voiceoflasttrumpets

“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
And they began to be merry” [Luke 15:24]

1. This parable is a prophetic message [Luke 15:11-32]
This prophecy, like many others, has dual meaning. One, the parable foretold the casting away of Israel as cue for gentiles to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, of which the Bible says: “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? [Romans 11:15] The parable was a rebuke to Pharisees and religious leaders, in Israel, who denied credentials of Christ as Lord and Saviour. Two, the parable foretold the exceeding grace of God bought by the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross, as it is written: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [John 3:16] The first part of the parable was fulfilled In AD 70, when the Roman army sacked Jerusalem. The temple was plundered and Israel was scattered all over the world. The second part is fulfilled today and everywhere the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached.

2. God is the father in the parable.
The two sons and household of servants represent the Church. The younger son squandered his inheritance in a strange land. The older brother stayed at home, neither asking nor receiving inheritance. The prophetic significance of the parable is not the riotous living of the young man or the long years his brother spent at home. The thrust of the message is the undying love of God towards those who confess, repent and return to Him, as it is written: “…Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?” [Malachi 3:7] Those who return to God in genuine repentance are His sons. Those who profess God as their Father, but have not His blood are impostors. There are impostors are in the Church, stuck in cess pools of strong delusion of righteousness. But no man is righteous until he is made so by redemption in the blood of the Lamb, as it is written: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” [Romans 3:23-24]

3. Every father knows his sons.
The Bible says: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” [2 Timothy 2:19] God knows His sons and all pretenders are naked before Him. The sons of God are the little flock who are born of His blood and to whom is reserved His Kingdom, as it is written: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” [Luke 12:32] They are sons because they are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, not by membership or length of service in any parish. The older son was an imitator, born in the household but not in the likeness of the Father, as it is written: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonor” [2 Timothy 2:20] Let every man that calls the name of Jesus Christ examine himself, if he be a servant, impostor or son indeed.

4. The older son was an impostor.
He lived all his life in the house, yet was he not a son in the true sense. His words betrayed his illegitimacy; “… Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf” [Luke 15:29-30] The pretender labored to prove his paternity by length of years of service and “work” discipline but failed woefully because every son is proved by blood. We are sons of God not by reason of spending many years in a local assembly, but by obtaining grace and mercy in the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” [Ephesians 2:8-9]

5. The door of grace is open.
Illegitimate sons, like servants, live in the house but have no inheritance. Those who go to church, preach and or prophesy in the name of Jesus Christ, but have not regularized their paternity status are pretenders and hirelings. Thus says the Lord: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” [Matthew 7:22-23] The door of grace is open to all. Feel free to sort out your status with God right now and return to Him like the prodigal son, saying: “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants” [Luke 15:18-19] It is your turn to make peace with God. No sin is too horrible for God to forgive. Confess, repent of your sins and ask Jesus into your life as Lord and Saviour.