Son Come Home Series

If we were to read the preceding verses, we would notice that this is the third parable Jesus has put forth concerning “lost things.” In verses 3-7, Jesus tells of a lost sheep. It could be lost souls. In verses 8-10, it is of a lost coin. It could be lost service. In verses 11-24, He is telling us of a lost son. Before we get into the message, let’s understand some things pertaining to this story.

1. Jesus said this is a parable.

a. Definition of a parable is an earthly vision of a heavenly truth.

b. In reality the truth is much stronger than the parable.

2. Being a parable, it never happened.

a. Luke 16, the rich man, and Lazarus was not a parable.

b. Whether this story happened or not, many events and circumstances regarding this story has happened over and over again.

3. I feel there are four truths we can state and relate to from this passage of scripture.

I. The Boys Rebellion

1. As the story opens, we see a son in his father’s house, and seems to have everything his heart could desire.

a. This bible has a lot to say about fathers, families and needs.

b. Our God wants to be a father to us. 2 Corinthians 6:18

2. Luke 15:12, shows the son’s attitude, “Father give me!”

a. This statement is a strong step in total rebellion, it is the beginning of sin in a man’s life.

b. Those are dangerous words, in a home, on a job, in a church, “Give me!”

3. It also shows, He desired to do things his own way.

a. Totally opposite form his father’s way.

b. Let me say, “God still knows the bet way to.”

c. At the end of my life, I want is said, “I did it, God’s way.”

4. He heard about a place called the “Far country.”

a. Have you ever been tempted with the far country? We all have.

b. Better be careful, “Where your heart is, your feet will follow.”

c. Lot saw the far country and went

d. Moses saw a far country and said, “No thanks.”

e. Hebrews 11:23

5. The far country is anywhere a man, a woman, a teenager goes away from God.

a. It’s a heart problem, not a matter of distance.

b. No thought was given by this son of what he was doing to his father’s heart.

6. In this son’s rebellion, we are not told that the father tried to restrain this boy from living.

a. God will not force you to live and serve Him.

b. God will let you go. Romans 1:24-28, God gave them up to their own way.

c. God will let you destroy your body, your testimony, your whole life.

d. Lost person, God will let them go to Hell.

II. The Boys Riotous Life

1. The word “riotous” means noisy or boisterous merriment. Good times.

2. Let’s observe something about this kind of a lifestyle. This good time far country.

3. First, it was a broad way, lots of folks traveling this way, heavily populated every ones’ doing it.

4. Second, it was a place of waste. In verse 13, it tells us that he wasted his substance. He threw it all away.

a. He wasted his substance on riotous living. That means living without restraint.

b. Can you picture what a lifestyle this young man had? Spending what the father had given him.

c. Satan will let you enjoy sin, but only for a season.

d. What the bible says about riotous living. Proverbs 23:19-21; Romans 13:13

5. Now before we are too quick to condemn some of our teenagers, look at this in a spiritual manner.

6. God the Father has given us plenty, and we say no authority is telling me how to live.

III. The Boys Remorse

1. In verse 14, when he had spent all. The time will come when we are empty of all we can do.

a. So called friends are gone. I

b. t seems that once a person starts to this far country, the only time they turn back is when they are at their whit’s end.

2. All of this boy’s trouble started when he landed in the far country, heartbreak, grief, sorrow, and remorse.

3. Whether or not it ends in physical want, it always ends in spiritual want.

4. In verse 15, joined himself to a citizen of that country.

5. A son intended for his father’s house. A boy intended to be like his father. Not like a hog in a slop pin.

IV. The Boy’s Return

1. In verse 17, when he came to himself.

a. He thought he had everything and now he discovered that he has nothing.