Tell Me a Story
The Prodigal Son
Slide
Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s here this morning.
To all of you wives and kids, honor your husbands and Dad’s today for the difficult job they have been given. They may not be perfect but give them the honor they are due for the role they have been given by our heavenly father.
This morning we are finishing up our Tell me a story Series in which we have been looking at some of the stories, parables, that Jesus used to teach those with ears to hear. I hope that we have had ears to hear the messages that God has had for us over these past 5 weeks. I know He has been working in my own life through these messages.
This morning, we are going to look at the story about a Father with 2 sons that is commonly known as the Prodigal Son.
Now even if you are not a churchgoer, I am sure you have heard the term prodigal son and that you may even know the premise of the story as a story about a son who leaves his father and then later returns in repentance.
Well this morning we are going to look a bit closer at this story and see if we can gain a better understanding of ourselves, from looking at the characteristics of each son of this Father and gain a better understanding of our Heavenly Father’s heart so we might enjoy the close relationship He desires.
Turn with me to Luke 15:11 (p. 740).
Slide
As you turn there let me give you a bit of the context.
We see in Luke 15:1 that Jesus had been eating with “sinners” and the Pharisees were there complaining about this.
Luke 15:1 reads
1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So Jesus has got sinners as well as the Pharisees who were righteous in their own sight listening to what he has to say.
This story is meant to teach both groups.
But what is he trying to teach?
Let’s read and see what it is that Jesus was seeking to teach those who were listening.
Luke 15:11-32
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, ’How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, ’Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 "But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ’Your brother has come,’ he replied, ’and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 "’My son,’ the father said, ’you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
A powerful story about a Father’s love for his son.
Let’s dig in and see what we might learn from each of these sons and from the Father so we might truly be able to celebrate with our heavenly Father.
Ok, so what are some of the
Characteristics of the Younger Son
Slide
That we need to know and learn from?
Well, we see right from the start, there is not too much to ingratiate this son to us.
Because , one of the first characteristics we see of this younger son is that
He was Selfish
Slide
Luke 15:12
12 The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’
Now nobody likes a selfish person.
Actually, it is probably more appropriate to say that nobody likes an outwardly selfish person.
The fact of the matter is that we are all selfish to one degree or another.
I could probably trace ever sin back to selfishness.
We want what we want and sin is born of our willingness to get what we want apart from what God says.
This younger son is selfish and is not afraid to be bold in his selfishness.
“Dad, you are taking a bit too long to die and you are better dead to me than alive, so be a good dad and give me my share of the estate now, so I don’t have to just bide my time until you do die.”
How would you like to hear those words?
That is basically what this young son is saying.
So he is not just selfish, but we see that he is boldly selfish.
Not only that but we see that
He wanted to be Separated
Slide
Luke 15:13
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country…
What this really means is that he doesn’t want to be around people that are
going to tell him what to do or
be a reminder to him that he is doing wrong.
He doesn’t want any accountability.
“I am going to go where people don’t know me so I can live the way I want and nobody will say anything to me.”
We battle this too, don’t we?
We may not actually leave, but many people have their hidden life. We don’t like accountability. Being accountable doesn’t allow us to do what we want to do when we want to do it.
“How are things at home?”
“fine we respond, as we struggle in our marriage.”
How is your thought life?
Not a problem, as you struggle with lusting after that new secretary at work.
How are you and Becky getting along?
Great, you respond, as visit strip clubs and view pornography while you are out of town.
The battle to open our lives is just that, a battle.
Leave Church
There are others who not only don’t want accountability but don’t even want to be around people who might even remind them by the way they live that they are doing wrong, so they stop coming to church.
Separating ourselves from accountability or the church will only lead us to a place that we don’t want to be.
We think that unaccountability brings freedom to do what we want, but the fact is, is that it leads to slavery to sin.
Jesus tells us in John 8:34
"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
When we take God out of our life and we do not make ourselves accountable to others, we are already fleeing to a distant country.
Don’t separate yourself from others that God has placed in your life to help you live right. Receive it as the help that God wants us to have so we can live fully.
Be in community with the Lord through the Church, the body of Christ.
A second thing we see about the younger son is that
He was Shortsighted - (v. 13b-16)
Slide
Luke 15:13-16
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Now I don’t think we gather the fullness of this sons decline.
Jews and pigs were not really on the best of terms. They weren’t kosher.
Now this son is relegated to the position that has pigs doing better than him.
To say this son had hit bottom is probably an understatement.
You would have to dig down from the bottom to get to where he had fallen.
To say that he did not plan very well puts it extremely mildly.
He was just downright dumb.
But before we totally throw this young lad overboard, recognize that we have been downright dumb in the ways we have handled some things in our lives as well. This is what makes God’s grace so amazing.
This son had grown up having plenty to eat and probably living well. He takes his father’s money and doesn’t think it will ever run out.
And probably at first, things are pretty good.
Making new friends
Buying rounds of drinks
He has got women.
Life is pretty good.
But being shortsighted, he is only thinking about the present.
Selfishness and shortsightedness are a lethal combination.
You do whatever you have to do now to get what you want now, thinking nothing of how you will live later.
We think though that this cannot happen today. People are way to financially savvy.
Foreclosures
Take a look at the foreclosure crisis.
People are spending beyond their means.
Lotto
An even better example is many of those who win the lotto.
