" Luke 15:1-24 When God Ran"

Intro: Read V.1,2

V.1,2 of Luke 15 set the scene for the PARABLE that Jesus uses to illustrate the Heart of the GOD toward those who are Lost in Sin.

15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

  1. I Love that : SINNERS DREW NEAR TO HEAR – Interesting that Sinners were attracted to Jesus – why ?
  2. Luke 4:22 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.
  3. They were attracted at the Graciousness of Jesus – He wasn’t out there seeking to bash them over the head w/ His Bible
  1. He wasn’t laying HEAVY TRIPS on People / They were attracted to His heart of Love & Compassion / see it in HIS FACE

D) LOOK LIKE YOU THEY WOULDN’T HAVE COME

 

In.JN 1:14 Told that Jesus came revealing God’s Glory – marked by GRACE & TRUTH

  1. Meaning He didn’t shrink from proclaiming the truth – from telling it like it is – but He did so in a GRACIOUS MANNER !!
  2. Why Paul would later say that "it was his kindness that leads us to

Repentance !!!" -

 

So SINNERS & TAX COLLECTORS – DREW NEAR – but notice what it says next -

  1. And the Pharisees and scribes COMPLAINED saying , "This Man receives sinners and eats with them."

Sinners Drew near - & the Religious crowd complained

A) "look at him spending time w/ those HEATHENS - I can’t believe He is eating w/ people like that !"

  1. Recall they believed that to eat w/ someone was to become one w/ them
  1. Eating of the same loaf/ dipping in the same bowl / drinking of the same cup/ Taking in the same nutrients
  1. Jesus received sinners / He ate w/ them – they felt comfortable enough to draw near to Him – and – the RELIGIOUS CROWD COMPLAINED

 

So SINNERS drew near / PHARISEES COMPLAINED – Prompted Jesus to tell a Parable - READ V. 3- 32

Note V. 3 AGAIN So He spoke THIS PARABLE to them, saying:

A Parable / Usually think of it as 3

  1. Parable of the LOST SHEEP / P. OF THE LOST COIN / P. OF THE LOST SON

B) But actually it is ONE PARABLE w/ 3 parts / Like a Song w/ 3

stances or verses / One PARABLE – 3 SECTIONS/ STORIES

    1. AND Each Story is describing the Same thing – GOD’S HEART TOWARD THE WAYWARD

C)In fact I suggest to you that the PARABLE gives us an AWESOME

PICTURE OF THE TRINITY – TRIUNE GODHEAD

    1. In the Story if the Lost sheep we see the Son/ THE SHEPHERD who leaves the 99 & goes after the one who was Lost
  1. In John 10 Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd / who lays down His life for the Sheep

 

Jesus the Good shepherd left the GLORY of Heaven to come to this EARTH to seek out & Save the LOST SHEEP

  1. Saw the Crowds – compassion – like sheep w/ out a SHEPHERD
  2. Leaving the 99 & going after the one that is lost speaks of the IMPORTANCE that the Lord places on ONE LOST SOUL
  3. Note: Shepherd DOESN’T NEGLECT THE 99 – Left in a communal pen – they are watched over & taken care of
  1. But it EMPHASISES the IMPORTANCE that the LORD places on the LOST SOUL - HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT LOST SINNERS

 

  1. That is why EVANGELISM is so important – NOT ONLY FULFILLS

GREAT COMMISSION – but it REVEALS GOD’S HEART

Notice also that the shepherd comes back CARRYING the Lost sheep on His Shoulders / carrying Him – bearing His burdens

  1. Consider what Jesus carried on His shoulders in order to save us & bring us into the FOLD - THE CROSS
  2. When you consider that the Shepherd actually became a sheep in order to save them it only MAGNIFIES THE SIGNIFICANCE

1) So in the Story of the Lost Sheep we see GOD THE SON –The Shepherd who goes out searching for the Lost LAMB

 

In the story of the LOST COIN – we see a picture of the HOLY SPIRIT

  1. Speaks how the Holy Spirit uses the Light of God’s word to enlighten the eyes of those who are lost in Darkness
  2. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet & a light unto my Path
  1. The Bible has much to say about the enlightening of the Word of God by the Spirit
  1. The sweeping of the home speaks to us of the sweeping of the Hearts – Paul Prayed concerning the Lord being at Home in our Hearts
  1. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to enlighten our Hearts & to bring conviction to our hearts of those areas – need to change

 

The Story of the Lost coin – also magnifies the Importance & the Value that God Places on ONE LOST SOUL

  1. See in those days when a woman was married she would wear on her head a head band of 10 Valuable coins – signified married woman

 

B) Well some how – one of those coins became loose & fell off the Band –

  1. 1) it would be like one of you women – losing the Diamond in your
  2. wedding Ring

C)That is why she is searching the house frantically looking for this COIN it

not only was VALUABLE / IT had great sentimental Value AS WELL

  1. But although the Coin has Value / it’s Value is worthless as Long as it is Lost ! –

Now To some, the monetary value of the coins would have been too small to make it of any value, to make it worth such a search.

