HOW TO BECOME A CITIZEN

Colossians chapter 1




Today we are walking in: How To Become A Citizen








Today we look to the word-KNOWLEDGE- H847 da'ath--knowledge, perception, skill, discernment





The Torah testifies.....................


Genesis 2:9


And out of the ground made Yahuah Elohiym to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. BERE'SHIYTH (GENESIS) 2:9 את CEPHER



Genesis 2:17


But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. BERE'SHIYTH (GENESIS) 2:17 את CEPHER



Exodus 31:3


And I have filled him with the Ruach Elohiym, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 31:3 את CEPHER


Exodus 35:31


And he has filled him with the Ruach Elohiym, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 35:31 את CEPHER


Leviticus 4:23


Or if his sin, wherein he has sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: VAYIQRA (LEVITICUS) 4:23 את CEPHER


Leviticus 4:28


Or if his sin, which he has sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has sinned. VAYIQRA (LEVITICUS) 4:28 את CEPHER


Numbers 15:24


Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the assembly, that all the assembly shall offer one young bullock for an ascending smoke offering, for a sweet savor unto Yahuah, with his oblation, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering. BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 15:24 את CEPHER


Numbers 24:16


He has said, which heard the words of El, and knew the knowledge of El Elyon, which saw the vision of El Shaddai, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 24:16 את CEPHER


Deuteronomy 1:39


Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. DEVARIYM (DEUTERONOMY) 1:39 את CEPHER











The prophets proclaim..................


1 Samuel 2:3


Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for Yahuah is an Elohiym of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. SHEMU'EL RI'SHON (1 SAMUEL) 2:3 את CEPHER


1 Samuel 23:23


See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Yahudah. SHEMU'EL RI'SHON (1 SAMUEL) 23:23 את CEPHER






Nehemiah 10:28

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Leviyiym, the porters, the singers, the Nathiyn, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the Torah of Elohiym, their women, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge, and having understanding; EZRA V'NECHEMYAHU (NEHEMIAH) 10:28 את CEPHER


Isaiah 8:4


For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Shomeron shall be taken away before the king of Ashshur. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 8:4 את CEPHER


Isaiah 11:9


They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahuah, as the waters cover the sea. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 11:9 את CEPHER


Isaiah 28:9


Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 28:9 את CEPHER


Isaiah 32:4


The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 32:4 את CEPHER



Isaiah 33:6


And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of yeshu`ah: the fear of Yahuah is his treasure. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 33:6 את CEPHER


Isaiah 40:14


With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding? YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 40:14 את CEPHER





Jeremiah 3:15


And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. YIRMEYAHU (JEREMIAH) 3:15 את CEPHER






The writings bear witness.............



1 Kings 9:27


And Chiyram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Shalomah. MELEKIYM RI'SHON (1 KINGS) 9:27 את CEPHER


2 Chronicles 1:10


Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this your people, that is so great? DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 1:10 את CEPHER


2 Chronicles 1:11


And Elohiym said to Shalomah, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor את the life of your enemies, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king: DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 1:11 את CEPHER


2 Chronicles 1:12


Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the like. DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 1:12 את CEPHER


2 Chronicles 8:18


And Churam sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Shalomah to Ophiyr, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Shalomah. DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 8:18 את CEPHER


2 Chronicles 30:22


And Yechizqiyahu spoke comfortably unto all the Leviyiym that taught the good knowledge of Yahuah: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to Yahuah Elohiym of their fathers. DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 30:22 את CEPHER


Ruth 2:10


Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in your eyes, that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? RUTH (RUTH) 2:10 את CEPHER


Ruth 2:19


And her mother in law said unto her, Where have you gleaned today? and where wrought you? blessed be he that did take knowledge of you. And she showed her mother in law את with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought today is Bo'az. RUTH (RUTH) 2:19 את CEPHER





Job 34:2


Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. IYOV (JOB) 34:2 את CEPHER


Psalm 119:66


Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed your commandments. TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 119:66 את CEPHER


Proverbs 1:7


The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. MISHLEI (PROVERBS) 1:7 את CEPHER




The‌ ‌Principle‌ ‌and‌ ‌Power‌ ‌of‌ ‌Kingdom‌ ‌Citizenship:‌ ‌Keys‌ ‌to‌ ‌Experiencing‌ ‌Heaven‌ ‌on‌ ‌Earth‌ ‌by‌ ‌Myles‌ ‌Munroe‌


Chapter 9-How To Become A Citizen


The Most High has been our Abba from before our birth. Yahusha is His firstborn Son, and the rest of us are meant to be Yahusha’s younger brothers and sisters. “Who is the image of the invisible Elohiym, the firstborn of every creature: QOLASIYM (COLOSSIANS) 1:15 את CEPHER. You do not talk about a “firstborn,” you know, unless other children are born after him.


