Title: The Prodigal Son
Theme: To show the attitude we should have when 1. Receiving the Father 2. Toward prodigals
Text: Luke 15:11 - 32
Introduction
Turn with me if you would to Luke 15:11. I want to share with you what has considered one of the most popular short stories of all times. Not just in Christian circles but around world. I believe that it is worth the accolades as there is so much in the story. Let us look at it now.
Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. (Luk 15:11)
Both are involved in the story, and both were lost as we will see.
And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. (Luk 15:12)
This was an insult. But the father wanted his son for the sons love not for possessions. You can get more possessions but love is not bought.
Notice that both of the sons got their inheritance. I think this plays into the reaction of the other son at the end.
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. (Luk 15:13)
Personal disaster
Prodigal living? This was different than his father lived. He lived “free”. He lived “loose”. He partied. The problem was he wasted his possessions. Everything.
Natural Disaster
But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. (Luk 15:14)
First there was a natural disaster. Life hits, he was not prepared for the future.
Humiliation
Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (Luk 15:15)
And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. (Luk 15:16)
“Sometimes you got to let them waller in the mud so they can find God”.
The father didn’t come into rescue him. He didn’t prop him up.
He suffered: PSOB – NT Luke 15
He suffered destitute
He suffered natural disaster “no cause of his own”
He suffered humiliation
He suffered hunger “could not be satisfied by the world
He suffered loss of friends
His father did not step in to rescue him.
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (Luk 15:17)
“he said” thought to himself
He let go of the pride that he had allowed himself to be in. He let go of what other’s thought. He let go of his desire to “make it on his own”.
Application:
Some of you have been thinking for a long time. Be careful that you don’t think your way to hell. You keep thinking of ways to get out of it. You keep thinking of ways to overcome addiction. You keep thinking of ways to move forward.
Can I tell you, you have thought enough, it is time to try something different and just trust God.
I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, (Luk 15:18)
And each repented. It's not enough just to say, "I have sinned." True repentance takes place at the point the sinner, like the prodigal, changes direction and heads toward the Father.
Notice the acknowledgement. I have sinned against heaven (against God’s, against God’s kingdom, against God’s plan, against God’s purpose for my life) and against you.
and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' (Luk 15:19)
This is the humility of the son. What ever you to do Father. What ever you need to do God.
"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. (Luk 15:20)
Searching looking father.
Merciful Father – mercy (not getting what I deserve)
Saw him – He was constantly looking for his son
Ran to him – did not wait for the son to get to the father
Embraced him – hugged him
Kissed him – affection. I know the son had to miss the affection of his father.
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2 Peter_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
“The depth of the son’s repentance is matched only by the depth of the father’s love.” (Pate)
And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 21 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 22 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; (Luk 15:23)
Restoration
Robe – position – white garments of righteousness
Ring – authority – repents His father, ambassador
Sandals – elevation – above the servants, above princeapilityes and powers.
Celebration – God celebrates the sinner coming home.
for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. (Luk 15:24)
This was more than a lost sheep or a lost coin. This son was dead but he is now brought to life.
New Life
John 3:16 not perish but have everlasting life” “ that we might have life and have it more abundantly”
Older Son
He lost his compassion. -
We need to be careful that we don’t lost her compassion.
"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. (Luk 15:25)
Son was in the field instead of being in the house. He was working for father but missing the harvest. It is more than just serving and working but it is winning souls and making disciples.
So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. (Luk 15:26) And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' (Luk 15:27
"But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. (Luk 15:28) So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. (Luk 15:29)
Son, “I have worked hard, long hours for you.”
But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' (Luk 15:30)
"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. (Luk 15:31)
You don’t have to earn anything. You are my son. You have everything, but joy.
Miserable Christians.
It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' " (Luk 15:32)
"All that I have is yours," the father said to him. In other words, "You've been so busy trying to earn favor and merit blessing that you never had time to party. It was here for you all the while, but you were too busy working to enjoy it. Yes, your brother was caught up in looseness. But you've been caught up in legalism—and it's robbed you of your joy."
Greeted by the Elder Son?
Imagine what would have happened had the prodigal been welcomed by his self-righteous elder brother rather than by his merciful father. Because a lot of prodigal people are greeted by elder brothers, by self-righteous Christians, they think they cannot go home to the Father, that forgiveness and mercy is too much to hope for, that their only choice is to return to the pig slop of the far country. What a tragedy. We are all prodigals—elder brother and younger brother alike.
Three Lost Parables
Each of the three portions of the parable presented here in Luke 15 speaks of a different aspect of sin: The sheep was lost due to foolishness. The coin was lost due to the carelessness of another. The son was lost due to rebelliousness. I have observed that virtually any sin can be categorized by one of those three characteristics: Sometimes we make foolish mistakes. Other times, as in the case of child abuse, the sins of others leave their marks upon us. And oftentimes we are intentionally, willfully rebellious.
Jon Courson Commentary on Luke 15
Conclusion
1. If you are a prodigal here today. The Father is ready to embrace you. Look back and remember what it was like.
2. Don’t forget where you came from.
We were all lost at one time. We have all sinned. I don’t want to be like the elder brother who has no compassion for his brother.
