The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) Part Three: The Father

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A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 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! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.’ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’

There is a Jewish tradition that the first character introduced in the story is the one the story is about, and so the father is actually the story’s primary focus. Here we have the father of two disobedient sons, and yet he loves them both, is generous to them both, and desires that both would be successful and prosperous leaders in his household.

We see that right from the start that the father divided his wealth between his sons. Whether or not it was appropriate for the younger son to ask for his inheritance, the father chose to readily give it to him. The father also chooses to give an inheritance to the older son–even though he neglected to receive it. And within all of this, there is no indication that there is a limit to the father’s resources.  He gives the younger son his inheritance, and yet, when the son turns back to his father in repentance, the father lavishes him all the more; it seems there is no limit to his generosity.

The father is also a good and generous master to his servants. His servants have “more than enough bread” and the indication is that he is so good to work for that the younger son would rather face his father under the worst conditions than continue working as a paid servant for another.

But the story reveals that the father is also generous with his love, joy and mercy.  In fact, he approaches both his sons.  He sees the younger son from a distance when he is still far off, which would indicate he has been waiting and hoping for that son to come home; and when he does come, the father runs over to embrace and kiss him. He doesn’t even wait until the son is back in the land–he goes out to find his son while the son is far off and heading in the right direction. He likewise goes out to meet his older son, and pleads for him to come in and join them in the celebration. The father’s character is to bring in his sons and celebrate with them. He is actively pursuing them both whether or not they realize it.

God is full of blessings for everyone–there are struggles too, but even within the struggles there are blessings. He wants everyone to join his party. And the party takes place in His Kingdom. There are festivities in other lands, but when they are done there is no lasting peace or excitement. The younger son was curious about the festivities in other lands, but they did not fulfill him. The prostitutes only excited him for a moment. The festivities could only continue until his money ran out. And before he knew it, he wasn’t having fun at all. God’s parties are not like this. They last forever and go from glory to glory–better and better each time. We have the anticipation of a huge event–a wedding, so to speak–where God will become married or united with humankind in a superb way; a collision of the spiritual and physical realms in a fulness not yet experienced. A time when evil will be driven from the earth and the earth itself will be transformed. This will be very exciting!

But there’s something cool happening right now as well. Even now, God’s Kingdom is available to everyone who wants to live with Him. He wants everyone to join in.

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The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:25-32) Part Two: The Older Son

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Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’  (Luke 15:25-32)

The older son’s problem is that he doesn’t realize what it means for him to be a son. He is out in the field working (like one of the hired servants), rather than being at the center of the action in his father’s house. As a result, he misses out on the best of his father’s celebrations, resources, and attention; in fact, he doesn’t seem to have much of a relationship with his father at all. Even some of the hired servants know more of what’s going on in his household than he does! He doesn’t know about the party until he approaches the house and hears the music because, although he lives under his father’s rooftop, he’s not spending his time in the household. Then, when he hears the music and dancing, he refuses to go into the party, despite the pleading of his father.

He is upset because he has been working so hard to earn his father’s attention, love, and generosity. And his feelings have grown into a jealousy of his brother, and have even caused him to be offended with his father. He thinks that because he has followed his father’s commands, his father owes him blessing. But his father responds from an entirely different perspective. He had already made his wealth available to both sons (Luke 15:12), and had considered the resources of his household to belong as much to his oldest son as it did to himself (Luke 15:31). The father wanted more than just obedience–he wanted a relationship with his son, to celebrate over his son’s successes, and to be a physical part of his son’s life.

It’s unfortunate that the elder son has wasted so much time striving to get his father’s attention and affection when he had it all along and could have been enjoying life with his father. It’s even more unfortunate that he is spending so much energy being critical and jealous of his brother that he can’t loosen up to enjoy a good party with his whole family. He seems to have a serious adversion to having fun–maybe because he feels he doesn’t deserve it, or because he sees there is so much work to do–whatever the case, he’s the one choosing not to engage. It’s too bad because his father is all about fun. This is a big party: a feast with music and dancing!

We can learn a lot from the older son:

  • Are we, Christians, offended or caught up in our brothers (and sisters) business in a way that is preventing us from enjoying our own relationship with God our Father?
  • Might we be so focused on doing things for God that we miss out on celebrating in His presence?
  • Have we created so many rules for our faith that we are repulsed by any sort of celebrating–even if it’s God’s own party?
  • Do we know how to have fun and party with God or would we rather busy ourselves with work in the field?
  • Are we more often overwhelmed with offense, jealousy and skepticism or joy, love, and peace?
  • Do we recognize that God is loving, forgiving, joyful and fun-loving, or do we feel He is angry, disapproving and solemn toward us?

