SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Luke 15:3-6 ) (3) "And he spake this parable unto them, saying," (4) "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" (5) "And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." (6) "And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
(Luke 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."
(Luke 15:8-10) (8) "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?" (9) "And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost." (10) "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
(Luke 15:11-13) (11) "And he said, A certain man had two sons:" (12) "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." (13) "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."
(Luke 15:14-16) (14) "And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want." (15) "And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine." (16) "And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him."
(Luke 15:17-19) (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!" (18) "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee," (19) "And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."
(Luke 15:20-22) (20) "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." (21) "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." (22) "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:"
(Luke 15:23-24) (23) "And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:" (24) "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."
(Luke 15:25-28) (25) "Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing." (26) "And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant." (27) "And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound." (28) "And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him."
(Luke 15:29-32) (29) "And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:" (30) "But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf." (31) " And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." (32) "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."
OPENEING PRAYER
Father, I pray in Jesus' name, recognizing his great sacrifice at Calvary, that your honor & glory be manifested in this work of faith, and may your countenance smile through it to strengthen the redeemed, that souls may be added to your kingdom.
Dear Lord, I ask that your hand be upon this work of faith, and may your HOLY SPIRIT'S presence anoint this work to touch the hearts of everyone who will take time out of their busy schedule to absorb its truths.
Father, I ask you, yes, Lord, to charge your assigned ministering Angels to accompany this work of faith as posted guards, removing any hindrances that would come against this work, that you use this work to show the people that you are the unchanging God, for Lord, your word declares that what you were yesterday, you are today, and will be tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8)
Dear Lord, please help us to realize our dependence is upon you; therefore, Lord, help us know that we are a part of your glorious body on earth; help us understand that there is strength in numbers and help us see that we need each other to be fruitful to live a prosperous life as your people.
Father God, allow us to not be careless and prideful in our Christian walk, but help us realize Lord, that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves; that we are a part of your glorious body on earth recognized as sons and daughters in your kingdom.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to say a word of prayer for all who will take time out of their busy schedule to read this message with an open heart, and Lord, I ask that you bless each person who will take time to read and meditate on this message spiritually, financially, physically, relationally, and emotionally so that their life may be blessed to enrich the lives of others.
Dear Lord, from this day forward, I ask that your will, your word, your purpose, and your Spirit have free- course in their life including everyone they may meet; that you will touch, heal, and deliver all that read this prayer and call upon your excellent name.
Father, I pray that you will meet the needs of all who read this book right where they are, that all curses and words spoken against them will be broken, and that they may prosper in all they do for your kingdom.
Dear Lord, I ask that you stand up inside all who will read this book, that you will awaken the gifts and talents placed in them from birth, that they may become unified in the faith with other believers realizing the need to work together in harmony like a fine-tuned orchestra in the masters’ hands.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your tremendous love and blessing over our lives, for we rest knowing that you promised never to leave nor forsake us as your children. Still, you promised to go with us all the way, even to the end of the world, which is a great comfort in knowing that whatever we may be called to go through in life, we do not have to go through these trials alone.
Dear Lord, we ask for you to bless us and enlarge our borders as you place your hand upon us to guide us in the path you chose for us; for Father, we realize the need for your divine guidance in our life to lead us by your Spirit to divine appointments, and Lord we ask that you please deliver us from evil that we will not be tempted or cause pain.
Lord, I pray that your blessed holy name might be glorified throughout the earth as you leave your signature through us to future generations and Lord, I ask that you assign an Angel to accompany this work into the home of every person who will take time to read it.
Father God, please help us stand firm together, activating our faith, for it is in these trying times through your grace, that we can find rest in knowing that we can depend on you, our God, "Our Father," to come on the scene to direct our path and to guide our footsteps helping us to understand that our dependence for survival is upon you.
Dear Lord, help us realize that we represent your glorious body on earth; therefore, Lord, help us to understand that there is strength in numbers, and we need each other to be fruitful to live a prosperous life as your people.
Lord, I ask that you stir us up and burden our hearts for true revival, Yes, Lord, stir, us up for regeneration in every country throughout the world, demonstrating to the people in these countries that you are the Unchanging God, for your word declares that what you were yesterday, you are today and will be tomorrow! (Hebrews 13:8)
Heavenly Father, I pray that if any reading this prayer should need deliverance from some oppressing spirit, including some illnesses that may be attacking their body, Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would raise a standard against these attacks and set these people free.
