WINNING THE WAR OVER YOUR WASTED YEARS: LUKE 15:11-33

WINNING THE WAR OVER YOUR WASTED YEARS: LUKE 15:11-33

Luke 15:11–16 ESV

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST YOU ARE AN HEIR OF GOD

GOD’S PURPOSE IS IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU

THUS THE CALLING OF THE CHRISTIAN IS TO CARROY OUT THE FATHER’S PURPOSE AND NAME IN THE WORLD

YOU ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. YOU WERE

MADE ON PURPOSE

WITH PURPOSE

FOR A PURPOSE

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - TO LIVE AS GOD HAS DESIGNED YOU TO LIVE

BUT SOME OF YOU ARE WASTING YOUR LIFE

THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL IS A STORY OF HOW WE CAN LOSE SIGHT OF THIS PURPOSE AND BEGIN TO LIVE THE WAY WE THINK WE SHOULD LIVE DESPITE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT THE FATHER’S PURPOSES AND WILL.

WHAT ARE WASTED YEARS?

- THE YEARS AND SEASONS

WHERE I HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO THE FATHER BUT DISTANCED FROM HIM

WHERE I SPENT MY LIFE AND DAYS LIKE “TIME” WAS ACTUALLY MINE

WHERE I HAVE HEARD HIM SPEAK BUT HAVE RELEGATED HIS VOICE TO THAT OF MANY VOICES AND

WHERE KNOWING WHAT TO DO BUT CHOOSING ALWAYS WHAT I WANTED

WHERE I WAS DOING MINISTRY BUT NOT WITH HEART OR MEASURED IT WITH WHAT IS DEEMED SUCCESSFUL IN THIS WORLD

WHAT IF… WASTED YEARS WERE NOT INHERENTLY WRONG OR IMMORAL

- WHAT IF THEY WERE – YEARS OF CHOOSING GOOD OVER BEST

HERE IS THE MAJOR PROBLEM WASTED YEARS MAY NOT LOOK WASTED AT ALL

- WASTED YEARS CAN LOOK PRODUCTIVE

- WASTED YEARS CAN LOOK PROSPEROUS

- WASTED YEARS CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD ON EARTH AND TO PEOPLE

- WASTED YEARS CAN EVEN ADVANCE THE KINGDOM! – MATT 7

BUT THERE IS A WORD FOR YOU TODAY, IF YOU LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL SPEAK TO YOUR HEART AND LIFE. THAT WORD IS THIS

CHRIST WILL RESTORE YOUR WASTED YEARS

THE PROPHET JOEL PUT IT THIS WAY

BUT THIS STORY I BELIEVE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT GOD SAID IN JOEL 2:25

Joel 2:25 ESV

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

This wonderful promise for those people meant that years of abundant harvests would follow the years of desolation brought about by the locusts.

I will restore those years. The meaning of the Hebrew word is ‘repay’, ‘pay back’, ‘make up for’. It has legal connotations, meaning ‘compensation’.

HERE IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO TODAY AS YOU LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF THE LORD

1. Listen for yourself

2. WRITE down everything you sense the Lord may be speaking to you.

3. Go back and listen to the sermon again with more clarity and depth.

BUT BEFORE WE WPEAK OF HOW THE LORD CAN RESTORE YOUR WASTED YEARS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE WATSED YEARS

1. THE BEAUTIFUL GRACE OF WASTED YEARS

Luke 15:12 ESV

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Fourteen: The Joys of Salvation (Luke 15)

According to Jewish law, an elder son received twice as much as the other sons (Deut. 21:17), and a father could distribute his wealth during his lifetime if he wished. It was perfectly legal for the younger son to ask for his share of the estate and even to sell it, but it was certainly not a very loving thing on his part. It was as though he were saying to his father, “I wish you were dead!”

a. There was, however, no Jewish law which required any such bestowal of property in the parent’s lifetime. It was a free gift on the part of the father. But to the young son it was a hapless boon

WHY WOULD HE GIVE IT TO THE SON? FROM THE HEART OF THE PARABLE I BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE THE DESIRE TO BE HOME MUST BE THAT, A DESIRE TO BE HOME. AND SOMETIMES, THE DESIRE FOR HOME IS ONLY CULTIVATED WHEN ONE IS FAR FROM HOME

