The Prodigal Son Sermon
Luke 15:11-23
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.
14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.
16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.
17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’
20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
Prayer……
(Intro) A young boy, around the age of eight, lived in Alaska with his parents. His dad was the Boy Scout leader of the area. The troop of the young boy decided to go mountain climbing up a two mile high mountain called Bald Eagle. The boy loved to climb and made a competition with the other boys to see who could climb the quickest to the top.
The boy went further and further up, losing sight of the troop and his father, but did not slow as he did not want the other boys to catch him. As he climbed he learned it was easier to climb at a diagonal. Spiraling up, he finally reached the summit. It was lonely and cold as the wind blew across the hard rock surface of the mountain.
Time passed as he waited for the troop. Fear began to take hold of his mind. "What if I’m on the wrong mountain? Maybe I crossed over to another mountain and I’m lost!"
Two hikers seemed to appear from nowhere and asked the boy if he was okay. "Yeah," he said, trying to muster courage in his voice. "My Boy Scout troop is coming up."
The men left and the young boy was again alone. With nowhere to sit securely, as time passed the fear and doubt began to creep in again, "What if a bear comes up here?" The boy thought of descending to find his father but was unsure the way as he had spiraled up to reach the top.
Looking down from the peak, he saw a small farm with a pond in the valley below. He decided to venture there. Going down was easy, but his fear of a bear grew as he entered a forest. He began to run with tears streaming down his face. He eventually found an abandon cabin and was able to break into the cabin through one of the windows. By luck, some would call it God’s grace there was food in the pantry mostly expired beans, canned vegetables, and fake meat cans.
The boy hated this food and would spit it out when his mom would try and make spam sandwiches (Come on somebody) before this whole ordeal. But now he was forced for 10 whole days to portion out old beans, peas, and spam cans. Until one day He hears the door broken down its his miliary father and leader of the local scouts. He runs to his boy and holds him as they both weep in each others arms. After a few moments the Father begins to say don’t you ever run away like that again look where you got yourself. That day the young boy learned a very valuable lesson.
SIMILAR STORY BUT NOT EVERY DETAIL EXACT AS THE PARABLE…
I WANT US TO UNDERSTAND TODAY THAT JESUS THROUGH HIS PARABLES WAS TRYING TO GIVE US THE FATHERS HEART…
And if your taking notes today that is my title The Fathers Heart….
This story told by Jesus is revealing something about the perspective of Heaven and the heart of the Father. We must always remember that His ways are not our ways
No matter how good we are, how well respected we become, how holy we live, the bible still says our righteousness is like Filthy rags compared to a Holy God.
REMEMBER THIS MORNING I WANT TO GIVE US THE HEART OF THE FATHER…
I know this could be a sensitive subject for some of us, and I could relate I only recall seeing my biological father about 5 or 6 times.
-Hear these statistics that reveal the impact of homes that are Fatherless.
• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average.
• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.
• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)
• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average. (National Principals Association
Report)
• 85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Fulton Co. Georgia, Texas Dept. of Correction)
Unfortunately before I met Christ I myself feal victim to some of these disheartening statistics…
But something happened when I understood that my biological DNA did not have to determine my earthly destiny…
In 2010 I accepted the love of God, and felt the heart beat of Heaven as God used the local church to wrap their arms around a troubled young man.
A person who was violent, a person who was depressed, a person who was addicted, a person who was lonely, a person who had nothing to offer…BUT YET THEY SAID WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD YOU ARE NOW HOME!!!
Today if you learn anything or remember anything remember this that the local church is where the heart of the Father, and the heart of God should be displayed. This incorporates man woman and children.
The bible say’s he will give us a new heart! Ezekiel 36:26
26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Pulse Church Azusa when God begins to do a heart transplant in His body the church. Revival will begin to break out, people will come from the north, south, east, and west. Because there is a church that welcomes the prodigals, that welcomes the backslider, that welcomes the hurting, that welcomes the depressed, that welcomes the lonely, that welcomes every aspect of society and when they sit underneath the power of God and love of the
Father He does what He needs in each person, can someone say amen.