Another name for Yahusha is the Word:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with The Most High:
“IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with את Elohiym, and Elohiym was the Word. The same was in the beginning with את Elohiym. YOCHANON (JOHN) 1:1-2 את CEPHER. This Word is the One who speaks words of life into each one He calls into His Kingdom.


I hope you know that you can’t earn your way into His good graces. Kingdom citizenship is not like membership in the Kiwanis Club, where good works count as membership points. Many people make the mistake of thinking that citizenship in the Kingdom can be obtained through good works. They visit the sick and send money to Haiti. They attend church for fifty years straight. They take communion at six in the morning on Sundays and they sing in the choir. But none of that gets them into the Kingdom. It does not even crack the door open!


You can’t become a citizen or a member of the family of The Most High by good works or by association with His family members or even by longevity. You can try for ninety years and you will still be an illegal immigrant when you die! The only way to get into the Kingdom is to respond to an invitation. With the ears of your spirit you hear, “Come,” and you respond to it by leaving behind your old ways of doing things and coming Home.


It is just like physical birth; you leave behind the confines of your old existence and you enter into the endless possibilities of new life. The difference is that this birth is a birth of your spirit. In the words of Yahusha: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Ruach is ruach. YOCHANON (JOHN) 3:6 את CEPHER.


The bottom line is this: you must be born into the Kingdom if you want to become a part of the family of the Firstborn.


Free At Last From The Power Of Death
Rebirth means shaking free of death’s grip once and for all. Remember that in the Garden there was no death-at first. But when Adam sinned, death came into the picture. That is why the Bible says, “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The world is filled with death. Death is the final punishment. We do not want to think about it.


But back in the Garden, Abba had already set in motion a plan to rescue the people He had created from their own sin. But to accomplish the plan, somebody would have to die. He asked His sinless, firstborn Son to do it. Then everyone who would accept the substitution could escape the punishment of death.


In other words, The Most High decided to apply the penalty of sin and death to Himself. In The Most High’s courtroom, you and I were condemned to death. But the Judge said to His Son, “The judgement on these kids is death. I want you to go to jail for them and to be executed instead of them.”


Yahusha said, “I will go to jail for them. But is there any other way to do this?” Abba said, “No Son. It is either them or you.” And the Son agreed to do it. The Son, who was every bit as much The Most High as His Abba was, came to Earth as a man. He did it so that people like you and me would be free from the execution order. The Most High’s universal justice would be satisfied. It is as if you were sentenced to die in the electric chair and it is almost time for them to throw the switch when someone comes in and says, “You can get up and walk out of here. Go ahead. I will take the sentence for you.” And He sits down in your place.


Have you ever thought about it that way? Have you ever realized that Yahusha would have never died at all, even to this day two thousand years later, if He had not carried our sin to the crucifixion stake when He died? Sin is what brings death, and Yahusha did not have any sin at all, none. He was perfect. He was The Most High.


But He went to the crucifixion stake carrying our sins. Because of His overwhelming love, He shouldered the punishment for not only your individual sins, but for every sinful act that ever happened. The prophet Isaiah wrote that His body was so marred that it was hard to recognize Him as a man anymore. (See Isaiah 52:14) Sin did that to Him. He was carrying all of our evil thoughts, our broken hearts, our diseases, our injuries, our wickedness. He did it to restore His Father’s sons and daughters back to His family and to citizenship in His Kingdom.
The whole Old Testament leads up to the time when Yahusha came to do that. People do not like to read parts of it, because it is all about blood sacrifices. Even back in the Garden, the first thing The Most High did for Adam and Eve was to kill an animal so they could have clothing made out of its bloody hide (see Genesis 3:21). They had covered themselves with fig leaves.But leaves are not a good covering. Leaves do not have blood.


From that day forward, people began to offer living creatures to the Most High as a sacrifice for their sins. All through the Old Testament they kept offering goats, sheep, heifers, doves and more. Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel, tried to work the sacrificial system. Cain brought an offering of vegetable produce from his fields, but Abel brought a lamb. (See Genesis 4:3-7.) The Bible says that The Most High was displeased with Cain’s offering, but He received Abel’s offering. That does not make any sense to us unless we understand how The Most High sees it. In His perfect system of justice, blood (death) compensates for sin, because sin is punishable by death. Cain’s produce did not have any blood in it.


