Lost Sons
Luke 15
February 22nd, 2009
INTRODUCTION
Haleigh Cummings
An Amber Alert was issued for five-year-old Haleigh Ann-Marie Cummings of Satsuma, Florida, on February 10, 2009, hours after the little girl vanished from the bedroom of her home in the pre-dawn hours.
On February 11, 2009, Florida authorities said they believed Cummings had been kidnapped from her home. The search continued for the child on February 12, 2009, and family members made emotional pleas for Cummings’ return. Cummings father, Ronald Cummings, told NBC’s Today show "I know somebody took her. I know for a fact she didn’t wander off--she’s afraid of the dark."
The story of Haleigh’s disappearance has mobilized her Florida Community and the surrounding areas. People have voluntarily joined the search for this little girl. Most of us can understand the sympathy being expressed the empathetic motivation to help search for her.
But would our hearts be as stirred in it wasn’t a five year old little girl that was missing. How would we respond if it was . . .
„X a crack addict,
„X a partying college students,
„X a hooker,
„X an old woman,
„X a tattooed man, a pierced alternative lifestyled individual?
How would we respond? How would the Father’s heart respond?
T.S. Luke 15 provides insight for that question. Turn there with me.
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.’"
P.S. YOU CAN ONLY UNDERSTAND GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST FROM THE POSITION OF A SON
I. The Dilemma of the Lost Son.
A. The portrayal of the son is ugly.
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.
Jesus paints the worst picture of the son. His unfaithfully, shallow, self-centered. He doesn’t honor his parents, he is gross sinner. Initially everything Jesus has to say about the in the story is disgraceful, sinfully depraved.
B. There is a difference in approach between lost sheep, coins, and sons
1.) A Son has freedom.
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.
¡´ A Son can flee the Father’s presence
¡´ A Son can choose his own way
2.) A Son is always a Son
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.
A moral dilemma presents an agonizing choice.
You are an inmate in a concentration camp. A sadistic guard is about to hang your son who tried to escape and wants you to pull the chair from underneath him. He says that if you don’t he will not only kill your son but some other innocent inmate as well. You don’t have any doubt that he means what he says. What should you do?
The Dilemma of the son is this. He has been created with both a desire for freedom and with a relationship to the father.
Appl: Do you recognize that sin is not the greatest problem in the heart of the lost, it is the use of their gift of freedom to walk away from God, yet their heart reveals a void that only God can fill.
The Heart of the Father
The heart of the father is an interesting mix of emotions, permissive, yet holds the older brother accountable.
Patient awaiting the sons return, but anxious enough that he was watching for him a long ways off.
Loving, celebratory, willingness to dishonor himself (runs to the repent son, pleads with the belligerent son)
God restrains himself from chasing after the lost because love must be voluntary
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.
Love cannot be forced upon someone.
God desire those made in his image to voluntarily reciprocate his love.
God restrains himself from chasing after the lost because forced repentance doesn’t work
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.’
God lets us alone when we rebel.
The father waits until the son starts home on his own.
God restrains himself from chasing yet longing looks for the lost to return
"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.
Appl: When it comes to the lost where are your eyes focused? Where is you heart? Is it like the father’s who is constantly looking for the lost to return? Are you ready toe rush to great them, to usher them home
The Challenge for the Other Sons
Sibling Rivalry:
Seven year old Bobbie and twelve year old Rob just came in from a long afternoon playing in the park with the neighborhood friends, they come home fatigued. They immediately flop on the couch to watch some television. Their father who witnessed Rob clean his room while Bobbie was watching his favorite cartoon programs on the television, tells Rob that it is his turn to pick a show.
"Try to find something that you boy can enjoy," says the father, right before heading outside to do some gardening.
Within minutes screaming and bickering echoes across the yard, the parents arrive in the living room to find the boys crying, and insulting each other.
"What is the problem here," asks the Mother.
"Dad said I could watch a show and Bobbie ruined the whole thing so I could not even hear my show!" shouts Rob
"No I didn’t" cries Bobbie, "I just said this show was stupid and he came over and bent my fingers back!"
"Did you hurt your brother?" demands the father.
"No!" wails Rob, wiping his tears away. "He is just lying to get me in trouble. ’
"I’m not lying!" sobs Bobbie.
And so it goes.
The Challenge for older sons is not fail prey to the sibling rivalry for the father’s favor.
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.’"
Not to mistake God’s patience with the Lost for a lack of concern.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Not to mistake God’s forgiveness for the Lost as demeaning faithfulness.
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. 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.’"
SUMMARY
Jesus portrays the lost as people struggling with their desire for freedom and their need for the father’s love. God longs for them to be restored to himself, but he will patiently wait for their return never forcing himself upon them, but instantly receiving them back. Older sons and daughters should never feel slighted or demeaned by God’s passion for the lost since he always full loves and rewards our faithfulness.
CHALLENGE
God’s heart is always broken for the lost people. He longs to see them return home. He has charged us with seeking them, rescuing them. To understand his heart is to passionately join him in the search for the lost.
Commit yourself to your circle of accountability.
My Circle of Accountablity. Lord let me do what is necessary that each person in my circle of accountability my reach a place of decision concern a relationship with you. Amen
