The story of the Prodigal Son captivates us so powerfully because of the interwoven themes of righteousness, sin, redemption and restoration, the same themes that have empowered art, literature, music and movies throughout the ages. The musical notes of sin and redemption are etched deeply on the human soul and resonate powerfully whenever these chords are played. It could be said that this theme is the “melody” of humanity.
We are often so captivated by these themes that we forget that there was another son in the story. In fact, Jesus’ purpose in presenting this parable had more to do with the second son than with the prodigal. The second son is a picture of the religious establishment of the day, called the Pharisees. They were the conservative evangelicals of their time, who knew the Book but sadly, had forgotten the Author of the Book. Their experience of the Father was driven by duty rather than delight and they gradually devolved into resentful religious ritualists who forgot why they were serving the Father in the first place. The older brother in our story, had lost sight of the Father’s love and became resentful and burnt out in his sacrificial service. When the younger son returned, he was filled with anger because of the Father’s mercy and grace.
RESENTMENT OR RESIGNATION?
If San Francisco is a Prodigal City then the Church has been cast in the role of the resentful older brother. Throughout the years, I have encountered the animosity of the Body of Christ toward our city in a myriad of ways. I have received scores of prophetic curses over this “God forsaken” region, warning us to flee from the wrath of God, saying things like, “If God doesn’t destroy San Francisco, He will have to apologize to Sodom.” Yet, how many have fasted, prayed and wept for the return of this prodigal city?
Some believers, on the other hand, not wishing to appear “religious” have adopted a posture of “resignation” rather than “resentment”. Unfortunately, when people resign themselves to a sub-standard status quo, they always abdicate their responsibility to make a difference in the world. Resignation leads to apathy and self-centeredness. Survival becomes the highest goal of life and we find ourselves just as lost as the Prodigal Son.
This parable is really the story of two sons and three fathers. The first father is the one perceived by the Younger son. The second father was the one perceived by the older son. The REAL FATHER is the one that is revealed in his mercy for the sinful son and his gracious love for the dutiful son. God wants to heal the Church of RESENTMENT on the one hand and RESIGNATION on the other and bring us into a season of REVIVAL. In order for this to happen we “older sons” must align ourselves fully with the Father’s heart and assume the Father’s role in pursuing the prodigals and welcoming them back into the Father’s House.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
THE PRODIGAL CITY - PART III: REDEMPTION AND RESTORATION
Although I have never experienced a major period of backsliding as a Christian, I have drifted in smaller ways from the Lord at times and have had to turn to Him in repentance for redemption and restoration. I know what it’s like to come to my senses and realize that the place I’ve ended up is not the place for which I was created. I know what it’s like to arise and begin a journey back toward Father’s house and the Father’s heart. I also know what it’s like to have experience the Father’s embrace in the swirling awareness of my unworthiness. I know what it’s like to feel his love begin to melt the hard places of my heart as he reminds me of my identity and destiny again.
In this third part of the story of the Prodigal Son, we find a turning heart restored to a burning heart of humility, repentance and redemption. The son rises up and returns to the Father, all the while rehearsing the words of repentance, “I am not worthy to be called your son but just receive me as one of your servants and it will be enough for me”. But as we know, Father will have none of that. His love, His hope, His longing eyes cast daily upon the horizon looking for the rising silhouette of his son, would never permit his son to return as a mere servant. After the Father receives him with loving affection, He calls for the Royal Robe of Identity, the Sacred Ring of Authority and the Sovereign Shoes of Destiny and places them upon His son.
God is a Redeemer, and His purpose for our Prodigal City is nothing less than full redemption and restoration of Identity, Authority and Destiny. As we look at these three dimensions of restoration, we need to remember that our city is really a city of many little cities: communities, ethnic groups, sub-cultures who live side by side in what we call San Francisco. It’s also important to remember that each of these sub-cities is composed of thousands of individuals for whom Jesus died. Redemption and restoration is both corporate as well as individual. It must happen simultaneously on all levels for true revival transformation to occur.
IDENTITY: The reason I am still in San Francisco after growing up here and returning for over thirty years of ministry is because I believe God is longing for the return of this Prodigal City and the restoration of it’s full identity, authority and destiny. Our city’s identity is reflective of the name sake of our city. Saint Francis, despite some doctrinal error, was the original Jesus Freak. He abandoned wealth and position to serve the Lord and build His broken down Church. He gathered young people to himself and mobilized them to travel around their region, preaching the Gospel, healing the sick and caring for the poor. His ministry was characterized by Mercy. Although it has been misunderstood and misapplied, mercy remains the redemptive gift of our city, imbedded deeply in the fabric of our city.
