The Prodigal Son

In Luke 15:11-24 Jesus speak a parable, about a father who had two sons, this man was a man of substance, he was a man of means, if you pay attention to the story, which is often refer to as the prodigal son or the wasteful spending son. Here the names of the persons were not given; this is so because this story was a story that did not address a particular situation but one that addressed a popular condition of life.

Here we have a situation where the younger of the two sons went boldly to his father and make a request of his father; this request was an uncommon request, the younger son requested that his father share up his belonging and he give to him that which would later come to him. He wanted his share now.

You have to understand that a good parent knows where the heart of their child lay. A diligent parent, an honest parent can tell you what their child will and will not do. This is so because the parents have the experiences dealing with that child and we are/were endowed with the responsibility of shaping their behaviors, and molding their character.

The father in this story knew where his sons heart were, he also knew why his son came to him requesting his inheritance; however, even though his father knew, why his son wanted his inheritance, he did not withheld it from him. His father divided his holding and give to the younger son, what he requested. You would have though, if the father is sharing up his wealth; he would have given the older son his share also, but he did not. The question that must be asked is: Why didn’t he give to the older son that which was coming to him? It is because the older son did not desire his inheritance at that time, he understood that his father was building an empire for him and his brother, he also understood his role in the scheme of things: which was to work hand in hand with his father in building the empire, for soon they will inherit the empire; but most of all he appreciated the life his father had prepared and provided for him.

The younger of the two could not see, that which his older brother saw so clearly; hence the reason he prematurely requested his share of his fathers promise to him at the time that he did.

I am sure that the question may have come into your mind; why did the father choose to go against common practice and divide his possession and give it to the younger son his share of the accumulation, even though he knew what his sons intention was? 

Yes the father knew what his younger son’s intentions were. We as parents, if we are honest with ourselves when it comes to our children; we will admit that we know what our children are capable of; after all we were/are responsible for molding their minds; we are also responsible for the influences we exposed them to and we are endowed with the responsibility of supervising and caring for our children for most of their life. So we have knowledge of who our children are and what our children intent are, their goals and there objectives; we know what they will do and what they are capable of doing.

We have asked if the father knew what his sons intentions were, why did he give his son his inheritance and allow him to go and indulged in the things of the world? You see the son did not have to leave home to go into the world. The son was dwelling in the world right in the sterility of his father’s home. What do I mean by this? The bible said in Proverbs 23:7 “for as a man think in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” Here we see that the younger son was in the sterility of his father’s home yet he was in the world.

Very often we try to save our children from themselves, and in doing so, we prevent them from finding their way; from understanding the world around them, we prevent them from understanding themselves and from coming to a true appreciation of what you have provide for them. We do this not because it is the best thing for the child; but because of what people will say, or because we cannot understand the path they choose to take.

There are many people who are in the church, participating in church activities, officiating in an official capacity but they are dwelling in the world. Not that they are going out drinking, parting etc. but deep down in their hearts, they want to do these things that characterized the world. As a result; they day dream of participating in such activities and at night when they go to sleep they also dream of participating in the activities of the world.

We all know the story very well, soon after the younger son received his inheritance, he left home, and spent his whole inheritance on foolish living. Just as his money ran out, there came a famine and the son ended up feeding pigs for a living. His conditions were so bad that he was reduced to eating the food that was prepared for the pigs. 

In verse 17 of Luke 15: When he finally came to his senses, this is telling me because his heart was always in the world, and he was not focusing that which was good and true he was not in his right senses.

• So when he asked his father for his inheritance he was not in his right senses
• When he pack his stuff and leave home he was not in his right senses
• When he choose the place where he was going to settle he was not in his right senses
• When he indulged in his ungodly living he was not in his right senses
• When he had chosen to invest his time efforts and energy to care for pigs he was not in his right senses.

When he finally came to his senses he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”

Here we noticed that although times and adverse circumstances have destroyed the mountain of pride the younger son had; the mountain of pride that give him the courage to demanded his inheritance from his father, the pride that cause him to pack up his things and left home; the mountain of pride that cause him to foolishly spend his money on extravagant living.

Here we see when the younger son’s return home, his father welcoming him with open arms and celebration.

But then the older and faithful son heard about the celebration his father was having in honor of his rebellious brother’s return home and he brought the reality as it stood to his father attention.

The older brother was angry and would not go in.

Many people questioned the attitude of the older son, about the whole state of affair and they ridicule that older brother. Let us look at this part of the story from another prospective.

When we have something that we cherish and we thing we are in danger of losing that thing; we have a right to get angry. Do you remember Jacob and Esau; you see the length at which Jacob and his mother went to get the inheritance of his father, for with the inheritance came a particular blessing. Do you see how angry Esau became, when he learnt that he had lost his inheritance? We have an inheritance that Yahweh had promised to us and personally; if I am of the opinion that anyone is going to take my inheritance from me I will be angry also. What was good is that the older son did not allow his anger to shut him down but he let his feelings be known to the father.

He said father I have stayed at home with you all these years, and you have never even throw me a party in appreciation of my loyalty; however my younger brother came home after wasting his inheritance and you are having a party for him.

The father explained and reassured the older and the loyal son that this celebration does not, will not affect his blessings, the love he had for him; his appreciation for loyal service or his inheritance. We are to be honest with Yahweh, and tell him exactly how we feel about a particular situation; it is not as if he does not already know the emotions we are experiencing and the thoughts we are entertaining. So we are to question him when we do not understand what is happening, for the Most High God has the answer to all of our questioning.