Dear Lord, thank you for hearing my humble, sincere prayer. I pray that the power of your word is activated through the authority made available to us in the blessed name of Jesus.
Lord, I wish to apply the following scriptures to my prayer, believing that you have heard and answered me according to your divine will and purpose, for it is in the mighty name of Jesus that I pray and ask these favors. A-Men
(John 16:23): "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name, he will give it to you."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Dear readers, the message portrayed in these three parables gives us a glimpse into the heart of God concerning how he feels toward lost humanity who need to know that they are not here merely by chance, but they are here for a divine reason to fulfill a divine purpose, therefore beloved, they are not a mistake but have had books written about their life before they were born.
Beloved Saints, God wanted the religious leaders and tax collectors of that day including us reading these parables today to know that he is concerned about the souls of men and women who are living in an unforgiving world looking for answers and a reason to live.
Yes, beloved, God is concerned about the homeless sleeping on the streets of a once prosperous nation, and what about the lost souls sleeping under the bridges having to share the little bit of space that they have with the rats even sleeping with their clothes on to keep others stealing what little bit they have just to survive.
Beloved, every generation down through history has people living in poverty, even people that are living below the poverty line level with some selling themselves on the street, while others join violent gangs just to have a sense of being a part of something that makes them feel special.
Dear readers, the parables we read about here in the fifteenth chapter of Luke's gospel, reveal to us the principal thing in life which is the souls of men and women that are made in the likeness and image of almighty God.
Beloved, here in this chapter, we have the story of the lost sheep that went astray from the rest of the sheep, followed by the woman who lost one of her silver coins and swept her house looking for it until she found it, then beloved we have the story of the young son who wasted through his father's inheritance becoming lost in himself until he became in want, but soon come to himself realizing that there has always been love at his father's house.
Beloved readers, the message in these three parables that was presented to the religious leaders of that day and resonates with a clear message for us today who are living clear in the end-time church is, "No matter what you have done to disgrace your name or your father's name in your life's span on this earth, You can come home and find love at your father's house."
Beloved, the bottom line to the messages we find in these three parables shows us the value placed on one soul before the eyes of an almighty, all-loving God who decided to make a way for his greatest creation to be redeemed by going to the cross and becoming man's savior.
Dear readers, the famous theologian Chares Spurgeon said it best when he wrote in his journals, “The truth here taught is just this: that mercy stretches forth her hand to misery, that grace receives men as sinners, that it deals with demerit, unworthiness and worthlessness; that those who think themselves righteous are not the objects of divine compassion, but the unrighteous, the guilty and the undeserving, are the proper subjects for the infinite mercy of God; in a word, that salvation is not of merit but of grace.” (Charles Spurgeon)
Beloved, while visiting a local bookstore one evening, my wife and I were introduced to a nineteen-year-old Filipino boy that had recently lost his father.
Dear reader, we learned that his father had lost his life while visiting in another country and the young lonely confused teen is now stranded in the Philippines with his mother.
Beloved, feeling heartbroken and all alone, the young boy sought refuge by visiting the Christian bookstore nearby where he was staying with a relative.
Dear reader, the young teen had made friends with the store manager who gave him permission to browse and read through his books of choice that were on display in the store.
Beloved reader, my wife and I discovered that he would look for books that spoke about understanding the love of God, because in his heart and confused state of mind, he needed answers to many questions that left him wondering if God is real and if so, does he really love him?
Beloved, thank God for the kind hearted store manager, who is a woman after God's own heart, for demonstrating the Love of Christ to a frightened boy sadly missing the love of his earthly father.
Dear Saints, after a couple of days witnessing and ministering to this troubled young boy, my wife and I along with the store manager were able to lead this nineteen-year-old confused boy to Christ; the very Essence of God's Amazing Majestic Love.
Beloved, this message will soften the heart of anyone reading it as we together discover how God can send someone ten thousand miles away from home to answer questions and demonstrate his amazing love to a confused Asian boy missing the love of his earthly father which is demonstrated throughout this message that we really do not appreciate what we have until we realize that it is no longer there.
