The Journey to Recovery
Lu 15:11-24 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:11-32 is one of the best loved parables in the Scripture. Jesus shares this story after hearing his critics who did not understand his great concern for the lost. He tells the story of a lost coin, a lost sheep and finally a lost son. First, a lost sheep, a 1% loss, one of 100; most simply understood without much sense of loss. Secondly, the lost coin, a 10% loss, a loss that could be felt, but managed. Finally, he speaks of the lost son, a 50% loss, a critical loss. This kind of loss would cripple a business or destroy a family.
The sheep simply wandered off while grazing; the coin was lost by accident; but the son was lost in his desire for freedom from restraints. Many today, leave home search for freedom from restraints, rules, and regulations. There is a difference between freedom and independence. Many choose to use those two words interchangeably, but they are different.
Freedom or liberty refers to an absence of restrictions and an opportunity to exercise one's rights and powers. Freedom emphasizes the opportunity given for the exercise of one's rights, powers, desires, or the like: freedom of speech or conscience; freedom of movement. Independence, on the hand implies not only lack of restrictions but also the ability to stand alone, un-sustained by anything or anyone else.
The young man of our story was experiencing a good life with a wholesome relationship with his father, yet he became dissatisfied. He wanted more; he was hungry for more. More freedom, more opportunity, more space! The farm had gotten too small, too narrow and to restrictive. The young man calls a meeting with his father. You can tell they had a wonderful relationship. The father was willing to meet with him and hear him out and even granted his request.
There several attributes about this young man, we call a prodigal, I like:
1. I like his understanding of his father. (Good Relationship)
2. I like what he asked for – the portion that falleth to me. (Good Choice)
3. Although leaving home was not the best idea, I liked what he did when he had spent all. (He got a job) He has been raised to work…not steal, rob or beg.
4. Even when he found himself in the hog pen hungry and greatly tempted, He refused to eat with the swine. (he raising would not allow it.(Good limit) There was line he would not cross.
There are three necessary steps on the journey to restoration. How can I be restored to a relationship with God when we have wandered way? The first step is found in verse 17. Read Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
The first step to a restored relationship with God is to admit your present situation.
The young man admitted the stupidity of staying where he was.
That is what this young man did. "He came to his senses!" He finally opened his eyes and said, "This is stupid! Even my father’s servants have food to spare." Even life as a slave in his father’s home would have been better than the so-called freedom he was experiencing. To keep an individual bound, Satan must blind their minds.
2Co 4:3, 4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Satan is works to fill the mind of lost soul with lies that prevent them from making a sound decision. He is trying to keep them from coming to their senses by convincing them that life without restraints is really better for them. Freedom is not life without restraints; freedom is the liberty to live in obedience to God, our creator. If people will take a look and be honest they will admit that the direction they’re heading only ends in ruin.
Read Luke 15:18-20a I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The second step to a restored relationship with God is Realize God’s great love and willingness to receive us back. The young returned to his father with a regretful, repentant, humble attitude. He understood his only standing ground was on the father’s love and mercy. Some people admit the mess their life is in but never do anything about it. Some people even say, "I need to get my life right with God" but never actually return to God. Not only did this man plan to get right with his father, he actually took steps to do so. He did not stay where he was or write a letter to his father asking for money, but rather he returned with a repentant, humble attitude. He knew that his father would not bless him where he was. Some people simply want God to bless them where they are, but to have a restored relationship with God you must leave the old life behind and return to God.
Read Luke 15:21-24 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The third step to a restored relationship with God is to accept his full son-ship restoration. It is one thing to recognize that God will lovingly welcome you home, but it’s another to accept the full son-ship blessing and privileges. The Father was not looking for another servant. He could have hired additional servants any day. He wants a son restored. What a wonderful story! God wants to restore every wayward son. Every time a son returns, God plans a celebration.
Lu 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Illustration: Do you remember the popular song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon?" It tells of a man who’s been sent to prison. He’s served his time and is now coming home on the bus. But he admits that she who once loved him has every right to reject him. He’s to blame. So he’s written to tell her that if she forgives him, she should "tie a yellow ribbon ’round the old oak tree." If there’s no yellow ribbon, he’ll just go riding by on the bus………………………………………………………………….
As the miles roll by, all the man thinks about is that oak tree. When he gets home, will there be a yellow ribbon on it? The song ends in triumph with the entire busload of people cheering as the man sees not one but a hundred yellow ribbons on that old oak tree! His lover not only forgives him, but she exuberantly welcomes him home!
Like the man on the bus, we’re fearful of not be lovingly welcomed home. We know our own hearts, and we wonder if God will really forgive us, let alone celebrate our coming. But you need to remember in this passage, the shepherd went out searching for the lost sheep; the woman searched the house, moving the furniture, lighting a candle and sweeping every corner until she found the lost coin; and finally, the father of our text kept looking and longing for his son to return. The sheep did not have freewill; neither did the coin, but the son is a free moral agent, so the father patiently waited.
The father God loves us so much that he would not wait. Lu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” The journey to restoration begins with an acknowledgement of your present situation. Have you come to yourself yet? Then acknowledge your return is based on the goodness and mercy for a loving Father, not a repentant speech of a son. By grace are ye saved through faith, not of works…Then accept his free gift to son-ship restoration. Pray the prayer of faith and receive full son ship blessings and restoration.
