He Threw a Party

So far during this series we have looked at that it takes a good set of blueprints to build a great bridge and it takes the right tools. And today the next step in the process is sometimes it takes rebuilding. Sometimes in order to bridge the gap and mend relationships you have to start a rebuilding process.

Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon’s orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. the attack was printed in the newspaper and became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker’s church the next Sunday to hear the rebuttal. “I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead.” The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates 3 times. Later that week there was a knock on Parker’s study. It was Spurgeon. “You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”

This is a powerful of building a bridge rather than digging a wider chasm. Pastor Parker could’ve so easily furthered the divide by caving into the cultural pressure around him. And yet he did not, he chose the way of grace and compassion. He went above and beyond.

Remember these words today that Spurgeon spoke. He said, “You have given me not what I deserved, you have give me what I needed.”

If you have your Bibles today, go with me to the book of Luke chapter 15. We are going to look at a parable that Jesus told. This parable is probably one that many of you know, if not all of you. It begins as a tragic story about a family. Let’s begin at verse 11.

Luke 15:11–16 NIV

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

This young man’s decisions not only affected him but it also affected his family. What this young man did was basically tell his father that he wished he was dead. The inheritance is normally only given to the sons at the father’s death, but this son wanted his early, in essence saying, “I wish my father was dead.” This was a very hard moment for this family.

Just like this story, when Spurgeon attack Parker from his pulpit it became the entire town’s problem. Spurgeon could have chosen differently how to use his pulpit, the gift that God gave him.

Isaiah 53:6 NIV

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Sin becomes universal. Sin is never a privatized and isolated matter. It has a ripple effect that travels much further than any of us can know.

Are You Wasting Your Possessions?

Looking at our text and thinking about this younger son, more than likely he was probably in his late teens and single. His inheritance would of been half of what the older brother received or a third of his father’s estate.

The verb we see in wasted possessions means to “scatter or disperse something.” Similar to the prodigal son, Jesus gives you and I an opportunity to use the gifts we are given. Given the tools and instructions, we have a choice to build a bridge and mend relationships or we can waste our possessions and end up, “feeding pigs… longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate.”

When you look at the term prodigal, it is translated to describe a debased, extravagant life. The prodigal son chose to waste his possessions on himself and ended up broke, alone, and doing things that in the Jewish culture were unclean according to the Law of Moses. He not only squandered his possessions but his identity as well. He was willing to let go of all of it, and in the end he was left with nothing.

Did you know that you and I have similar choices to make with the gifts we’ve been given? We can use them for good, to build up the family of God. but, we can also use them for ourselves. We can squander them on things that don’t matter, things that won’t last. So my question to you is, are you wasting your possessions?

Are you squandering the good God has freely given you?

Is it time to consider a different path, a different use for the gifts you’ve been given?

It’s Time to Rebuild

Everyone of us has a little prodigal in us. some of us are blessed with a profession, with money, with a gift of singing or dancing or athletics. But we waste the gifting on things that please us. It could simply be the praise of others, it could be money, a title, a career. There is no shortage of temptation in this life. But temptation is common to all of us, and all of us veer off the path from time to time.

Romans 3:23 NIV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Now let’s go back to our text and let’s look at the rebuild of this story. Verse 17

Luke 15:17–21 NIV

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

I like the way Luke says, “When he came to his senses...” It’s like he’s saying, “when he finally woke up.”

The prodigal son realized that while certain things he thought were what he wanted or needed, they only lasted for a moment and that life with his father was actually good and right.

That is when he decided to return and to try and make things right. I can imagine him rehearsing this in his mind. He is trying to figure out how he is going to apologize to his father. This prodigal son gives us an example of repentance and confession. he quite literally turns from his ways and moves back to the father, to righteousness.

When you and I become great bridge builders, there may be mistakes we make that can cause damage. It’s important for us to recognize our mistakes and make things right, as much as we have the power to do so.

That is why it is so important for you to follow the blueprints, you have to learn the plans, use the right tools that the father has given us.

