Heaven High

The Prodigal Son, Rembrandt

06/06/10 Luke 15:1-2, 11-32;

God speaks to us: Coming Home  

INTRODUCTION: We need to keep in mind that while the parable of the Prodigal Son is about God’s grace as well as repentance and salvation, Jesus tells this parable and the two before it; The lost sheep, and the Lost coin in reaction to the criticism of the Pharisees. It is a familiar criticism “this man welcomes sinners and eats with them” The issue is that Jesus’ acceptance of the lost and down and outers is interpreted as accepting sin and tolerating decadent behavior. Some people interpret our church that way not only this church but church plants in general because we reach out to the hurting, to the broken, to the sinner, and it is seen as tolerating brokenness and sinfulness. I go on record today to say that we are against sin, sin is awful  as we will find out in this parable but the church is not only against sin the church needs to help the sinner, and that is all of us, to move closer to Jesus so that sin can be overcome in our lives. Amen.  It is for that perception of tolerating sin that Jesus tells these parables. The parable we read this morning is the most extensive of the three. God’s grace, man’s repentance, and God’s forgiveness is included as well as self righteousness and condemnations and lack of forgiveness. The highlight of the parable is the Father’s love; God’s grace, forgiveness, and God’s sacrifice in Jesus to bring us back to him. That sacrifice is what we celebrate every time we have communion.

I.  The son that went missing.

 A. Impatient, Temptation

We see that the younger son is impatient, he knows it all and he wants out of his father’s household. He thinks he is entitled to his inheritance early. Right now the freedom he wants is only a temptation it is not sin yet.

B. Impulsive, Giving in to temptation

Why didn’t the father refuse to give the money to him? God created us with freewill, he does not force his love on us, we can choose to love Jesus or not. The father gives him the money. The son impulsively moves far away to be free from the restraints of his family. He is not sinning yet but he has set himself up to fall. What you think about a lot is where you go. You are what you think about.

C. Inappropriate, sin takes over

Sin began as a seed in his mind, he did nothing to move it out of his mind and it grew until he is in a position to fall The results are predictable. You separate yourself from the people who love you. You refuse to take advice, you think you know better than everyone around you and Satan has set you up to fail.

II. Falling and repenting.

 A. Sin comes full circle

That is what happens, sin comes full circle now, it is not a temptation; he gives in and he starts to live a wicked life, and foolishly wastes his money until he is broke. Sin does that, it takes over the decision making process and people start to make bad decisions. 

B. God intervenes; He comes to his senses

As he is running out of money God intervenes and sends a famine into this area. Now he is broke and he is hungry, even if he had money food was not available. He starts to herd pigs, an awful thing for Jews and would never do if not for his need. Sin does that – people do things they would never do. He is at his wits end and turns to God; I have sinned against God and my father. Sometimes we have to come to a low spot in our lives before we allow God to take over again. The son now is able to make a responsible decision; he decides to go home, back to his father.

III. The Father

A. Looking for signs of his son, his children.

The father for his part walks out to the hill every day to see if his son is coming home. God is like that, he is patiently waiting for the people of the world to return to him. They are his people. Yet it is not a passive waiting, the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives, God intervenes into our lives, sometimes with difficult situations so that we turn our attention to him. Further, God gave himself in Jesus Christ so that we have a basis for returning to him.

B. He is ready to forgive, and rejoice.

When we come back to God or come to him for the first time the father is ready to forgive. It does not depend on our efforts. Before the son was able to say a word the Father had him in an embrace that he was never going to release again. The father accepts him back with no questions about his sin; the son had repented in his heart. God knows our hearts and forgives, never bringing up sins we committed again. They are gone, we are washed clean. The Father says restore my son to our household, “He was lost and now is found, he was dead and now is alive” All we need to do is turn back to God with a contrite and broken heart, have the desire to depend on him and to be close to him. That is enough! Praise the Lord!  Are you living a lost life, pretending to be close to God but far away from him in your heart? Turn to him today! He accepts all who turn to him.

