Reviewing the Son’s Problems:
SELF WILL … Give me, I want
SELFISHNESS … gathered all together
SEPERATION … took off alone
SENSUALITY … riotous living
SPIRITUAL DESTITULION … found himself lost
SELF ABASEMENT … relied on self
STARVATION … without food, friends
The story could end right here. And for many it has and does, BUT it doesn’t.
It would seem the lad had been raised in a good home. One that worshipped God. One who knew Scripture.
15:17 REALIZATION He came to himself. “What have I done”.
15:18 RESOLUTION I WILL ARISE (he knew Scripture, Knew whom he had sinned against).
15:19 REPENTANCE It begins in the heart
15:20 RETURN Need to put it into action
RECONCILIATION Note the father’s reaction. What were the father’s feelings? While the son was gone … reports came back (15:30) Rumors … Stories of his sinful son.
The father thought, “Where have I failed?”. No doubt many accusations, too strick, too many spankings, too much scripture, too much Temple … etc. The only thing Dad could hope for was PROVERBS 22:6
(today, we would add: 2 Timothy 3:6, Ephesians 6:4). Dad, Mom, raise your kids according to the Bible, not the world or it’s standards.
This lad had probably been raised knowing Proverbs 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15. Why then did he stray? Philemon 1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
15:21 REPENTANCE Full repentance, not only to God but to his father, whom he had wronged.
15:22 RECLOTHING The father restores his son.
15:23-24 REJOICING The son had returned and was restored.
Today it gives great joy when one is saved o restored to the presence of the Lord.
As the Lord Jesus says: Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Believers many times are like the Son, they stray from God…
for the same reasons:
SELF WILL … Give me, I want
SELFISHNESS … gathered all together
SEPERATION … took off alone
SENSUALITY … riotous living, pleasing self
And they can be reunited following these steps:
REALIZATION of their sin
RESOLUITION to remove that sin
REPENTANCE, RETURNING, RECONCILUTION
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