However, killing an innocent animal as a sacrifice is not the same as killing an innocent man. The penalty for sin was on humans, so The Most High needed a sinless human offering to serve as the ultimate payment for sin. Yahusha was that offering. And now, if we accept what Yahusha did, these words can apply to your own lives:


Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Mashiach was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Mashiach, we believe that we shall also live with him: ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 6:4-8 את CEPHER


In other words, once He died, nobody else had to die. His death paid for all that sin. In fact, it is as if He made it possible for us to be born anew. Now we can live forever, as if we never sinned even once.


This is the salvation story. If you want to make it your own story, you need to be reborn. Just as both water and blood are involved in natural childbirth, both water and blood were part of HaMachiach’s death (see John 19:34), and they signify every new life:


For whatsoever is born of Elohiym overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Yahusha is the Son of Elohiym? This is he that came by water and blood, even Yahusha Ha'Mashiach; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Ruach that bears witness, because the Ruach is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Ruach Ha'Qodesh: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Ruach, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 5:4-8 את CEPHER


Born Into Citizenship


You know you cannot be born for your children and you can’t be reborn for them, either. Just because their parents are in the Kingdom of The Most High does not automatically put them in.


A religious leader who talked with Yahusha had been born into the religious community. He was in charge of the synagogue and I am sure he knew the books of the Torah by heart. But when he met Yahusha, he knew he needed something more.


“Yahusha answered and said unto him, Amein, Amein, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Elohiym. Niqodiymon said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Yahusha answered, Amein, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Ruach, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Elohiym. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Ruach is ruach. Marvel not that I said unto you, Ye must be born again. The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is everyone that is born of the Ruach. Niqodiymon answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Yahusha answered and said unto him, Are you a master of Yashar'el, and know not these things? LYOCHANON (JOHN) 3:3-10 את CEPHER


Yahusha told Nicodemus that the only way to get into the country of the Kingdom is the same way he got into the nation of Israel--through birth. No paperwork. No waiting. Of course this confused Nicodemus. It did not make sense to his theological mind.


So Yahusha explained to him that his body was not him. His spirit was. His body was just a house for his spirit. His body had already been born. Now it was his spirit’s turn. And just as a highly educated ruler of the Jews should already know that the best way to natural citizenship is through birth, so he should know that the way to enter a spiritual kingdom is through a spiritual birth.


A person cannot work for Kingdom citizenship. You do not have to pass a test or reside in a certain place for a specified length of time. You do not have to observe rituals, keep traditions, or follow rules. You cannot become a legal citizen of the Kingdom because the King likes you. You must be born anew in your spirit by the power of the Ruach Hakodesh.


The word Yahusha used is “see.” He said that unless Nicodemus was born again, he would not be able to see the Kingdom. The Greek meaning is “experience.” In other words, until he was born anew, he would not be able to experience the Kingdom personally. No one can understand a country unless he has been in the country, and no one can enter the Kingdom country to experience it unless he gets born again.


Now Yahusha isn’t saying that being born again is what we might call a “religious experience.” It is a process, a pathway. In fact, this is the only time in the Bible that he mentioned being born again. Most of the time, He simply preaches that the Kingdom is here, now; the Kingdom has arrived. New birth is the avenue to citizenship.


Nicodemus was not making fun of the idea when he asked about entering a second time into his mother’s womb. He was taking Yahusha seriously. He was willing to try the impossible if only he could get into the Kingdom. He knew that no one would be able to tamper with his citizenship if it came through being born, because spiritual birth cannot be reversed any more than a physical birth can be reversed. As Yahusha’s disciple Peter wrote: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of Elohiym, which lives and abides forever. KEPHA RI'SHON (1 PETER) 1:23 את CEPHER


How would Nicodemus know he had been reborn? The same way you and I know--because we have the Spirit of Yahusha inside our spirits. Yahusha’s disciple John answered that question this way:


Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Ruach. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Yahusha is the Son of Elohiym, Elohiym dwells in him, and he in Elohiym. YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 4:13-15 את CEPHER.


When you become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven’s colony on Earth, the King sends His Governor (the Ruach) to come live in you.Your body is like the governor’s mansion.


Rebirth does not come with thunder and lightning and earthquakes. You may not feel anything or hear anything. No angels may appear to you. But that does not mean it did not happen. The Ruach Hackodesh comes and no one sees Him. Then you walk into your house and suddenly all the sins you used to enjoy make you feel guilty. You have changed. The Kingdom of The Most High has come in. Now you do not like the same things anymore.


