Luke 15:1-32 - The Parables of Joy

Has Andrew shared during his time of leading us and worship singing and praise. We're going to look at some Parables of Joy this morning. The most famous of which is the the parable that's referred to as the Prodigal Son which I think is unfortunate name for the parable, but we're all very familiar with it. I appreciate so much and the last song that the band approves. Let us in Christ is mine forevermore. It just has such a prodigal son feeling to it again the first verse mine are days that God has numbered I was made to walk with him yet. I look for worldly treasure and forsake the King of Kings, but mine is Hope in my redeemer the wife all his love is short for Christ has paid for every failing. I am his forever more that just has that a prodigal son. Parable feel to it and you know and then the chorus come Rejoice now. Oh my soul for his love is my reward those those words go so well with what the the scripture were looking at this morning, that's all really as we as we in a moment look at chapter 15 of lutein. We got to look at the whole chapter. We need to understand that. The heart of this teaching. Remember Jesus is teaching here. He's teaching the crowds. He's teaching his disciples. He's teaching the tax collectors and Sinners and he's teaching the Pharisees in the scribes at the heart of his teaching is God's posture towards sinners in the be more specific on this teaching is concerned with how God's heart goes out to singers who repent repent and so Just a wonderful chapter in Luke and let's go to it. Now. I'm going to read the whole chapter of Luke 15, which we will see really has the parable of the lost sheep the parable of the lost coin and the parable that we know as The Prodigal Son Luke 15. Now the tax collectors and sinners were all Drawing Near to him in the Pharisees in the scribes grumbled saying this man receives Sinners and eats with them. So we told them this Parable what man of you having a hundred sheep if he has lost one of them does not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the one that is lost until he finds it and when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders rejoice and when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbor saying that Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep that was lost. Just so I tell you there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Or what woman having 10 silver coins? If she loses one coin does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it and when she has found it she calls together her friends and neighbors saying Rejoice with me for I have found the coin that I had lost just so I tell you there is Joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents and he said there was a man who had two sons and the younger of them said to his father father. Give me the share of property that is coming to me and he divided his property between them not many days later the younger son. Got it all he had. I took a journey into a far country and there he squandered his property in Reckless living. And when he had spent everything a severe famine a rose in that country and he began to be in need. So we went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent them into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the PODS of the pigs ate and no one gave him anything but when he came to himself, he said how many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with Hunger I will arise and I will go to my father and I will say to him father. I have sinned against heaven. And before you I am no longer worthy to be called your son treat me as one of your hired servants and he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him and the son said you and father I have sinned. Against heaven. And before you I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants bring quickly the best rolled and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate for this is my son. So sorry for this. My son was dead and is alive again and he was lost and is found and they began to celebrate that was older son was in the field and is he came and Drew near the house he heard music and dance and he called one of the servants and I have to see what these things meant and he said to him your brother has come and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has received them back safe and sound. But he was angry and refused to go in his father came out in and treated him but he answered his father. Look these many years. I have served you and I've never disobeyed your command that you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours Kane was devoured your property of prostitutes, you kill the cat button car for m. And he said to him son. You are always with me and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad for this. Your brother was dead and is alive he was lost and is found let's pray. Father God we thank you for your word. We thank you that your word reveals. Who you are. We thank you that in this Gospel of Luke we get to see and hear the teachings of Jesus. Father God we would ask you this morning teach us by your spirit help us to understand with our minds Your Truth as it comes to us through your word help us to embrace it with our hearts that we might love what you love and that we might rejoice. And that which you were. Joyson? We need your help Father God for these things. Are they going to ask that you would help me by your spirit to communicate clearly and accurately your truth and in a way that's helpful that we all might be changed that we might be conformed to the image of Christ. And we might be transformed from glory to glory.