They think they will have it made, but they fail to have a plan.
“Nearly one third of multimillion dollar lottery winners become bankrupt in just a few short years after they’re big win”
Sherri Granato, “Winning the Lottery, Curse or a Blessing?”
Accessed 6/14/2008 from
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/70165/winning_the_lottery_curse_or_a_blessing.html
Many selfish people are also very shortsighted.
This younger son was selfish, and wanted to be away from his father and was very shortsighted.
The real thing about this son though was that he did not recognize his father’s heart, he didn’t realize the love that the father had for him.
We will get back to that in a minute, but
Now let’s take a look at the
Characteristics of the Older Son
Slide
The older son is one that many can relate to.
He is the obedient one. He stayed with his father. He didn’t leave.
We feel for this son because we think he is being treated unfairly.
He certainly feels he is being treated unfairly.
And he feels justified in his anger.
Because we see that this older son
He thought he was Better
Slide
Luke 15:29
29 But he answered his father, ’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. (from New International Version)
You’re throwing a party for this no good son of yours while the good son is working his tail off for you!?
I am the better son.
I didn’t leave you
I do what you tell me
And the truth is he is the better son, at least outwardly.
But there is something about this son that is similar to the young son.
He doesn’t know the Father’s heart either.
It appears that for this son, his father is also a means to an end.
If I follow the rules, I will get what is due me.
I don’t want people to think poorly of me so if I just bide my time, I will inherit my Father’s estate.
Both these sons saw the father as a means to an end, to get what they wanted. They go about it a bit differently.
One in a more open and contemptuous manner
The older son in a more hidden, culturally acceptable way.
He is living a false humility
and that false humility is being exposed.
And it is being exposed in bitterness, because as we can see
He definitely was Bitter
Slide
Luke 15:28-30
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
He is upset and bitter and his high view of himself comes to the surface because this is what is in his heart.
Listen to what James says
James 3:13-15
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
(this is what he lacks, he does them in a false humility and his bitterness comes out)
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
This son denies the truth about why he does what he does – it is not for his father, but for himself
15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
He wants his Father’s stuff, the same as the younger son.
But he thinks he is going to get it by following the rules, by being good enough.
Picture of the Pharisees
This older brother is a picture of the Pharisees who think by following the rules, they will gain the father’s stuff.
But the fact is, is that the older brother is also a picture of us in many ways.
We are often doing for God and for His blessing, that we fail to grasp the true blessing of knowing the Father’s heart and love for us and being with the Father.
We Christians are in relationship with the Father, yet we fail to recognize the Father’s heart for us.
We need to stop and recognize the characteristics of the Father to help us be in close relationship with the Father.
We need to realize that
The Father’s heart is for People in general
Slide
The father in this story represents our heavenly father.
When we fail to recognize the father’s heart, we are going to wind up making some of the same foolish mistakes as these 2 sons.
Our heavenly Father loves people.
He loves non believers, those who are not his children.
Look what the younger sons says in the story.
Luke 15:17
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, ’How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare
These men were not his children, but he cared for them.
Listen to what Jesus says about loving even our enemies.
Matthew 5:44-45
44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Our heavenly Father has a heart for people and wants us to have a heart for people.
We need to recognize that all humans are created in the image of God and, as Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2:4, it is God’s desire for “all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
We need to recognize that the life we live on this earth is important, but the Father is far more concerned about our eternities.
This is where we struggle sometimes.
We are shortsighted like the younger son.
We want our comfort and we want it here, in this life.
God has a heart for people’s eternities and we are going to have a hard time being in close relationship and celebrating joyfully with the Father until we understand His heart in this matter.
But God not only has a heart for people in general,
The Father’s Heart is for His Children in Particular
Slide
For his younger son, we see that the father had a heart that was looking for him and it tells us in Luke 15:20
Luke 15:20, 31
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
And look how he deals with the older son.
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
31 "’My son,’ the father said, ’you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
God loves His Children and His heart longs to be in close relationship with them.
He is supremely interested in the eternities of people, but even beyond that, it is about being in relationship with Him. That is what God wants.
Are you in relationship with Him?
Are you a Child of the Father?
The Bible tells us we become a Child of God by receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior.
John 1:12
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
The Father’s heart is to be in relationship with His Children.
He wants you to be mature and to know the fullness of life that he has come to give.
This Father’s Day, why not know the heart of the Father and be able to celebrate with Him.
Conclusion
Whether you have been living your life as the younger son, the prodigal, realize that the Father is longing for you to turn to Him.
That is all you have to do.
Turn to Him and turn away from your life of sin and He will come running to meet you where you are at, even while you are still a long way off.
You can make that turn by receiving Jesus Christ today.
We are going to have an opportunity for you to do that in a moment, but I also want to talk to those here who have been striving in their own strength to earn their Father’s love and blessing.
You can’t earn it. Recognize the Father’s heart for you and celebrate that you are in relationship with the Father.
We can serve with joy when we understand the Father’s heart.
We don’t have to serve like the older son, with a feeling of slavery. We can do it with joy, knowing His heart.
1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
If you have received Christ, you are a child of God.
I am going to pray and then some men are going to come up and close us out in a song, Great is Thy Faithfulness.
God is Faithful in His love for us.
Recognize the heart of the Father today and celebrate Father’s day not only honoring your earthly father, but celebrate with your heavenly Father.
Let’s pray.
