In his book Capital of the World, Ernest Hemingway, tells about a father in Spain that becomes angry with his son and is soon estranged. The son's name is a common spanish name: Paco. Years of brokenness and bitterness take its toll and the man is beset with the greatest of grief from the alienation. He looks for his son Paco with no result. Finally, in desperation, the father takes an ad in the Madrid newspaper. It reads "Paco, all is forgiven. Please meet me at the newspaper steps tomorrow. Love Father." Hemingway tells of the father arriving at the newspaper and 800 Paco's are there to receive the fathers forgiveness. Oh, how we need that kind of forgiveness today!
Today we'll look at a common narrative in scripture that many have heard but is rarely applied: Luke 15:11-32. Most people know it as the "Parable of the Prodigal Son". I want us to reflect on a different title this morning "Forgivness lavished by the loving Father". As you turn in your Bibles I want you to think of a person that your struggling with in the area of forgiveness. With that person and hurt in mind, lets get a glimpse at how the "Original Forgiving Father" handles his wayward son. You may be surprised! Most of us desperately desire forgiveness but we grudgingly give and extend it. Let's see how to do it with those difficult circumstances. God's Word has the final word on the issue. Shall we take a look.
PRAYER:
Most sermons you hear deal with the rebellious son. I submit the story is really about the "Forgiving Father". One of Satan's most hideous tools in his toolbox of misery is unforgiveness. It's hideous because its one of the most ugliest problems a person can have. Unforgiveness boils a person in their own juices. The unmet expectations, the frustrations, the bitterness, the anger, and the desired lust for vengeance will cook a person to the point of death. Vengeance will take people places they never imagined. If Satan can get you to be unforgiving he prevents you from re-presenting an attribute of God. That's right, when you model forgiveness you model a direct attribute of God! Let's learn from the forgiving father.
Reading the text, starting in Luke 15, verse 11: NAS Luke 15:11 And He said, "A certain man had two sons;
12 and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me
the share of the estate that falls to me.' And he divided his
wealth between them. 13 "And not many days later, the
younger son gathered everything together and went on a
journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his
estate with loose living. 14 "Now when he had spent everything,
a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be
in need. 15 "And he went and attached himself to one of the
citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed
swine. 16 "And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods
that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to
him. 17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many
of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I
am dying here with hunger! 18 'I will get up and go to my
father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be
called your son; make me as one of your hired men. "' 20 "And
he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long
way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and
ran and embraced him, and kissed him. 21 "And the son said
to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father
said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on
him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23
and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
24 for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found. 'And they began to be merry.
25 "Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and
approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 "And
he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what
these things might be. 27 "And he said to him, 'Your brother
has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because
he has received him back safe and sound.' 28 "But he became
angry, and was not willing to go in; and his father came out
and began entreating him. 29 "But he answered and said to his
father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you, and
I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you
have never given me a kid, that I might be merry with my
friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has
devoured your wealth with harlots, you killed the fattened calf
for him. ' 31 "And he said to him, 'My child, you have always
been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 'But we had to
be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and
has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.' "
A father and two son's; two very different sons but not as much difference as you might think. The younger son gets an itchin for some real fast living. He asks the father for his portion of the estate and takes off to really enjoy life. It seems the young man is ready for some independence. No harm done right. We raise our kids to become independent...right? But note well the context of the parable. Look at Luke 15:1-2. Jesus is talking to Pharisee's and scribes. Jesus has run up against these pernicious pain in the neck characters before. They're your basic hypocrites. They walk around showing their apparent godliness, upholding the Law of Moses, acting self-righteous, as if they never sinned. They're the holiness gestapo! Not much holiness but much like the gestapo. Following Jesus around just waiting to jump him and do away with his ministry to sinners. The context of who Jesus was speaking to is critical. We likely have Pharisee-like people today right in our church body. Let me ask you a question. Do you think the young son has a beating coming? Can you see yourself giving him the cold shoulder on his return after losing and depleting the family estate of its net worth? Shouldn't he be taught a good lesson? If you agree...you may have a forgiveness problem to work on. Let's get personal...is the person I asked you to think about, who your having a forgiveness issue with, deserving of major pain for what they've done to you? Have they hurt you? Have they depleted the feelings you had for them at one time. Do you find yourself feeling humiliated for ever trusting them? Well now, you must have thoughts like the father in the parable.
