Introduction

Beloved friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome! I am thrilled to be here with you today, sharing in the unending grace and love of our Lord. We are gathered here, not by chance or coincidence, but by divine appointment. We are here to seek, to learn, and to grow in understanding of the Word of God.

Let's turn our hearts and minds to the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, verses 11 through 32.

Departure from Divine

The prodigal son, a story that resonates with many of us. It's a tale of rebellion, remorse, and redemption. Today, we're going to delve into this parable, breaking it down into three main points: Departure from the Divine, Distance from the Divine, and Deliverance to the Divine.

In the words of the great theologian J.I. Packer, "The Christian's life in all its aspects–intellectual and ethical, devotional and relational, upsurging in worship and outgoing in witness–is supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it."

As we embark on this study, let's invite the Spirit to guide us, to initiate and sustain us. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for Your love and Your mercy. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to Your Word. Guide us in understanding, fill us with Your wisdom. Let us see the lessons in this parable and apply them to our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

We see the younger son making a bold, audacious request. He asks his father for his share of the estate. This is a declaration of independence, a desire to break away from the father's authority and control. He wants to live life on his own terms, to be the master of his own destiny. This is a clear departure from the divine, a conscious decision to turn away from the father's love, guidance, and protection.

In our lives, we often mirror the younger son. We seek independence, wanting to live life on our own terms. We want to break free from the constraints and expectations of others, to live life as we see fit. This is a natural human desire, a desire for autonomy and self-determination. But in our quest for independence, we often turn away from God. We reject His authority, His guidance, His love. We choose to live life on our own terms, ignoring His commands and His will for our lives.

The younger son's departure was likely preceded by a gradual process, a slow drift away from the father. He doesn't wake up one day and decide to leave. Instead, he slowly distances himself from the father, gradually becoming more independent, more self-reliant. This is a subtle, insidious departure, a slow erosion of the relationship between the son and the father.

Similarly, our departure from God is often a slow, gradual process. We don't suddenly decide to reject God. Instead, we slowly drift away from Him. We start by neglecting our prayer life, by skipping church, by ignoring His Word. We gradually become more self-reliant, more independent. We start to rely on our own wisdom, our own strength, our own abilities. We slowly distance ourselves from God, gradually eroding our relationship with Him.

The younger son's departure is not without consequences. He squanders his wealth in wild living, wasting his inheritance on fleeting pleasures and temporary satisfaction. He ends up in a distant country, far from home, far from the father's love and protection. He finds himself in a desperate situation, starving and alone.

Our departure from God has consequences. When we turn away from God, we often find ourselves in a spiritual wilderness, far from His love and protection. We squander our spiritual inheritance, wasting our time and resources on fleeting pleasures and temporary satisfaction. We find ourselves in a state of spiritual starvation, longing for the spiritual nourishment that only God can provide.

The younger son's departure is a lesson in the futility of self-reliance. Despite his best efforts, he ends up in a desperate situation, unable to provide for his own needs. He realizes that he can't make it on his own, that he needs the father's help, the father's love, the father's provision.

Distance from the Divine

As we continue to examine the narrative, we find ourselves in a distant land, far removed from the father's house ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO