" Luke 15:1-24 When God Ran"

1. He wasn’t laying HEAVY TRIPS on People / They were attracted to His heart of Love & Compassion / see it in HIS FACE

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

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

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

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

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

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. 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

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

2. 1) it would be like one of you women – losing the Diamond in your
3. 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 ! –

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.

A) 1^st 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

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

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

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.

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

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. 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 –

1) amazing thing happens v. 17 "But when he came to himself,

2. 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 :

A) 2^nd 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!

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

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. They will say – MAKE ME A SERVANT/ I don’t Deserve anything !! - there will be a genuine Humility & Brokeness about them –

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. Several things to note about the Father : 1^st 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

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

3^RD 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 !!!

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

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

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

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.

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. He was trying to EARN his FATHERS AFFECTION – by his performance – never realizing that he already had it !!
3. Notice the Fathers response - 31 "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

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 2^nd thing I want you to take note of - In each one of the

Stories – THERE IS GREAT REJOICING

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