It's Not Too Late

Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:11–32 ESV

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 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. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 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. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

Requesting a Blessing

Verses 11 and 12 state that a man has two sons and one of them asked his father to bless him with his share of the inheritance.

Some may think that the younger son was out of line for asking for his inheritance while his Father is still alive and while the most natural time of transference occurred at the father’s death a man could give property to his heirs while he was still alive.

According to some Deuterocanonical books from the second century this was actually a fairly common occurence and the younger son was in no way insinuating that he wanted his father dead as some people have taught.

The oldest son was by custom was entitled to a double portion which in this case because there were two sons would be two thirds of his father’s estate.

While the Bible does not say specifically most likely the oldest son was not collecting his inheritance at this time but rather was still working his father’s fields essentially working for little income, but investing in his future and helping to support his family. This no doubt attributed to his hardness of heart towards the younger brother.

The Father must have felt some concern for his youngest son. Rather than the son working together with him and his older brother to invest and grow the family farm to be as successful as possible so that not only would all of them benefit but also future generations as well he decided to ask for his blessing without regard as to how it would affect other people. Being the younger son there was undoubtedly still so much more he wanted to teach and so much more time he wanted to spend with his son.

Those of you who are parents have had or will have moments where you know what is best for you grown child and you share that but at the end of the day they must live with their own choices and all we can do is love them, pray for them and be there for them when they need us.

Nevertheless the father being an honorable man divided his property between them giving the youngest son his inheritance of one third of all he owned.

Brothers and Sister I would just like to quickly mention to you this morning that it is very important not to get ahead of God. We live in a capitalistic corporate culture where bigger is better and many of us are always searching far and wide while not realizing that the Lord has you planted at specific places at specific times to fulfill His plans and purposes.

If the Lord has truly called you to go somewhere or do something outside of where you are planted then He will direct you and equip you as to the when and how. But when we petition the Lord for what we want and like the son almost demand that it happens right away that is not faith that is getting ahead of the Lord’s timing.

Like the Father in this parable, God is honorable and will bless us when we petition Him but the better thing to do is seek wisdom and be sensitive to His timing and His leading and not continue to push and push.

While there many reasons for this the first is that you may not yet be at a place where you can handle the bigger blessing the Lord has for you and if you get it on your time instead of His time then all of the people, parts and pieces needed to support the vision are not yet in place.

Most of the time it may be that the Lord is using you to bless someone else while He continues to equip you and set the stage for the future or it may be that He is trying to show you that you are already a part of something bigger than yourself and if you put more energy into serving where you are it would not only benefit yourself and others around you but multiplied generations could be saved, healed and encouraged for the cause of Christ.

Said simply pray and seek wisdom and patience from the Lord so that you are investing in His plans on His timeline which will put you right where He wants you to be all and do all He has for you.

Rebellion after the Blessing

Verse 13 tells us that not many days later or some translations say a few days later the younger son gathered everything he had.

The word gathered here is the Greek word synago meaning to gather together and is implying that the younger son sold his assets which again were land and livestock and converted them to currency.

He then took this currency and traveled to a distant land and he wasted all his money in wild and reckless living. In verse 30 his older brothers states that the younger brother even wasted his inheritance on prostitutes.

Unfortunately many people will pray for a blessing and then when they receive it instead of following God’s word and praising the Lord and using their blessing to be a blessing they move away from God as soon as they get what they want.

And as we know humans need the protection of the Lord on our lives to stand firm against the attacks of the devil.

The son here travels to a distant land and lives a sinful life. In our day and age people don’t have to travel very far at all because there is sin all around us.

The son in this parable made a choice to ask for his blessing, flee from his father and live a life of sin and corruption.

Unfortunately there are many people today who are making the same choices to reject God and live to indulge their own sinful desires.

All of us in this room at one time or another in our lives have chosen not to follow the Lords ways and instead sinned.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Sin Brings Suffering

In verses 14-16 Jesus explains that at the same time the younger son had spent everything a severe famine arose and he began to be in need. So the young man persuaded a local farmer to hire him and the man sent him to the fields to feed the pigs.

Since pigs were unclean animals according to the law, Jesus is suggesting that the younger son became a swine-herding slave to a Gentile which would have been a threefold dishonor and according the scribes and Pharisees to whom Jesus is speaking this would have equated to a cursed life.

Jesus is using this as a point to the religious leaders that the youngest son was not only a sinner but also someone who they viewed as so sinful that the young man was living a cursed life.

Jesus knew the hardness of heart that the religious leaders had towards the lost and was making sure that they understood without a doubt the type of person he was referring to.

Verse 16 says that the younger son was so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him but that no one gave him anything.

The pods the Bible is speaking about are carob pods. The Greek word used here refers to seed pods similar to pea pods but from the carob tree, which was common throughout the Mediterranean region. They were used as animal feed and have a sweet, chocolate-like flavor.

Here is a man who was blessed with a family who loved him and while not the most exciting life he most likely had a stable life as a farmer. And all because of the devil enticing him with the ways of the world he gathered his blessings, sold them and entered a life of sin until he ends up so hungry and desperate that he is longing for pig feed and still no one is having compassion on him and giving him anything.

There is an old saying that goes sin will take you further than you want to go and cost you more than you want to spend. This statement is absolutely true.

The devil is on the loose and wants nothing more than to devour the people of God to rob us of your blessings.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Satan’s primary weapon to lead people into sin is that of deception. He tricks people into thinking that instead of following God’s ways they should do what feels right to themselves. Or he makes people doubt God’s goodness and love. He enters their minds to break them down and then presents them with all matter of ungodly temptations which may seem to feel good for a moment but ultimately lead to death and destruction.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Repentance Leads to Restoration

Verses 17 -19 state that the man finally came to his senses and realized how bad his condition had become and how good his father was not only to him but also to his hired servants.

He declares that he will return to his father and repent admitting that he had sinned against his father and against heaven meaning against God. He will admit that he is not worthy to be treated as a son but is asking to be treated as a servant.

This breaking point is a critical step in salvation and rededication in people’s lives.

I used to volunteer to lead worship for a Celebrate Recovery program and one of the first things the leaders would tell us is that if one of the participants started crying to not hand them a tissue or not hug them but rather to let them have a total emotional release because this may be the only time they have done so and that the breaking down is part of the healing process.

This felt awkward for me but they were right and it was part of the process for many people.

It is similar in spiritual matters because if someone does not see anything wrong with their sin they will not feel the need for a savior.

Mark 2:17 ESV

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Verse 20 tells us that the young man arose and came to his father and while he was still a long ways off his father say him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Listen to me this morning God loves his children so much that it doesn’t matter how far you have ran or how far you have fallen the Lord Almighty will not only welcome you home but when he sees you seeking Him he will feel compassion on you and embrace you with his peace and kiss you which symbolizes His forgiveness of your sins.

God already knows where you have been and what you have done and He is just waiting and wanting for you to come home this morning.

There is nothing that can separate you from the love of God and if you will seek Jesus Christ this morning than He will show you a love you have never known.

Verse 21 says the son repented and apologized and the father brought his best robe and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.

You see sometimes people feel shame for what their past but let me tell you something. There is no shame in the Lord and when He says you are forgiven you are forgiven. And it doesn’t matter if you just came stumbling up the dirt road hungry and dirt and smelling like the pig pen because Jesus Christ will love you, help you, heal you, clean you up, put your feet on solid ground restore to you that which the locusts have devoured. And He will do it all in a moment of time. You no longer have to live a life of shame and defeat but instead can live a life of victory and peace in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The Bible goes on to say that the father ordered a celebration because the son was dead and is alive was lost and is found. So all the people celebrate.

Of all the things we get the opportunity to do as a church by far the most significant and most rewarding is leading someone to Christ.

God not only wants the lost to be saved and the hurt to be healed but He celebrates it.

Luke 15:10 ESV

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

So as the Lord celebrates when the lost are found so we as Christians should celebrate as well.

Self Righteousness Breeds Resentment

Verses 25-30 explain that the older brother was returning from working in the fields and when he heard the music and dancing he asked the servants what was going on. They told him that their father had killed the fatted calf because his brother returned safe and sound. But rather than rejoice he stood outside angry and refused to go in.

His father came out and urged him to join but the son would not because he said that all the years he did what was right and worked hard and was not rewarded for it even a small amount like a goat for a feast but that his brother comes home after squandering his money on sin and gets better treatment than himself who stayed and did what was right.

Jesus is using the attitude of the oldest brother to reflect that of his audience who were the scribes and Pharisees. They too complained about Jesus’ fellowship with sinners.

In verse 29 the brother says he never disobeyed which again is a self righteous viewpoint because all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard. This idea of being better than someone who has recently lived in sin again reflected the attitude of the religious leaders of this time.

It is very important for seasoned Christians to never become so proud and self righteous that we stop celebrating the great things that the Lord is doing in peoples lives especially when people get saved.

I remember what it was like to be someone who hadn’t been saved very long and was on fire for God but many people didn’t want to give me a chance because they acted like they were super spiritual or on a higher level. That didn’t stop me because I knew that God had a called me to live for Him. Some of those people who had treated me poorly and acted like snobs to me and gossiped about me not only turned out to have their own issues but some are doing the same things now they were doing years ago while all Glory to God He keeps taking me higher and higher.

As a church plant it is the same for us. Most of our growth is going to take place from new believers and when they come there will be a season where the Holy Spirit is sanctifying them. Some of them may be raised up to serve and help with ministries and rather than being self righteous we need to remain focused on loving God and loving people like we do today.

This parable ends with verses 31 and 32 where the father says to the oldest son he is loved and blessed as well but that it is proper to celebrate this day for his brother was dead and now has life. He was lost but now he is found.

Said simply and clearly God calls us as Christians to embrace sinners. The people who some call outcasts we need to see with Jesus eyes and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them so that like the son they have the opportunity to come home.

Its Not Too Late

In closing today I just want to encourage everyone this morning if you have a lost loved one, do not give up, do not stop praying for them, do not stop hoping and believing that they stop running from the Lord and instead come home.

If you are lost without Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior toady it is not too late to put your faith in Him and be saved.

If you do believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior but have experienced back sliding or need a fresh anointing than its not too late this morning. Come back home the Father is waiting with open arms.

Whether you are here in person or if you are watching online, if you want to make a decision for Christ today to accept Him as your Lord and Savior or want to rededicate your life to Christ today than say this prayer with me. And if you mean it will all your heart than by the assurance of God’s word heaven will be your home and God’s peace which comes from His Spirit will come to live inside you and make you a new person for the Lord.

I am asking everyone to pray with me this morning.

Prayer

God I am a sinner and you would be right to judge me.

But instead of judgement I am asking for your grace.

Jesus come into my life and I will make you my Lord and Savior.

Communion

Have a great week and remember our joy is in Jesus!