Remember the setting. It's a Jewish crowd. In the near East patriarchial community the Father ruled. The father ruled until the sons were ready to take over. Social Security in that day was a strong family. When our young rebel took off he did so at the embarrassment and humiliation of not only the father but the entire family. If you'll remember the Old Testament a father could take rebellious child to the gates of the city and the elders would help stone them. They dealt with rebellion in the law. So when this young guy books off for the big city life with his portion of the estate he was taking the family honor with him! Then off all things...when the money runs out, the liquor quits flowing, and the ladies are no longer hangin around, the young man runs into lean times during a famine. He know learns what real work is all about. The son probably watched the servants work back at dad's place. But now he wasn't only going to have to work but he was going to have to do the most awful work a Jewish man could think on: feed and serve pigs! The pig was the animal of the despised Gentiles. These animals were the epitome of unclean! This young man left the security and honorof his fathers home and went and blew off the estate on "loose living". Some of you know what that rebellion thing is all about. Can you think back to the pig pens you found yourself in? Rebellion and premature independence has a price tag and this young man started paying on the long time payment plan. Remember: Sin takes us places we never thought we would be. That's one of the sick tools Satan uses on us. He say's go ahead-have fun...don't worry about the price-we'll get to that later. Enjoy yourself...I'll get back to you later. And boy does he! YUK! I can think of some pig pens I've been in.
The other day my wife and I were talking about our brokenness and sorrow for the past sins we've both gone through. Oh, its so good to be back in the arms of the loving father. Praise God for His willingness to take us back. Pig smell and all. The photo on the Power Point screen says it all! Here comes sonny-boy with his pride knocked off-mopeing down the families road. He's embarrassed-he's probably smelly-grossed out by his own waywardness. He's not coming home with grand success he's coming home ss a miserable failure.
No Phi Beta Kappa-no Heisman Trophy-no IPO bonanza-not even a respectable job. He's broke in more ways than one. I can see on your faces you've been down a similar road. So have I. We have that in common. All of us here today are in a way-the young rebellious son. We've gotten too big for our britches. Too thirsty for the exciting-action packed-don't tell me what to do attitude. We're rebellious sinners just like the young son. But wait...there's more. Maybe your like the older son who can't seem to get excited about his brothers return. This older son is incensed with the father's treatment of his wayward sibling. He thinks its incredulous that he should be offered such a warm homecoming. Jealousy maybe...desiring of his brother to experience some real pain for his folly. He can't believe dad won't make an example of him to the rest of the family and servants. OH BUT HE DOES. The father is so glad for the return of his young son he does make an example of him! This is our story. God, as the father in the narrative, takes us in His arms and welcomes us back from the pig-pen of sin to the family room of Heaven! It's a family thing. Just like the Jewish community-things were done with the family. If your bitter and unforgiving remember what you've been forgiven for!
This week I phoned allmy friends who were Veterans. On Friday it was the Marine Corps 250th Birthday. Semper Fi to you guys and gals! My buddy Roger was so excited to get my call and thanks for his years of service to the Corp and America. He invited me down to the Lewis County Veteran's Museum to meet his friends and take a tour. As he introduced me to the other veterans I was taken back at how much healing had occurred in their lives. As many of you know our friend Roger Flinn spent over 2 years in hospitals from wounds received in combat from a North Vietnamese mortar round. Shrapnel tore through Roger's body nearly killing him instantly. Thanks to a Medic Corpsman's fast work and transfer to a field hospital with awesome Navy doctors and nurses, Roger was flown to the hospital in Da Nang and later to Travis hosptial in San Franciso and Vancouver. After all that excruciating pain,immense suffering, and scarring, Roger has forgiven his enemies! That's right Roger holds no animosity to the VC (Vietcong Army of North Vietnam). Praise the Lord for not only the physical healing but also for the mental and spiritual healing. That's what the forgiving father did in our text today. After taking an emotional hit-a financial hit-and a reputation hit-the father lavishes forgiveness on his enemy in rebellion: his own offspring. From the fruit of his loins to a pain in his community standing. Can you imagine what the father must have gone through when he got around his neighbors and community members. Some of you are living with the pain of a wayward son or daughter right now. This parable makes the hurt of your alienation sting! There's hope...there's a forgiving father: for you and your rebellious one. Listen closely!
Lewis B. Smedes has written two books on forgiveness that are must reads. He wrote: "forgiveness is the toughest work of love". Isn't that so! Whoever your person is; family, coworker, ministry colleague, fellow student or friend, forgiveness requires laying down your right to get even and vengeance. Remember how Jesus taught us to pray? "Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors." (Matt. 6:12). Note well: that Father never expects us to do what He Himself hasn't done. God the Father is the author of forgiveness. He's the Original First Causer of Forgiveness. Through His Son Jesus Christ-our sins and rebellion have been paid for on the divine realm! Our sins have been forgiven! AMEN...Thank you Lord Jesus. We've been brought near to the Father. WE can approach him as we run home from our pig pens of life!
But there is a problem with our rebellion that is often overlooked and sugar coated. On the authority of the Word of God, and in the application of real living: our sin has heavenly forgiveness but at times, earthly consequences. Look at the other brother for a moment. Young brother goes off and squanders the family's name, wealth, and reputation. Older brother's been hard at work being submissive, obedient, and trustworthy. But the snotty-nosed brat of the fam arrives to daddy's arms. A party is thrown, the choices cuts of meat are bar-b-qued. The family ring is applied, the choicest coat replaces the pig dung attire of his brother. Everyone's happy right? WRONG. Little brother is going to have to live with the taste of more rebellion. This time at the South end of someone elses attitude of independence. The independence of not thinking like the loving Father. Mankind will have the biggest problem living with your sin. Young brother's sin has caused older brother to stumble. That often happens in our lives. Our sin has an incalculable effect on the ones we most love and are close to: especially families! Shall we quit bargaining with Satan and make the deal with our Loving Father!
Some of you are rebelling right now. Your fidgeting and squirmming in the seats because this message cuts right in your heart like the surgical precision of a laser! That conviction your experiencing is a GOd-given barometer of right and wrong. You know better-come home to the Father. He's ready to greet you! Jesus told this as a parable (a heavenly lesson with an earthly meaning). This is all our stories. We're either son. If you've been a Christian long-you're probaly thinking this young son deserves punishment! You're absolutely right...good call. He does deserve punishment but the moral of the story it's the Father's call. He mercifully chooses forgiveness instead of making the emphasis here on punishment. God's unmerited favor toward violators is for our benefit. You've heard the acronym from Pastor Kent's teachings and maybe even seen it on Interstate 5 on big trucks: GRACE-God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
APPLICATION TAKE HOME ASSIGNENT:
Take a card from the seat in front of you and take this assignment home. Pick the person you've not forgiven. Pick a day this week to contact them. Pick a time. Pick another person and tell them to hold you accountable for contacting this person. Now listen, this person may not be accessible to you because of some sinister sick sin. Perhaps this person is no longer living. Talk to God about it! HE knows and so do you. If the person is alive and comatose you have an opportunity to be a light in a dark world. May I implore you to not walk away here today without a plan.
James tells us in James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."
Satan gets the glory when we procrastinate and blow off applying God's Word. It's spiritual warfare to forgive and that's why Satan hates it when we forgive.
Remember one of my favorite sayings from Carmen (Contemporary Christian Artist) "When Satan reminds you about your past; you remind him about his future".
The power of Christ's blood is more powerful than any sin you or I have ever committed. Take that from the Word. The Apostle John says it so succinctly: "1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." How much??????? ALL!
TAKE CHRIST AT HIS WORD. If you should be struggling with forgiveness accept Christ. Remember what Jesus gave us as his Rock Solid answer in John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the
truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
Take that way right now. Open your heart to His cleansing forgiveness. Lay that forgivness issue on Him. Accept Jesus now my friend! Our Loving Heavenly Father has made the way for you to run home to His arms. He's the Truth: it's the right thing to do. This is the real life! GO home clean-run home to the Father clean this morning.
If you've trusted Christ for the first time please let me know so I can help you with growing deeper. You have my number and email ronlaeger@reachone.com or mvbc@reachone.com. Mountain View Baptist Church cares for your soul because we've been forgiven by the loving Father. We want you to live and share in the good life..the abundant life. We have many people that are so willing help you grow deeper as a committed follower of Jesus Christ. We'll show the next steps as we walk together into the accepting and warm arms of the Father of this story: God Almightly! If you would like a tape for someone not here this morning we're happy to give that to you as a gift. Just let us know how we can serve you.
As your Associate Pastor I want you to know God loves you, and so do I.
Give forgiveness eagerly...not grudgingly!
BENEDICTION TO THE BLESSED:
Jude 1:24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from
stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
to the only God our Savior, through Jesus
Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority,
before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Pastor Ron Laeger
Mountain View Baptist Church
1201 Belmont Ave.
Centralia, WA 98531
PH 360-736-1139
ronlaeger@reachone.com
or mvbc@reachone.com
Look for future sermons on SermonCentral.com
to not be mere hearers of the word but doers.
