Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
“And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
(Luke 15:25,28-32)
The prodigal son is a picture of the person who has broken fellowship with God, but what about the elder son? He was upset. He’d stayed home with the father and worked in the fields while his younger brother had wasted his inheritance through riotous living.
Now his brother had returned home, and his father had gone out of his way to prove his love for his younger son, clothing him with luxurious clothes and killing the fatted calf for a celebration feast in his honor (vv. 22-23).
Sometimes Christians feel like that elder son. They see God miraculously heal a backslider who doesn’t have an ounce of faith. This proves to the backslider that God loves him and receives him back into fellowship. But sometimes other believers get upset and say, “Why did God heal that person? I’ve never backslidden, but He didn’t heal me.”
In essence, this is what the older son said. He had worked and been faithful, yet he’d never had a big celebration held in his honor. But the elder son could have whatever he desired at any time. His father told him, “Son, all I have belongs to you!” And your heavenly Father is saying the same thing to you.
Because I’m a child of God, everything my Father has is mine.
Healing is mine. By faith, I accept my healing now!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.