This morning as we look at the story of the prodigal son I want us to take home a few main points.
Number 1. Children Think They Know Best
Children Think They Know Best (Verse 12. ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’)
I am reminded of my 4 year old daughter from the moment she began to speak, she decided that she knows best. She knows what the best meals are, when we should go to bed and when to wake up, what to wear and so on….
And sometimes just sometimes I have to let her get her way so she realizes that she doesn’t know best and that DADDY IS THE BOSS. COME ON SOMEBODY.
Recently she decided that she wanted to wear sandals, and a tank top, and shorts that are way to small for a 4 year old (I don’t know where she got those shorts anyway) outside but outside it was cloudy, forecasted to rain, gloomy, but she was insisting and even crying until she got her way.
So I said okay before we leave lets go check the mail, we will in a apartment complex so our mail box is about 2 minutes away. As soon as her feet touched that wet grass, she said daddy its to cold to wear this…. YES DADDY WAS TELLING YOU THAT REMEMBER….?
While studying for this message I actually found out that neuroscience and psychology experts have actually discovered
That allowing a toddler to struggle, get frustrated, figure things out themselves for minutes at a time actually causes new neurons in their brain to change and develop, asking questions such as “what else can you try”, “is there any other ways to do it” etc. BEFORE WE STEP IN AND DO IT FOR THEM (minutes not hours)
This is what happens in the story of the prodigal Son. He is left to his own devices and left to figure it out on His own. While starting off well, blessed, prosperous, we all know how it ended with the pigs.
-And this is how it ends when we do not have God in the center of our lives. We can have wealth, Fame, Education, Prosperity but if God is not with us then eventually we will run into a brick wall.
Mark 8:36 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life/soul?
Either on this side of eternity or the next we will have to deal with our actions consequences.
-This is why we see so many people depressed, battling anxiety, mental health, negative emotions, many not all, have expelled God the Father out of their lives.
-In the chase of money, success, their own “truth”, and now they found themselves suicidal, lost, in the mud with the pigs.
The good new is its not over for them…. OH HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THANKFUL THAT WE SERVE A HEAVENLY FATHER OF SECOND CHANCES, THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH CHANCES FOR SOME OF US.
The bible says in verse
17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
He remembered his Fathers Love. He said my father gives his servants more than enough, they eat, and they have left over. How about me his own son…
This phrase “he came to himself” is also very important.
It speaks of facing ourselves nose to nose. Looking ourselves dead center in the mirror. And being honest with ourselves.
HE FINALLY SAID WHAT AM I DOING? I BLEW IT! I MADE A MISTAKE! I SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE THAT! I SHOULDN’T HAVE SAID THAT! I GOT MYSELF IN A BAD POSITION
“You know I’ve never seen someone choke on humble pie”
Men of God it’s okay to admit that we are not always right can someone say AMEN.
Listen… He, the prodigal son also speaks of his fathers hired hands…. I believe he began to remember his identity. Which brings me to my next point
2. God’s love for you and I
Mathew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
The prodigal son had his fathers DNA.
Me and you were made in the image of God. That’s what the bible teaches us…
Genesis 1:27 So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
And there is levels to love, I recently got a French bulldog and they are so cute. For the past couple years they have become the most popular dogs in America and I love my dog but there’s no comparison of that type of love to the love of my children and wife.
Like do not get me wrong my dog gets treated very well, I have a friend who rescued their dog from an ally… and I ask him what breed is it when I first seen it and he mentioned like 8 breeds and I’m like how is that even possible. I thought their could only be a mix of 2?
He feeds his dog pizza, cereal, recently he said his dogs favorite snacks are kids crayons. IM LIKE BRO!!!! YOUR GOING TO GET THAT DOG TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU BY ANIMAL PROTECTION OR SOMETHING…
My dog this week I literally had to stick my whole hand down his throat because I seen him snag one of my kids crayons…I bought him a brand new cooling bed in which he shredded into pieces the first day….And even though I take care of my dog like he’s my best friend.
