Introduction

Good morning, brothers and sisters. I greet you all with warmth and love in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We gather here today, not as individuals, but as a family united by faith. We are here to share in the word of God, to seek His wisdom, and to find comfort in His promises.

Opening Scripture Reading – We turn today to the Gospel according to Luke, specifically chapter 15, verses 11 through 24. Let me read it for you: And He said, "A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a distant journey, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 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! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."' So 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. 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.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate."

Lost in Lapse

In the story of the Prodigal Son, we see a young man who, driven by a desire for independence and adventure, leaves his father's house to live life on his own terms. He takes his inheritance and sets off, eager to experience all that the world has to offer. But his excitement soon gives way to regret as he squanders his wealth on reckless living and finds himself in dire straits.

This is a picture of us when we stray from God's path. We may be lured by the allure of worldly pleasures, the promise of freedom, or the thrill of rebellion. We may think that we can live life on our own terms, without the need for God's guidance or provision. But like the prodigal son, we soon find that life apart from God leads to emptiness and despair. We realize that we have traded the security and abundance of our Father's house for a life of hardship and want.

The prodigal son's lapse is a spiritual descent into sin and separation from God. It is a picture of how we, too, can fall into sin when we turn away from God and pursue our own desires. Sin is not just a matter of doing wrong things, but of being in a wrong relationship with God. It is a state of alienation from God, a condition of the heart that leads to a life of disobedience and rebellion against God's will.

The prodigal son's lapse also shows us the consequences of our sin. The son squanders his wealth and ends up in a state of destitution, forced to feed pigs just to survive. This is a picture of the spiritual poverty that comes from living apart from God. Without God, we are spiritually bankrupt, unable to satisfy our deepest needs and longings. We may try to fill the void with worldly pleasures and pursuits, but they can never truly satisfy. Only in God can we find true fulfillment and satisfaction.

But the story of the prodigal son does not end with his lapse. In his moment of desperation, the son comes to his senses and decides to return to his father. He realizes that he has sinned against his father and against heaven, and he is willing to humble himself and ask for his father's forgiveness. This is a picture of repentance, of turning away from our sin and turning back to God. It is a decision to leave our life of rebellion and return to our Father's house, where we can find forgiveness and restoration.

The prodigal son's return to his father is not an easy journey. He has to face the shame and humiliation of his past mistakes. He has to admit his failure and ask for his father's forgiveness. But he is willing to do it because he knows that it is the only way to find true peace and happiness. This is a picture of how we, too, must humble ourselves and confess our sins before God. We must acknowledge our need for God's grace and mercy, and trust in His promise to forgive us and restore us to a right relationship with Him.

Found in Faith

As we continue to reflect on the parable of the Prodigal Son, we find ourselves drawn to the transformative power of faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO