THE ELDER SON (THE 'NON-PRODIGAL' SON)

THE ELDER SON (THE 'NON-PRODIGAL' SON)

In various teachings, a lot of emphases have been laid on the prodigal son but only little have been taught about the other son that remained faithfully with the father.

²⁵ "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

²⁸ "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ³¹ "'My son,' the father said,'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"  Luke 15:25-32 NIV

The elder brother heard about the return of his brother (having wasted his own portion of the father’s inheritance), the feast his father has made for the prodigal son even with the fattest calf and became very angry because the father neither celebrated his staying nor given him a little to celebrate with his friends.

The father’s reply was such filled with revelations not just for the elder son but for all the children of God in this generation;

"’My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” Luke 15:31 NIV

The elder son wasn’t aware everything the father has was his. He didn’t know he has full right to all his father’s wealth and possessions. If he decided to take a calf and enjoy with his friends, his father wouldn’t have protested. If only he had asked the father, he would’ve received.

The same way many believers are not aware of their inheritance in God. Many are not aware they are joint-heirs to the throne of God with Jesus Christ.

“And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.” Rom 8:17 AMP

Many of us suffer hardship and lack that we are not supposed to, if only we could ask the father. The elder brother didn’t ask, so he didn’t receive, many believer don’t receive because they did’t ask. Prayer has become a stressful exercise for many believers, prayerlessness and lukewarmness has been the order of the day among Christians.

“…yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2 KJV

Many have been saved for many years without a living testimony to show for it. Do you know the ark of God was in the house of Abinadab  for 20 years (1 sam 7:1-2) and no tangible breakthrough was recorded but the ark of God only stayed in the house of Obedeodem for 6months and he so prospered that the whole nations heard of his fame (2 sam 6:10-11)

Don’t be an ordinary Christian, God has many wonderful things in stock for us (even physical, emotional, mental and spiritual blessings).

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor 2:9 KJV

Don’t be like the elder son that stayed with the father faithfully without enjoying the father’s inheritance. You have full right to all God has, you have full right to financial and material blessing, freedom and victory over the power of darkness, excellence, joy, peace etc.

Don’t settle for less, nothing is too much for God to do

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” Jer 32:27 KJV

                                        ………………….GOD BLESS YOU