The older son is someone we as Christians, easily identify with. We stayed close to God; we did not leave his people for the world. We did not live a lost lifestyle that jeopardized our health, our souls and our minds. We should be upset with those who leave the church for the world and with those who refuse to go to church and serve God with their lives but that is not what we are talking about. Jesus told this parable because he was criticized for acting like the father in this parable; the father has the attitude of Jesus.

IV. The older son.

1. A. Anger, lack of forgiveness

So what is the problem with the older son that seemed to have done everything right?  1. He was angry not so much at his brother but at the father for taking his younger brother back.  He lacked forgiveness; he was not willing to forgive his brother even though his father had forgiven him.

2. He was jealous, “you never gave me a party like this and I’ve been faithful to you”, he tells his father. “But you are always with me and everything I have is yours” His father responds. Your brother is found, and is alive, we have to celebrate. 

B. Refused to enter the feast

The older son refuses to participate in the joyous reunion of father and son. He is suffering from selfish righteousness.  The parable does not tell us the older brother repented and went into the feast. We are left with the impression that he did not. What Jesus is doing is equating the attitude of the older brother with the Pharisees and comparing that with the attitude of the father.

C. The attitude of the father

The attitude of non condemnation, a high concern for the lost and willing to associate with them in order to bring them closer to God and away from sin is the attitude of Jesus.  And the purpose of this parable is for us to choose between the father and the older son. How are you going to live your Christian life? I encourage you as your former pastor to take on the attitude of Jesus, and do it on Sundays and every day of your lives.

There is great rejoicing in heaven when only one person is brought back from being lost and from being spiritually dead. Take on the attitude of Jesus and you will have life!

nccn in pictures 061410

052310  Philippians 4:4-9; Being thankful for what God has given us.

 God speaks to us:  Rejoice               

INTRODUCTION: We are so blessed! That was our comment to each other as we came home last week in the middle of the night. After tens of thousands of miles traveled and three months in a new place we were home safe and sound. We continue to tell people how blessed we all are. One lady responded “how do we continue to be thankful”? What with a weak economy, no jobs available, sometimes we struggle with illness, with relational conflicts there is so much that happens in our lives that keep us from seeing God’s blessings much less be thankful. Our trip reminded us again how much God has blessed us, we missed our church, we missed the love shown to us, we missed all of you and our kids and grand kids. We missed the security of living without fear, yet God blessed us in Niger State as well as you read on our blog. Life in Niger State was intense, the heat, the travel conditions, the medical needs of the people and the spiritual needs all around. There are needs here as well but it seems to us we are not as concerned as we should be as Christians. One thing that stands out is our dependence on God was at a higher level over the three months while we worked in Niger State. Today is Pentecost; we celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit to all who call upon the Lord. Think about it, we have the Spirit working in us. That is different than positive thinking or depending on ourselves as we tend to do. In the context of the Spirit in us do we answer the question?  

I.  How can we thank God for his blessings all of the time?

            A. Attitude, Honesty, Truthfulness, transparency.

I don’t know if you saw the interview with the Dali Lama on the Today’s Show this week. According to him people are getting better and more compassionate; he judges that by the response to Haiti and other natural disaster responses. From the Western world the response is good.

He said we all have to have a positive attitude. Begin with yourself and think positively about life and about the people around you   

            B. Think positively.

Not only think positive but act on it: like being honest with yourself and others. Be truthful about everything and be transparent, no hidden agendas. We can agree with all of that, we are much more likely to be thankful for God’s blessings all of the time if we have a positive attitude.

Paul gives advice like that  

            C. Paul’s advice.

He writes to the Philippians Ch. 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”.

Is it enough to be positive? No! That is not what keeps us being thankful for God’s blessings. What Paul suggests is a positive activity that flows from our attitude in Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit. Amen.

II. Our attitude in Jesus is where Paul begins in the passage we read today.

            A. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Not just rejoicing but rejoicing in the Lord. Paul repeats it because it is important; rejoice because Jesus has called you! Rejoice because Jesus has saved you and forgiven you; rejoice because Jesus gives us a new life now and eternal life with him in the future. Rejoice always! Amen! Rejoicing comes from within and has nothing to do with our external circumstances. When we have joy in our hearts because of what Jesus does for us every day, it shows, it comes out in our lives.    