Father God help us. I pray this in Jesus name. Well this morning I would like to lay out the main idea of this 15th chapter of Luke and I would express it like this. In the kingdom of God and remember The Parables were teaching disciples and whoever else was there that Jesus was teaching the people what the kingdom of God was like, so the main idea in the kingdom of God repentance is cause for Joy because God rejoices when his people return to him, I'll say that again in the kingdom of God repentance is cause for Joy because God rejoices when his people return to him, you know, I would say that is the main idea of the three Parables we're looking at but if if we consider that longer Parable the prodigal son, I think that's an exposition of this main idea. And so you have these additional ideas which I would Express the go along with that main idea in the kingdom of God forgiveness is extended generously because God is gracious toward his people and in the kingdom of God salvation is offered unreservedly because God is merciful towards his people we see in these Parables what God is like and what the kingdom of God is life. And so let's begin looking at joy and repentance. Joy and repentance. We get the setting of this teaching and verses 1 and 2, tax collectors and sinners were all Drawing Near to him that is to Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes grumbled sang. This man receives Sinners and eats with them until we see two groups here interacting with Jesus we have on one hand the the tax collectors and Sinners and on the other hand the Pharisees in the scribes at least Tax Collectors were considered dishonest people who had a dishonorable job and they were frowned upon by the Jewish people and sinners is a term that used for people who threw their actions. The rest of his are believed had forfeited God's gracious relationship. They were not part of God's Kingdom. And the Pharisees and scribes. This is the same group of Jewish leaders that Jesus has been contending with all through this gospel unless we read that the Sinners and tax collectors were attracted to Jesus and that Jesus didn't refuse them. In fact, we're told he receives them. That is he accepts them and he extends Goodwill towards them even dining with them. And this resulted in the grumbling and complaining of the religious leaders again. And for this reason we're told Jesus tells them a parable. That's what it says. It doesn't say three Parables. It says Jesus tells them a parable singular that is all these three go together. And if you're like me and you have heard perhaps The Prodigal Son preached on by itself, and there's nothing wrong with that, but I think it's wise to take these Parables together as one parable. Which which Jesus uses to communicate the truth? Now we see that there are two short Parables of the beginning of this one larger Parable. There's the lost sheep and the lost coin store Shepherd loses one sheep from a flock of a hundred and a woman loses one coin from a stash of 10. Another coin was worth a day's wages. So that the woman lost the coin that would be the equivalent of a day's worth of wages, but it is also the equivalent of the cost of one sheep until we have some interest in continuity between these two we read that the shepherd leaves the 99 to find the one understand that the the 99 would likely be left in the care of others. It wasn't just bailing on the the 99 sheep and leaving them to their own devices. I like the shepherd would leave him and leave them in the care of other Shepherds or other. Open hands and go and find the one that was missing and the woman she when she realizes there's a coin messing. She lights a lamp in her home and sweeps the floor until her diligence pays off and she finds the coin. So the shepherd finds the sheep in the woman finds the coin and their reactions after finding their lost valuables speak to the heart of this teaching both the shepherd and the woman respond with great joy. You don't remind me of a time our family my family to St. John's us siblings. There's five of us and all of our families every other year. Would Gather in the summer either go to a campground or go to a cottage and remember one particular time. We did this to understand it would be 10 adults and I think at that time to time I'm thinking mother was 17, We were up north at a group of cottages. And in this particular moment. We were all on a large doc structure that was connected to these cottages and my wife Nicole dropped her glasses into the water sunglasses and they were expensive sunglasses and it wasn't about eight feet of water, but it wasn't clear if it was clear water, but it was choked with weeds. There was Weeds everywhere in these glasses down to eight feet and and the Call started diving down looking for these sunglasses. And remember Auntie Megan and Uncle Kevin. We're the ones who were diving the most trying to find the sunglasses and it went on for In My Memory quite a long time. Even though it's so long that the kids started to get distracted and doing other things and but me going to Kevin kept diving looking for these glasses and eventually Uncle Kevin came up and raised in the arm as he broke the surface of the water with sunglasses in his hands, and I remember the whole duck dock structuring 2727 of us erupted in cheering and Applause because this these valuable sunglasses have been found in and this this is the picture we get when the shepherd finds a sheep and a woman finds her coin Gathering friends a large group of people who celebrate. Joyously that these Bible things Been found in this really illustrates God's heart for The Sinner who repents and returns to him. It is a response of great. Joy in Jesus trying to communicate this to the Pharisees and scribes but also to the