Luke 15:11 lost son

In the last two parts of this series we looked at how both sons misunderstood their Father's character. Today we're going to spend a little time looking at what condition they were both in.

Far from home: subtitle: the Fall and rise of a son.

Prayer: Righteous King, Creator, Redeemer, give us eyesalve that we may see this morning, for we do not live in reality. We think that on a good day we're doing okay, but Lord, we need to know our need and Your sufficiency. Amen.

Folks, it's much worse than we thought. But God is much better than we thought. Did you know that? I was talking with a friend this week, and he said, "On good days, it almost seems like I can handle being a Christian and living the life God wants me to live, but on bad days . . . ." He expressed his feelings of inadequacy to live up to Jesus' high standards. What would you say to such a one? Oh, cheer up! You can do it. Yes, the Christian life is difficult, but don't give up! If you would, shame on you. That's treating cancer with a bandaid. Folks it's much worse than that. On good days God forgives us for our good deeds. On bad days for our evil ones. For all our righteousness is as filthy rags. There is none good but God only. A certain writer Adventists hold in high regard has written in a book entitled 1SM p344:

The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary, but passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. They ascend not in spotless purity, and unless the Intercessor, who is at God's right hand, presents and purifies all by His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God. All incense from earthly tabernacles must be moist with the cleansing drops of the blood of Christ. He holds before the Father the censer of His own merits, in which there is no taint of earthly corruption. He gathers into this censer the prayers, the praise, and the confessions of His people, and with these He puts His own spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the merits of Christ's propitiation, the incense comes up before God wholly and entirely acceptable. Then gracious answers are returned.

What does the author say need cleansing by blood–referring to the sacrifice of Jesus which bought our forgiveness and redemption Eph1:7?

Religious services, prayers, praise, confession of sin. Folks, it's worse than we thought.

I had to challenge my friend not to get too comfortable with the good days. Folks, you and I cannot handle the Christian life on the good days or the bad. Does that mean that God does not heal and make people new? No, it just means this: The Christian life is not Me. It's not me getting better and better, it's me dying and Christ living in me. I do not get better and better. If anything I get deader and deader, by faith I consider myself dead to sin and alive to God how? Not in myself but only through Christ Jesus–or as Paul puts it in another place. It is no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me. It's worse than we thought, but God is better than we thought.

Why dwell on the worse part? Simply this. A healthy person doesn't see a doctor. God did not send Jesus to save the righteous, but sinners–even if the "righteous" are only "righteous in their own eyes." The experience of the lost son is a picture of our condition as humans. And if we are to receive the salvation God offers we must see our own condition plainly. In the parable, four of the young man's actions reveal our condition very plainly, which is worse than we thought, and four actions reveal the goodness of God, which is better than we thought. Can you handle this, this morning? Then open up to Luke 15, starting right at verse 11.

11 And He said, "A man had two sons.

Let's make a list of all the things that the younger son does.

I believe there are four conditions that we all share with both sons.

1. Enmity with God:–anarchism

verse 12 "Father, give me my share of the inheritance. What is remarkable about this? Father's still alive. What is he really saying, then? I want your stuff, not you. Take it all the way–I want you dead.

What attitude has this young man taken in his relationship with his father? Enmity. Who are the father and son in the parable representing? Me, and God. How is this like the human attitude toward God? This is our condition! We are by nature at enmity with God. We want him dead. Now, of course the world wants that, but what about religious people! Well, who symbolizes the religious world in this parable? The older son. Did he want something similar? Yes, v. 29 "young goat argument." He is more concerned with getting his father's stuff than with loving him. Many religious people want what God has, but they don't want God. What's the greatest evidence of that? When he came to see his people, what did they do? Followed him around for bread and then condemned and murdered him. So, summarizing, what condition are humans, even religious ones, in? Enmity with God.

aside:	By the way this the condition in which all humans we are born with since the fall of mankind in the garden where man switched his allegiance from God to Satan (see John 8:30-44 where Jesus makes it very plain that those who wanted to kill him were of their father the devil).

But does our enmity with God stop his love? No, Romans 5:10 ( . . . When we were God's enemies we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son . . . ). Did you catch that. The one thing we think we want–to have God dead, He is willing to give us.

raise?	We need to spend some extra time on this one, because this is the Should really have ended here, but the father gave him what he asked for. Why?

Why did the son want his inheritance (and thus his father dead) in the parable? Loose living? He was about to go and spend his inheritance in a foreign country, but what's the principle? What did he really want that he couldn't have without the money? He wanted Autonomy. He believed that his father stood between him and the autonomy he desired. He wanted to do his own thing free from interference and influence. This is where the enmity comes from. Enmity always springs from our desire to not be under the authority or even influence of another. That's what enmity is. We see this in the son's next action.

