Matthew 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (NKJV).

Here we have our Heavenly Father booming from Heaven some very important things. It was a public, heavenly, authorised, declaration of the total love and care the Father had for the Son. But the Son hadn’t done anything yet! He hadn’t raised any dead, turned any water into wine, healed any sick, feed any people, or cast out any demons! He’s just grown up and was who He was! God’s Son! I can just imagine it! The Father leaning over the portals of Heaven, the angels unable to hold Him back from declaring His love for His Son.

That declaration is what everyone needs! The confirmation of our identity. Has anyone said to you; “This is my beloved son, this is my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased?”. Because this is what fathers do. They give identity. They give security. They love unconditionally.

But then we see something interesting. Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And we know the story. The Devil tempted Him, but He withstood the temptations. But notice that the very last words God the Father spoke, were the very first words the Devil challenged in the wilderness. The very first thing the Devil challenged, was, the Identity of Jesus! Who He was! Matthew 4:3 If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. Matthew 4:6 If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. (Emphasis added). If the Devil can attempt to steal the identity of Jesus, then you can be sure, he will try with us too. The Devil is out to steal who you are! This is the greatest theft ever! EVER! The theft of Sonship & Daughtership in believer’s lives today!

Where do we get our identity messages from? Where do we find out who we are? Is it from our achievements? Or from our behaviour (well this is what I do and it’s just who I am!)? Is it from approval (or disapproval)? Is it from appearance (do we dress for success or dress to impress)? Do we get our identity from our possessions, or from relationships? (We hang out with the right people, it’s who you know you know!).

Oh the security of Father! If we don’t have this revelation, the confirmation of who we are and our identity from a father figure but most importantly from God THE Father, it can lead to an orphan Spirit. An orphan spirit is someone who has been deprived, for whatever reasons, of proper parental love and care. Today’s leaders in business and the church cannot afford to be hindered by an orphan spirit. Sadly many are. Too many in the church today (including leaders) have no clear revelation that they are Sons & Daughters of God the Father! Oh the security of Father!

The orphan spirit is characterized by fear, insecurity and competitiveness. Just look at many of those in trouble with the law, and, some of the world’s worst despotic dictator leaders; almost without fail all had troubled childhoods without a father figure.

Luke 15:1-32 is the story of three lost things. A lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. The Prodigal Son story is a story about sinners coming to God, but it is also about Sonship, and Daughtership, and Fatherhood! Oh the security of Father! Notice the attributes of the father. Luke 15:20. “when he was still a great way off, his father saw him”. When we’re far away from God the Father He SEES us, He knows where we’re at, He knows what’s happening in our world and will always welcome us home. “and had compassion”. The primary motive for all God the Father does is love and compassion! He’s not mad or angry with us, He just loves us! Immensely! “and ran”. The Cross of Jesus Christ is in a sense God running towards us! What a picture of a father wanting to welcome home His lost son! “and fell on his neck and kissed him”. Have you had a kiss from the Father recently? Have you been in His presence to receive a touch of His love and acceptance?

Luke 15:31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. (NKJV). Here we have the full rights of Sonship!

i. Full access to the Father – Intimacy. “Son, you are always with Me”.

Whether we’re dirty or clean, good or bad, happy or sad, rich or poor, educated or not. This is what we always have, through Jesus Christ! Full, unhindered access to the Father! This is the right of Sonship! It is intimacy. It is relationship. Yet many are struggling to have an intimate relationship with the Father. You need to know this, there’s nothing you can do to change the fact that your access to Father God is already assured! Through the finished work of the Cross and the Blood of Jesus!

ii. Full access to Inheritance – Provision. “All that I have is yours”.

This is the one we struggle with too. Provision. Also through the finished work of the Cross and the Blood of Jesus, we have access to all that belongs to the Father! Galatians 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (NKJV). Did you get it? Son’s (of royalty), and heirs, inherit!

The other son’s lack of access to even a goat was not the Father’s unwillingness to give it, but the son’s lack of asking for it! When we know who we are, a son and daughter of the Living God, we can then ask, as a Son!

This is who we are! This is our identity, we are Sons and Daughters of God! He is our Father and from Him we receive identity, security, and peace! Don’t let anyone or any lie of the Devil attempt to steal your identity! Oh the security of Father! It’s a place where you don’t have to strive or compete, reach or strain for acceptance and value. The greatest security we can have is the security of knowing we are loved unconditionally, forgiven completely, and accepted compassionately by our Heavenly Father!