01-26-2014

ANOTHER PARABLE DEPICTING THE PROCESS OF BEING BORN-AGAIN

This message may be viewed live streaming video at www.tabernacleofmoses.org commencing today Sunday at 11:00am, and repeated 24/7 for one week; thereafter, the audio and notes without video are archived.

THE PRODIGAL SON

(Dict: “prodigal” = wasteful or recklessly extravagant)

(Luke 15:11,12)  And he [Jesus] said, A certain man [Father God] had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided [distributed, gave] unto them his living [i.e., his heritage, his essence - life].

1.      Commentary: Although it was uncommon to receive a premature inheritance, this parable illustrates that Father God permits each person to go his or her own way with the “life” that He has given you. Well, what have you done with your “life” which is your heritage? What are you doing with your life now? What will you do with your “life,” your gift from Father God in the future? Do/will you bear “much fruit” (John 15:5,8) for the Father with the “life” that He has given you?

SEPARATION FROM GOD IS THE FIRST DEATH

ACCOMPANIED BY BURIAL IN THE WORLD NOW.

THEREAFTER, BURIAL IN THE LAKE OF FIRE IS THE SECOND DEATH

1.      (Jer 23:29a)  Is not my word like as a fire?

2.      (Heb 12:29)  For our God is a consuming fire. [Deut 4:24; 9:3]

3.      (Isa 11:9)  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD [which is the understanding (rhema) of His Word (seed = logos)], as the waters [the Holy Spirit’s illumination (fire) of the Word of God] cover the sea.

4.      (Hab 2:14)  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD [which is the understanding (rhema) of His Word (seed = logos), as the waters [the Holy Spirit’s illumination (fire) of the Word of God] cover the sea.

(Luke 15:13)  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country [separation from Father God], and there wasted his substance [the gift of life from God] with riotous living [thereby “being conformed to (the patterns of) this world” Rom 12:2].

1.      wasted = Gk: dissipated, i.e. separated (himself from); fig. squandered: dispersed, scattered (abroad).

2.      riotous = Gk: dissolute /// unsavedness, i.e. (by impl.) profligacy: excess, riot.

3.      riotous = Dict: given to or marked by unrestrained revelry; loose; wanton.

4.      Commentary: “riotous living” = living out of control, living like wild animals rather than domesticated “upright” men; living without the “hedge” (Heb: for formation, protection, restraint) placed about us by Father God (Job 1:10 & Psa 34:7); acting without the restraints of Biblical principles.

(Luke 15:14-16)  And when he had spent all [i.e., wasted all his “living” Luke 15:12], there arose a mighty famine [Gk: a scarcity of food] in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he [the businessman citizen] sent him into his fields to feed swine [pigs]. And he would fain [“gladly” KJV; “He longed to” NIV] have filled his belly with the husks [seed pods without seeds] that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

1.      Commentary: “in want” = he became hungry in desperate need of food, but what kind of food would save his life? The world’s food, or God’s food?

2.      joined = Gk: ("glue"); to glue, i.e. to stick (fig.):--cleaved, join (self), keep company.

3.      Commentary: “swine” = This was defiling to the young Jewish man because pigs were unclean animals forbidden to be touched according to the Law of Moses. Significantly, they ate the world’s food.

4.      (1 Cor 10:13)  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you [Gk: permit you] to be tempted above that ye are able [to resist]; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

5.      (Luke 8:11)  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

6.      (Mark 4:13,14) And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. [so what exactly is the reference to “husks” signifying?]

7.      Commentary: May we note a prevalent pattern of the world manifested in that no matter howsoever generous this young man may have been in “riotous living” with his presumably very many friends, that when he was broke and in desperate need of food for survival, that “no man gave unto him.”

RESURRECTION

(Luke 15:17-21)  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare [an abundance], and I perish [am dying] with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say [confess] unto him, Father [a confessional prayer], 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 [a phrase expressing the loss of pride and the gain of true humility; the young man had learned his lesson]. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off [closer, but not yet in the Kingdom of God/Heaven], his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him [his confession], Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

1.      Commentary: “when he came to himself” = exactly alike the man miserably living in the tombs (graveyard) of his mind who was inhabited by fallen angels (demons) until he was healed by Jesus, and came back into (was restored) “in his right mind” Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35.

2.      Commentary: “hired servants” = persons working for wages rather than Grace, of which are a large majority percentage of the Church today.

3.      Commentary: A secular adage: “The pathway to Hell is paved with good intentions.”

4.      Commentary: “bread” = Jesus Christ said “I am the bread of life” John 6:35. The “bread of life” is made with crushed seeds (Jesus Christ) and a bit of water (the Holy Spirit) and fire (“our God is a consuming fire” Heb 12:29). Seeds = the logos word of God, and crushed seeds = the rhema (revelations) word of God.

IMMEDIATELY

AFTER THE ACCEPTANCE OF HIS CONFESSION, HE WAS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD/HEAVEN

(Luke 15:22-24)  But the father said to his servants [a transition has taken place], Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him [the white robe of righteousness is certainly the best robe]; and put a ring on his hand [Gk: power] [the seal of the power of his family], and shoes on his feet [to walk in the two shoes, no longer of “the preparation” but “of the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15), i.e., the Old Testament and the New Testament]: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry [i.e., party time]: For this my son was dead, and is alive again [i.e., he was resurrected from the dead]; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

1.      Commentary: “But the father” = upon hearing the humble confession [“if thou shalt confess with thy mouth” Rom 10:9] and discerning the young man’s heart, immediately restored him into the Kingdom of God/Heaven before he could complete his flawed prayer request to be a “hired servant.”

2.      (Eph 6:15)  And [having] your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

3.      (John 6:21)  Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship [miraculously traversed the remaining 3 ½ miles of the Sea of Galilee and] was at the land [the Promised Land, i.e., Heaven] whither they went [where all disciples have been sent].

4.      (Luke 15:7)  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth [and enters into the Kingdom of God/Heaven], more than over ninety and nine just [Gk: innocent] [righteous] persons, which need no repentance.

5.      (Luke 15:10)  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

6.      Commentary: our born-again experience is a type and shadow of our being resurrected from the dead.

Amen