There are six vital lessons that came out in this discourse and they are:

1. Any time we come to a place where we are unable to distinguish between that which is not good for us from that which is not good for us; then we are not in our right senses.

2. Tells the story of God unconditional love and accepting of us sinner.

3. Each of us do not learn in the same manner; the older son learn from observation the prodigal son had to go out there and suffer for him to understand the value of what his father had worked so hard to provide for him.

4. There are many ways that we must take to come to an understanding of who Yahweh is and what he will do for us.

5. It was o.k for the son to question that which he do not understand; especially when he were seeking answers and or clarity. God is not afraid of our honest questions for he has the correct answers; what he hates however is when we presumptuously or conceitedly asking questions.

6. No one is more important than us regardless of our situation.

The Price of Disobedience: Mockery and Ridicule

Solomon's temple: From Anthopology of the Church

The temple of God: is often refers to a place where people come to worship Yahweh or Jehovah. It is also believe that the spirit of God is present in his temple/church. It is advised that Jehovah’s subjects should conduct themselves in certain decorum whilst in the temple of the living God.

It is also true that when we are in the presence of the Holy and the only true God we ought to show reverence to his presence, his holiness, his power and his beauty because he is worthy of such. He does not demand it but he requests it. When we think of the state of man, when compare to Yahweh. Even at mans best we were still lower than the ordinary angels.

It is important that we understand that reverence cannot be forced, planned, organized or enforced; reverence has to be acquired through a love relationship and an understanding of who Yahweh is. When we have an understanding of who he is, it is only them will our behaviors and actions be transform to that which is fitting for a God of Jehovah’s status.

I have seen people fainted when they were in the presence of Michael Jackson. You see these people have elevated Michael Jackson to the status of a god. What was exceptionally special about Michael Jackson, Yes he could sing and he could dance. There are millions of people who could sing and dance just as good as Michael Jackson. At times Michael Jackson will put on disguise and venture out into the public and no one will even know that he was there; they may have spoken to him, bump into him, shake his hands; even served him and nothing out of the ordinary happened. Nothing happened because he was ordinary. He had no special powers, the words he sang were created, ordained and given to him to sing; the dance steps he preformed were not unique to him, the moon walk was preformed by many before him; included Cab Calloway in 1932, Bill Dailey in 1955 and a hose of other performers; however, when Michael Jackson did it the first time on live TV and it was seen by millions of people he was given the credit for that dance move.

although Michael Jackson was popular he was just an ordinary man just like you and me.

However; when the holy, sinless awesome angels in heaven entered Yahweh’s physical presence, they were instantly teleported into a dimension of never before felt ecstasy that left them in a state of glorious acknowledgement. These angel that is before Yahweh shout day and night without stopping; Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, the one who always was, who is and who is to come.

it is important to note, that when these angels are in Yahweh presence they have no need for anything but to praise Yahweh for days unending. This is so because in Yahweh's presence there is fullness of Joy, on ending ecstasy.

At the same time twenty and four elders join the worship they emits their throne cast their crown before Yahweh and shout: You are worthy, O lord our God, to receive Glory and honor and power; for you create everything and they exist because you created what you please.

It is important to note that Yahweh’s spirit is every where, it does not leave the streets and go into the churches; Yah’s spirit is already with us and within us

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 said “don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

Here we see that the church/temple that Yahweh is interested in was the temple of the body. In 1 Kings 9: Yahweh appear to King Solomon just after he had dedicated the Beautiful temple of God at the dedication Solomon said a powerful pray, So Jehovah said to Salomon, I heard the prayer you offered up to me.

1 Kings 9:3-8 speak of the condition under which he is to going continue to honor and continue to dwell in the temple Israel have built and dedicated to him 3. “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. 4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 8And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads in amazement. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’

Now let us examine what Jehovah said to Solomon. First Yahweh expressed his gratitude that Solomon had built a place for his people to worship and offer sacrifice in. He also declared that he had sanctify, consecrate and attached his name on the edifice; however, Jehovah made it clear that he may reject Israel and this beautiful temple Israel had built to his honor if the king and the people refuse to continually obey his commandment and worship other Gods he will:

1. Uproot Israel from the land that he have given to them.
2. Yah will reject the temple that he (God) have make holy to honor his name.
3. Yah will make Israel the object of mockery and ridicule.
4. All who pass by will be appalled and shake their head in amazement.
5. And they will asked why did Yahweh did such a thing to this land and his kingdom?

And the world will know it is because they have abandon Yahweh and worship other God.

History have recorded the uprooting of Israel and the destruction of the temple that Solomon built to Yah’s honor and this was so destroyed because of Solomon backsliding and Israel’s continued backsliding.

Yahweh said that his words will not go fort without accomplishing its objective but it will accomplished every thing I say.

Yahweh outlined the conditions which Israel were to meet in order to have Yahweh’s continued protection and favor, Solomon and Israel also though that Yahweh would have been satisfy with their pass loyalty and the wonderful temple, but He do not. Yahweh expects a consistent and continual loyalty nothing else will do.

It is important to note that there are rewards for being faithful to him, reward that will catapult us into the hemisphere of dignity, and honor.

So if you are obsess with your church or your temple and the life of the members and leaders are not right with Yahweh, then Yahweh will cause those people to be reduced to mockery and ridicule.

Yah will never asked us to do anything that are beyond out ability to perform, but when we are unable to genuinely meet Jehovah’s expectation he have promised to be there to see us through.