When him and my 1 year old son start going at it, my 1 year old son always gets the most attention obviously and cookie gets put in his kennel….
YOU AND I, HAVE GOD’S HEART ON THAT LEVEL! ABOVE THE BIRDS, ABOVE THE ANIMALS, ABOVE THE FISH, ABOVE THE TREES. HE’S SAYING THIS MORNING I LOVE YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE!!
I MADE YOU IN MY IMAGE, I MADE YOU WITH THE ABILITY TO THINK RATIONALLY, I MADE YOU WITH THE ABILITY TO COMMUNE WITH ME, I MADE YOU WITH VALUE
LOOK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY YOUR VALUEABLE…
Sometimes how we grew up and some of the things we went through make us think we have lost value, but that is never the case in the heart of God and sight of God.
-I remember the first time I met my father, he picked me up and promised myself we would go get toys, get burgers and ice cream,,, He said just let me make a quick stop and whatever you do don’t… Get out of this car….I eventually followed me…The place where we were was skid row I seen him go into a text. I walked in any there were shooting drugs in their arms..He began to beat me and take me home I never seen him again I was about 8 years old
That marked me as a young boy but something changed when I met my Heavenly Father, God stepped in and raised me by the spirit. He’s taken me all around the world, sheltered me, blessed me gave me 3 beautiful children of my own now! My value doesn’t come from this world it comes from the image of God!
We Are Valuable and By who our Heavenly Father is!
1 Children Think They Know Best 2 Gods love for you and I 3 Gods Access
3 Gods Access
This story is loaded with rich material and meaning and we could be here for hours breaking it down.
But I know We all have things to do after this meeting So remember what happened when the Prodigal Son “Comes to His senses”
Verse 20-23 Says 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
His Father runs to him! This was an elderly man, I’m 33 years old and I already starting to hurt when I run (come on somebody), But his heart to see his boy come back gave him a thrust of energy
-That’ll preach alone. I never want to become so cold in heart when I see a homeless, when I see an old church member fall away, when I see one of God’s children eating with the pigs that my heart doesn’t break, that it doesn’t give me energy to pray, to evangelize, to preach, to give, to praise.
-I did it in the world! I go to a dodger game and I see people willing to give their life in the parking lot for their team. I’ve got something greater than a baseball team and that’s the message of the gospel…!
-Can someone say a Fathers Heart…
This act of running in ancient middle easter culture was undignifying act! Sometimes we have to not be so dignified to reach the lost, put off our title, put off our educational degree, put off our economic status and say GOD YOU REALLY WANT ME TO TELL THIS PERSON OF YOUR LOVE. I’LL GO! LIKE THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID SEND ME LORD I’LL GO!
-Listen to this the Father gave him a ring…. (THIS IS HEAVY) In their culture and time. Rings of wealthy families would have an emblem…(according to scholars and historians) and this emblem was like a credit card..
-Every time they went to buy milk, buy goods, buy items, and merchandise they put their ring into a stamp like piece of paper or clay and the merchant knew who’s family to charge…
Even if you blew it, even if you ruined it, even if you squandered it, even if your bankrupt, GOD SAYS I WILL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU 1,000, I will bless you, I will restore you, I will make you the head again, I will make your cup overflowing COLD SOMEBODY GIVE GOD SOME PRAISE!!!
1 CHILDREN THINK THEY KNOW BEST 2 RECEIVE GODS LOVE 3 RECEIVE GODS ACCESS AND LASTLY
4 Gods Acceptance And I close with this….
The prodigal son is a story of a boy just totally missing it…..
And the Father revealing His Heart…..
I feel the Lord saying this morning I’m going to build this church…. Let me do heart surgery on some of you….
I LOVE YOU SAYS, THE LORD, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EARN MY LOVE….
THE LORD IS SAYING EVERY INSECUITY I AM GOING TO HEAL YOU….
I’ve learned that one of societies biggest issues, we cover ourselves in success, money, designer things, and when all that can’t fill the void, or it runs out WE ARE LOST BUT GOD SAYS I AM HERE COME HOME…
