October 24, 2010
Morning Worship
Text: Luke 15:11-31
Subject: Your Inheritance
Title: Laying Claim to the Family Fortune
Does anyone here today have a copy of your family tree? How far back can you go? Is it something that is important to you? One thing that I have noticed in the nine years that we have been here, Palmyra has more family reunions per capita than any other town in the United States (not scientific but my own observance). I mean it seems like there are Begley reunions and Johnson reunions and Harlan reunions and more Harlan reunions and it seems that the whole summer is just full of reunions. I admire families that do that. In my family I think that, to my knowledge, there has been one family reunion on the Rickman side and one on the Treadway side (my Mom’s family). That’s all I remember. Yet, in spite of that I am always searching and talking to others, looking for a connection to my past. I don’t know why but I just want to have a connection to my ancestors.
Just this last week I received a picture of my great grandparents on my Mom’s side. I didn’t even know that it existed until my aunt sent it to my Mom. Now it is mine. None of my other brothers and sisters seem to be too concerned about it, but I am fascinated by my family’s past. My great-grandfather’s name was Belv – I guess that is short for Belvedere. Great G’ma’s name was Martha. This is the little bit of history that I know about them. They were born in the middle of the 1800’s – not sure the date, Died in the 1920’s. Great Grandpa was well to do. He owned several farms and when each of his children was married he gave them each a farm with a home on it. One daughter received a home in town. Each one received an inheritance before their time.
This is the last sermon in the Series, “What God Wants” and the focus comes from Colossians 1:12-13, 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
This is the point I wanted to get to today. You have an inheritance awaiting you today and it is up to you to lay claim to that inheritance.
Lord open our hearts to receive the anointing that teaches us according to 1 John 2:27, 27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
In Jesus’ name I pray… Amen!
I. YOU CAN ASK THE FATHER FOR YOUR INHERITANCE. 11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Was it wrong for this young man to ask his father for his share of the estate? In this case if the father chose to give him the inheritance (which he did) he would have full use of the property. He could spend the money any way he wanted but as long as the Father was alive he could not transfer the deed to the property – it couldn’t be sold. Turn over to Luke 11. Do you know that when you pray you need to be specific in your prayer? God answers specific prayer specifically. John 15, 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. Mark 11,24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Luke 11, 11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" When you ask God for something that He has promised you, it will be the real thing – no counterfeits. Now, it may be that one of the reasons that some don’t ask for their inheritance is that many Christians think that the only inheritance they have coming is that which is guaranteed them in the next life. Ephesians 1:14, 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Do you see that? … guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession… Now I want you to see one more thing in our passage today before we move on. It was the younger son who had the nerve to ask his father for his inheritance, but the older brother benefited from it as well … So he divided his property between them. I want you to remember this for a little later. But for now consider this, when you ask for what you know is already yours from the promises that God has given you others will benefit from it as well. You can pray for healing for others because you know God has promised it. You can pray for salvation for others because you know that God wants them saved. You can stand as an intercessor for the needs of others because you know that God has set you as an intercessor on earth – a go-between between the Father in heaven and people on earth. You have an inheritance and it is yours for the asking.
II. YOU SHOULD USE YOUR INHERITANCE WISELY. The younger son did not do that. He took the gift the father gave him – I call it a gift because the father didn’t have to give him anything – he took the gift and used it as a license for worldly living. 13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. Here is an interesting note. The word that is translated wild means “unsavedness” WE get the picture of the son who uses what the father intended for gain to live the way that those who are not heirs live. This is a beautiful picture of the free will that God has given us. He has promised us an inheritance but He by no means forces us to live up to the standards of that inheritance. This younger son took what God gave him and squandered it. I cannot understand how some can take the gift of God and throw it away. They come to church and respond to an altar call to be saved – they receive their inheritance – then they immediately go out and like this son squander everything that has been done for them on worldly living. I said I don’t understand it, but I guess in a way I do understand. Many people have lived so long in the world that when they give their lives to Jesus Christ and receive their inheritance, even though they are new creations from the inside out, they are so used to living according to the sinful nature and are so unfamiliar with anything that is taking place in the spirit man, that they don’t even realize what they are doing is contrary to the will of the Father. Yes when they are saved and commit sin the Holy Spirit will convict them. Yes they know that something is wrong. But as new Christians it is often so difficult to recognize the Holy Spirit’s voice in your inner man, that you just set it aside and keep looking for satisfaction in what the world offers. The truth is that what the father had for his son was far better than anything that he found in the world. Romans 6:15-18, 15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness… Our inheritance is not in worldly things but in the things of God. . 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. As soon as the son began to be in need what did he try to do? He wanted to fill the emptiness – the lacking – in his life with more of what he thought had brought satisfaction – the things of the world. Paul addressed this same problem in Galatians 1. 6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! That is what happens to so many new Christians today. They are not mature in their faith. They believe the social gospel – that we need to be accepting of all people and approve ungodly lifestyles. So they go back to doing what they have always done and get the same results they always got. But you have received and inheritance from the Father in heaven. You need to use it wisely.
