#GOODNEWS Week 10
The Gospel of Luke #2
“So the Party Began”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church
Luke 15:11-24
Parable of the Lost Son
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[b]’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
The parable of the Prodigal Son has so many scriptural parallels to the Gospel story:
1. God is represented as the FATHER of all mankind.
2. People are represented as CHILDREN , but subject to sin.
3. Mistakes are overcome by redemption and GRACE .
God does not redeem sin. He redeems PEOPLE .
God DEFEATED sin.
The Prodigal Son joined himself to the “state of sin” (a citizen)
1. Sin is a departed state and DISTANT from God.
2. Sin is a spending state. It is wasteful of what is good.
3. Sin is a wanting state.
a. His pride led to greed. His greed led to waste. His waste led to destruction. His destruction led to hunger. His hunger led to desperation. His desperation led HOME .
4. Sin is a state of madness, frenzy and perpetual dissatisfaction. And nothing can conquer this desire except to return to the Father.
When the Prodigal Son decided enough was enough, he didn’t try to redeem the pigs or clean the pen. He decided in his filth and shame to return home.
God isn’t going to clean up Satan. He is going to defeat him.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The state of sin is conquered by the place of grace. His trip home:
1. He was received in love and affection
2. He submitted to a father who was already broken for him.
3. He was the recipient of provision that he had forfeited
Forgiveness is a powerful tool.
It doesn’t make sense to get a second chance. It doesn’t make right to get a second chance. It doesn’t make fair to get a second chance.
Don’t miss the moment when God redeems people because you’re trying to fix sin. You can’t ELIMINATE SIN. Leave it alone and come home!
The Father’s response – Quick! Hurry! Don’t miss this!
- Finest robe (comfort)
- Ring for his finger (blessing)
- Sandals (peace)
- Fatted calf (nourishment)
- Feast (celebration)
“For this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ SO THE PARTY BEGAN.”
No comments:
Post a Comment