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
(Luke 15:3-4) (3) "And he spake this parable unto them, saying," (4) "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?"
(Luke 15:5-6) (5) "And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." (6) "And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
Luke 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."
Dear readers, this parable speaks volumes about the lost sheep that left the others, and did you not know that the lost sheep that went astray would never have been able to save himself?
Beloved, we discover in the parable of the lost sheep that the shepherd left the ninety-and-nine sheep that were safe to seek after the lost sheep which would have fallen to the wolves and utter destruction.
Dear Saints, can you imagine with me a Shepard going out to count his sheep, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, and ninety-nine, but wait a minute, Jerry is missing, and can you see him leave the others as he picks up his Shepard staff to go searching for Jerry.
Beloved readers, notice his actions when he hears my faint cry discovering that I am lodged between two rocks, and notice as he extends the curved end of his staff around my neck lifting me to his awaiting arms, and notice how he kisses me telling me that I am special to him gently caressing my head as he whispers in my ear that he is glad he found me before the wolves could get to me.
Saints, watch as he pulls me into his bosom allowing me to feel his heartbeat, and notice how he did not scold or whip me but placed me upon his shoulders.
Beloved readers, notice as he carries me back home, and notice how for days he did not place me with the others but let me stay with him making sure that I understand that he loves me with unconditional love assuring me that I can never stray far enough for him not to love me.
Beloved, this parable speaks volumes in my life concerning the lost sheep for I have lived through every part of it, and not only this parable, but all three parables that are listed in this fifteenth chapter of Luke's gospel.
Dear saints and fellow peers, the parables listed in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, reveal unto all of us the pure unchanging love God has for the lost which I discovered for myself in a cruel world where I became the lost sheep that encountered and accepted the grace of God that is searching for lost sinners like me.
Dear readers, this testimony is personal but if God can use it to help someone else, then let me become a worm that he may be glorified and exalted.
Dear readers, throughout my entire life and ministry around the world, I have discovered that God not only receives the lost back into fellowship with him but he is actively searching for lost broken humanity in places many people would never go.
Beloved, I can relate to the shepherd's love for his sheep in that I was living a life encountering nothing but abuse including rejection from family members, friendships including relationships some of whom wanted someone else and me but did not want to lose me, with many of the ones who abused me wanting me back.
Beloved, I thought I had found paradise when I received the call from God to enter the ministry but boy was I fooled as I encountered harsher treatment in the church than I had received growing up in the streets.
Dear readers, after suffering through three years of abuse by elders in the evangelical churches who were living two lives, I decided that I had endured enough of this religious showmanship with people in leadership looking down on others because of the way they were dressed or the color of their skin did not qualify them to be in their churches as if they had some kind of disease.
Saints, what got to me was one of the religious elders in a worldwide organization that I was licensed in had strict rules in place that if any minister in his organization would visit or preach for another organization without permission from the council, they would be brought before the review board and be stripped of their credentials.
Dear readers, this very thing happened to me, and did you know that when this religious elder who founded this worldwide evangelical organization came down on his deathbed, he made the statement in tears to his leaders that he was afraid to die?
Dear reader, I remember as I started toward the world in what would end up in a seven-plus year plus mental breakdown that I heard the audible voice of God speak to me saying, "Jerry, deep down inside, I know that you love me."
Beloved Saints, I started driving the big rigs as hard as I possibly could which I had worked on most of my young life even to the point of relying on dangerous drugs to get me from one coast in the Americas to the other in three days.
Beloved, it was during these troublesome years that I met real Angels of God who looked just like us in human form but they knew way too much about me to be fake and they made sure to inform me that the Lord God Jehovah had sent them to me, and beloved, they spoke about him with eyes filled with adoration for who he is to them.
Dear readers, everywhere that I went, I had some type of supernatural encounter such as entering a fast food restaurant only to discover a bible lying on the table in front of me with a black man appearing out of mid-air looking right at me causing me to forget all about food as I made a beeline for the exit thinking within myself, "if that is another Angel, I do not want to stick around to hear him tell me that God has had enough of my backslidden attitude.
Beloved readers, did you know that the rest of my Angelic encounters after the first two were of the black race mainly because God had plans to bring me back into the ministry and send me to minister for more than twenty years to his lost sheep throughout the inner cities of America?
