The Prodigal son
Luke 15:11-15:24
Introduction-
This morning we are going to talk about the parables of Jesus. It is a familiar passage that everyone can relate too. Luke 15 contains 3 parables.
1. Parable of the lost sheep- Jesus says suppose you have 100 sheep and one leaves. You go out and search for the one while leaving the 99, and you will rejoice when you find and bring back the one that went astray.
2. Parable of the lost coin- Suppose a lady has 10 coins and she losses one. She goes all through the house until she finds the one that is lost.
3. Today’s parable- the lost son- He deliberately wanted to be lost. He purposefully left. Each one of us this morning can learn something from this parable if we will lbe open and let God do it.
There is spiritual application and human response. What a father would not do to get his wayward son to return home.
Luke 15:11-15:24
I look at these passages and I see answers to some questions that I have concerning God and people.
Answers to questions like;
What is God really like?
How can we be restored to a right relationship (With God and People)
How can we return to God after blowing it big time?
Let’s start with the question what is God really like?
The parable serves as an analogy of our heavenly Father relationship with His children. The father in the story represents God. The two sons represent different people. The younger son is a person who has left a right relationship with God. The older son, who has a right relationship with God but has a bad attitude toward those who have fallen away from God.
I am sure that is no one here this morning.
So what is God like?
Some people picture God as a task master who gets great joy out of disciplining His people when they make a mistake. He has a bunch of rules in force that no one believes they can accomplish so they feel that He is always mad at us and correcting us.
Others picture God as a buddy. He will forgive anything no matter what you do or how you act. In the end, all go to heaven because a loving God “would never send anyone to hell”
They think the most important question asked is “Do you believe in God” but I think the more important question is what kind of God do you believe in? The generic answer yes to do you believe in God won’t change your life. Understanding the God you serve will change your life.
“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to the father, father give me my share of the estate. So he divided up his property between them.”
This father has no name, and these sons have no name. because they are everyday people that have come up to God and said, I want out from under your blessing and I want to do things my way.
It was normal to give the oldest son a double portion and split the rest with the others. To give the youngest son his portion early was unusual.
Most today wait until love ones leave possessions behind. This younger son was in rebellion and wanted his now.
His motive was apparent when he departs.
He takes all his possessions and leaves nothing behind to come back too. He wants to be free of parental restraints and spend his inheritance as he pleases (wild living)
He was not foolishly lost- sheep that went astray and then brought back.
He was not misplaced like the lost coin.
He was deliberately lost- by choice, he wanted no part of this and he was not returning.
While the son was away and in rebellion with God;
He spent all he had on the wild things of life.
He became desperate. (This was not all that it was cracked up to be.)
He thought that even his father’s servants were treated better and eating better than he was.
He was willing to go back to his father and accept 2nd best because he thought that first best was no longer available.
(17) “When he came to his senses.”
How many parent s are waiting for their children to come to their senses?
How many times looking back on your life do you think God was just waiting for you to come to your senses?
He plays out this dialog in his head how he will go back to his father and tell him how wrong he was, and will accept that it can never go back to the way it was.
He returns to the 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”
What is God like? We come to him and He runs to us! Amen.
Every rule He has for us is for our best interest and because he loves us unconditionally. We return to Him and He openly throws His arms around us and welcomes us back home.
The son’s motive of leaving was selfishness.
Hi s return was because of repentance.
When the children of God return to God repenting, the arms of God are always ready to embrace us.
The son repents and God restores him.
“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. Bring the fattened calf and kill. Let’s have a fest and celebrate.”
I find it hard to believe that God sits up in heaven with a big eraser and scratches us on and off the book of life.
People live in fear and they don’t have to.
Here though, is someone who deliberately walked away from God and by choice has returned, and for that we see a God that not only accepts us back, but celebrates our return.
Robe, ring, sandals was a sign of possession and acceptance.
Robe of distinction.
Signet ring of authority- place of honor.
Sandals- son. Servants went barefoot.
Killing of the fattened calf- special occasion
Song-
There’s a new name written down in glory and its mine, o yes t its mine. And the white robe angels sing the story, a sinner has come home.
New to Christ, and those returning home- there is a celebration that takes place in heaven and in the heart of God.
“He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Away from a right relationship with God- We see it in the rebellious son.
Stop the reckless attitude- “The grass is not always greener on the other side.”
Stop the reckless living- everyone needs to follow rules.
Eat, drink, be merry, works short term, but destroys long term.
It is like a fishing lure, it is shiny and attractive, but when you strike you find out that the hook has caught you.
Stop the reckless behavior.
This guy when the money ran out and his friends disappeared was left with a ruined life that only God can fix. He was starving to death, desiring food from the pigs. For a Jew that was terrible, and he had to realize that what he had was much better.
How to restore a right relationship with God?
We see that in the repentant son.
1. Realize that what you are doing is not working.
“Come to your senses.”
You are in a mess up to your eyeballs and you cannot get out without God’s help.
Sin has blinded you, but now you see it for what it is- destructive.
I want better. I am tired of eating pig slope. I want to return to my heavenly father.
He thought that in his rebellion, that he was being set free, but he was not truly set free until he returned back to God.
If you have ever walked away from God and allowed sin to control your life, it is not hopeless.
As long as you have breath in your body, you have a chance to repent and allow God to change the circumstances.
You know what the definition of stubborn is?
Doing the same old thing, the same old way and expecting a different result.
2nd step is repent
“I have sinned” These words spoken to God with a heart of sincerity will change your life.
Realizing is one thing, but you have to repent. Change your thinking and change your direction. Repenting is going in the other direction. Repentance must be accompanied by action. Go and sin no more- Jesus is quick to forgive when we are willing to repent.
3rd step is return
It may take an act of congress to get something done in the country, but with God it is an act of returning. Being sorry and returning to God and His authority.
Closing,
Our heavenly Father desires for us to be in a relationship with Him. He will reach out to us and will greet us with open arms when we return and accept His love. He will put spiritual ring on our finger and robe us with the distinction of being a child of God.
Is that what you want today? God is waiting for us and we need to respond. Joel 2:13- “Rend your heart not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate.”
There is no place like home, no place like home.
Matthew 11:28- “Come unto me all of you who are wary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Will you come home today?