I AM AMAZED AT HOW THE FATHER WILL ALLOW US HIS CHILDREN TO DO WHAT WE DESIRE – ALLOWING US TO DO WHAT WE WANT WITH HIS GOOD GIFTS. HE KNOWS OUR HEARTS; OUR INTENTIONS AND THAT THEY ARE NOT GOOD…BUT SELFISH. YET HE ALLOWS THIS

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Fourteen: The Joys of Salvation (Luke 15)

“A man’s worst difficulties begin when he is able to do just as he likes.”

the younger of the two sons is the representation of the sinner left to the freedom of his own will, and falling into an estate of sin and misery.

SEE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR WASTED YEARS, HERE IS WHAT THE LORD WAS (IS FOR SOME NOW) DOING:

HE IS ALLOWING YOU TO COME TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN COME TO YOURSELF

HERE IS THE KEY: UNTIL YOU COME TO THE END OF YOURSELF YOU WILL STAY IN THE PLACE OF WASTE. BUT HERE IS THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL: THERE IS A WAY YOU CAN RESTORE YOUR WATED YEARS

GOD WILL DO THE SAME FOR THOSE IN CHRIST, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME STEPS TAKEN TO EXPERIENCE THIS.

II. What Is the Character of Those Who Waste Years??

Luke 15:12–13 ESV

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

“YOUNGER” BROTHER

i. Immaturity: Untrained and inexperienced in money matters, he quickly had many expenses and no income. The result came quickly: no assets. Then a famine hit the land. No one had food or work[2]

THE AIM OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH IS TO BRING THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO MATURITY

Ephesians 4:14 ESV

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Colossians 1:28 ESV

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

MATURITY KEEPS BELIEVERS FROM BEING DECEIVED BY FALSE NARRATIVES OF HAPPINESS AND WEALTH. AND IT ALSO KEEPS THEM FROM ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT WE SEE IN THE PRODIGAL: SELFISHNESS

ii. Selfishness

Luke 15:12 (ESV)

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

But perhaps it was not so; perhaps, like the prodigal son, we were dissatisfied with the heritage of the Father’s favour, of a Saviour’s love; perhaps we wanted a “portion of goods” quite different from this, and went away and astray from God[3]

III. WHAT IS THE LIFESTYLE OF WASTED YEARS?

Luke 15:13–14 ESV

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

DISTANCE FROM THE LORD: FAR COUNTRY

BUT IT IS A COUNTRY OF GENTILES

IT REPRESENTS COMPANIONS WHOSE LIFE AND VALUES AND WAYS ARE CONTRARY TO THAT OF THE LORD

2 Corinthians 6:14–15 ESV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

2 Corinthians 6:16 ESV

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2 Corinthians 6:17 ESV

Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

2 Corinthians 6:18 ESV

and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE WASTING YOUR LIFE WHEN:

YOU ARE LIVING IT WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT PURSUING CHRIST

YOU ARE WASTING IT ON THINGS THAT DO NOT BRING A SPIRITUAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT

“Reckless LIVING” AND…SPENT EVERYTHING DEFINE

PRODIGAL MEANS - “wastefully extravagant.” LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE ON SOMEONE ELSE’S DIME

BUT MONEY IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE - BUT IT COULD BE ANY AND EVERYTHING

HE WASTED HIS GIFTS

HE WASTED HIS BODY

HE WASTED HIS TIME

HE WASTED RELATIONSHIPS

HE WASTED HIS SEXUALITY

ALL ON FRIVOLOUS AND SENSUAL (SELFISH) PLEASURE. NOT

TO WASTE MY LIFE IS TO PERVERT MY LIFE

I WAS was made for the very highest ends—made for God;

to study, to know, to love, to serve, to rejoice in God himself.

