Point of Grace Worship 8.8.21 Sermon Notes – Parables of the Kingdom – “The Prodigal Father”
Parable – A small past-time narrative that Jesus tells in order to communicate a deeper meaning. They “hide” before they “reveal” making the listener think, consider, question etc.
The Kingdom of Heaven (God) is what God is doing to reestablish His reign in creation through Jesus.
As a follower of Jesus I am called to be a “contender for His kingdom (reign)” …… but what does that look like?
Luke 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable…
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The 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. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He 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 servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So 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.’
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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For 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. 26 So 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. 29 But 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. 30 But 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. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
The Father’s heart is full of prodigal love and it shows … to both sons.
But, the two sons are both lost. They are lost from the Father’s heart not because he has left them but because they have replaced him. And it shows.
What is in common with the lost-ness of the younger son (lead by self-rule) and the older son (self-righteousness) is the elevation of “self”!
The younger son’s self-rule runs its course and the result is for all to see. His journey of “coming to the end of ‘self’” has begun.
The older son’s “self-righteousness” is subtle, has religious approval and although no less corrupt perhaps more dangerous. The older son is invited to “come to the end of self” … and then Jesus leaves it unfinished.
Perhaps the hearers are left with wanting a “should have been but wasn’t there” character?
A “true older brother” who would willingly pay the price and celebrate the younger brother’s return! A brother that would share the heart of the Father?
Instead the story leaves us with a Pharisee of an older brother but wanting a “truer older brother” who has the heart of the Father?
The parable invites me to
· Let the reality of my inclination to self-rule and/or self-righteousness – rock my world.
· “Come to the end of my-self” landing and living in the unmerited favor of the Father’s love –the place of real transformation.
· Contend with this King and this Kingdom which defies religion but gives real relationship with the Father.
Prayer of the Week
My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You to receive Your love and Your life and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor and trust You as my Lord and as my Savior and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to You. I ask You, Holy Spirit, to fill me afresh with Your light and with Your life that I might pray well now as You lead me.
Heavenly Father, I thank You and praise You, worship You and adore You for Your incomprehensible LOVE towards me, Your amazing GRACE towards me, Your bountiful MERCY towards me. Help me now dwell in Your love – the love of my Father in Heaven.
I am a dearly loved child of God!
I have a Father in Heaven who loves me very, very much.
I receive Your Love in this moment with these words to help me.
Your Love is better than life.
Your Grace is sufficient for me.
Your unmerited favor towards me is so undeserved but oh so needed. Thank You!
I confess Father that I am so very prone to self-rule (doing my own thing – being in charge doing my life) and prone to self-righteousness (thinking and acting like my performance in life deserves or has earned a good life). What I now realize is that these are my attempts to replace You, to leave You, to control You. It breaks my heart to think I have treated You this way. I repent of all my attempts at self-rule. I also repent of my motivation for the wrong things I do. I also repent of my attempts at self-righteousness and self-centered motivations I sometimes have for the good things I do.
(Spend a couple moments just processing with the Father the What? and the Why? of your self-rule and self-righteousness.)
Jesus, the only place I can truly work through the realities of my life and heart is a place of “grace”. Your heart is that place. I receive Your complete and total forgiveness for all my “self” issues. I rest once again in Your heart - the place of unimaginable love and grace and I surrender to Your transformational leading in my life. I love you and thank you so very much for coming after me, giving your life for me and loving me so very well this day.
Amen
Resources for this Week
Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.
Mon – Luke 15:1-10
Tue – Luke 15:11-24
Wed – Luke 15:25-32
Thu – 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
Fri – 1 Corinthians 15:3-11
Sat - John 1:14-18
Meditation Hints:
Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”
Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.
Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.
Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.