Am I A Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11–25 NRSV

11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout 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 to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up 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 like one of your hired hands.” ’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then 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 slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

AM I A PRODIGAL SON?

USUALLY WHEN WE THINK OF THE PRODIGAL SON STORY, WE USUALLY THINK OF A YOUNG MAN LEAVING HOME BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE GROWN AND WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO HIS OWN THING WITHOUT ASKING FOR HIS PARENTS PERMISSION.

WHEN WE THINK OF THE PRODIGAL SON STORY, WE USUALLY THINK OF A YOUNG MAN WHO MOVED FAR AWAY FROM HOME, WHO PARTIED ALL NIGHT LONG EVERY NIGHT, WHO HAD A WHOLE LOT OF SO-CALLED FRIENDS, WHO SLEPT WITH EVERY WOMAN IN TOWN, WHO GOT HIGH, WHO GOT DRUNK, AND WAS LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST BY DRIVING FANCY CARS, WEARING FANCY CLOTHES, AND WAS LIVING IN A SPACIOUS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.

WHEN WE THINK OF THE PRODIGAL SON STORY, WE USUALLY THINK ABOUT HOW THE YOUNG MAN BECAME BROKE, HOW HE LOST EVERY THING THAT HE HAD, HOW HE WAS DESERTED BY HIS SO-CALLED FRIENDS, AND HOW HE BECAME HOMELESS.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PRODIGAL SON STORY, WE USUALLY THINK ABOUT HOW THE YOUNG MAN ENDED UP WORKING IN THE PIG PEN, AND HOW HE WAS SO HUNGRY TO EAT WHAT THE PIGS ATE IN THE PIG PEN UNTIL HE CAME TO HIMSELF.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PRODIGAL SON STORY, WE USUALLY THINK ABOUT HOW THE YOUNG MAN DECIDED TO GO BACK TO HIS FATHER HOUSE TO APOLOGIZE FOR HIS BEHAVIOR AND HOW HE WAS HOPING THAT HIS FATHER WOULD RECEIVE HIM BACK.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PRODIGAL SON STORY, WE USUALLY THINK ABOUT HOW GRACIOUS THE FATHER WAS BY RECEIVING HIS YOUNG SON BACK INTO THE HOUSE, AND HAVING A BIG CELEBRATION FOR HIS SAFE RETURN.

NOW, ALL OF WHAT I HAVE MENTIONED IS TRUE ABOUT THE PRODIGAL SON STORY. BUT THE PRODIGAL SON STORY IS DEEPER THAN THE YOUNG MAN LEAVING HOME, GETTING INTO TROUBLE, AND COMING BACK HOME.

THAT IS, THE PRODIGAL SON STORY IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO YOUNG PEOPLE. YOU SEE, YOU CAN BE 30, 40, 50, 60, OR 70 YEARS OLD AND STILL BE CONSIDERED A “PRODIGAL SON.”

YOU CAN BE A GIRL OR A WOMAN AND BE CONSIDERED A “PRODIGAL DAUGHTER. YOU CAN BE A BAPTIST, A METHODIST, A CATHOLIC, CHURCH IN GOD IN CHRIST, OR A LUTHERAN, AND STILL BE CONSIDERED A “PRODIGAL SON.”

YOU CAN BE A CHOIR MEMBER, USHER, DEACON, OR A PREACHER AND STILL BE CONSIDERED A “PRODIGAL SON” BECAUSE ANY TIME YOU STRAY AWAY FROM GOD TO DO YOUR OWN THING, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON. ANY TIME YOU STRAY FROM THE CHURCH, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON. ANY TIME YOU STRAY AWAY FROM PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, SUNDAY SCHOOL, OR ANY TIME YOU STRAY AWAY FROM SERVING GOD, YOU ARE A “PRODIGAL SON.”

AND AS A PRODIGAL SON, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF DOING WHATEVER THAT PLEASES THE FLESH AND NOT THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASES GOD.

NOW THE QUESTION IS, “WHAT DOES A PRODIGAL SON LOOK LIKE?”

A PRODIGAL SON IS A CHRISTIAN WHO HAVE STRAYED AWAY FROM THE WILL OF GOD.

THE REASON WHY A PRODIGAL SON IS A CHRISTIAN IS BECAUSE IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON WE NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRODIGAL SON AND THE FATHER. EVEN THOUGH THE PRODIGAL SON HAD LEFT HIS FATHER’S HOUSE TO DO HIS OWN THING, HE WAS STILL HIS FATHER’S SON.

LIKEWISE, WE AS CHRISTIANS HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER THROUGH OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, WHICH MAKES US SONS OF GOD. BUT YET SOMETIMES AS CHILDREN OF GOD, WE WILL GO ASTRAY, AND BECOME A PRODIGAL SON. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AND YET YOU ARE SMOKING WEED, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON.

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AND YET YOU ARE GETTING DRUNK ON THE 40 OUNCES, YOU ARE PRODIGAL SON. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AND YOU ARE SLEEPING WITH EVERY WOMAN OR MAN IN TOWN, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AND YOU ARE DISRESPECTING YOUR PARENTS, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, BUT YET YOU ARE CUTTING UP IN SCHOOL BY STARTING FIGHTS ALL THE TIME, NOT DOING YOUR HOMEWORK, NOT RESPECTING YOUR TEACHERS, AND DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON.

