DECIDE TO ARISE
TEXT: Luke 15:11-24 (KJV)
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, 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. —Luke 15:11-24 (KJV)
1. REBELLION & RESULTS
This story is full of comparisons and ironic opposites:
- Lost, Found
- Slave, Free
- Care-Free, Misery
- Rebellion, Repentance
Notice the YOUNGER SON.
He desired something…first of all, he desired His Inheritance, His Freedom, His Independence! He just wanted to get away.
He doesn’t even consider his father’s or his family’s feelings, he simply says GIVE ME!!!
He is REBELLIOUS!
His rebellion not only separated him from the father’s house, but from the father’s protection and provision!
REBELLION always brings RESULTS…just not usually the ones we think we will get.
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. –”
― R Zaccharias
2. REALIZATION & RETURN
WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF
But when he came to his senses [literally: came to himself], he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.’ ”
Three Parts of Repentance
- He Comes to Himself
- He Sees his Sinfulness
- He Decides to Arise (Turn and Go Back to the father)
His TONE has changed now. Remember when He left, he said GIVE ME!! (Entitled)
There is a difference…NOW when he is miserable and he’s wasted everything his father gave him…he simply says “MAKE ME” one of your hired servants.
GIVE ME or MAKE ME
RISE UP – GO BACK TO THE FATHER!
3. REJOICING
CAME TO HIS OWN FATHER
When the younger son CAME TO HIMSELF…he was FOUND. (17, 24) – Notice what happens when he comes to his senses… HE FOUND HIMSELF
WOULD HE STILL have made the same decision to leave the Father’s House?
HE JUST PLAIN – LOST HIMSELF!
The ROBE
The RING
The SANDALS
So literally when the son came to himself (17) he was FOUND, but when he CAME TO HIS FATHER (20, 22), he was FREED!
It is time for you to ARISE! If you are FOUND, you can be FREE!
In the Song “PRODIGAL” by Sidewalk Prophets the bridge and chorus says:
Oh…
Let your life be made new
Oh…
As you come into view
Your Father’s not waiting, no he’s running too
He’s running straight to you
Wherever you are, whatever you did
It’s a page in your book, but it isn’t the end
Your Father will meet you with arms open wide
This is where your heart belongs
Come running like a prodigal