I figured since not every one got to hear my sermon on the 25th that I would put it on the blog....
Sermon for Sunday, January 25th
Title: Come into the party
I believe that every sermon you hear doesn't have to be on something new but it needs to be something that you need to hear. When Emil asked me to preach, the idea for this sermon came to mind. It's on a very familiar parable found in Luke chapter 15 verses 11-31.
(Scripture: Luke 15:11-31)11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father. "But 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. 21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[b]' 22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. 25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But 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. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
I am sure that you have read or heard this story. This is the story of the prodigal son that you probably heard in Sunday school growing up. We are going to look at both sons in this parable. First you have the younger son. He asks his father for his inheritance, which was unheard of in his day. It was believed to be an offensive act—he was indirectly saying to his father that he wished he was already dead. Then he took his money and went off and did his own thing. He wasted everything he had. He ended up broke, hungry and miserable. He came to his senses though and came back home humble. His father ran to greet him, which would have been almost indecent for this elderly man to run to him because he would have to pull up his skirt to run. But he ran anyway and greeted him with a kiss. The father gave him the best robe of the house, which would have meant it was probably his own robe. He loved him, forgave him and restored him.
I identify so much with the prodigal son. I was part of the family of God but after my brother passed away, I spent so much of my life off doing my own thing. And I spent some miserable pitiful years in the hog-pen of life. Just like the prodigal, I finally came to my senses, humbled myself and came home. God was already there with arms open, saying come home and He RESTORED me. I am not considered a lowly person like one of the servants but back as part of the family.
But there is the other son that is usually not focused on—the older brother. The older brother was out working in the field. He heard the party but after he found out it was for his brother, he became angry and REFUSED to go in. He was in the family but not in the house. In verse 28, the father came out and pleaded with him to come into the party. But this older brother would not. Who was he hurting though?? They were going to have the party anyway! And I am here telling you this morning that God is having a party whether you come in or not.
This older brother was resentful because his younger brother was favored. He wasn't to lose any of his inheritance because that was already set aside for him, so he had nothing to lose because of his brother's return. He just resented him. He was jealous of him.
There are some people officially in the family of God that won't go into the Father's presence because they are angry or have been hurt or they feel like someone else gets favored. One of the things Jesus died for, was for us to be able to be in the presence of God and to have a relationship with Him. In His presence you find rest, peace and joy. In His presence we are fully and completely satisfied. But how many dissatisfied Christians do you know? They are part of the family, and I believe are going to Heaven but they never went into the party, never enjoyed God's peace and joy. I feel the Holy Spirit is pleading with some of you today to come into the party. Give God your pain, tell him about your anger, forgive each other—we are to love one another. God will heal your pain and help you forgive.
Do you identify with either of these sons??—are you like the prodigal and was once part of the family but have wandered off and done your own thing?? Well I am telling to get out of the hog-pen, humble yourself and come to the father. He is running to greet you with open arms and He will RESTORE you. Or are you the older brother, part of the family of God but holding on to some kind of resentment, pain or unforgiveness??? The Father is pleading with you, to give that to him and come inside into His presence.
I have decided to go into the party—I have wasted too much of my life being miserable---I have actually been both of these sons. I went off doing my own thing..and had to come back home. But I also relate to the older brother because even after I came back into the family, I was holding onto my past resentments and pain. I was in the family but not in the house. I finally got tired of being bitter and full of pain and went to God and he healed me. Now I am in the middle of the party!! I have a joyful life—not because its perfect but because I have peace. And God is taking me places I would never have imagined. He will do the same for you, just come on in.
Whichever you identify with today, know that God loves you. Don't stay out of the party!
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