A) NOTE: This is exactly the attitude of the Pharisee towards the "sinners"

and "tax collectors" .

  1. The Pharisees thought that such people were VALUELESS to God!!

C) They thought that God viewed these people as WORTHLESS because they weren't righteous....

1) and therefore that God WAS NOT interested in them.

  1. But NOTE: "Sinners" and "tax collectors" DO NOT become

VALUELESS to God because of their unrighteousness.

When a man turns away from God, God experiences a GREAT LOSS because:

A) 1st because God VALUES man, because God made man in His image.

  1. The coin, lost as it was in the dirt...... maybe even buried under it, still

bore the mark of the emperor on it, and thus still had value.

1) Man, no matter how far he has fallen, still bears the stamp of God's

image./ So God VALUES MAN MADE IN HIS IMAGE

When man turns away from God, God experiences a GREAT LOSS because: God VALUES each man as an individual personality.

A) That which could have been so useful to God has become useless.

B) And THAT Man suffers the loss of experiencing fellowship with God.

D) So the Lord goes to Great lengths to find that which He deems Valuable

E) So the Picture of the Lost Coin – emphasizes the work of the H.S.

Then in the Story of the Lost Son- we have a Picture of God the Father – never giving up – but always waiting for that Son to come Home.

 

In the 3rd Story we see the REASON for being LOST WAS BECAUSE OF THE REBELLIOUSNESS OF THE SON .

  1. He didn’t want to live by His dads rules / He wanted to do his OWN THING
  2. He figured that the grass was greener on the other Side - So he said to his Father - I want my share now – I’m out of here
  3. What is interesting to me – is that in the First two stories the Lord is seen frantically searching after the foolish sheep / & the Lost Coin
  4. But in the case of the Prodigal Son – He lets his REBELLIOUS son go & instead of going after him / The Father waits for the son to come back
  1. Why is that? – The son needed to be HUMBLED & Broken & Cured of his REBELLIOUS HEART - that would come through tragedy

Lets consider the Story of the Prodigal son - & then come back & tie all three stories together

11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons.

  1. "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.
  1. Now to say this was a very cold & callous thing to say – it was like saying Dad I wish that you were dead ./ Because:
  1. the inheritance was never divided up until the Father had Died.

' So he divided TO THEM his livelihood.- Interesting that they were both given their share of the inheritance .

13"And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions w/ prodigal living.

  1. It didn’t take long for this younger son to venture out to fulfill all that was in His heart .
  1. He felt that there was more to this life than what he had experienced – surely there was more to be gained / he set out to find it

Notice in order to fulfill the sinful desires of his heart he had to get as

far away from his dad as possible ( too much Conviction if stayed near)

A) Take note Parents – the Father let him Leave

  1. So off He went to a far away country - & there He wasted his inheritance on Prodigal Living – Partying / women / drunkenness is the idea
  1. And I am sure that he had a GRAND TIME at first – Bible does say that SIN IS PLEASUREABLE FOR A SEASON
  1. But those seasons always come to an end – and Result in exactly what this boy – experienced – a FAMINE v.12 he began to be in want
  1. See all the Partying all the pursuing of worldly possessions brings only a TEMPORARY SATISFACTION
  1. But the Temporary Satisfaction is followed by a SEVERE – FAMINE in the heart - as you begin to realize that – no matter how hard you try
  1. There is nothing that this world has to offer that will bring you lasting Satisfaction/ Famine emptiness is heart you cannot fill!!!!
  1. Now his money is all gone / his friends are all gone / he is hungry thirsty

So In the mist of the Famine – he does what so many people do/ HE 1ST turns to man – told in v. 15 "Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

A) Instead of giving him help he puts him to work - the Bible declares that the wages of sin is death - wages speak of that which is worked for

  1. So there he is w/ the pigs so HUNGRY / even the pig slop is starting to look good – but in the MIST OF HIS PIG PEN –
  2. 1) amazing thing happens v. 17 "But when he came to himself,

  3. Literally – Then He came to His Senses - Something happened in His heart & mind that caused him to Realize the error of his ways
  1. Here we See 4 important steps that lead to Restoration :

First step toward RESTORATION – COME TO YOUR SENSES to realize where you have blown it / Realize that you are a Sinner /

A) 2nd is REPENTENCE - Speaks of a Changing of the mind & direction

  1. Change of Mind – v.17b 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
  1. I have Been a Fool – things were so much better at my Fathers house

C) Changing of DIRECTION 18 'I will arise and go to my father,

 

3rd Step is Confession - 18 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

  1. Note that : I have sinned against – God & You !!!
  2. So important to see that our SIN IS first & primarily against the Lord !!!!

