Parable 11

Parable 11

The Prodigal

Coming to One’s Senses.

Luke 15:17-20

I’m Sorry

But I don’t really mean it.

A defendant standing before a judge.

Children to their parents.

A politician trying to save face.

I’ve said it to Tina a few times.

But Repentance…

That’s more than words.

It’s more than regret.

The Prodigal Son gives us a picture of what real repentance looks like.

In Jesus telling this story he is teaching us that repentance is not about fixing ourselves.

It’s about turning our hearts back to God.

When we return to God we discover that repentance brings with some great benefits.

The dark road of sin.

It’s a dark road.

Recap the story.

Luke 15:11–16 (NLT) — 11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

He has hit rock bottom

He’s hungry, he’s ashamed, feeding pigs (repulsive) and starving to death.

Luke 15:17 NLT

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!

It was then that he “came to his senses”.

Sin had the promise of freedom!

In reality it left him in chains.

Coming to Our Senses.

Repentance begins when we wake to where we are.

It’s like a light coming on in a dark room.

We can see the horror of our sin.

Satan loves to keep things in the dark it doesn’t look so bad in the dark. (LIE)

No one to judge us. To condemn us.

But then the light comes on.

A great way to see repentance.

In Jewish thought repentance literally means “turning back”.

Imagine a soldier marching the wrong way on the battlefield.

The soldier realizes he’s heading straight into the hands of the enemy.

Repentance is stopping, turning around, and heading back to safety.

Our struggle with repentance.

Many never come to themselves.

Our lives are filled with noise and distractions.

Repentance starts with honesty.

With seeing our sin for what it is and where it has led us.

No matter how far you have gone down the wrong road it’s never to late to turn around.

Confess and Humility

This is no time for excuses.

Luke 15:18 NLT

I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,

Luke 15:19 NLT

and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’

A Practiced Speech.

Do you ever practice what you are going to say to someone.

This is what he is doing.

He knew it was going to be a tough conversation.

Honesty

The prodigal son doesn’t make excuses.

He doesn’t try to bargain.

He doesn’t blame others.

No sorry not sorry.

He simply confesses. – I have sinned

Humility

Let me be one of your servants.

“Real repentance bows the heart before God and says, “I have no claims. I deserve nothing. I come empty.”

True Repentance

What does that look like.

Verse 20 “So he returned home to his father.”

True repentance isn’t about cleaning ourselves up first.

It isn’t about promising to do better next time.

It’s about coming to God as we are—broken, needy, and ready to surrender.

The benefit far outweighs the shame.

Restoration

– God welcomes us back into fellowship.

Forgiveness

– The weight of guilt is lifted.

Renewal

– God gives us a fresh start, a new life, a new beginning.

Repentance is not punishment.

It’s a gift

It is the pathway back to the Father’s