And when I SPEND MY GIFTS, BODY, TIME, SEXUALITY RELATIONSHIPS powers on AND FOR MYSELF and on his own PASSIONS I AM WASTING MYSELF

JAMES SAYS THIS ABOUT THAT

James 4:3–4 ESV

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

IV. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF WASTED YEARS? 14C-16

Luke 15:14–16 ESV

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

HERE IS THE PROCESS OF CONSEQUENCE WITH WASTED YEARS

WHEN YOU WASTE TIME, BODY, SEXUALITY, RELATIONSHIPS HERE IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING

FIRST, WHEN YOU WASTE YOUR YEARS YOU ARE SOWING A CHARACTER

a. Squandered his property ­in reckless living

b. He spent everything

SECOND: WHEN YOU WASTE YOUR YEARS YOU WILL REAP THE HARVEST OF WASTE

Luke 15:14 (ESV)

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

BUT I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THE LANGUAGE

Luke 15:14 (ESV)

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

a. Severe famine

IT IS ONLY AFTER HE SQUANDERED AND SPENT EVERYTHING THAT THE FAMINE CAME

FAMINE MEANS: HUNGER IN THIS CONTEXT

BUT FAMINE CAN BE APPLIED TO

FAMINE CAN MEAN THE CONSEQUENCE OF SHORTAGE OF WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU HAVE WASTED

RELATIONSHIPS

BODY

“He began to be in want.” HERE IS WHAT HE FOUND

Indulgence is expensive … ;

sinful companions are happy to share the treat, but they are slow to refill the purse.

Sin leads down to destitution;... and provides nothing lasting in its stead.

HERE IS A TRUTH PRINCIPLE TO KEEP BEFORE YOU

THE PHYSICAL DECAY (CONSEQUENCES OF LIFE CHOICES)

ALWAYS ISSUES OR LEADS TO A KAIROS MOMENT

KAIROS MOMENT IS WHERE YOUR CURRENT LIFE MEETS GOD’S CHALLENGE

KAIROS MOMENT: THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN ONE BEGINS TO SEE

- WHERE YOU ARE

- WHERE YOU ARE GOING

- WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT

- EITHER WAY, WE ALL, IN SOME WAY, HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS REALITY

Luke 15:17 ESV

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

WE ALL GET HERE, BUT THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE RESPOND?

V. DISCERNING THE VOICES ABOUT YOUR WASTED YEARS

I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT YOUR WASTED YEARS DO NOT HAVE TO DEFINE YOU - BUT THIS IS YOUR CHOICE

THIS MEANS THAT YOU MUST BELIEVE THE GOSPEL WHICH TELLS YOU THAT IN CHRIST, YOUR WASTED YEARS CAN BE REDEEMED AND RESTORED

THIS MEANS THAT YOU MUST NOT LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT YOUR WASTED YEARS DEFINE YOU AND HAVE DESTROYED YOU.

BUT HERE IS THE CHALLENGE

THE ENEMY KNOWS YOU HAVE A PURPOSE IN THE PLAN AND MISSION OF GOD AND HE WILL DO EVERYTHING HE CAN TO GET YOU SIDETRACKED FROM THAT PURPOSE

THE DEVIL’S NARRATIVE WILL COME FROM YOUR OWN VOICE

THE DEVIL’S NARRATIVE WILL COME FROM THE VOICE OF OTHERS

WHEN OTHERS BRING UP YOUR WASTED YEARS IN A WAY THAT CAUSE YOU TO FEEL THOSE YEARS AS SOMETHING THAT NEGATIVELY DEFINES YOU, YOU MUST NOT GIVE IN TO THAT VOICE

LISTEN TO THIS POINT VERY CLEARLY

YOU CANNOT LET PEOPLE DEFINE, DETER YOU FROM THE TRUTH THAT YOUR WASTED YEARS CAN BE RESTORED

BE WEARY OF THOSE WHO ONLY SEE YOUR WATSED YEARS AS WASTED YEARS! THOSE WHO BRING THEM UP AS IF THEY ARE FRESH, PRESENT WASTE

IF YOU ARE GOING TO WALK IN THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL THAT, IN CHRIST, YOUR WASTED YEARS CAN BE RESTORED, YOU NEED TO DISCERN WHO IS IN YOUR CORNER, YOUR SPACE AND IN YOUR LIFE.