Having a Real Homecoming Day
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Having a Real Homecoming Day
Luke 15:11-32
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.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “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!
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
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.
21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’ ”
INTRODUCTION;
Homecoming is a joyful time. It is a time for seeing friends and loved ones. It is a time to remember the past, to reflect on where the paths you have chosen, have taken you.
It is time for a spiritual homecoming! It is time to establish a heavenly home for some of you, for others, it is time to return to the loving Father you’ve left behind.
NOTICE FROM OUR TEXT:
I - THE HOMECOMING OF THE PRODIGAL SON (Luke 15:11–20)
I - THE HOMECOMING OF THE PRODIGAL SON (Luke 15:11–20)
A- An attitude of rebellion
A- An attitude of rebellion
(Luke 15:12–13)
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.
1- The Son’s request
a. Notice His tone – “I want my share of your estate now” -
1) Men always wanting something from God.
a) Mistaken attitude that God exists for man’s benefit. (Col 1:16-17)
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
b. Notice His attitude.
1) He thought his father owed him something. - Displayed an attitude of entitlement!
2- The reaction of the Father.
(Luke 15:12b) “So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.”
a. He could have denied the requests but did not!
b. God will allow us to make our own bad choices… even though he does not have to.
3- The refusal to acknowledge the Father’s goodness (Luke 15:13)
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.
a) He left the Father.
b) He wasted his part of the inheritance with wild living.
c) Your life and all that you have are gifts from God (James 1:17).
17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
Are you purposefully using His gifts to live in rebellion against God?
B- The Acts of Rebellion
B- The Acts of Rebellion
1- Acts of rebellion lead to disastrous consequences. (Luke 15:14 -16).
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.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
a- He lost all that he has.
1) Rebellion against God reaps Spiritual bankruptcy!
(Gal. 6:7)
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
b- He found himself at rock-bottom (Luke 15:14–16).
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.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
1) Without anyone to help him out.
2) Life without Christ is hopeless
(Eph. 2:12).
12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.
C - The Avenue for Returning Home
C - The Avenue for Returning Home
(Luke 15:17 – 20).
17 “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!
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
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.
1- Realize your condition (Luke 15:17)
17 “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!
a – You are a sinner in need of a Savior
(Rom. 3:23)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
(Rom. 6:23)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
2- Request His forgiveness and repent (Luke 15:18 –20)
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
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.
(Rom 10:9-13)
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
II- THE HOMECOMING OF THE PRETENTIOUS SON (Luke 15:25 – 32).
II- THE HOMECOMING OF THE PRETENTIOUS SON (Luke 15:25 – 32).
A- Questions about the joy and celebration (Luke 15:25 – 26).
A- Questions about the joy and celebration (Luke 15:25 – 26).
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
1- Notice that He came in from the right place. He was “in the fields working.”
a- That is where every child of God belongs.
(Jn 4:35).
35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.
2- Notice also that he missed the point of the labor.
a- He failed to understand the reason for which he was working.
He was working to advance the Father’s goals.
b- We don’t want to miss the point of work:
Our goals should be the same as our Heavenly Father:
1)(Luke 19:10)
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
2) (John 20:21)
21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
3) (Ps 126:5)
5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
B- Refusal to take part in Rejoicing (Luke 15:28)
B- Refusal to take part in Rejoicing (Luke 15:28)
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
1- A jealous and bitter spirit prevailed in Him.
a. Allowing this type of spirit to rule us is dangerous. (Heb. 12:15)
15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
a. – The angels in heaven rejoice over one saved soul (Luke 15:10)
10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Why don’t you?
1) Deacon – “Don’t know why you are bringing new people into the church…” -Jealousy
C- Rejection of His own brother (Luke 15:29-30)
C- Rejection of His own brother (Luke 15:29-30)
29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
1- Depraved attitude
a. “I’ve slaved for you all these years...”
2- Deprived viewpoint
a. Felt he had been deprived of things due him.
“in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.”
3- Denied Relationship (Luke 15:30).
“when this son of yours comes back...”
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
4- Depreciated worth of the brother.
“...after squandering your money on prostitutes...”
There is no indication that he knew what his brother had done… this is his own imagination at work.
III - THE FATHER WHO WELCOMED THEM BOTH HOME.
III - THE FATHER WHO WELCOMED THEM BOTH HOME.
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’ ”
A - The Father receives with open arms.
A - The Father receives with open arms.
1- The Father is ready to receive both the prodigal son and the pretentious son.
a. He eagerly awaits the return of the prodigal child. (Luke 15:19-24)
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
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.
21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
b. He pleads with the pretentious child to return. (Luke 15:31-32)
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’ ”
(Matt 11:28)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
B - The Father restores fellowship.
B - The Father restores fellowship.
1- The prodigal son was restored to full relationship and fellowship.
2- Your restoration to fellowship is up to you.
(John 1:12)
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
(Rom. 5:10)
10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
C - The Father pleads for your return.
C - The Father pleads for your return.
1- The pretentious son - inheritance is secure, but we are not told about the condition of his fellowship with the father, his brother, etc.
2- Just as He did with; the older brother.
(Isa: 1:18).
18 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.
CONCLUSION:
Illustration:
“Softly and Tenderly”
1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me?
3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me.
4. O for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home; ye who are weary come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!