III. YOUR INHERITANCE WILL NEVER RUN OUT. I am glad that God is my Father. I told you in the beginning of the sermon about my great grandfather and how he gave his children good things. You know that inheritance ran out. My Grandpa Treadway received a house and 60 acres when he got married. Later he sold that and purchased a different house and 35 acres. When my Grandma passed away in 1982 the farm was divided among seven children. Each received 5 acres. My mom eventually sold her five acres to her youngest sister who lived next to the property. So now, three generations later there is no inheritance left. But God is not like that. The prodigal son now realizes it. 17"When he came to his senses, he said, ’How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ How bad did it have to get for him to realize what he had given up? The phrase “came to his senses” in verse 17 was a common phrase that carried with it the idea of repentance. I want you to notice that the motivation for his repentance was his hunger. But his desire was to return to his father and not just for food. John 6:26-27, 26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." Here is something that you need to know. There is no statute of limitations on grace. Once you have taken possession of your inheritance it is yours. You may squander it. You may walk away from it for a period of time. But it is still yours. As a matter of fact, you may be living apart from God’s will right now. He is just waiting for you to come to your senses and say, : Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son… After the son came to that conclusion he did something. 20So he got up and went to his father. You know, it is one thing to say I’m sorry and feel badly for what you have done, but real repentance means putting your “I’m sorry” to work. And God is waiting. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him… You can read it in the story. The father didn’t wait – he ran to the son. He put a robe on him. He put a ring on him. He restored him to his previous position. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
IV. YOU CAN MISS OUT ON YOUR INHERITANCE. I want you to remember that this inheritance that we are talking about is not just for the future. It is for this life. And now we shift the focus of the story to the older brother. 25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So 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. You know the story doesn’t tell us how long the younger brother was gone. He was gone long enough to waste all his money. Verse 28 tells us that it was “years”. Look at what is taking place. The younger brother has come back to enjoy the provision the Father has for him. The older brother is being held prisoner by improper attitudes. 1) He was angry. Why? Because he thought in his own mind that he deserved more. 2) He refused to go in and be a part of the celebration. He would rather stay outside and point fingers. Have you ever done that? There have been times when I have been guilty of that. There are people who have received their inheritance and then never set foot in the father’s house until they need something. Then they are right back up front receiving prayer and getting blessed and all the while some are saying, “I don’t know why they just come back when they need something”! The truth is they are coming back when they come to their senses. Thank God they know where they can come to in order to get back on track. Meanwhile some have the older brother syndrome. They stand outside and refuse to join the party. 3) He had a wrong understanding of his relationship with the Father. He thought that he should have received his inheritance because of his good works. , ’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Now go back to verse 12, So he divided his property between them. His part of the inheritance had already been set aside for him to have. He chose not to do anything with it. He never understood the father’s will for his life. 31" ’My son,’ the father said, ’you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. Do you want to know something that I really love? I love the childlike faith of a new believer. It is that faith that will just hear something from the word and then lay claim to it. You know the older son had all these things in his possession but never experienced the goodness of any of it. James 4:2 has something to say about that very thing. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
The last verse is a wonderful testimony to not only the grace of God in His forgiveness and to a repentant spirit, but also to the desire for God to pour out His promises into the lives of those who ask and stand in faith in God to receive. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ "
As we close this series the one thing I want you to walk away with today is this: God loves you and has given you an inheritance – not just for the future but for your life on earth.
Romans 8, 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…
It is time for you to begin to ask the Father for your inheritance.
Don’t stand outside and refuse to go in.
Renew your mind. See God for who He really is. See how He expresses His love for you.
He gives…
He loved you so much that He gave His Son…
He gives liberally…
He gives generously…
He gives sacrificially…
And He is waiting for you to ask for your inheritance.
