We’ve gone to the moon without coming to ourselves
We’ve broken the atom without being broken ourselves
We’re explored the depths of the sea without ever examining our own heart
You don’t have to be young to be a prodigal
NOTICE ALL THAT THE SON CAME TO
1. He came to his FINANCES (12)
a. All he had was a result of his Father
b. God the Father makes the sun to shine on the just and the unjust
c. God the Father gives us all things richly to enjoy
2. He came to His FREEDOM (13) “took his journey”
a. He didn’t want anyone telling him what to do
b. He wanted to be on his own
3. He came to the FAR country (13)
a. The far country = the world
b. I like to think he was in Egypt
c. Anywhere away from the Father
4. He came to his FRIENDS (13b)
a. Your friends can either make you or break you
b. You are known by your friends
c. You are what your friends are, or soon will be
d. Your future will be no better than your friends
e. You can never blame what you are on your friends
5. He came to FAMINE (14)
a. You cannot live successfully without the Lord
b. You cannot be satisfied without the Lord “he began to be in want.”
6. He came to the FIELDS and FEEDING swine (15)
a. What will you do for others that you won’t do for your parents?
b. What will you do for the devil, that you won’t do for the Lord?
7. He came to FEEDING on husk (16) (Isa.44:20)
a. If what the world has could satisfy we wouldn’t see so much discontentment
b. What the world feeds on was never meant for human concumption
c. You’re going to work in somebody’s field, the question is who’s
8. He Came FINALLY to himself (17)
(I Cor.11:28) “But let a man examine himself”
(II Cor.13:5) “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own…
a. He came = he arrived
b. to himself = personally, alone, without any other considerations
c. He arrived at a new perspective, concept of himself
d. He saw himself realistically for the first time in his life
WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF...
I HE SAW HIMSELF FOR WHAT HE WAS
A. Perishing (17b) “I perish with hunger!”
B. A Sinner (18)(21) “I have sinned”
C. Unworthy (19)(21) “no more worthy”
II HE SAW HIMSELF FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE
A. By His own Confession (18)(21)
B. By the Context (13) prodigal = wasteful
C. By not Covering (Pr.28:13)
III HE SAW HIMSELF FOR WHAT HE COULD BE
A. His Confession (17)(21)
1. Abraham (Gen.18:27) “I am but dust and ashes:”
2. Job (40:4) “Behold, I am vile” (42:5) “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
3. David (Ps.51:5) “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity” (22:6) “I am a worm”
4. Isaiah (6:5) “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips,
5. John the Baptist (Mt.3:11) “whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:
6. Peter (Lk.5:8) “I am a sinful man,”
7. Paul (I Tim.1:15) “I am chief of sinners”
B. His Commitment 18)(20)
1. I will arise
2. I will go
3. I will say
C. His Conversion (22-23)
1. It is amazing what the Father can do when you simply come to him
2. His value was based on his relationship to his father, not performance
3. The Father never stops giving or forgiving to those who depend upon him
You don’t have to be in the pig pin in order to come to yourself
Where are you in your relationship with the Lord
He was never out of his Father’s sight (18)(21)(Ps.51:4)