tax collectors and sinners not to mention his own disciples and in both cases Jesus gives Divine commentary on this teaching. He says there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. And there is Joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents in both these cases joy and have and enjoy the for the Angels. That's a polite way of saying. God is joyful. The Jewish people were careful about saying God's name and speaking his name directly at a time until both those phrases are saying God rejoices when a sinner repents. It's interesting that in the case of the shepherd who lost his sheep were told there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents I think pointing to a future salvation when all of God's valued people are gathered to him. But in the case of the woman we read There is Joy there is present joy in heaven and repentance is celebrated until we see that the shepherd is determined and the woman is diligent both rejoice and finding their valued possessions. Just as God rejoices at the return of his valued possessions, that is his people Until we can ask ourselves a few questions this morning. We see in these first two Parables of the larger Parable that God has great concern for the Lost just like the shepherd was determined to find his sheep and left the 99 to find the one in just as the woman diligently searched her home for that one coin. We understand that God has great concern for those who are lost for his people who are rejecting him. What About Us Could the same be said of Oscar the same be said of you? Could the same be said of West London Alliance Church. Do we have great concern for the lost? Like we need to consider that question. What's interesting in both of these shorter Parables? Is that the people in The Parables who represent God they're the ones who take the initiative to go out and find where does sweep and find and again, it's a question for us. What about us? Do we take the initiative in regards to the Lost? Do we take the initiative to go out and to seek? Is the challenge for ask yourself that question asked that about our church? Is that what we are like because Jesus is teaching at this is what God is like. God finds great joy in Sinners who repent so I have another question. Are you a sinner? Will the answer for all of us would be? Yes, we have all sinned, but I want to speak to those Sinners who have never repented. To repent is too turned in your mind in your will and your emotions. Your entire being is to turn from your life and surrender yourself to God. It's the turn from your sins and to trust in Jesus. It's to believe that Jesus is the son of God who became a man and lived the life of perfect obedience to God and then died a death on behalf of Sinners and then rose from the dead. Are you a sinner who has never repented would never turn from your life of sinfulness and rejection of God and turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ, then let me ask you would you consider repenting this morning? Let me encourage you to do so. Now for those of you who are Senators who have repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have a heart posture that immediately is triggered we have that word. I don't like that word in many contacts in our day and age. I'm triggered. It. It makes us the victims and so many situations but let me use it in a more positive sense. Do you have a heart posture that is triggered into Joy at the news of someone repenting? Is that your initial response to Rejoice until it's a challenge again to consider yourself and to consider your ways. Know that deals with the two shorter Parables Now we move to the last parable of the three in this really expound on this idea of God has joined their repentance of Sinner. It's in the same vein it cannot it has the same main idea but it's a longer Parable that I think flashes it out for us. It's a very well-known terrible and it elaborates on God's heart towards Sinners who repent and return to him. I think it's important to know as we talked about the prodigal only had that idea of of the prodigal in her mind. I think Believers often think that someone who has faith in Christ or at least demonstrate some fruits of faith in Christ, but then leaves and many many of us would say, I have a prodigal child who was brought up in the face but has left and it certainly includes those people, but I think we need to understand that we are all Prodigals even those who haven't repaired yet are prodigals in the sense that they are God's their gods and need to return to him because God is their creator and they are prodigals even if they've never repented of sin. They are prodigals because all God's people have been elected by him. He has chosen them before the foundation of the earth. And so all repenting centers are returning centers. They're Sinners who are returning to God they are there. They are hens by creation and they're his by-election until this speaks that every human being who is called to return to God as we get an exposition of God's joy in the repentance of Sinners. We see that there is great grace and forgiveness in the kingdom of God forgiveness is extended generously because God is gracious. Towards his people the action of the Suns in this Parable is known as The Prodigal Son really those actions are to set up the action of the Father the younger son's actions The Prodigal by the backdrop for us to see the gracious forgiveness of the Father which of course speaks to the gracious forgiveness of God. So we see that the sun request his inheritance that would be in this case a third of all that his father owned. So the older brother would get two-thirds of the older brother the firstborn would get a double portion. And so the older brother will get 2/3 in the younger brother