My Father's Inheritance

I am at the place in my life where I do all I can to assume nothing. Research, dig, excavate, find the meaning of a thing. Develop it and extract it's resources. I was blown away when I heard a message about the parable of the talents. We know one buried his talent. The others DEVELOPED theirs.

So journey with me as I dig deeper into the word Inheritance and receive what develops in our souls.

My predominant thought of inheritance WAS it is what is received when someone dies. But look at these definitions below.

1: something that is or may be inherited 2 a: the act of inheriting property b: the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring c: the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations 3 a: TRADITION b: a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature 4 obsolete : POSSESSION

Abram's quest was about inheritance. Who would he leave his inheritance to? He thought it to be his servant. Yet, God used Abraham's life to prophetically show that the inheritance is not for servants but for His Sons. SELAH

Furthermore, let's consider the story of the prodigal son found in Luke 15: 11-32. Let me say here, that when I read the book of Luke, since he was a doctor, I see his rendition of the gospel with the mindset of a physican. So, I highlight that this text is the brain surgeon that renews our minds regarding inheritance.

The prodigal was going through a mental crisis and wanted his inheritance. In my western mindset, the ask was insulting. Consider my previously stated predominant thought... It appears that he was tired of waiting for his father to die to get his possessions. He wanted them now.

Later in the story, the elder son that didn't leave as the prodigal did, stated his disdain for not having received a fatted calf and refused to attend the feast.

I have often said that the story is mislabeled. Instead it should be named the Father of the Prodigal. For it is not about the actions of the son(s). The story is about the actions and reactions of the Father. Furthermore, if you see this only on the material level, you still have more digging to do. Let's emphasize definitions 2b & 2c above and see inheritance as reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring, as well as, the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations.

I have provided the scripture below but let me Highlight the actions of the father:

12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, 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: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Out of the 21 verses above, the nature of the father is seen in 1/3 or 7 verses.

1. vs 12: The Father obliged the request and divided the inheritance to BOTH sons.

   1. He was not argumentative.

   2. He did not operate or respond in offense.

   3. Takeaway: God will give you the desires of your heart. He even grants according to Ephesians 3:20. Good or bad, be careful of what you ask.

2. vs 20: The Father was in good health: spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally! The Father was a secure man and not worried about the thoughts of others.

   1. He had "vision". He saw a long ways off.

   2. He had compassion.

   3. He ran to him. He had stamina and endurance.

   4. He embraced him.

   5. He kissed him.

   6. Takeaway: 3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3. vs 22: The Father spoke.... His words are extended to his servants which a demonstration of his wealth. Even after having divided an inheritance, there was still, and will always be, an abundance in the Father's house.

   1. encouragement (robe as covering) and distinction (best robe)

   2. authority (put it on him)

   3. distinguishment upon him (ring on his hand)

   4. peace unto him (shoes on his feet)

   5. restoration into right standing

   6. Takeaway: Psalm 112:3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness endureth forever.

4. vs 23: The Father celebrated with TRADITIONS. Implying, that the father himself had received an inheritance of his forefathers.

   1. the fatted calf was always keep for festivals. According to Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers "'the calf' that had been fattened as for some special feast of joy. It answers accordingly to the 'feast of fat things' of Isaiah 25:6 - i.e., to the joy of the full fruition of the presence of God; and there is, perhaps, in the command to 'kill it' (the word used is the technical one for slaying a sacrificial victim) a half-suggestion that this was only possible through a sacrifice and death."

   2. Consider this action a physical display of a spiritual conversion. Like the Isaiah 61, trading beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness... This tradition of the father was more than about eating, it was a sacrificial TRADE!

   3. Oh the Joy of Repentance, Salvation and Reconciliation!

   4. Takeaway: We have the tradition of the Last Supper: a celebration of Jesus' sacrifical trade.

5. vs 24: The Father decrees moving, current, transferring declarations

   1. of resurrection (no longer dead but alive)

   2. of location (no longer lost but found)

   3. Takeaway:

      1. John 5:25 Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

      2. Romans 11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

As a break in the action, we discover the elder son that stayed, though he never physically left the father, he wasn't spiritually with him either. He had his on mental crisis. He was wayward in his thinking, and his father was not in the elder.

6. vs 31 The Father DEVELOPS with knowledge.

1. Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

2. Perhaps the elder, surmised that his decision to stay would reward him with the balance of the estate. Who knows. But what great joy there is to be with a Living Father & also possess all that is His & all that is Him, also be in you & me!

3. Takeaway: John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give you!

7. vs 32 The Father Prioritizes and defines the purpose of the celebration.

1. It was meet means it is necessary.... that we should celebrate.

2. Takeaway:

   1. Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

   2. Ephesians 2:1-10 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

• As Alpha and Omega in Greek & Aleph and Tav in Hebrew, even, in this text, the Father is Present in the Beginning and the End! We serve a Risen King, who TRADED our unrighteousness for us to take POSSESSION of His righteousness.

• The Father {twice} decreed a thing (Found and Alive) and it shall be established.

• The Glory of the Latter House is Greater than the former house. A saved and redeemed son, once lost in the lust of the flesh and youthful folly, has returned to serve yet received and celebrated as a son.

• Life with the Father is Life in, with and an indwelling of the Word!

The son does not exist nor live righteously without the father. But the Father is always thinking of the son(s). For the son(s), to think of himself only is selfish, wasteful and misleading. But whenever the son's focus (willingness and obedience) is on the Father, it not only unites him with the Father, but it brings joy, insight and celebration to the household of believers.

When we observe the nature of the Father, as His children, we develop insight into His traits and instinctively model His behavior. I pray we operate in our inheritance and mimic the traits of the Father. Our love for the Father will enable us to also have an inheritance for our children's children!

As a parent of children born in this millennial/Gen Z generation, I have seen the prodigality but my faith rejoices in advance of their Knowing the Father, Knowing the Son (which is Eternal life John 17:3), repentance & salvation. Those that parent, grandparent and live during this same period of time, as believers in the household of faith, I pray that we truly mature and operate as manifested Sons of God who dwell in the house of the Lord, living life more abundantly WITH our inheritance and WITH a Living Father. We will not be counted as elders who missed the point, dwelled with Him but not Him in us, and didn't know how to celebrate a living homecoming. When they arrive, with the prodigal stench still fresh from the world, may receive them as does the Father of Prodigals. May our Whole of Armor God, fit like we grew into our Father's inheritance: His nature. In Jesus's Name, Amen

As this is written 3 days before Father's Day, may we celebrate our Heavenly Father, who has given and endured so much for us, His children!