Giving Hope To The Addicted In Christ Series

Introduction:

Today is Blue Cross Sunday and the theme for the sermon is ‘Giving hope to the addicted in Christ’. The Blue Cross is a Christian organization whose major activity is the fight against alcohol and substance abuse. Alcohol and drug abuse has been a major problem throughout the ages but it has never been so widespread as it is in our generation. The fight against this global problem can only be won through a propagation of the love of God. The gospel reading today is a parable about a “Father’s” love for his children. The younger son chose the pleasures and provisions of the world over the joy that abounded in his father’s presence. Separation from God and self-reliance is a recipe for failure whereas the presence of God and reliance on Him is a recipe for success. The younger son, separated from his father and reduced to a life of poverty and hunger, was convicted by the Holy Spirit to turn away from evil and return to his father. When his father saw his son returning, he ran to meet and welcome him home. In Jewish culture, grown up and elderly men do not run in public as it was a distinguishing mark for servants and slaves. If the Father ran to welcome his son clothed in rags and smelling like a pigsty, then there is hope for the addicted in Christ.

Step One: The Father’s love

a) God is love

Hope for the addicted is found in the father’s love. Jesus Christ became a man to reveal the character and nature of God and to give us a right conception of Who God is. God is love, and loves us no matter how much we hurt Him by our evil deeds. In fact, He hurts even more than the hurt we inflict on ourselves.

b) God made provision

God is love and has made provision to meet all our needs. He created everything that man would need even before He created man. He also made provision for everything that man would need in his new life even before He saved us.

c) God gives access

God loves us, made provision for us and gives us free access to His provisions. He keeps His Covenant of grace with us because it does not depend on us, but on Christ and His finished work on the cross. Christ took our place on the cross, was made sin with our sinfulness, and bore the full judgement of God on sin for our forgiveness and redemption.

Illustration:

This Parable about two sons was told to an audience of tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees and Scribes. (Luke 15:1-2) The younger son, a representative of sinners, wanted to be in control of his own life. He did not value the fathers love, neither did he respect His authority. The father nevertheless grants his request even though it broke his heart. God loves his children but will not force them to act against their will. He wants us to freely love and serve Him. Unfortunately, when we leave and fail in life, we blame God for not stopping us when He had the power to do so. God does not stop us for the same reason He didn’t stop Adam and Eve from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God does not stop us for the same reason He didn’t stop King David from having an affair with Bathsheba and murdering her husband Uriah. God does not stop us for the same reason the father in this parable did not stop his son from leaving home. God loves us so much that He not only allows us to make our own choices but also respects our decisions even though He knows what the consequences will be.

Application:

God understands the pain parents go through when their children, attracted by the pleasures the world, leave home. God is, however, able to use the tragic situations in their lives to bring them back on the right path. As parents we should always love them and be ready to welcome them home.

Step Two: The sons rebellion

a) He trusted in his own ability

Parents are not always to blame for their children’s rebellion. The father’s love in todays parable, was not enough to prevent his son’s rebellion. Rebellion is the result of rejecting God and putting your trust in someone else or in your own ability. The younger son believed he was capable of taking care of himself without his father’s help.

b) He trusted in wealth

He demanded his inheritance while the father was still alive and put his trust in the wealth that he had been given rather than the person who gave it to him.

c) He trusted others more than his father