re-thinking some of the parables ... No.26
THE PRODIGAL KINGDOM-SON
When the word certain is used, it is like a special emphasis or application is being referred to, so we need to especially take note.. He had two sons. We see by the use of the Greek word ‘huios’ for ‘sons’, that both these sons were certainly not ‘servants’ but as sons, had a calling to come into the full stature of their Father. They represent TWO different ways that we could find ourselves walking in. The first group are those who are experiencing the reality of being in Father’s house, who hear the word that Father wanted His whole household to be under — His thinking, in fact His house was His kingdom and he had the desire that his sons take on his full image and likeness. These believers give mental assent to the vision of becoming full-grown sons, they rejoice over the content of Father’s vision and provision, but do not allow that word to affect their walk and relationships. The second group also take for granted the blessings of Father’s house, who hear the word of the Kingdom and sonship but with a bias towards how it will enhance their situation or even their ministry. They purpose in their hearts to go forth and implement Father’s desires with their own ideas and in their own methods, thus operating from their own thinking instead of the thinking that is in Fathers mind (known as the mind of Christ). Both had access to Father’s resources because of the grace that permeated Father’s nature. How many of us reading this article have failed to even try to walk in the expectation of the calling knowing the provision is freely available? Father had imparted to his sons many skills and principles along with his deep love and discipline. He did not try to persuade his younger son from leaving or his older son to ‘wake up’ and appreciate the word that he had received, it was their choice and experience was what they needed to gain. This certain father divided his ‘means of living’ (Greek for goods ) between them both even though the elder brother did not request it. The same resources are available for each one of us; no one has more than another! The lifeless elder son just did not see the need to request anything more from his father!
The younger son ‘took off’ to make a name for himself. He went away from his father’s house and direct authority where father’s thinking was paramount. He went into a place far from such authority ... into religious ‘Babylon’, planned what he would do and no doubt, prayed and asked God to bless it.
So the younger son left fully equipped for sharing the word, living by it, but failed to realize the true value of what he had been given. The ‘goods’ were actually the supply for being and not for doing, doing, doing ! What had been precious to his father was now going to be carelessly used on programs and gimmicks that would purchase his popularity. Self would rise to the fore and He would obtain what he wanted, especially those things that would help him build his security. He had forgotten that ‘things’ do not bring happiness. He invested his time and energy in wrong beliefs, wrong projects and associated with people who didn’t really have their god in “first place” in their lives. Their god was always asked to serve me.
Things did not work out as well as he had hoped. The unexpected happened; the spot in which he found himself was in a very severe famine. A famine, not of food but of hearing the Word of Father’s thinking. The people and things that he had invested in deserted him when times became difficult. Tradition, which at first appeared so plausible, now seemed empty! His inheritance was gone and all he had left was some precious memories among his total memory. He recalled how that some of those meetings seemed very exciting when they were in progress. They just didn’t have a lasting effect upon him for good. Recollecting the merriment of those meetings where he had been a leader , but they were not helping in his present situation. This younger son, now not quite so sure about himself and his initial vision, managed to obtain a farm-hand job with a local church of one of the big franchises. His duties were to feed those attending with any old thing. Pigs will eat anything including husks that contain no life. What an achievement! A servant to swine who never say ‘thanks’, having to give to them just what they wanted and when they wanted it and they always wanted more of the same: Husks, husks, lifeless husks!
Famine crept up on him. When one is starving (evidenced quite often by the words, ‘I’m just not being fed’ ), one starts to look around to find where some food is. It is a matter of survival, Right? The only possibility at the time seemed to be this denominational city; there was nothing else around to his knowledge. He joined them and became a ‘citizen’ (member) and got involved with their lifeless word and vision to the point where he was swallowed up by it all. Was there anything better? His memory had been dulled. Just how long the younger son was there, we do not know. It was long enough for him to realize truly that really ‘the famine was not of bread or water, but of hearing the words’ of the King and His Kingdom. It really was a severe famine indeed, isn’t it ?
