Feb. 03, 2008--RETURNING TO OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN

RETURNING TO OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN

An audio file of this message is available for listening or download at http://www.mediafire.com/?f9nbfiibdnm

Below are my sermon notes.

The Audience:

From Luke 15:1-3, it is clear that this story is not for the general public, but for "the Pharisees and the scribes"--the good, upright, God-fearing, law-abiding, religious leaders of the Jewish faith.
We in the church are the modern equivalent of the Pharisees and the scribes. This story is not for our "pagan" neighbours out there, but FOR US, THE INSIDERS.

The Focus:

Even though we have traditionally tended to focus on the younger son, the focus of this story is in Jesus' opening words: "A Man had two sons." THE FOCUS IS ON THE FATHER.

Can you imagine going to your parents while they are still alive and asking for your share of the estate? The Father grants his son's request for his share (1/3), even though it was a slap in the face...as though the son were saying..."Drop dead, Dad." The Father had every right to tell the son to drop dead, refuse the request, but he grants it without any conditions, without a lecture or warning.

The Father's Love allows us to have our own way, to make poor choices, to live in rebellion. He could stop us, but chooses not to. HAVE YOU HAD THIS HAPPEN TO YOU...WHERE GOD LET YOU HAVE YOUR OWN WAY?
Have you as a parent experienced this with a child?

The Son wastes his inheritance in a distant land, in "dissolute (reckless, wild) living." Most likely, this refers to seeking sexual pleasure (as implied by the older brother later on in the story) and drunkenness...both of which can be a drain on a fortune. He seeks to replace the intimacy he had with his Father with a counterfeit that gives the illusion of intimacy.

Highly publicized "falls from grace" of Christian leaders who were leading others to the Lord and operating in the anointing of the Holy Spirit also seeking counterfeits to the Father's love.
Similarly...Christians seeking refuge in adultery, pornography, sex before marriage—counterfeit intimacy; similarly alcoholic excess in bars...

Then a famine hits the land, he goes from living high on the hog to looking after pigs...only a desperate Jewish young man would stoop to such a low position. He hits rock bottom.

The Father's Love does not want to interfere with the gift of free will, so He allows us to go our way, get lost, and get to the place where we can sink no lower. ..JUST LIKE IT IS WITH OUR KIDS SOMETIMES.

The young man comes to himself...to his senses... and remembers his Father's house...giving children proper foundation, e.g. church school so critical...starts heading back with a rehearsed speech...note part of the speech... "I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

GUILT vs SHAME:
"Guilt says I've done something wrong; shame says there is something wrong with me. Guilt says what did was not good; shame says I am no good."
Guilt says: "I did something unworthy." Shame says: "I am unworthy."

The closer we had become to the Father, the more shame we have when we went away from the Father...keeps us from coming back...we wonder whether we will be truly received or not. (Falls from grace)

The Father, in the meantime, does the only thing he can do...wait and watch for the Son's return. (See on the portals He’s waiting & watching)

When the Son is still far off, the Father runs to him (act of indignity for a Jewish father to lift up his robe), hugs him and kisses him...no speech, no reprimand, no "told you so" (I would’ve!)...just welcome. The Son goes into his rehearsed speech, but the Father does not respond to him. Instead he tells the servants to get him a robe, a ring and sandals. These actions speak more loudly than words ever could: "You are still my son."
CELEBRATION..fatted calf...

The Father is so glad to see us "come home" again. As far as he is concerned, "You were my son, you are my son, you will always be my son."

AN INVITATION:

To all the "younger sons"...come home. Whatever counterfeits you have chosen, whether you've hit rock bottom or not... SHAME ISSUES...Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you are in the Father's house or how close or far you are from the Father's House. Father Loves You and wants you in His house. He is so glad when we make that choice.