him. He was ‘dead’ because of his performances. He was ‘dead’ because he did wrong. He was ‘dead’ because he never knew the love and blessings of the Father. We can be dead for many reasons.  We are dead because of sins but Christ has made us alive because of the Fathers love.

Many believers lived of what the Father considers ‘dead’ in religion, in works and performance. But today God is restoring LIFE, MORE LIFE AND ABUNDANT LIFE into our lives.  Let us have a revelation of who the FATHER IN HEAVEN is and touch his love.  Let our Christian life be living and joyful in abundance.

Thirdly I saw, in verse 22 it says “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate."

When we failed and returned, God still brought us the best of everything – here the best robe is the Robe of righteousness.  He brought the Ring of authority and power back to our lives.  The Sandals of freedom to choose to become his son again.

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the “Holy Spirit” to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:11-13. 

If God can give us the Holy Spirit that is God Himself – He will give us the best of everything in life.  This is what the Heavenly Father is all about.  We read in Luke, “how much more” God will give you everything in life to make you successful.  Amen!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!  (16TH JUNE, 2013)