Beloved, the living God knew in his fore-knowledge that I was going to make many mistakes, but chose to help me get through that dark nightmare to re-instate me like he did Peter back into his ministry opening up platforms and doors of opportunity in magazines, radio, and TV to reach people around the world.
Dear readers, did you know that a sheep will drown when it gets near water if someone is not there to care for it, and did you know that it will bleat for the other sheep, but will run in an opposite direction from them, and did you know that if the Shepard walks among them at night and even though they hear and recognize his voice, they will not come to him unless he lights a lantern and allow them to see his face?
Dear Saints, you can read more about my visitations and encounters with Angels by reading some of my books, especially the "Eighteen Wheels and Jesus" which can be downloaded for free from our website: witheredhand.org.
Dear readers, be sure and send me an email dr.jerryntin.mlci@gmail.com asking for the free PDF manuscript download of my new book, "A Day after Salvation."
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN
(Luke 15:8-10) (8) "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?" (9) "And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost." (10) "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Dear readers, this parable gives us a glance at how important the lost are to God, and the great theologian "Charles Spurgeon" says it best when he wrote in one of his journals that "The lost belong to God whether they know it or not,"
Beloved readers, did you know that the piece of silver that was lost did not lose its value? nor did it belong to someone else but notice how the woman in this parable described the lost coin as being her property which shows us that although the money was lost, it did not lose its value, nor she did not lose her right as ownership of it when it slipped out of her hand and fell upon the floor.
Dear readers, notice how the parable says that she lit a candle and swept the house until she found it, and notice how she called her neighbors to come and rejoice with her because she had lost a valuable piece of property and now that she has found it, the excitement in finding the lost coin sets the mood for a celebration.
Saints, there is something about finding a lost item, especially one of great importance and value like the lost coin in this parable which probably was lost from the headband that married women wear which consists of ten pieces of silver attached to a silver ring that they wore around their head.
Beloved, can you imagine how this woman felt in losing her coin, especially if it was one of the ten coins her husband had given her to wear in public which tells everyone that she is spoken for in marriage, can you imagine the embarrassment she would face if she had lost the coin by being careless?
Dear Saints, this lost coin gives us a loving message to a troubled world, especially those serving time behind bars paying back their debt to society for crimes they committed beloved can't you see the way this message will affect someone who has been rejected all their life by family members telling them that they were a mistake and a disgrace to all they meet?
Beloved Saints and fellow peers, this parable reveals to us the heart of God toward lost broken humanity and why our life should be a light to a dark world as we go about carefully searching for the lost when we find them, lead them to the one who recognized their value and willfully gave his life over two thousand years ago on an old Roman cross to pay the sin debt that they may have a right to the tree of life and be adopted into the family of God.
Dear reader, the bottom line to this message is recognizing the value of one soul before God and rejoicing with God when sinners repent in humble submission before him and not be like the religious leaders of that day who complained when the tax collectors and sinners drew near to hear what Jesus had to say concerning the joy that fills God's heart when the lost are found and brought to him.
Beloved, can you picture with me in your mind the God of mercy stretching forth his hands demonstrating his love and amazing grace through this message that he receives lost sinners in the condition that they are in so he can forgive them and wash them in the blood of his Son showing us reading this today that salvation is not of merit's which can be earned by our good deeds, but salvation is by grace through faith which can be described as the merciful un-merited favor of God.
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON WHO LEAVES HOME
(Luke 15:11-13) (11) "And he said, A certain man had two sons:" (12) "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." (13) "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."
(Luke 15:14-16) (14) "And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want." (15) "And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine." (16) "And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him."
Dear readers, this parable is about a young son coming to his father asking for him to divide his part of his father's inheritance with him which was custom in that day for fathers to lay up an inheritance for their children.
(Proverbs 13:22) "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just."
Dear friends, in the parable of the prodigal son, we see how the younger son was given his inheritance, despite it not being the custom of the time.
Beloved, this inspirational story served to challenge the religious leaders who believe they are qualified to decide who is just and unjust in the eyes of God.
The younger son went to a faraway land and spent his money on ungodly living, attracting worldly people who took advantage of him, however, eventually, a severe famine hit, causing him to lose his friends and almost starve.
