Today’s message is about recovery from brokenness.
This has been a strength of MCC and I hope it always is.
Jesus loves and heals broken hearted people.
Let’s be a church that He can use in this process.
Our passage for today is Luke 15(11-24).
(Read Passage)
Being lost or losing something is a condition we can all relate to.
Each of us has known the sadness of losing something special.
• A favorite toy.
• A job.
• Family heirloom.
Whatever the case, we’ve all known the sadness of losing something special.
In today’s passage, something of tremendous worth is lost.
More specifically, someone is lost.
It’s the parable of the Lost Son - a story told in 3 stages with lessons to be learned from each stage.
As we take a closer look at this parable, we’ll explore each stage and its’ underlying lesson.
The stages are: Rebellion, Repentance, Restoration.
STAGE 1: REBELLION
(Narrative)
o The younger son demands his share of the estate.
o Entitled to 1/3.
o 2/3 would go to the eldest son upon the father’s death.
o It was a fair request – but painful.
o It’s almost like he was telling his father, “I can’t wait for you to die.”
Most of us can relate to the younger son’s desire to leave home.
o There are good reasons to want to leave home.
• Independent productive life.
• Contributing member of society.
• Marry, have a family of your own.
But, this young rebel was leaving for bad reasons:
• Wanted to party-hearty.
• Live a wild & reckless life.
o If we’re honest – all of us have faced this temptation.
“ WE ALL, LIKE SHEEP, HAVE GONE ASTRAY, EACH OF US HAS TURNED TO HIS OWN WAY…” (ISAIAH 53:6 NIV)
“ALL HAVE TURNED AWAY, THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE.” (ROMANS 3:12 NIV)
“FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” (ROMANS 3:23 NIV)
The Underlying Lesson:
To believe - Freedom from the Father = Happiness, liberty, a life of ease - is to believe a lie.
The Truth – Freedom from the Father = Poverty, misery, bondage.
The only true freedom is that freedom we experience in Christ.
“…IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.” (JOHN 8:36 NIV)
STAGE 2: REPENTANCE
(Narrative):
o Spent all of his $$
o “Friends” – nowhere to be found
o Famine hits the whole country.
Hires himself out as a farm hand.
Still trying to “go it alone.”
Circumstances of life – piling up:
• Left his Father’s house
• Squandered his inheritance
• Abandoned by his friends
• Struggling to survive a country-wide famine
• Finally… “When he came to his senses…”
Underlying Lesson:
People must come to the end of themselves before they “come to their senses.”
• Jonah – belly of the big fish
• Samson – tied to a millstone, grinding meal for the enemy
How about you?
Have you come to the end of yourself?
Have you “come to your senses.”
In the midst of his struggle, the rebellious son “Came to his senses.”
He realized – even his father’s servants were well-fed.
God opened his eyes to the raw reality of his situation and he said,
“I WILL SET OUT AND GO BACK TO MY FATHER AND SAY TO HIM: FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN AND AGAINST YOU. I AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON; MAKE ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR HIRED MEN.” (LUKE 15:18-19 NIV)
Repentance always precedes grace.
Until the rebellious son experienced the despair of his situation,
he was not ready to return to his father.
You cannot receive spiritual healing until you recognize your brokenness.
STAGE 3: RESTORATION
o Narrative:
• The son sets off to his father’s house.
• Long trip – (a far country)
o He had time to think - What will happen?
o Will my father accept me or reject me?
Pleasantly surprised - Father ran to meet him.
“WHILE HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF, HIS FATHER SAW HIM AND WAS FILLED WITH COMPASSION FOR HIM; HE RAN TO HIS SON, THREW HIS ARMS AROUND HIM AND KISSED HIM.”
The father welcomed him and then RESTORED HIM.
o Robe – A Guest of Honor
o Ring – Signified the father’s authority (like giving the son his checkbook)
o Shoes – Worn by Sons, not servants.
Parable of the Lost Son - striking difference - Christianity & other World Religions. Christianity - we are lost persons and cannot find God by ourselves.
• The parables of the lost sheep and lost coin.
• So God’s Son, J came to find us.
“FOR THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE WHAT WAS LOST.” (LUKE 19:10 NIV)
Other World Religions - man tries to find God as if He is lost, hidden or unreachable. God is not lost.
Broken, sinful rebellious man is lost.
God, in His mercy has come looking for us.
We’ve looked @ the Lost Son – Rebellion, Repentance, Restoration.
But, really this parable’s focus is on a loving, compassionate father.