Bridge Building is not easy. It’s not for the faint at heart. It is no easy or simple task. If it was everyone would do it. And it is going to cost you. But it is worth doing and it is definitely worth celebrating.

Think about it. If it wasn’t, would God have sent his only son to die on your behalf?

Let’s Throw a Party!!

I believe that anytime a divine bridge is built, there is great rejoicing in heaven. The end of our story paints this picture for us. Look at verse 22.

Luke 15:22–32 NIV

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Here we see the perfect ending. The father could have easily slammed the door in his son’s face and responded with, “You go what you asked for, now figure it out!” What is beautiful here is the mercy and grace shown by the father. No matter what the son did and the pain he caused, he was welcomed back home. Remember, this son basically wished his father dead. And this father didn’t just welcome him back, but he welcomed him back with a gigantic party where everyone in the father’s household was invited.

That is how Jesus responds to each of us. No matter how far we walk away, when we come to our senses and come home, Jesus is waiting with open arms to welcome us.

The grace and mercy that Jesus shows us is the same grace and mercy that we should show to one another. Jesus doesn’t shame us with all our wrong-doing or point his finger and say, “See! I told you so!” No, he welcomes us, restores us, and helps us back onto the path of righteousness.

So, here’s the challenge for all of us. It’s actually twofold.

First, are we willing to recognize our wrongdoing and the potential hurt we may have caused and return in humility to the family? Are we willing to ask for help? Or, are we too stubborn?

Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way...

Can we turn from our own ways and put our hands to building bridges rather than digging wider chasms?

And secondly, how do we respond when others come to seek reconciliation and forgiveness? In our story from Luke 15, the father responds with a shocking amount of grace, love, and compassion. For many of us, it would be easy to respond in anger and frustration like the older son did. Similar to how Charles Spurgeon responded to pastor Parker in my opening story, so many of us want to “get back” at others and make sure they hurt like we hurt.

This may make sense to the world, but this is not the way of Jesus.

Think about Christ’s way for a moment. You and I are to welcome those who’ve hurt us. We are to welcome their apologies and offer forgiveness to them. Just like our heavenly Father forgave us, we are to forgive others. We are to build bridges, and throw parties, and celebrate when someone, anyone is willing to travel the path of repentance and grace.

Remember what Spurgeon said to Parker, “You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”

Not what I deserved, Lord, but what I needed.

Many of us can relate to this story of the prodigal son because we see aspects of our lives in it. Many of us have gone our own way, we have tried to do things by ourselves, and we have turned our backs on family, our loved ones, different relationships over the years and even God in order to try and “find ourselves.” And just like this young son we come to the point in our life where we know we need to head “home”. We need to pick up whatever shambles we have left and make the journey.

Aren’t we all grateful that Jesus went before us and built the bridge back to the father that we all walk upon? With His own life laid down, we can all, at any time head back to the Father’s house. Some of us have to return again and again, and that’s okay. The work Jesus has done, the bridge He has built is strong and well-able to accommodate an innumerable number of travelers.

With Jesus as our example and inspiration, let us also be confidant and bold bridge builders. Let’s be people of action and intention in the lives of others. Let’s be willing to take the high road of forgiveness and repentance.

And when the prodigals come home, let’s be willing to throw a party. Just like the father did in Luke 15. And just like our heavenly Father does anytime a broken son or daughter comes home.

So, here’s your homework for this week.

Be sure to come back next week as we finish this series. Next week we will learn how to break barriers. Jesus was the bridge that brought together two groups of people, the jews and the gentiles. And it only Jesus that can bring peace and unite all divided groups in our world.

My challenge to you is you need to be willing to repent and return home if you need to. Even if you need to again and again and again, Jesus is ready. The Father is always ready to receive you.

If someone comes to you seeking forgiveness this week, then receive them. Celebrate them and welcome them back. Forgive as the Father has forgiven.

Being a bridge builder in our culture is hard work. It takes a lot of intentionality, grit, and grace. But it’s the right thing to do. It’s the way of Jesus, the way of the Kingdom.

And if it is what Christ would do, then it’s what we should do too.

Let’s Pray!