“No Place Like Home”
SUBTITLED: “Party All The Time”
Luke 15: 11-32
INTRODUCTION
I would like to leave with you this thought, “No Place Like Home” or if there was a subtitle to this message it would be, “Party All the Time”.
We see here in our scripture that Jesus is telling a parable of a young man who made up in his mind, went out into the world, “Livin' la Vida Loca” or “Living a Crazy Life” but finally was lead back to the place he belonged---home.
II.
Before we go any further, let's take a look at what a Prodigal is. A Prodigal is someone who is given to reckless extravagance, unstrained in spending or using up one's means, one spends or gives lavishly; one who is foolishly extravagant or as my mother would put it so bluntly a “spend thrift' or squander. He just spent his money here, there and everywhere but when the money runs out, when the wine, women and song is gone those who were his “friends” they ran out too.
Billie Holiday was right on the money in her song:
Money, you've got lot's of friends
Crowding round the door
When you're gone, spending ends
They don't come no more.
Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God Bless the child that got his own
That's got his own.
III.
Question, ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE? How serious is your life or you're like the Prodigal Son just throwing your life away spending your life's fortune over the foolishness of the world?
Singer Ruth Brown once said, “Life is like a butterfly. You can chase it or you can let it come to you.” A lot of people are chasing after life and chasing it in the wrong way. What are you chasing after or are you seeking and chasing it in the wrong thing. The Prodigal Amos gave us some good advise, “seek the Lord, and ye shall live” Amos 5:6. “To seek good, and not evil that you may live” Amos 5:14. You have to seek the good and not the bad. You have to seek the things of God and live. If you just let Christ be the Center of your life and He will show you a most life eternally.
Let me enlighten the ones who are out of the ark of safety that life is NOT always partying or a party. Look at the Prodigal Son, this wayward son had a change of heart and decided that being a hire servant for his father as far better than living in the “hog pen of life” Then when the father saw his wayward son from a far off he ran to him embraced and kissed him.
Here is a son that is badly stained from sin. He just left the filthy job feeding swines, one of the worst possible assignments for a Jewish lad. He had no change of clothes, nowhere to bathe but when he saw his father he had a change of heart and suddenly “washed clean” with forgiveness. But the father saw him and excepted him and in spite of the filth and stench, he kissed the boy which is a sign of forgiveness.
Now take notice of what was missing at this point, The father's silence was deafening while the son begins asking for forgiveness and apologizing, the Father is hugging and kissing him affectionately. There was indeed no condemnation from the father, who had forgiven the son long ago and was patiently waiting for him open arms wide for his loved one to return. And so does our Heavenly Father awaiting to forgive you and love all who strayed away from Him.
Keep in mind, that no matter how far you are, no matter high in life you get there is always home. Maya Angelou said it best, “The ache of home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are not to be questioned.”
When we are feeling lost or hurting or alone or afraid, God runs to us. We may not feel Him physically His loving touch but He is there. He can dry up tears and embraces us and like a good father would brings you safely home; that safe haven away from the sins and troubles of this world that be fronts you.
Jesus does loves you unconditionally and so in return, we should duplicate that love with others. Don't worry if you feel like that you are feeling short in God's plans in your life, His love continues towards us all we have to do is make this a REALITY in our lives today.
IV.
Here's where I want to challenge you today with final points of the matter, FIVE GOLD NUGGETS FOR LIFE., straight from the Throne Room of God. The Holy Spirit gave me these points late one night and now I give them to you as the finishing touches of this message. 5 points to remember:
“GOD INVESTED IN YOU”: Why you? Why me? Why not? It's simple because it was in His plans. Genesis 2:7,”and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into man into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul”. We, you and I are GREATEST investments. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10(New Living Translation), “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”We are God's investments and God has invested in you.
“GOD SHINES THROUGH YOU”: God wants to be the light, that light in a world that is so dark, until someone can say, “Now that's a Christian!” In order to to be that light we must remember what Psalms 37:23 says:”the steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord and he delighteth in his way.” Shine by letting God shine THROUGH you.
“GOD + LOVE=UNCONDITIONALLY”: No matter what God will always love us unconditionally. The Prodigal Son's father loved his son so much that he welcomed him with arms and welcoming him back to the place he belonged, home. Is this the way God does His own children? The answer to that question is yes.
Remember, no matter how high your mountains or how low your valleys God will love you UNCONDITIONALLY. “But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved. Ephesians 2:4-5.
4. “GOD IS A MAN OF HIS WORD”: God is trustworthy. He keeps His word because His word never ever fails. Jesus himself said in Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away.”. God won't lie.......and finally---
“GOD GIVES PEACE IN TROUBLED TIMES”: Although the Prodigal Son left a world that had love,peace, kindness, caring to go into a world that was uncaring, unkind, unloving, and no peace, he came back full circle to that place he knew best and that is home. This is for someone today who lost their peace of mind in the home, on the job, in your neighborhood, a blessed assurance to know for sure coming from The Master Himself John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth I unto you. Let your heart be not be troubled neither let it be not afraid.”
CONCLUSION/SHOUTING POINT
No matter what trials you going through in your life or how many storms you gotta go through, you hang on in there help is on the way. I said hang on in there, HELP is on the way, am speaking into someone's life right now? Jesus hung up for our hang ups. No matter the battles we have to face Jesus is there in time of war! Can I get a witness up in here up in here?! No matter how many time you have to cry sometimes, Jesus is there to wipe your tearing eyes. Hang on in there my sister! Hang on in there my brother, everything is gonna be alright. Amen.