Your citizenship in the Kingdom does not give you a physical sign, but it does change your disposition. A heavenly lifestyle comes with it. It starts right in the midst of wherever you live now. You do not have to wait for Heaven. (Heaven is not the King’s primary intention for your life, or I think He would kill us off right away after we are born again so we can go straight to Heaven.)


Once, some Pharisees asked Yahusha when the Kingdom of The Most High would come, and He replied, “And when he was demanded of the Parashiym, when the Kingdom of Elohiym should come, he answered them and said, The Kingdom of Elohiym comes not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of Elohiym is within you. LUQAS (LUKE) 17:20-21 את CEPHER. No one sees it happen when you are born as a citizen. When you are a citizen you do not advertise it with signs; you advertise it with life and culture. You do not have to tell people that you are a believer, because they should be able to tell just by being around you. You have been reborn of the Spirit of The Most High!


Obedience To The Law--The Key To Privileges


After your rebirth, you learn how to be a citizen of this Kingdom by obeying the laws of the land. As we have already made clear, the Bible is like the constitution of the country, and the Spirit helps you understand what it says and apply it. The Ruach Hakodesh will also help you understand how the Kingdom works.


With Him living inside you, you will be able to tell the difference between true citizens and those who are pretending to be citizens of the Kingdom. Plenty of people believe that Yahusha was a good man and a famous prophet. But do they believe that He was the Son of the living Most High? Not a son, but THE Son? Do they submit to His commands?


Obedience to His commands is impossible without the help of the Ruach Hakodesh, you know. Just try this one, for example, without The Most High’s love inside you:


But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 5:44-45 את CEPHER.


But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of El Elyon: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. LUQAS (LUKE) 6:35 את CEPHER


The Most High does not leave it up to you to select from a buffet of beliefs and doctrines. His way of doing things is clear. Sometimes people criticize citizens of the Kingdom. They say we are too narrow-minded. Yes, we are narrow-- and narrow is the way that leads to life! (See Matthew 7:13 and Luke 13:24.)


What is that life like? Joy-filled, stress-free and a lot more. It includes a whole lot more. “But my Elohiym shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Mashiach Yahusha. PHILIPPIYM (PHILIPPIANS) 4:19 את CEPHER. I want to wait until later for a longer discussion of the rewards, privileges and benefits that come with being a law abiding citizen of the Kingdom.


Citizens of the heavenly Kingdom obey the divine King, just as citizens of any earthly kingdom must obey their king. Those of us who live in democracies fail to comprehend this. We are used to criticizing our leaders as we get ready to vote them out of office. We are accustomed to negotiating and cooperating, because in a democracy you do not obey an authority as much as you cooperate with it.


You do not negotiate with someone who owns you and everything around you. You change. He does not!


Turning Around


When you declare that Yahusha HaMashiach is the Son of The Most High, your Lord and Savior, you turn your back on your previous “lords,” whatever and whoever you used to follow. You have been adopted as a full member of the royal family now, and you do not need to live like an orphan anymore!


This turning is called teshuvah. Yahusha considered it the only option when a person gets confronted with the Kingdom of The Most High. repeatedly, He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 4:17).


Now, even if you have been considered rich in the world’s eyes, I hope you will be glad to trade your so-called riches for the priceless treasure of the royal house! One rich young man did not want to do it:


And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Rabbi, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why do you call me good? there is none good but one, that is, Elohiym: but if you will enter into life, guard the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Yahusha said, You shall do no murder, You shall not break wedlock, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said unto him, All these things have I guarded from my youth up: what lack I yet? Yahusha said unto him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Yahusha unto his Talmidiym, Amein I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 19:16-23 את CEPHER


This man knew he needed something, even though he had everything the world could offer: money, a powerful position, youth and a healthy body, good morals and religion. The trouble was, he could not part with his wealth. If only he had been able to understand that he did not own any of it in the first place. If he had been able to understand that he did not own any of it in the first place. If he had turned it over to the Kingdom government, he would only have been giving the government back its things.


