Help my child has fallen away

Help my child has fallen away

At one point or another many of us will have a loved fall away from the holy commandments

In a 2015 pew research it said that 1 out of 3 millennials no affiliation with faith (10% increase from year before

3 out of 5 fall away for a while or permanently after age 15

Cain, Ham, Joseph brothers

Eli’s sons, David’s Sons, Samuel’s sons,

What are we to do?

% principles from from the story of the prodigal son

LET THEM GO (11-12)

The opposite of what we want

“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled.” (, NASB95)

Call on them to make the right choice. You weigh it out and make the right choice

““I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,” (, NASB95)

“Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.” (, NASB95)

““If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”” (, NASB95)

GUARD OUR CHARACTER (V. 17)

When the son comes to his senses, what does he remember. Often when they are running away from God they are not thinking straight.

He remembers how his father treats people

We have control only over our own character

Attitude

Tongue

Actions

We become susceptible to doubt, anger, temptation to water down the scriptures

Older brother did not guard his character

Suspicious

Self absorbed

Selfish

BE APPROACHABLE

When the prodigal got to his lowest point, he knew where to go

He had no doubt that his father would have compassion and love for him

What have dpone to make them feel like we wouldn’t forgive or love them.

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” (, NASB95)

I will get up and go (v. 18)

TRUST THAT THEY WILL REMEMBER THE VALUES YOU TAUGHT THEM (18-20)

Before he was not thinking right

Comes to his senses

“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.” (, NASB95)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (, NASB95)

“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (, NASB95)

Part of training them up is showing them how to repent

Part of training them is showing them how to confess

When was the last time your children saw you repent or confess wrongdoing

ITS OUR BEST HOPE! If we haven’t trained them up in the way they should go, if we have failed them in this matter what hope do we have. So father of young children what are you doing in training you children? What example are you setting?

BE QUICK TO RECONCILE (20-22)

No pride there

Sees

Feels

Runs

Embraces

Kisses

What keeps us from extending an olive branch

Fear of being hurt again ( does not take into account a wrong suffered)

“Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” (, NASB95)

Pride – I told you, about time

Being seen as soft on sin

“Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” (, NASB95)

DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR OTHER CHILDREN (v. 31)

You’ve always been with me, all that is mine is yours

It’s real easy to spend all your time on the lost one and neglect your other children.

It makes them feel less important.

Have any of you seen he movie Wonder?

A boy who has some facial deformities and in that movie there is a point where the daughter is really struggling because everything revolves around her brother

Here needs were not getting met

Let’s make sure we are not guilty of doing the same

SEE THROUGH SPIRITUAL EYES (24,32)

The older brother saw through financial eyes, social, eyes, selfish eyes

The father knew what was at stake and important.

He was dead and has come to life again

He was lost and has now been found

We need to rejoice and celebrate when comes back to the Lord

If we do our very best in these are we are giving them the best opportunity to come home!