 

4th step is HUMILITY 18 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

19 "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'

  1. This Son left saying GIVE ME THE GOODS – I want my share – my inheritance - Comes back saying MAKE ME A SERVANT
  2. You can always tell when someone has really changed – instead of saying give me the goods / what is in it for me / I want my rights /
  1. I was wrong but ……..
  1. They will say – MAKE ME A SERVANT/ I don’t Deserve anything !! - there will be a genuine Humility & Brokeness about them –

 

See it was Pride in the first place that caused this Son to leave – Pride that said I know better that My dad

  1. It is Pride that causes us to walk away from the Lord / or Resist in coming to the Lord in the First place
  2. It is a Pride that says I think I can do a better job of running my life than God can . My ways are Better than His
  3. You can be assured of this that if we persist in our Pride & Rebelliousness the Lord will allow us to end up in a PIG PEN
  1. He will BREAK US – in hopes of Bringing us to our Senses so that we will confess our sin / Humble ourselves & turn to Him
  1. But you don’t have to end up in a PIG PEN – Recognize the Pride in your Heart now – been resisting God’s Love & God’s Plan / Humble yourself

1) Seek Him w/ all your heart

 

Watch what Happens when we do v. 20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

  1. Several things to note about the Father : 1st it says he SAW the Son a long way off ! This tells me – He never gave up
  2. Daily looking down that road/ - Parents of Prodigals never give up – keep praying keep watching

2nd – He had COMPASSION - He wasn’t thinking / "Well look who’s coming home – I wonder what He wants how Dare He come back !"

A) NO – " MY BOY - MY SON ….."

3RD HE RAN - Only time in the Bible that God is depicted as Being in a Hurry – When? Welcome a repentant sinner Home ! love it

  1. NOTE In those days it was not Kosher / considered undignified for a Elderly man to run in Public
  2. But this Father was more concerned w/ welcoming his wayward son home – than he was concerned what People thought of him.
  3. You Know when the Father is in a HURRY - Welcome – those who repent !!!

4th Showed affection- fell on his neck and kissed him.

  1. Showed intimacy – Son it is so good to see you
  2. Note this it is possible that this Father – was running not just to show AFFECTION/ but to give PROTECTION
  3. See in Duet. Ch. 21 18 It stated that if a man had a stubborn & rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, who is a glutton and a drunkard.'
  1. Then the Elders of the City will take that Son & stone him w/ Stones
  2. So perhaps to this Father ran out to his son & showered him w/ AFFECTION - Don’t worry son – no one is going to hurt you

 

Well the Son brakes into his speech v. 21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

  1. Notice that is as far as the Father lets him get ( All He needed to hear) – I have sinned & I am not worthy both were true /
  1. but LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS

And so v.22 the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the BEST ROBE and put it on him,

  1. The BEST ROBE - was the FATHERS ROBE - so too the Father Robes those who would come to Him / in His Robe of RIGHTEOUSNESS
  2. Where the Unworthy / become Worthy / THE Unrighteous / become RIGHTEOUS

1) Covers our Filth in His RIGHTEOUSNESS

and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

23 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

24 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

THE RING WAS A SIGN of a Cov. - Guarantee - God has given us His spirit as a Guarantee keep His Cov. / His SPIRIT in our HEARTS

SANDALS ON THE FEET - HELP YOU WALK – / HEAL TENDERNESS & PROTECTION

Ezk 36: 25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

  1. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

I am going to Help you out !!!!!/ AWESOME STORY – GOD’S HEART today if you don’t know Him or if played the PRODICAL

 

Two Quick things to note – First REACTION OF THE OLDER BROTHER - Angry that such celebration given to such a sinner

  1. He is like these Pharisees – He is focused on his works – I did the right things / I never went away / although it seems he thought about it
  2.  

  3. He was trying to EARN his FATHERS AFFECTION – by his performance – never realizing that he already had it !!
  4. Notice the Fathers response - 31 "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
  1. Son you need to start enjoying – your relationship w/ ME / ENJOYING BEING MY SON
  1. So Concerned about Your Performance – that Missing out on the Relationship

BUT THEN THE FATHER SAYS V.32 'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"

A) This is the 2nd thing I want you to take note of - In each one of the

Stories – THERE IS GREAT REJOICING

  1. "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
  1. "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

CHECK THIS OUT – We always say that the Angels Rejoice – & I still think that is true –says REJOICING IN HEAVEN

  1. But Note v. 10 , there is joy in the PRESENCE of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
  2. Joy in their PRESENCE - where are the Angels ? Before the Throne before God – So God is REJOICING
  3. There is the Lord – HERE COMES ANOTHER – FINALLY QUTI RUNNING - Start Preparing His MANSION

1) God is REJOICING & the Angels are taking their cue from Him!!