Parable 12

Parable 12

Love and Compassion

Luke 15:20

What a Great Parable.

The depth of depravity

The son gets money from his father’s inheritance (insult)

Goes to a far county and indulges in wild living.

Find himself with no money no job and a famine in the land.

Begs a farmer to let him feed the pigs. (repulsive)

We can find ourselves so overtaken by sin that our conscience becomes seared with a hot iron.

1 Timothy 4:1 MEV

Now the Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith and pay attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils,

1 Timothy 4:2 MEV

speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their consciences seared with a hot iron,

Many people are like this today.

Thankfully we serve a God of second chances.

He comes to his senses.

He repents.

Comes to his Senses

Luke 15:17 LBP

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

Grace and Mercy

It paints a beautiful picture grace and mercy.

Many don’t see a need to repent.

They are fine with living the way they do.

You will discover that road as a dead end. (A road to Death)

When turn back to God come to our senses how does God react.

Two things happen.

God’s Grace

Grace is God’s unmerited favor.

Ephesians 2:8 LEB

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;

His goodness freely given to those who do not deserve it.

It is God giving us what we could never earn.

You can’t earn forgiveness.

The prodigal said maybe I can go and a one of my father’s servants.

You can’t earn eternal life.

You just need to believe.

God’s Mercy

Mercy is God’s compassion in withholding the punishment we do deserve.

Titus 3:5 CEV

He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning.

We need to praise God that we don’t get what we deserve.

The prodigal earned that pig pen.

Some of us in this room would have sent him back to the pig pen.

But not God.

The Gospel

(picture)

The Heart of God

I want you to feel the impact of this verse.

Luke 15:20 NLT

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Jesus loves you with every fiber of his being.

God created you so He could love you.

The heart of God is love, compassion, mercy, grace.

John 3:16 (NKJV) — 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

SO LOVED

How do we respond?

Let me chase a rabbit here.

Rekindle your love.

Have you been guilty of spiritual neglect?

Has your heart grown cool…

When it happens it’s not always because of sin.

But because of substitutes.

Busyness… Bitterness… Burdens…

These all crowd out Jesus.

To rekindle that love you must repent.

Psalm 51:10 (NET) — 10 Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!

Psalm 51:10 NET

Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!

Hebrew word = steadfast, firmness, determination, loyalty.

Married couples will find themselves “growing apart”.

You must understand however Jesus’ love for you never runs dry.

5 Practical ways to rekindle your love.

Read the Gospels.

As you read look for the heart of Jesus.

See his compassion. (“Jesus wept”)

Pray with an Honest Heart.

Tell Jesus your spiritual walk is a dry land.

Tell Jesus you miss that closeness.

Tell Jesus you long for his presence.

Worship with Purpose.

Turn off distractions (do not disturb mode)

Sing with a heart of praise.

Pray before you enter the building.

Serve Others.

Acts of love for others rekindles love for the one who loved others first.

Seeking praise your acts of service will ruin your reward.

Taking a video of feeding a homeless???

Spend Time in his Presence.

Psalm 46:10 (NLT) — 10“Be still and know that I am God!

Psalm 46:10 NLT

“Be still, and know that I am God!

Nothing like quiet solitude.

Open the Word.

Read Slowly

Reflect Deeply

Respond personally

Turn what you read into a prayer.

A Picture of the Gospel

Luke 15:20 (NLT) — 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20 NLT

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Did you know that Jesus loves you.

Did you know Jesus is calling.