Encouragement needed

(Transition) Who needs encouragement? Everyone does. Our passage this morning we will survey from is Lk15:11-32, what you and I know as the story of the prodigal son.

The Prodigal had everything

Open bibles to Lk15:11ff with me

Read (15:11-14)

Luke 15:11–14 NASB95

11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 “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. 13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

There is no mention that he came from a broken home.

He did come from a family with wealth

He demanded what was to be his and went out with it to live as he chose. It says he squandered it.

Much like many people today have it and squander it.

According to the National endowment for financial education. 70% of the people winning the lottery file bankruptcy within a few years.

Money cannot buy happiness or contentment, cannot find lasting peace. You can have everything material and still be missing something.

Who needs encouragement? We all do.

Turn again to our story (read vv.15-16)

Luke 15:15–16 NASB95

15 “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. 16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

The prodigal needed help

It is true that the prodigal created the problem (decisions, actions)

It is also true that the prodigal needed, help, compassion, mercy now

It is an encouragement, an encourager that sees someone who needs help and helps.

The prodigal was not sitting there doing nothing. He was working, he was reaching out.

He needed someone to reach back and help him.

Give some application for us today from this.

What about the lost sheep? (consider Lk15:4-7-summarize it)

Luke 15:4–7 NASB95

4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Was a sheep; wandered (got lost)

Was found, carried back rejoicing and calls others to rejoice too!

If you were to keep reading in Luke, you would see the parable of the lost coin (vv.8-10)

The woman knew it was lost, then made careful look to find

She was willing to go to any length to find the lost coin, are we? That would be encouraging if we do try to bring in the lost sheep, or find the lost coin.

Lost coin, she brought it back into the house, do you invite lost people into your house to help them know the love of God through you?

Lost sheep, these were church people at one time. But for one reason or another they became discouraged or hurt and left the church

We are called to be an encourager not to discourage

Encourage (parakaleo) - to inspire with courage, to come along side to assure, to urge upwards, to to or increase hope/confidence, to help forward, so to strengthen.

A good biblical example, Barnabas, whose name means son of encouragement.

Act11:22-26 he sought out Paul!

Are we willing to go to any length to seek out people? What an encouragement that is when someone knows we care and sought them out

It is easy in this world to get discouraged. Even in the church it can happen. So who needs encouragement? We all do.

I want to stop, just for a minute, I want you to think of someone who came along side you in your life that was an encourager, stop, give a silent pray of thanksgiving for them.

You do not need to have the “gift” of encouragement (Rom12:8) to be an encourager. You have to have the heart to do it.

The prodigals return

Luke 15:17–19 NASB95

17 “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! 18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’

(Summarize it) - Focus on how he felt

The prodigal had it all

The prodigal spent it all

The prodigal felt lost it all (worthiness that is)

(Transition) who needed encouragement? The prodigal did!

The Prodigals reception

Luke 15:20–24 NASB95

20 “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. 21 “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.’ 22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 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.

The prodigal in his brokenness returned

The Father saw him, had compassion for him, embraced him, kissed him (would that be encouraging?)

Even though the Prodigal felt unworthy, the Father celebrated the return and gave the best to him.

What kind of reception can we give to people when they return to church, who were the church, left the church and have returned? Do we celebrate them? Do we encourage them? Do we welcome them? IF we do, that is very encouraging.

Don’t miss out because of history

Luke 15:25–30 NASB95

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

The other son, the brother got news of the celebration and instead of embracing, he judged and kept himself away. In stead of being encouraging at the return, he looked to history and was enraged.

Remember we are a lot of broken people, the Prodigal was broken, but so was the brother. Both needed encouragement

Words of encouragement not condemnation

Luke 15:31–32 NASB95

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”

The Father did not berate the other son. He reminded him of his faithfulness

The Father reminded him why the celebration (dead, lost, find and alive)

We need to be careful to encourage one another not criticize one another, running each other down. It can happen in the church and it causes division, but it should not be so, so make a decision to not judge by history but look at how to encourage today with the hope for tomorrow.

Other ways to encourage is by our personal actions consider Rom12:9-16)

It is encouraging to live without hypocrisy

It is encouraging to being devoted to one another, giving preference to one another.

It is encouraging when we serve one another, rejoice, persevere, pray for one another.

It is encouraging when we help one another and show hospitality to one another.

And finally, it is encouraging when we have the same mind toward one another. A mind that looks to build up, to edify, to encourage one another in Christ!