It is impossible for a person to call Yahusha Lord and own anything. If He is your Lord, He owns you and everything you possess. There is no private ownership. So you cannot come to Him and say, “I want to submit to Your government. I want You to be my King and Lord”--and still hold onto your money, your land, and your business. When The Most High asked the rich young ruler to give it up, it was not because He needed it. You cannot give The Most High something He owns already! He was testing the man to see if he thought he owned it. Apparently, he did.
The man did not understand wealth in Kingdom terms. Wealth in the Kingdom is not measured by accumulation; it is measured by access to what you need when you need it. Wealth in the Kingdom is for distribution. Kingdom citizens are conduits, not reservoirs. Instead of collecting and keeping everything, they give it away to others. As they give it away, more comes to them. Peter, after he listened to this conversation between the rich young ruler and Yahusha--then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”


So Yahusha said to them… “Then answered Kepha and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what shall we have therefore? And Yahusha said unto them, Amein I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the restoration when the Son of A'dam shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Yashar'el. And everyone that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or woman, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 19:27-29 את CEPHER


Wealth in the Kingdom is family wealth, and every member of the family inherits all of it. To make a play on words, you could say that Kingdom citizenship is inherent-because the citizen inherits everything in the Kingdom.


The rich young ruler hung onto his money and possessions because he thought he was wealthy. He was poor, compared to the barefoot Teacher he was talking to.


Membership To Citizenship


When the rebellious, Prodigal Son came back to his father after spending his inheritance, his return marked his reinstatement into the family. (I told the rest of the story in a previous teaching; it is one of Yahushas’ favorite parables.) He trudged into view of the family homestead, and he spotted his father running towards him. His father fell on his neck, kissing him, overjoyed at seeing him again after having assumed he was dead. The son had thought about what he would say:


And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. LUQAS (LUKE) 15:21-24 את CEPHER


The son would have been content to work for his father as a servant. He was so ashamed and broken that he would have been glad to be allowed to be a member of his father’s household, housed and fed with the working servants. A servant is not a member of the family.


But the father would not hear of it. His son had come home! The one who had rebelled and who had run away had returned. He welcomed him back into the bosom of the family and gave him certain items of clothing to prove it.


“Bring out the best robe, “ he said. And he covered his dirty, worn-out robe with the richest garment in the house. He put new sandals on his feet. And he brought out a ring.


The ring is significant. When a king wants to give somebody government power, he gives the person a ring. The ring represents power and authority of the government. This ring was the symbol of family authority , royal authority. By slipping it onto his finger, the father was declaring that he was now far better than a member of his household. He was restored to the full status of a son. As a citizen-son he could now use the family name again, and he now had full family rights, full access to everything the family owned.


Claiming Citizenship


As soon as the rebellious son turned toward home, in teshuvah, it was as if he was reborn. He has been born to privilege, but he had rejected it. He failed to appreciate it. As a result, he had to go the long, hard way around before he could return. You can be sure that this time, he stayed.


In many ways, we are all like the Prodigal Son. We squander the resources our generous Abba gives us. We think we can do a better job of managing our lives if we turn away from Him. We were born to privilege, but we take matters into our own hands.


I always say a sinner is really a saint who does not know he is a saint. What if nobody had told us that we could return home to our heavenly Abba--it would be as if Prince William had been separated from his parents and spirited away from England at birth, kidnapped. Let’s say somebody brought him to the Bahamas, and he lived on one of the islands with a man and woman who claimed to be his parents. As a baby, he would not know any better.


He would grow up enjoying the things his village enjoyed, thinking it was wonderful. He would think it was a great life-fishing, eating coconuts, running up and down the beach. He would not know that he was royalty. He would not know the kind of wealth he could have at his disposal. Unless someone came to tell him.


Let’s say his real father, Prince Charles finds out where he is living and sends his only remaining son, Prince Harry, to get him. You can see the connection here--your real Father in heaven sent his only Son to fetch you back into His Kingdom, when you did not know at all that you were royalty and that you had a place waiting for you in the Kingdom.


Prince Harry suffers all the difficulties of the trip. He bumps along the rutted roads, endures the sand flies and mosquitoes, sleeps out in the open under palm trees. Finally he reaches the village where his brother lives and he locates the young man. Can you imagine him trying to explain who he is and why he has come?


“My father? That’s my father over there under the coconut tree.” “No, that’s your stepfather…” Imagine trying to convince this young man that he is a multi-billionaire. It might take a long time. But if he could convince him to leave behind the village where he grew up, he could step into the inheritance that had been waiting for him all those years. He could claim his position in the royal family and spend the rest of his life doing what he was created to do.


None of us can work our way into the position that the Son so freely offers us. All we can do is surrender to the offer. “Yes, I will come with You. Just tell me what to do. Your Father is my Father. I say yes.”


Have you said yes yet? It is never too late, Fiveamprayer!!!