As a Jew, the son was insulted to be sent to feed the swine, forbidden by the law of Moses. He was so hungry that he considered eating the husks given to the swine. Having lived on a farm, I understand the danger of being in the presence of swine, who can become aggressive if they sense weakness, and if you watch the swine eat, they have a way of causing you to entertain the thoughts that what they are eating is good.
The lesson here is that venturing out into the world without proper planning or maturity can lead to disastrous consequences, leaving us stranded and hungry like the prodigal son, therefore, we must be aware of the unforgiving nature of the world and prepare ourselves accordingly.
Dear reader, we are going to make mistakes and yes, we are going to fall, but we have some hope that is found in the word of God that says, “The just man falleth seven times and riseth again which means that he will always get back up.”(Proverbs 24:16)
Beloved reader, did you know that the Christian life is a learning process and we need to know that when we mess up, we can come to our Heavenly Father and fall on his mercy that is available and rich to all who call upon his name?
Dear Saints, the bottom line to this message is when we mess up, we do not need to run and hide from our Father as Adam and Eve did in the garden, but we need to know that he is a restorer to those who run to him, for remember that in this parable, we find the father running to his missing son.
Beloved reader, the bottom line to this message is, no matter how bad we may have messed up, or how far away we may feel from him, there is joy in knowing that we can run to the safety of his open arms knowing he will not turn us away.
THE YOUNGER SON COMES TO HIS SENSES
(Luke 15:17-24) (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!" (18) "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee," (19) "And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."
Dear readers, did you know that when this message is preached in service there is usually more than one person in the congregation including myself that have lived most of their life similar to what the young son has lived and this beloved is only a story the Lord is using to instill unto his disciples and us today that no matter what we may endure in a harsh world, we can rest in knowing that there is always love at the father's house.
Beloved readers, I will always bear in my memory the tragic day on May 01, 1968, when I was struck by a car on a lonely country road at the crest of a hill while riding my motorcycle.
Beloved, this accident happened at the young age of (15) which caused me to be hospitalized for over three months and unable to walk for a year, with the doctors telling me that I would never walk again.
Dear readers, the car a souped-up 1969 GTO topped the hill at a high rate of speed on my side of the road leaving me no time to react but hit the car and go flying through the air over the car, bursting my helmet and cutting the muscle out of my left leg.
Dear readers, this ended my ball-playing career and sent me into depression which a few years later caused me to be like this prodigal son and leave home without preparing for my journey such as taking extra money or even preparing for where I would sleep on the long journey, I had embarked on with the mindset of joining the navy.
Beloved, did you not know that several hundred miles from home, I blew up the engine in my car and had no choice but to start walking back that long dangerous highway with no food or anything to sustain me but the clothes on my back?
Beloved readers, I left home thinking that my dad did not love me always accusing me of being on drugs when I tell you even today that at that time in my life, I was against using drugs, but his jealousy of me being the only boy in the family almost ruined my life for you see, he was supposed to be a preacher but he had a problem dealing with his flesh which caused me to almost hate him.
Dear readers, I remember like it was yesterday three hundred forty miles from home with nightfall setting in, starting that long journey back encountering periods where I was walking in the rain, and along the way, I remember encountering other young hitchhikers walking in the rain.
Beloved, the Lord was with me for he sent me three rides which caused me to enter the city limits of one of the neighboring cities in the early morning, but beloved, I still had to walk several miles to call my mother but beloved, when I called, my father answered the phone informing me that he had set up all night worried about me and asked if he could come and get me which was a huge surprise to me coming from a man that I thought hated me.
Beloved, the Lord in this parable says that while feeding the swine the young son came to himself and repented first to the God of his father but also, he made plans to go home and repent to his father for wasting his living, but the one thing he realized is that he was brought up to know that there is love back at his father's house and he remembered that even the servants in his father's house are treated with respect.
Beloved, Saints, noticed that he did not make plans to improve his living conditions in that country, but made up his mind that he was going to like me to make the long journey back home to make things right with his father, and after making reconciliation with his father, the young wayward son was going to request that he be allowed to give up the rights of being his son and ask if he can become one of the hired servants, for the hired servants in his father's house are well cared for.