AUTHORITY: San Francisco’s authority is found in the authors design: An amazing natural harbor that provides refuge for the journey but also provides a place of export and influence to the rest of the world. Our city has remained in the top ten cities that people want to visit and live in throughout the world. What happens in our city often sets the trend for other key cities. Although the leadership we provide to the rest of the world has often been negative in a Kingdom sense, no one can deny the scope of our cities authority on a global scale.
DESTINY: San Francisco has a Kingdom Destiny which is found in the primary point of impact we have had on global culture. Our city is a People Movement Incubator. Many major movements that have swept the earth have begun in our city. The UN, labor movements, civil rights, the student movement, the Beatnik, Hippie and New Age movements, and many more have found a launching pad in our city before impacting the rest of the world. We believe this “anointing” is from God even if it has been used at times to promote ungodly things. We believe the Destiny of San Francisco is to launch a New Jesus Movement that will shake the earth with one of the biggest harvests of souls in history.
Let’s pray that our city and region, turns back to the Father to receive the Repentance, Redemption, and Restoration. Pray that the Father’s love will touch the most unloved and unlovely and restore the identity, authority and destiny of a generation. Merry Christmas!
In this third part of the story of the Prodigal Son, we find a turning heart restored to a burning heart of humility, repentance and redemption. The son rises up and returns to the Father, all the while rehearsing the words of repentance, “I am not worthy to be called your son but just receive me as one of your servants and it will be enough for me”. But as we know, Father will have none of that. His love, His hope, His longing eyes cast daily upon the horizon looking for the rising silhouette of his son, would never permit his son to return as a mere servant. After the Father receives him with loving affection, He calls for the Royal Robe of Identity, the Sacred Ring of Authority and the Sovereign Shoes of Destiny and places them upon His son.
God is a Redeemer, and His purpose for our Prodigal City is nothing less than full redemption and restoration of Identity, Authority and Destiny. As we look at these three dimensions of restoration, we need to remember that our city is really a city of many little cities: communities, ethnic groups, sub-cultures who live side by side in what we call San Francisco. It’s also important to remember that each of these sub-cities is composed of thousands of individuals for whom Jesus died. Redemption and restoration is both corporate as well as individual. It must happen simultaneously on all levels for true revival transformation to occur.
IDENTITY: The reason I am still in San Francisco after growing up here and returning for over thirty years of ministry is because I believe God is longing for the return of this Prodigal City and the restoration of it’s full identity, authority and destiny. Our city’s identity is reflective of the name sake of our city. Saint Francis, despite some doctrinal error, was the original Jesus Freak. He abandoned wealth and position to serve the Lord and build His broken down Church. He gathered young people to himself and mobilized them to travel around their region, preaching the Gospel, healing the sick and caring for the poor. His ministry was characterized by Mercy. Although it has been misunderstood and misapplied, mercy remains the redemptive gift of our city, imbedded deeply in the fabric of our city.
AUTHORITY: San Francisco’s authority is found in the authors design: An amazing natural harbor that provides refuge for the journey but also provides a place of export and influence to the rest of the world. Our city has remained in the top ten cities that people want to visit and live in throughout the world. What happens in our city often sets the trend for other key cities. Although the leadership we provide to the rest of the world has often been negative in a Kingdom sense, no one can deny the scope of our cities authority on a global scale.
DESTINY: San Francisco has a Kingdom Destiny which is found in the primary point of impact we have had on global culture. Our city is a People Movement Incubator. Many major movements that have swept the earth have begun in our city. The UN, labor movements, civil rights, the student movement, the Beatnik, Hippie and New Age movements, and many more have found a launching pad in our city before impacting the rest of the world. We believe this “anointing” is from God even if it has been used at times to promote ungodly things. We believe the Destiny of San Francisco is to launch a New Jesus Movement that will shake the earth with one of the biggest harvests of souls in history.
Let’s pray that our city and region, turns back to the Father to receive the Repentance, Redemption, and Restoration. Pray that the Father’s love will touch the most unloved and unlovely and restore the identity, authority and destiny of a generation. Merry Christmas!
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