At a time when one hits ‘rock bottom’, it is quite the expected thing for the Spirit to bring to our remembrance words that were received earlier. The way in which one was brought up in Fathers house perhaps, and some of the experiences that one had. Yes, even the call of God that came so clearly and its initial response and enthusiasm. Strange how that all got covered up and now you feel all alone. He came to himself (v.17). This was just like Jacob when he was exposed by that tenacious angel. ‘I am Jacob, a swindler, a twister, a conniver...’ He saw his true state. I am just a servant to another ... a servant obeying every miserable order or expectation having to ‘toe-the-line’ to dead constitutions and repetitive programs. The servants in my father’s house, he thought, were far better off than this rut that I am in and, let us face it, I need help, I have failed and I have sinned. When one, who has sinned, repents, it releases the Holy Spirit to lead in that life. The CHANGE OF THINKING brought with it a change of attitude. ‘I can’t’ came to his lips for the first time in a long while. The beginning of this BREAKING PROCESS to bring about a genuine full surrender was happening. ‘I will arise and go’ - action behind his heart-cry became the first step to overcoming. I will be a servant in my father’s house and I will just listen to my Father’s voice. A new vision was dawning upon him slowly. He trusted that there would be a vacancy in father’s staff! He realized that he had ruined the calling that was upon his life as a son, but was willing to join the ‘servant realm’ and to pour out instead of getting what he wanted. Father somehow knew about the process that was under way in his son’s life. He expected his return and sensed when it would occur. Father was looking for him, saw him, ran to meet him with such love and understanding and kissed him; all before his son had said a word! The heart was right so the speech was almost incidental. This father knew his son was willing to do all of his bidding (will). The basic ‘servant-attitude’ that is required by all. What an amazing response this younger son received.
This younger son found himself being ADOPTED (see re-thinking ‘Present Truth’ on website [see back cover]). Shoes were placed on his feet! Servants did not wear sandals, only the mature/adopted sons did along with their father. This renewed-thinking son also received the best robe! It wasn’t his because he would have taken his own when he left. Could it have been his father’s, do you suppose ? (like Elijah’s! Remember Elisha called out to Elijah, ‘My Father, My Father.’...and received his robe with a double portion of his spirit!). That covering represented Father’s nature, the ring pictured Father’s authority and the fatted calf, his supply ... all the parts of ‘adoption’. What wonderful mercy ! His father was musing out aloud, My son (in the spirit) is experiencing resurrection life. Yes! My son in whom I am well pleased What a time of rejoicing as they celebrated with a Feast.
The elder son, who had been given ‘the means to walk’ as his father, had failed also to see the full value of what he had been given. He had been somewhat jealous of his brother’s treatment. This son should have moved in the same compassion as his father had, but he had become judgmental and could not bring himself even to have fellowship with his brother. All that father had was his, he had been told many times, but HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WORD . Father came especially to him with a word. His response was a complaint. I’ve served you faithfully and continuously all these years and you have not given me a feast (OF TABERNACLES ???) and a celebration (OF JUBILEE ???!) Because of his bitterness, it cut him off from a close relationship with his father and flowing in what HE was doing right then (HE KNEW NOTHING OF PRESENT TRUTH’ - 2 Peter 1:12). The elder brother’s call to move AS a son did not materialize. He did not use what was made available to him earlier. Oh yes! They were both members of the family.
Father’s love still flowed toward his immature first-born son, but his disappointment showed when he called his elder boy TEKNON (Greek for ‘child’) when all the other references used were HUIOS (Greek for ‘mature son’). Repentance was lacking in the elder son which would have RELEASED that double portion of the ‘goods’ that were given him.
This is a very apt parable of the first becoming last and the last, first. The younger son was dead because of his own self-centered vision and thinking but became alive in Father’s presence to his calling The relationship with his Father was lost but now he found it fuller than he could have ever imagined. Knowing ABOUT the vision of sonship and the goods of adoption, does not automatically GUARANTEE the end result. We need to come to examine ourselves, repent (= draw your thinking from a different source) and approach Father-God with a sincere willingness to obey His every word in a true servant attitude. While we must not assume anything, but in leaning upon the grace of our Father, He will do what pleases Him in bringing many sons to glory (Heb.2:14). §