2. Separation from God: secessionism

Now that he's expressed his enmity, and gotten the inheritance, we get to see what he intends to do with it. Verse 13: not many days later, he gathers everything together and goes on a journey to a distant country. Why does he leave? His Father hadn't kicked him out. But apparently he was not willing to live a wild life right under his father's nose. So what does he do? He goes to a far country. What additional attitude has the son taken in his relationship with his father? Relationship with you is less important than what I want to do. I don't want to be with you. What should we call that? Separation from God. Does the older brother have this attitude as well? v. 28 He refused to go in. How well does this describe our human attitude toward God? It's our attitude to a "T"! Have you ever thought, I'm tempted to do such and such. Oh, no! I really ought to pray–but you don't for fear that if you pray, you might not fall into that temptation? Don't look at me like that . . . am I the only one? I didn't think so. Here's the message. 'God, relationship with you is less important to me than what I want to do right now.' Let's call this section, "Separation from God."

Why does he leave home? Same reason he wanted his inheritance. Autonomy. Separation also comes from the desire to be free from another's authority or influence. But something else happens as well when we separate from others–especially God, and the son's next action illustrates it very well.

3. Usurping God: –controlism

End of verse 13 Squanders his estate with loose living. What is implied by the word squander? It was wasteful–not a good use of resources, and that the resources were what? Limited. When you separate from God, something significant happens to your resources. What is it? They become very limited.

Why is he spending his money this way? What must a person believe in order to waste their limited resources on things that don't bring any lasting joy? He must believe he can gain happiness–salvation–by his own resources. One more fix is all I need, whether that be drugs, or the rush that comes from a burst of anger, we believe we are getting somewhere when we're only digging a hole and pouring our life's energy down it. What should we call this attitude toward God? I have now replaced God with whom? Myself. With my own resources I will now achieve my own salvation. Let's call it usurping God. Some, like the younger son seek a salvation of pleasure–heaven on earth, but does the older brother have this problem as well? v.29 "I never disobeyed" Here he's relying on his own resources to get a different salvation–to gain the favor of the Father.

Usurping God is the same as legalism. We set up our own kingdom based on our own resources–all of which came from God in the first place; they are not our own, but are stolen from him.

Trouble is, when we step out on our own separate from God, we begin to notice our resources aren't up to the task of creating happiness, heaven, and safety. All our efforts are a waste. To give you some idea how this section of the story might have struck Jesus Jewish audience, in those days, to spend your money in a foreign country was enough to get you cut off. It was a betrayal of your nation and people. (Shop Stockton!) This is our condition, folks, we're betraying ourselves, and we can't seem to stop. For a while we keep our heads above water, but then,

4. Destruction of Image of God: suicidalism

v. 14 Having spent everything, when a famine arose, he began to be in need. So what did he do? He went and hired himself out (kjv 'joined himself' to one of the citizens of that country, The same word is used in Acts 10:28 where Peter tells Cornelius that it is unlawful for a Jew to join or keep company with a Gentile-same root from which we get acolyte–apprentice) What sort of work did he have him do? who sent him into the fields to feed swine. He became an apprentice pig farmer! What is significant about these details in the story (think of the audience, now)? This was a story for jews–they would naturally be disgusted. This was the most humiliating and unclean work possible. So, what condition did he find himself in? Defiled, unclean. What additional attitude has the son taken in his relationship with his father? When I can't cut it, try harder, even if it destroys me. Self-
destruction. Let's call it destruction of the image of God.

It didn't stop there, how bad did it get? He would gladly have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. How smart is it to feed pigs during a famine? It's not smart. (Rain forest destruction.) He would have been better off to eat the pods himself, but here he is feeding them to pigs. He's actually contributing to the famine! This is our condition. We're trapped in a cage with a baby lion that one day will grow up and eat us for breakfast, and foolishly we're feeding it! We manipulate and control others, and then can't understand why we feel so alone. We work hard to maintain our standard of living on this planet, and then wonder why our spiritual lives are dying. Or we don't work, and then wonder why we feel guilty and unneeded. We have an addiction called sin–rat experiment.

Did the older son have this problem too? He also worked and worked, and no one gave him anything. V.29. Some people are addicted to religious activities–they continue to try to please God, even though they resent every minute.

The difference between the older and younger brother is that the younger reached the end of his resources and felt his need. V14.

When he'd spent it all he began to be in need–are you feeling in need? Have you come to the end of your resources? This is very important. No one can take the next step without feeling his or her need. There's good news in this. Those that are the most self-destructive, that are using drugs, or into addictions are the ones who are most feeling their need.

