Adopt (Internal Grace II)

Grace is something intended to be personal and intimate. It is individualized in many ways. We gather as churches and some are in the habit of limiting their spiritual experience, work, and growth to those assemblies alone. Because of this, the cynical fall into one of two camps. The first camp insists that their faith exists 'without a church' because they see that there is a personal element (as expressed scripturally) missing from these large assemblies. The second camp insists that if something is a "God thing" it must be support by, sanctioned by, and resourced by the church. If they don't see something happening that they are convicted of, it must be because the church is failing! They miss that there is a personal element to their faith which is not bound by the assembly. The assembly is a critical part of our experience, but we should recognize the assembly is a way to connect to the intimate elements of our restoration with the Creator. The story of the prodigal son illustrates how faith can manifest itself differently depending on God’s intent for your life. Just as the son’s redemption arc and the eldest son’s loyal faith journey were different, so too are our journeys different from person to person. Does it seem unfair? Do you feel entitled or envious of the experiences of others? Take heart… God has a personal story just for you because you, too, are a part of His beloved creation.

The ‘Unfairness’ of the Prodigal Son

It is easy to look at the testimonies of others and compare notes.

Some churches seem to inadvertently encourage this by placing certain testimonies on a pedestal.

Anecdote: Using the phrase “Not all of us use to be addicted to hookers and blow” at a youth camp.

Consider the perspectives of the prodigal son and his family

Luke 15:11–31 CSB

11 He also said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “ ‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

Prodigal son… selfish, spoiled, becomes corrupted, finds himself destitute, begs redemption, fully restored… BEAUTIFUL ARC!!!

Elder son… loyal for his WHOLE LIFE…

1) Father recognizes the son’s loyalty

2) Father grants the eldest son all he has

SIGNIFICANCE: The eldest son had a BETTER BLESSING but a worse narrative —> Led to jealousy!

Everyone loves a great story, but stories of our testimony are often self-serving; attempting to ride the coattails of what God really did.

Boasting in God so you can elevate your own status as ‘holy’ or ‘redeemed’ may use Biblical language, but that doesn’t make it right!

Remember God’s words to Gideon… He did not want Israel to be able to say “I saved myself”.

When we consider our testimony, we have to view it through the lens of what God did (not us). When we see that, we realize that no testimony is individually glorious or individually mundane… they are all testimonies of God’s infinite goodness and grace.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-31, and pay special attention to the older son’s reaction in verses 25-31. 1) Have you ever been to a church or conference where testimonies are brought on stage? Did you ever get the feeling that some of those testimonies were “theatric” or being done for some other purpose than glorifying God? 2) Some treat a testimony as a way to boost individual credibility as a “good Christian”. How can the idea that one must have a “good testimony to be a good Christian” lead to some having unfounded insecurities about their faith? How can it pervert how people see the role of sin and grace?

Seeing God; Not Your Story

Part of the prodigal son’s older brother’s struggle was not seeing that our boast should be in God and God alone.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 CSB

23 “ ‘This is what the Lord says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth. 24 But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me— that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.

When we realize we are nothing, then the only reasonable thing for us to boast in IS God.

Consider the two thieves on the cross with Christ...

Luke 23:32–43 CSB

32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots. 35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews. 39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Both had similar ‘requests’… different hearts

Self-serving vs humility

“Save yourself and us!” —- Bodily desire

“Remember me” —- Spiritual desire

The source of some testimonies and individual faith journeys appear to be “self”. God desires that we crave for something more than this world.

Consider the transformation Paul writes about...

Romans 12:2 CSB

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

REJECT conformity to the world.

EMBRACE renewing of the mind.

This is where so many go astray in their walk with Christ. They seek Godly things, but they do so in a manner which conforms with the world.

They adopt Christ-like theming rather than Christ-like transformation.

The result is a lesser religion which leaves them bruised, emotionally scarred, and discontent.

“Some of us like to walk around talking about how religion has harmed us. Religion has let us down. Religion is what is wrong with Christianity. But the reality is that for many of us, we have placed our faith in a religion which is conformed to this world, even if themed as of Christ, when God has called us to radical transformation which lease to renewal and ultimate alignment with the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

The church didn’t do that… you did.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read about the two thieves beside Jesus on thee cross in Luke 23:32-43. Note the similarities of both thieves’ requests yet note the worldly perspective of the first and the eternal perspective of the second. 1) What are ways that some people express their faith in self-serving ways, but use “Jesus theming”? 2) Can you imagine (or have you experienced) any examples similar to this Bible excerpt where two people are pursuing or asking for the same thing, but they ask with very different hearts? 3) Tie this back to the discussion on testimonies and how God has worked in your life. How does holding a “worldly faith” lead you to compare yourself more to others? If you were focused on God’s will in your life, how would you be less inclined to compare your journey with others?

Spiritual “Minding Your Business”

Sometimes we get preoccupied with the faiths of people around us. The reality is that most of the lessons chastising or warning readers of various behaviors is related to what YOU should do; not what you should tell your friend to do.

God calls on us to hold one another accountable, but to only do so in love. We are to build up one another, thereby expressing Christ-like love.

Many express their faith but wake up one day realizing they are unfulfilled. This is unsurprising since the basis of their faith is often what THEY MAY ACHIEVE in their spiritual journey rather than what GOD IS DOING WITH THEM.

To adopt a faith that is true and personal, we must relinquish control over what we might want to see and instead learn to boast in what God has done.

After all, if we fall into sin and end up celebrating in victory, the glory is to God in what He has done.

However… if we live our lives loyal to Christ’s teachings without drama or compelling narrative, the glory is to God for giving us the blessing of peace and contentment which we do not deserve.

In any event, your peace comes from focuses less on what you can do and experience, and instead honoring God in what He has predestined and foreknown for us.