Dear readers, we are living in a day of human trafficking where children are missing with some being kidnapped to fulfill the sexual pleasures of the rich while others are being harvested for their organs to be sold on the black market for a profit.
Saints, there will come a day when these missing children will be recognized, and does not the word of God warn us that their Angels do always behold the face of their father which is in heaven?
(Matthew 18:10) "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."
Beloved readers, the chart below gives a vivid description of the lessons we need to learn in this parable and notice the steps the sone took after he made the decision to return home and apologize to his father.
Dear Saints, notice how the reconciliation and reclothing took place which ended in preparing a feast to celebrate the return of the prodigal son, but beloved, notice in the chart the ring of reconciliation with the eight jewels which represent sonship.
THE YOUNG SON COMES HOME
(Luke 15:20-22) (20) "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." (21) "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." (22) "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:"
(Luke 15:23-24) (23) "And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:" (24) "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."
Hello readers, we have now reached the most important part of this message where Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son and emphasizes some crucial lessons for us to remember.
Do you recall how we spoke about the young son who suffered from starvation during a severe drought in the country where he stayed? He eventually came to his senses, realizing his selfishness, and repented to the God of his fathers.
Now, in this part of the message, we will study his journey back home and discover the loving father who eagerly awaited his return, for deep down inside, the father knew how he had raised his son, and in his heart the father knew that he had placed something deep within his son that would cause him to remember that there is love in his father's house.
It's exciting to note that the scriptures state when the father saw his son from afar, he ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him, demonstrating to all who will read this parable, the father's great love for his children.
Beloved, did you not know that if the father had not reached his son before others, who represented the law of Moses, the son could have been stoned for his disgraceful actions in bringing disgrace upon his family?
Dear readers, when the son apologized for his sins and asked to be recognized as a hired servant rather than a member of the family, the father reacted with love and compassion. He instructed his servants to bring him the best robe from his closet, a ring to signify his status as a family member, and shoes as a symbol of the grace of God welcoming back the wayward sinner.
Saints, this parable speaks about the father giving instructions for the servants to go get the fatted calf out of the stall and kill it to make a feast to celebrate the safe return of his young son who was lost but now is found, and beloved readers, this got me to thinking that maybe the same day that the son left home to venture out into a cruel world, the father knowing how he had raised him, took a prized calf out of the herd and began to feed it in preparations to have a fatted calf to celebrate the safe return of his son.
Beloved readers, may we always remember this parable about the prodigal son and the lessons it teaches us about forgiveness, love, acceptance but let us also remember that God loves us with a pure unchanging unconditional love and that love is on display for us today in this parable told by Jesus which we call the prodigal son.
THE RING OF RECONCILIATION
Dear reader, I begin this chapter with an urgency to have you, understand that each one of us was born to achieve a significant purpose in life, and we each have a destiny to fulfill that purpose, so that we may make a difference in our generation, therefore let us not allow our past to define us for are we not reading about a young son who left home but instead of being rejected by his father, he was welcomed back into the family with new clothes, new shoes, a ring of reconciliation and a celebration party on his behalf which was not what he was expecting.
(Could This Be You)
Beloved, some scholars believe that the ring of reconciliation could be viewed in a spiritual way as having eight stones which represents eight precious spiritual jewels, and they base their belief on the work of grace that God works in man as described in Romans the fifth chapter verses one through five.
(Romans 5:1-5) (1) "Therefore being justified by faith, we have (PEACE) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (2) "By whom also we have (ACCESS) by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and (REJOICE) in hope of the glory of God." (3) "And not only so, but we (GLORY IN TRIBULATION) also: knowing that tribulation worketh (PATIENCE.)" (4) "And patience, (EXPERIENCE); and experience, (HOPE):" (5) "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the (LOVE) of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
(1) Peace - We can have peace even in distress when we know everything is right between us and our father.
(2) Access - We can have access to the father because we have been born or adopted into the family as a son or daughter.
(3) Joy) - We can have joy even when we lose our happiness for the Joy of the Lord according to the word of God is where we find our strength..
(4) Glory in Trial - We can experience glory even in the midst of trouble because of who we are in Christ taking him at his promise that he will never leave us nor will he forsake us, but he will go with us all the way, to the end of the world.