            B. Be gentle and show it.

Paul again: “Let your gentleness be evident to all” Rejoicing in the Lord is the attitude of Christ Jesus and that includes gentleness, being kind, soft hearted and compassionate. A fruit of the Spirit. The Lord is near Paul tells us. Do you believe that God is near to you? If so why be anxious?

C. And do not be anxious about anything.

Rejoicing in Jesus allows us to face the most difficult situations, major loss, terminal illness, death of a loved one.  Joy is not only laughter but often as not, it is tears.  The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal. 5:22 

            D. Pray with thanksgiving.

Do not be anxious and pray with thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving because we know that God will and does bless us, even if it is only salvation and assurance. That is everything! Amen.

 III. The Peace of God. My peace I give you Jn. 14:27

A. Incomprehensible

Rejoicing in Jesus has a result in our lives: it is the peace of God, a peace that we do not understand because it comes by the Spirit of Christ, but we have it and we are secure in it. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. God lives in our hearts, who can be against us.  

 B. God’s peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus

The evil one wants to lead your heart astray and set your mind on all the things of this life, on all the stuff we want. He wants you to dwell on problems, on our own shortcomings, on the shortcomings of others. It is easy to find fault with this church and with the people in this church but 

God’s peace keeps us from going there; we concentrate on what Jesus has done for us and the peace that he brings us.

CONCLUSION:  Put your Christ-like attitude into practice.

We do not need to worry; Gremar and I did not have to worry about how things would work out in Nigeria.  We had everything we needed, people accepted us. Matt and Laura, shared their lives with us, and we shared our lives with all those turning to Christ for salvation. Christ prepared us physically, emotionally and spiritually to serve him in that place; God is in control and he prepares the way ahead, we do not have to be afraid. Honestly, it all happens by allowing the attitude of Christ to flow through you by his Spirit.  

When we display Christ’s attitude then we can go back to Paul’s advice in verse 8. Now that we know that all that we are is by the grace of Jesus. All that we will accomplish is by the grace of Jesus. When we put on Jesus’ attitude; we rejoice always, we become gentle and compassionate, we are prayerful, thankful in all circumstances and we hold onto God’s peace because our lives depend on it. Only then are we able to think positively about; “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. And the God of peace will be with you.

Leaving Niger State was a whirlwind, packing, tie up loose ends, and the difficulty of saying good by. We needed a little time in Jos to recover and people were gracious, inviting us over for meals and fellowship.  The mission community was just great and we thank them. This trip was a study in contrasts and highlighted God’s wonderful diverse creation. It is indeed very good.  

Gremar and I have started to read “The Story” together. The creation story is beautiful in its simplicity and tells us all we need to know. It is also a sad story and explains why life is as we know it today and we may only speculate on what could have been. When reading the first section of the story it seems like there is creation and immediately following, like a day or two, the fall.  I speculate that is not the case and believe there were many years between creation and the fall. However the fall is a reality very much with us and will be for as long as Jesus is on the way. Even so God has promised us seasons, summer and winter and seed time and harvest up to the time Jesus comes again.

Are we still responsible for working and dressing the garden? Yes I believe we are to take care of the earth by being responsible with what  God gives us now because what we do in the name of Jesus now are the building blocks for the New Heaven and the New Earth. We can only imagine what that will be like but if it is as beautiful as our present world we are in for a fantastic adventure lasting for eternity. It is a concept hard to come to grips with but the evidence is in God’s creation around us every day.

You have seen the dry season so I include a little rain taken by Jim Trezenberg and some nature shots.

Bougainvillea on the Jos compound

Mango tree Jos

Flamboyant tree, Jos

Tulips Red and Purple The Netherlands

A Thunder storm in Jos

The shore at Hoorn, The Netherlands

Double Tulips

Orange tulips the Netherlands

A field of many colors the Netherlands

Red tulips the Netherlands

A variety of color the netherlands