What patterns in your life reveal these 4? That you want God dead, to be far from him, to rule yourself, and want to achieve your own heaven?

If you're sick of it, you can follow the next four steps.

Four steps in his healing

1.	Lay down enmity: He came to his senses. (Realized there was abundance in His Father's house, even though he was undeserving.) Must come out of denial–we're in trouble.

2.	End separation: Decided to go to His Father and fall on His mercy (He chose to admit his inadequacy and became willing to receive help.) Actually got up and went to his father (It does no good to decide to do it and not follow through)–opposite of separation–go where the help is, don't flee from it.

3.	Give God his place back: No substitutes for God: Admitted his sin. (Confession as in 1jn 1:9 is not a list, but an admission of guilt)–confessed his loose living

4.	Admitted what sin has done to image of God in you: (came only asking for mercy, not for what he deserved)–confessed what the loose living had done to his dignity.

And how was he received? With open arms. Coat, ring, sandals

Why'd he let him go in the first place?

What is the inheritance? What does it cost a Father to provide a son with an inheritance? All he has–he divided it between them. He had nothing anymore, but had given it all to His sons. Not just all he has, but what really? His life! He must die! Jesus formed Adam and breathed life into him knowing Adam would cost him his life!

Heb 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. 16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.

Why did the Father give it to him even when it was obvious he was not going to use it well? Why has God given you life even though He knows you are born at enmity with Him?

(But what does the Father do with the demand? He grants it. Why? Well, it's not because he feared for his life and wanted to get rid of the good-for-nothing boy. How do we know? He welcomed him home! He was watching and waiting for him to come back.)

Why then? I think the best clue comes when the older son says, "Why?" "My son was lost and is found, was dead and is alive." At what point was he lost, when he went away? No, when he asked for his share of the inheritance. Anyone who talked that way to his parents should be stoned according to Moses. And if the son wanted his father dead, this father recognized that his son was dead to him. He would rather die and let his son see what life is like on his own and possibly come to his senses than just lose His son outright.

This is the goodness of God. If you're sitting here and you realize you've gone through all four stages of the prodigal's fall, you are exactly where God wanted you to be. Now you are in a prime position to come to your senses and receive life.

Are you willing to come to your senses today? He's already died to give you your inheritance, don't waste it. Eyes–agreement.

1.	Asks for his inheritance (I want you dead–enmity with God)

12 "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.'

What is the younger son in effect saying to his father with this request? I want you dead. Think about it. What would you think if your child was secretly trying to get a hold of his inheritance while you were still alive? You'd fear for your life. How much more if your child was after it openly!

Even if the father is in no real danger from the son, this request is extremely dishonoring to the Father. This is not a son who's planning to come back. (Deut 21:18-21–could be stoned for that) He's burning bridges like mad.

Then follows one fateful statement. "So he divided his wealth between them." Why did he do that? Didn't he know what the young man was about to do? Let's read the chain of events that follow.

2.	Not many days later, he gathers everything together and goes on a journey to a distant country (I don't want to be with you–separation from God)

13 "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country,

Why did he soon go to a distant country? What does this tell us about the younger son? What has he just done? He's insulted his father and declared him his enemy. Do we like to be close to our enemies? So he separates.

Also in the Jewish economy this was enough to get one cut off. It was frowned upon to increase the trade deficit. Keep Jewish money at home.

3.	Squanders his estate with loose living (I believe I can gain happiness–salvation–by my own resources–legalism–Myself in place of God)

and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

Why did he squander his estate with loose living? What does this tell us about the condition of the son?

First, he was out of control. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that you're wasting money. If you start with a lot, and it's going out faster than it's coming in, you know you're out of control.

Second, he squandered his wealth for the same reason anyone squanders their wealth. Why does anyone squander their wealth? They think that spending money will provide them with what they truly desire. Money has away of fooling a person. Spending it gives a person glimpses of happiness the drive a person to spend more, but it can never truly give lasting happiness. So a person keeps spending and spending and spending, never getting closer to the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

All man-made approaches to happiness work like this. We could love them altogether under the title "legalism." Legalism simply put is man's attempt to achieve happiness, salvation, or heaven on earth through his own resources.

For some this means trying to achieve heaven on earth without any reference to God, for others it means trying to appease God in order to assure one's salvation in the next world. What eventually happens to all who seek salvation through their own resources? 14 "Now when he had spent everything," At some point, they will run out of resources.

Have you run out of resources? I pray that by the grace of God you have. Are you sitting here this morning at the end of your rope? Have you tried money, or mind-altering substances, and found you couldn't create happiness with them?