And, it shows us some...
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD’S LOVE:
1. ENDURING.
a. God Never Stops Loving His Children.
b. The Rebellious Son:
i. Took 1/3 of the father’s estate.
ii. Squandered it.
iii. Yet, the Father watched & waited for his return.
“I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE; I HAVE DRAWN YOU WITH
LOVING-KINDNESS.” (JER. 31:3 NIV)
2. BALANCED.
a. He Respects Human Freedom.
i. The Father did not force his son to stay with him.
ii. He didn’t try and control his son w/his wealth.
b. He Allows Consequences for Human Choices.
i. He didn’t send an envoy w/his son.
ii. When his son left, he left, alone.
3. RESTORATIVE.
a. He Rewards Repentance.
i. Forgiveness was freely given.
ii. No payback was required.
b. He Reinstates Relationship
i. He restored his son’s position.
ii. He restored his son’s responsibility.
The story of the Lost Son affects each of us differently.
A lot of that has to do with what is happening in our life at the moment.
I wonder, which part of the story do you relate to the most?
Unfortunately, our story doesn’t end with the celebration of the Father.
There is a...
FINAL STAGE: RESENTMENT
• Elder bro. resented the younger brother and the Father’s warm welcome.
“MEANWHILE, THE OLDER SON WAS IN THE FIELD. WHEN HE CAME NEAR THE HOUSE, HE HEARD MUSIC AND DANCING. SO HE CALLED ONE OF THE SERVANTS AND ASKED HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON. ‘YOUR BROTHER HAS COME,’ HE REPLIED, ‘AND YOUR FATHER HAS KILLED THE FATTENED CALF BECAUSE HE HAS HIM BACK SAFE AND SOUND.’
THE OLDER BROTHER BECAME ANGRY AND REFUSED TO GO IN. SO HIS FATHER WENT OUT AND PLEADED WITH HIM. BUT HE ANSWERED HIS FATHER, ‘LOOK! ALL THESE YEARS I’VE BEEN SLAVING FOR YOU AND NEVER DISOBEYED YOUR ORDERS. YET YOU NEVER GAVE ME EVEN A YOUNG GOAT SO I COULD CELEBRATE WITH MY FRIENDS.
BUT WHEN THIS SON OF YOURS WHO HAS SQUANDERED YOUR PROPERTY WITH PROSTITUTES COMES HOME, YOU KILL THE FATTENED CALF FOR HIM!’” (LUKE 15:25-30 NIV)
Can you hear the bitterness in his remarks?
Do you hear the criticism the elder bro. levels @ his father?
Friends, we must be careful.
That same critical attitude can swallow us up if we let it.
TWO LESSONS FROM THE ELDER BROTHER:
1. To Know GOD Is to Enjoy the Greatest Blessing.
• Father tells the elder son “You have always been with me.”
• Yet, the Elder Son feels cheated.
o Beware – any one of us can begin to have an "entitlement" attitude when it comes to our Heavenly Father.
The Children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness. While their needs were being met by God, their hearts were yearning for the fine foods of Egypt.
Even Lot’s wife had trouble with this. While Sodom was still smoldering, she was looking back, yearning for what she was leaving behind.
o When we yearn for the sin of the world we miss how much we are truly blessed.
2. We’re All Sinners.
• Both sons needed the father’s inheritance.
• He didn’t have to give them anything.
IMPLICATIONS FOR MCC:
1. LET’S REJOICE WITH RETURNING PRODIGALS
• Might get crowded.
• May get uncomfortable.
• When we rejoice – we’re in good company.
Heaven rejoices when one sinner repents.
2. LET’S EXTEND A HELPING HAND
• Someone brought the ring, robe & shoes at the father’s request.
• God has given us the privilege to partner w/Him in healing the broken.
At MCC we’ve been at work trying to develop a network of recovery ministries to help the people of this church and this community.
I want to introduce you to some of those ministries (refer to bulletin.
These are some of the recovery ministries we are currently offering:
National Assoc. of Marriage Enrichment
Crown Financial Counseling
Food Pantry
Freedom from Anger Seminar
(Close)
You can stay in the father’s house and yet find that your heart is prone to wander.
Like the Prodigal – you have a desire for “The Far Country.”
Where is the Far Country?
“It is anywhere that a man tries to live without God.” (Dr. Ellis A. Fuller)
The far country begins:
1. When we demand our freedom to sin.
2. When we see life through the spectacles of selfishness.
3. When we are no longer interested in spiritual matters.
4. When we care not for our neighbor.