(5) Patience - We can find that we can endure more than we thought we could for the trial brings out the best in us which gives us patience to endure hardships as a good soldier.
(6) Experience - We can rest in knowing that faith not only comes by hearing the word of God, but it is increased when we endure through the trial which gives us valuable experience in the way he helped us to overcome.
(7) Hope - We can rest in knowing that the same Lord who gave us the parable of the prodigal son to not only demonstrate the heart of the father but it gives us hope against hope when things look hopeless which is an anchor of our soul.
(8) Love - We can rest in knowing that just like the father's love shown forth in the parable of the prodigal son, the love of our heavenly father is a pure, indwelling, unconditional, everlasting love for his children.
THE YOUNGER SON IS REJECTED BY HIS BROTHER
(Luke 15:25-28) (25) "Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing." (26) "And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant." (27) "And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound." (28) "And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him."
(Luke 15:29-32) (29) "And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:" (30) "But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf." (31) " And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." (32) "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."
Dear readers, the scriptures above give us a picture of some religious elders in the church today for just like the elder brother who wanted no part of the festival celebrating the return of his long lost brother; I believe the Lord is emphasizing this part of the parable toward the narrow-minded religious rulers full of pride standing there judging others when their own heart and speech exposing them for what they are which is just an outward show to others.
Beloved readers, the bottom line to this parable concerning the attitude of the elder brother toward his father is the prideful stance the elder brother took when being confronted by his father in stating that unlike his brother who wasted his inheritance, he made sure to remind his father that he had remained faithful to him by continuously working in the fields like the hired servants which show us that the elder brother did not understand his rightful place in the family especially with the mindset that he would have to earn the right to have a feast for his friends.
Beloved readers, notice how the father informed the elder son that everything he has is his for the asking and he could have had a feast anytime he desired, but let me take this time to make a statement that everything still belonged to the father while he was still living.
Dear readers, I am here to tell you by experience that the living God has allowed some of us, like the younger son in this parable, to get down in the mud and cellars of life to have people treated them worse than a human, mainly because he has some undesirables that we are to meet in this end time push of the Spirit of God in hopes of rescuing as many as possible from the grasp of Satan's wicked rebellion.
Dear Saints, did you not know that there are people like the prodigal son who have made plans for their lives, but were surprised when circumstances and events acting as a steering wheel came into their lives, sending them on a dangerous spiraling path, living on the streets?
The bottom line to this entire message is for us to realize the value that God places on one lost soul and not allow ourselves to become consumed with pride like the elder brother but consider ourselves lest we fall into temptation for the word of God informs us that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
MY CONCLUSION
To our dear readers, we recently examined three parables from Luke's gospel dealing with the recovering of lost items, and how much joy feels our heart when they are recovered, but beloved, the part that caught my attention in these stories was the way our Lord began them with the question, "Which one of you?"
Dear readers, these stories illustrate lost humanity and God's unwavering love for us, which does not depend on our faithfulness. The main lesson is that the lost can be found and redeemed, as seen in the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son.
Beloved, this message is especially timely as we navigate a world searching for answers. We have the experience and knowledge needed to help those who are lost, gained through the trials of life that have taught us how to interact with all types of people and recognize the presence of our Heavenly Father and his Angelic helpers.
Dear readers, when we follow God's commands, spend time in prayer, and align with our assigned Angels, we become a powerful force against the darkness, and we will be able to witness the Angel armies working alongside us to expand the kingdom of God when Heaven and Earth come into alignment with each other.
Saints and fellow peers, the Spirit of God is calling for us to rise up and answer the call to arms against the darkness. We have been trained and equipped to stand firm, proclaiming our faith boldly and refusing to compromise or bow to ungodly pressures. We are more than conquerors through Christ, and the devil belongs under our feet.
God wants you to know that you are unique and valuable, just like the lost coin that regained its worth upon being found, and no matter what others may say or think, God is the one who ultimately determines our worth, for just like the prodigal son, we may have a past we wish to forget, but God chose us anyway, knowing our hearts and potential.
Beloved readers, may we take what we have learned from these parables and embrace the unconditional love of God and share it with those who are lost and searching for answers in a troubling world in which we are commanded to be a light in the darkness, and with God's help beloved, we can make a difference. Amen.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