What is the famine? Is it simply difficult external circumstances? Whatever it is, it should help me recognize my need.

4.	Having spent everything, when a famine arose, he began to be in need. So what did he do? He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, (I may be in need, but I do not need my father, I can care for my own crises–pride, marring the image of God)

14 "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

15 "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country,

What sort of work did his pride land him in? who sent him into the fields to feed swine. (I will let my self-sufficiency drive me into the most humiliating and compromising situations–pride cherished.)

and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Why did he hire himself out–even being willing to feed pigs? What does this tell us about his condition?

He must really have been lacking. Talk about a dead and job. For a Jew to be feeding pigs! This is one job that for him would be like pouring his efforts down a hole. What is going to happen to these pigs? Well, there's a famine going on. And the owner of the pigs is probably keeping them in order to slaughter them and eat them later. Would a Jewish boy eat the pigs? Sure the job may have supported him enough to save him from starvation, but talk about meaningless. It wouldn't take him long to figure out that he did not want to do this for the rest of his life.

How many of us are pouring our efforts down dead and jobs? Sure they get food on the table, but they have no eternal significance. In fact, we are actually spending a lot of energy for purposes that will not last and will never benefit us personally. I don't mean this in a selfish way, but a person should find some meaning in his or her work. What motivation is there in doing a job that will never matter, or worse, a job that is actually detrimental. Are you aware that during a famine feeding pigs is probably one of the worst things person could do? It would be much wiser to eat the food that you feed the pigs yourself. Pigs have very little nutritional value, and using land to grow enough food to sustain a pig, especially during a famine, is very poor management. So here this young man finds himself contributing to the famine. He was right when he wanted to fill his own belly with the ponds that were being used to feed the pigs.

How low did he sink? He would gladly have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. (I'd sooner become like an animal–an unclean animal than admit my need for Father.)

16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

And so we too contribute to the very things that are our demise. We work hard in order to have enough money to keep our standard living high enough that we don't notice are true spiritual needs. Sometimes we even sink our lives into church work so deeply the we don't realize are true spiritual poverty, and we are lost, working our way to our own ruin.

5.	He came to his senses. Notice what it means to come to your senses. It simply was the realization there was abundance in His Father's house, even for those who are not considered important. Not a set of promises. He did turn around later, but coming to his senses was simply seeing abundance in his Father's house.

Do you see abundance in Your Father's house? Don't bother turning around or making promises unless you believe there is an abundance available to you in your father's house.

17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

6.	Decided to go to His Father and fall on His mercy (He chose to admit his inadequacy and became willing to receive help.) Actually got up and went to his father (It does no good to decide to do it and not follow through)

7.	Admitted his sin. (Confession as in 1jn 1:9 is not a list, but an admission of guilt)

8.	Admitted his unworthiness (came only asking for mercy, not for what he deserved)

What is the son's portion of the estate? What does the inheritance represent?

But what does the Father do with the demand? He grants it. Why? Well, it's not because he feared for his life and wanted to get rid of the good-for-nothing boy. How do we know? He welcomed him home! He was watching and waiting for him to come back.

Why then? I think the best clue comes when the older son says, "Why?" "My son was lost and is found, was dead and is alive." At what point was he lost, when he went away? No, when he asked for his share of the inheritance. Anyone who talked that way to his parents should be stoned according to Moses. And if the son wanted his father dead, this father recognized that his son was dead to him. He would rather die and let his son see what life is like on his own and possibly come to his senses than just lose His son outright.

When were we dead? Before we were born? When did it first happen? At the fall. When was God willing to die to give us our inheritance? At the fall. EGW Quote on how Adam and Eve would've died immediately if Christ hadn't intervened? (Look in SDABC vol1 I've searched through record 57 of "Adam Eve Christ in the EGW CD) What then, is our inheritance? Life. At what cost? Whose life is it? To how many does it come? All. Even God's enemies? Yes, It is by His mercy that we are not consumed.

(And not just for the younger son who demanded it. It says he divided it 'between them.' We already noted how the older son didn't recognize that he had been given his inheritance as well. The father wasn't keeping any of it from him. How did he say it? "All I have is yours." Wow! I never noticed that before. What does that mean? In what way do the 'stay at homes' want their father dead, but not take off with the inheritance?)

What does that tell us about this Father?

1.	He does not easily take offense.

2.	He is willing to lay down and die for his sons even when he knows it's not appreciated.

3.	He values freedom–it seems to us that it would have been showing more love to the younger son to not let him have the inheritance.

Intro: Story about coming out of denial. (I'm not perfect, I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.)

Bottom line: when you desire to kill your creator, you destroy yourself. You become like that which you worship. If you worship self and selfishness you become like a pig.