the younger son would get 1/3 and he says to his father give me the share of property that is coming to me. really if you were literally translate that he is saying give me your life and it's interesting that it's worded that way because generally this would only happen if the death of the father and I think it could be conceived on could see dub as the younger son almost saying to his father. I wish you were dead. I want what's coming to me that normally happens at your death. Either way the sun clearly wants to sever his relationship with his father and he wants to be gone. And so the father device has pop property between is Suds and I think that's important to note each son receives what he has coming but the younger son when he passes out and he leaves he empties his bank account. He takes all of his possession and list them on Kijiji so that he can sell them or on Facebook Marketplace. He he gets rid of all of it so that he can have some cash all the cash and he takes it and goes to a distant land and he squanders it all. He squanders his wealth in undisciplined riotous living his wealth is gone. And this is a bad situation for the younger son, but then it gets worse because of famine hits the land. And the only work that he can find his very dishonorable work for a Jew. He is feeding pigs and unclean animal. Any speeding them for a gentile? And in his work, he fares even worse than the pigs do and you wishes that he could even eat what they are reading. He is starving. He is destitute and he is all alone. But then the younger son develops a plan. Commentator Darrell Bock sums it up nicely. The Sun Box says will act quickly and humbly he knows that he has forfeited All rights to sonship and inheritance, but it is better to cast himself on his father's Mercy then remain in a distant land living a life lower than the unclean beasts and suffering such hunger. This confession pictures his repentance and then coming to the father bearing nothing but his own need he plans to turn and come home openly confessing his failure his attempt to live carelessly and independent of any constraints is a failure. It has resulted in something less than human existence. So here we have a son who has a plan in the midst of his difficulties in The Mists of his trial in the mist of his tribulation. A plan in which he repents? And decides to go back to his father. Melissa Spencer for those listening would be significant. How would his father respond and really this is the Crux of the parable. How would the father respond? Would he be joyful or when he be better? With the sun find gracious forgiveness or would he be treated as he deserves and rejected? And you can even imagine if you think about Jesus teaching that the Pharisees in the scribes Who Would Imagine them self as the father imagine they're signed leaving an acting in such a way and considering how they would respond. Well having made his plan the younger son begins to execute it. We're told he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him. The father joyfully and joyously breaks all protocol.

For this situation and runs to meet his son embracing him and kissing him. I really was help this week in preparation by a sermon by Alexander Maclaren quoted him before and sermons. He was a English non-conformance conformist minister of Scottish origin from 1826 till 1910, and he powerfully describes the particulars of this unfolding scene. He writes and preached originally filial love may die in the sun's heart. But paternal yearning lives in the father's The Wanderers heart would be likely to sing cuz he came nearer the father's tent and it seemed easier to go back when he acted the Cenote in his imagination. But every step Homeward makes the reality more difficult. No doubt. He hesitated when the old home came in sight and perhaps his really resolution would have oozed out of his fingers if he had to March up alone and rags and run the gauntlet of servants before he came to speech with his father. So his father seeing him far off and running to meet him is exquisitely and keeping as well as moving Lee setting forth. How God's love goes out to meet his returning prodigals. Not Divine Insight which discerns the first motion towards return that Divine pedi, which we dare venture to associate with his infinite. Wild that eager meaning the same face then slow stepping boy halfway and that kiss of Welcome before one word of penitence or requested and spoken. These are all Revelations of the heart of God and it's outgoings to every Wanderer who sets his face to return beautifully does the father's welcome make the sun completion of his research rehearsed speech impossible. It does not prevent his expression of penitents for the more God's love is poured over us the more we feel our sin but he had already been treated as a son and could not ask to be taken as a servant beautifully to the father gives no verbal answer to the lads confession for his kiss had answered it already but he issues instructions to the servants. Which show that the pair have now reached the home and entered it together. Is there a more joyful response than this? Is there a more gracious response than this to the father demonstrates? What a glorious Parable what a glorious store. You got me to thinking of something from my childhood from a time. When I first came to know the Lord the first repented of my sin and was that a prodigal returning home and to a song by Keith Green now many of you are going to Indicate your age if you know what song I'm talking about and even this morning I looked it up and I would encourage all of you to do the same go to YouTube and and put in the search bar Keith Green The Prodigal Son in this song. I think I although the the artist Keith Green take some creative license this song Just expresses the beauty of this Parable so well and in particular, it just does a great job of illustrating the Glorious reaction of the father to his prodigal returning or I'll read the verse which speaks to that. Keith Green sings I got to encourage you to listen to it for yourself. Bring the best robe put it on my son shoes for his feet. Hurry put them on. This is my son who I thought had died prepare A Feast for my son's life. I prayed and prayed never heard a sound. My son was lost of thank you God he's found my son was dead. And he's now alive prepare A Feast for my son's life. My son was dead. My son was lost. My son returned in the hands of God. What a what a beautiful Parable. This is the sun's full privileges of sun are bestowed upon Heaven is signified by the road that he's giving this. This word for road is formal dress. He's been given formal dress now. The best roles been put on them in a ring for his Finger wished likely was a ring that was bearing the family seal or had some sort of Mark of relationship in regards to the family and that the younger son is granted access to the father. The younger son has gone from utter destitution to full restoration and that can only mean one thing a huge celebration fan, which was reserved for only the most special occasions was slaughtered and preparations for this meal proceed of these would take hours. No father is joy in a celebratory posture is seen even more. So in comparing the return of his son to Resurrection from the dead for this my son was dead and is alive again. And we hear they begin to celebrate. This is a moving illustration of the grace of forgiveness this grace and forgiveness again, which McLaren in his sermon notes and this is seen in the fire going Beyond just reinstating his son but lavishing gifts on his son. Let me read what McLaren preached about this. He said God's giving always follows his forgiving God giving always follows his forgiving it is not so with us. We think ourselves very magnanimous when we parted and we sell them go on to Lavish favors where we have overlooked false Perhaps. It is right that men who have offended against Mansion restoration by ax and should have to ride quarantine as it were for a time, but I question whether forgiveness is ever true, which is not like God's attended by large-hearted gifts. If pardoned is only the non infliction of penalty, then it is natural enough that it should be considered sufficient by itself and that the evildoer should not be rewarded for having been bad. But but if Harden is the airflow of the love of the offended to the offender, then it can scarcely be content with simple simply giving the debtor is discharged and turning him into the world penniless. However, that may be with regard to men God's forgiveness is essentially the communication of God's love to us sinners as if we had never send it all and that being so dumb that love cannot stay it's working until it is given all that it can bestow or that we can receive God does not do things by halves and he always gives when he forgives. Now that is a great truth of the last part of this famous Parable and it is one of the points which differs from and really I think Powers high above the to proceeding. Once you see the lost sheep was carried back to the pastures turn loose their needed no special care from what we know and I assume the game to nibble as if nothing happened and the lost coin was simply I'm guessing put back into the purse. But the lost son was pardoned. And after he was pardoned greater gifts wasn't were piled onto him. What a glorious truth. This is about God's grace. What Grace there is an R forgiveness, whereby the guilt and the stains of our sins are removed and the penalty no longer Falls in us and then God lavishes gifts on at 11. She has the gift of justification up the gift of adoption the did the gift of glorification all of these things and many more piled on. and so we see is Jesus shares a story the great joy that God has but the religious leader should have with the repentance of Sinners the great joy that God has in forgiving those sinners. Now he goes on in this Parable and further expounds the joy of repentance by emphasizing the Generous Heart posture of the father in his interactions with the elder brother and really his Parables should be called the parable of two sons because it's more than just a story about a prodigal. In his interactions with the Elder son. We see generosity. In the kingdom of God salvation is offered unreservedly because God is merciful towards his people. More so than the parable of the lost coin of the lost sheep and more. So even than the story of the younger son's departure and return the story of the elder brother is meant to challenge the scribes and the Pharisees and their attitude toward Sinners. They were grumbling the Jesus spent time with Sinners that he accepted and that he would even dying with them. And now we look at another grumbler the elderson another man who does not understand God's generous posture and salvation did the Elder son is working in the field and when he returns he finds merriment and partying I just returned. There's music there's dancing and the Elder son must be bewildered because if there was supposed to be a party he would know about it or the very least he should know about it. So he calls us sermon inquires as to the reason for this event. In the servant gives a straightforward and matter-of-fact answering this suggests that no further explanation should be needed that there was great cause for celebration the younger son had returned, but the older brother would have none of it just like the religious leaders who Jesus is addressing in this teaching. They would have none but jesus is joy in the repentance of his real Sinners. So the elder brother would not find joy in the return of his younger brother. And he's not just disappointed. He's angry. He will not enter the house. It's ironic. The estranged son son is inside partying while the faithful son remains outside. The home is strange what a turn of events. but again the father initiates His desire to restore and to reconcile his Elder son who is now the son who is sinning against him? The father is generous and salvation to both sons the grammar suggest here that the father repeatedly makes an effort to persuade his son to come into the home and celebrate with the family. But now it is the elder brother the faithful one who is rejecting his father. Jesus is clearly rebuking the spiritual stinginess of the Pharisees and scribes as we compare them against the generosity of the father and him offering reconciliation to both sides. The elder brother we need to understand is publicly directing his complaint against his father. He calls his father's integrity and fairness into question publicly. He publicly charges his father with a morality for his response to the younger son. And again, the suspense is heightened. What would the father's response be now, would he reject his Elder son for this attempt to shame him publicly. Will he denounce? The Sun for the disrespect that is being shown to him. Know the father's generous spirit is seen in his gentle reply and he said to him son. You are always with me and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad for this. Your brother was dead and is alive he was lost and is found. You seen either the younger son's return or the father's response has diminished the Elder son status. The Elder son is always with the father and all the father's possessions the long to the Elder son. The father will not allow his eldest son's complaint to stand your brother was dead and lost but now he is alive and he doesn't say my son. He says your brother. The celebration is not just appropriate it is necessary. And so in this Jesus admonishes the Pharisees, it is morally right to rejoice when Sinners repent it is morally right for God to be gracious in his forgiveness. It is morally right for God to be generous and offering salvation to all who reject him. And you can imagine the Pharisees and the scribes and then adds collectors and Sinners and Jesus disciples. all being left in suspense with this Parable ending with the elder brother standing outside the family home removed from the festivities with the father's invitation to have a generous posture towards his repentant and return younger brother and to Rejoice with the family to have that invitation hanging in the air and now we're asking what will the other brother do and we don't hear

the wonderful Parables wonderful group of Parables It's a Wonderful teaching about God's heart towards Sinners towards all of us who would repent and believe Eminem. Let me make a couple points of application and close the closing this morning. First of all, we need to understand and imitate God's heart towards the repentant and returning prodigals. Depart of calling prodigals to repentance is calling them to start doing things that please God and bring God Joy. You up? Who's that? Who's ever out there listening believer or unbeliever? You will never do anything greater than doing that which brings joy to your heavenly father. We learn from this teaching that when we repent and turn from our sins and turn to him that that brings great joy to God do we need to understand and imitate God's heart in regards to that in our own lives as we repent of our sin and put our faith in God, but we also need to see that part of calling Sinners to repentance is calling them to recognize their worth in God's sight. Is he send devalues a person made in God's image more than anything else in this world? And when God rejoices at the repentance of a sinner, he's saying you have value in my eye. We need to have that understanding we need to imitate God's heart in regards to that towards those who repent and return to him. We also need to learn to be gracious in forgiveness. We need to be quick and even initiate forgiveness and parted. But we also need to celebrate those who have asked forgiveness and whether they repented to God for their sin and are returning prodigals or whether they sinned against us. And if I ask for forgiveness, let's be quick and joyful in our offering of forgiveness, and let's celebrate forgiveness and think about this might you even consider the next time. The next time that someone comes to you asking forgiveness might you consider what it would be. Not only part in them and forgive them. But also to Lavish gifts on them. What a glorious Act of Grace that would be Finally, let's have a posture in regards to spiritual things. That is generous. Let's not be stingy. Let's not be curmudgeonly. Let's not be meager in our posture in regards to spiritual things. But let's be people who are quick to rejoice in God's work. In ourselves and in Sinners, that's God's pasta. That's God's heart towards those who repent which is each one of us and Lord willing many more that we will see. I was one Alliance Church. Brothers and sisters. I pray that you would have a blessed Sunday. I pray that. These Parables which reflect God's gracious Generous Heart towards sinners in the joy that he shows would bring you great encouragement today. For those of you who have prodigal children who aren't serving the lord. I pray this causes face to Rise Up In You How to understand how God thinks about prodigals and how he thinks you should think about those prodigals and then you would be encouraged and that we all in these difficult times would understand God's graciousness to each one of us. That's my prayer for all of you today the Lord be with you. Take care.