The Prodigal Son Series

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.