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AND YET YOU GAMBLE ALL OF YOUR MONEY AWAY IN THE CASINOS TO THE POINT THAT YOU DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT TO PAY YOUR BILLS, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AND YOU ARE ABUSING YOUR WIFE, ABUSING YOUR HUSBAND, OR ABUSING YOUR CHILDREN, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON.

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AND YOU HAVE STOPPED COMING TO CHURCH, STOPPED GOING TO SUNDAY SCHOOL, STOPPED GOING TO BIBLE STUDY, STOPPED PRAYING, STOPPED READING YOUR BIBLE, STOPPED SERVING THE LORD, YOU ARE AN PRODIGAL SON.

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AND YOU HAVE STOPPED WITNESSING FOR JESUS, BUT YET YOU TELL LIES AND DIRTY JOKES AS A SUBSTITUTE, YOU ARE A PRODIGAL SON.

A PRODIGAL SON IS ANYONE WHO IS A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS STOPPED TRUSTING IN THE LORD FOR HIS OR DAILY NEEDS AND HAS STRAYED AWAY FROM GOD’S WILL.

NOW, LIVING A LIFE OF A PRODIGAL SON WOULD GET YOU NOWHERE.

YOU MAY TRY TO GET AWAY FROM GOD AS FAR AS YOU CAN, BUT YOU WILL GET NOWHERE. YOU MAY TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THE CHURCH AS FAR AS YOU CAN, BUT YOU WILL GET NOWHERE.

YOU MAY AVOID HANGING OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE LORD BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT YOURSELF STRAYING AWAY FROM GOD BUT THAT WILL GET YOU NOWHERE.

JUST LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON IN THE STORY WHO WASTED HIS SUBSTANCE WITH RIOTOUS LIVING, YOU ARE WASTING YOUR LIFE AWAY WHEN YOU STOP LIVING FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. NOT ONLY THAT, IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE LORD JESUS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE WASTING YOUR LIFE AWAY.

JUST LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON WHO WAS IN WANT AFTER HE SPENT ALL THAT HE HAD, YOUR LIFE WILL BE EMPTY WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD.

JUST LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON WAS WORKING IN THE PIG PEN AND DESIRED TO EAT WHAT THE PIGS WERE EATING, WHEN YOU STOP TRUSTING IN THE LORD, WHEN YOU STOP GOING TO CHURCH, WHEN YOU STOP PRAYING, WHEN YOU STOP READING GOD’S WORD, WHEN YOU STOP SERVING THE LORD, AND START DOING THE THINGS THAT PLEASE THE FLESH AND NOT DOING THE THINGS THAT PLEASE GOD, YOU WILL FIND YOUR SELF HITTING ROCK BOTTOM. YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF BEING IN PLACES THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE.

YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF DOING THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF WITH A WHOLE LOT OF UNNECESSARY DRAMA.

BUT JUST AS THE PRODIGAL SON CAME TO HIMSELF AND WENT BACK TO HIS FATHER HOUSE, AND HIS FATHER RECEIVED HIM BACK WITH OPEN ARMS, NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU HAVE STRAYED AWAY FROM THE LORD, GOD STILL LOVES YOU AND HE WAITING FOR YOU TO COME BACK HOME. NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM THE CHURCH, GOD STILL LOVES YOU AND HE IS WAITING FOR YOU TO COME BACK HOME. NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS LIFE, GOD STILL LOVES YOU AND HE IS WAITING FOR YOU TO COME BACK HOME. AND WHEN YOU COME BACK TO GOD LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON HAD RETURNED TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE, GOD WILL HAVE MERCY AND FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS.

IN 2ND CHRONICLES 7:14, THE LORD SAYS, “IF MY PEOPLE WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; AND THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN, AND WILL HEAR THEIR LAND.”

IN PSALM 51:1-2, KIND DAVID PRAYED THIS PRAYER TO GOD WHEN HE HAD STRAYED AWAY FROM GOD: “HAVE MERCY UPON ME, O GOD, ACCORDING TO THY LOVING KINDNESS; ACCORDING TO THY MULTITUDE OF TENDER MERCIES BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS. WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MINE INIQUITY, AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN.”

IN ISAIAH 55:7 SAYS, “LET THE WICKED FORSAKE HIS WAY, AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS; AND LET HIM RETURN UNTO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.”

THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS IN 1 JOHN 1:9 THAT “IF YOU CONFESS YOUR SINS, GOD IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE YOU FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS,” BECAUSE THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST WILL CLEANSE YOU FROM ALL SIN.

DON’T LIVE THE LIFE OF A PRODIGAL SON BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE LIVING OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD, IT IS A DEAD END STREET. BUT IF YOU ARE OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON, YOU OUGHT TO COME BACK HOME TO THE FATHER BY CONFESSING YOUR SINS AND ASK HIM TO FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS. AND JUST AS THE FATHER HAD A BIG CELEBRATION FOR THE PRODIGAL SON FOR COMING BACK HOME, THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND COME BACK TO JESUS CHRIST.

AND IF YOU ARE HERE AND YOU ARE NOT SAVED, GOD WANTS YOU TO COME TO JESUS CHRIST TO BE SAVED. TO COME JESUS CHRIST, YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS. HE WAS BURIED BUT IN 3 DAY, HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS. ROMANS 10:9 SAYS, “IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD THOU SHALT BE SAVED.”