God wants His children to be able to enjoy Him. That’s what this thing is about: He created humanity because He wanted a bigger family to love and enjoy. Even after we have rejected Him, He still desires us. That’s why God came as a man–as Jesus, His son, the physical representation of the invisible God. He came to reconcile the people of the world to Himself–to invite us to join His Kingdom as His sons and daughters the way He had intended all along. When He comes a second time, He will be taking His love a step further by reconciling the whole physical world to Himself as well. He has done so much for us! Let’s forgive our brothers, be reconciled to God and join the party!

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The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24) Part One: The Younger Son

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A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 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! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.  (Luke 15:11-24)

The younger son asks for and receives a portion of his inheritance, and soon runs into problems. The problem, though, is not that he asked for his inheritance, but that soon after getting it he forsakes his father’s household and values for a distant land. Once in that land, he squanders his inheritance and neglects to be alert to the economy. In fact, it is after spending everything that a famine occurs in the land, but he had not had insight into the economic season and had acted irresponsibly with his possessions.

When the famine hits, the younger son comes into bondage to the land. Whereas before he may have been just a visitor spending money and enjoying life, he is now forced to work for the citizens of that country. Even worse, he has to tend to pigs, which by his (Jewish) tradition was unclean work. He felt that he had no choice but to be bound in service in this land and at this job–hungry and unfed. But there is always a choice.

He realizes that he can still return to his father’s house–as a slave. He goes home and apologizes to his father. But instead of taking him in as a slave, the father rejoices over his son and redresses him as a member of his household. The younger son is now honored in the position it seems his father wanted him in all along.

God is our Father and wants us to take an active part in His Kingdom. He wants to bless us with our inheritance (spiritually, physically, even materially), and sometimes He does. Other times He protects us by not giving us the things we want when He knows it would only be a stumbling block to the greater gifts of faith. When God does choose to bless us in physical and in material ways, it is important that we remain in His Kingdom so that we do not squander our wealth or faith. Only in the Kingdom do we have wisdom through the Holy Spirit from God as to how to best live now despite the unknowns of the future. It becomes very difficult and painful to leave the “distant lands” outside of God’s Kingdom once we engage in pleasure from them. And of course, there is deep benefit in learning to be the sons and daughters that God is inviting us to be. God loves us with a deep love, as a father, and wants us to partner with Him–not as mere slaves (regardless of our past sins)–rather, He wants to clothe us in royal garments and delights in letting us rule with Him, with full access to the resources of His Kingdom, our home!

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Review of Reggie: You Can’t Change Your Past, but You Can Change Your Future by Reggie Dabbs with John Driver

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Genre: Autobiography/Inspirational

Not Recommended.

This is the story of a man who was conceived when his mother prostituted herself for $20 in order to keep her children and herself alive. He was adopted into a loving Christian family and shares his struggle to find his identity. Now a nationally acclaimed motivational speaker, Reggie loves to encourage people (especially young people) with his story.

Reggie Dabbs is a man whose life was changed when he discovered the grace of God, and I enjoyed reading his story; I think most readers will find it inspirational. He’s not a theologian however, and I felt that his attempts to fit pieces of the Bible into his story distracted from his message instead of adding to it. In a couple places, his accounts of Bible stories were embellished past the point of accuracy. I had been expecting more pure story-telling and less commentary, so was disappointed that this is more of a teaching and preaching book than an inspirational autobiography. There are even questions for reflection after every chapter, which could be nice for some readers.

This was a fine book, but not one I enjoyed well enough to recommend. I’m also not sure I agree with the motivational speaking strategy he describes using when he meets with crowds in person: calling out specific destinies for specific students (without a prophetic anointing) and verbally adopting kids as his sons and daughters (when only God can truly do that). It sounds like Reggie influences and encourages many of our youth; I pray that he also is leading them to know the Lord.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogging Program through booksneeze.com.

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The ‘Good News’ without Supernatural Power is NOT Good News

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I was reading this morning an account from a friend’s friend who has left the church after 20 years of serving in ministry and is near leaving his Christian faith. He spoke sincerely and vulnerably regarding the process of his deconversion from Chaplain to agnostic. His reasons for change are: 1) inside knowledge of the awful condition of [his] local church, 2) no clear examples in his life of pure, supernatural moves of God that couldn’t in some way be explained in humanist terms–that is, nothing separating what a Christian can do from what the non-Christian can do, 3) too many clear examples of wickedness being done in the name of Christ, and 4) the hypocrisy and fear-based/brain-washed commitment of the Christians around him. I really enjoyed his perspective so I hope I am relaying this accurately.

It’s my opinion that the large majority of Christians (in the States) are not practicing Christianity. I have seen first hand the sort of situation this man describes: the structure of religion and the academic declarations of theology (as good as this can be) without the supernatural power of a living and loving God (not to mention the rest of it..). But didn’t Paul the Apostle say, “my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit in power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Cor 2:4-5)? And isn’t the New Testament full of supernatural accounts done by the Spirit through Jesus’ followers?! God has not changed (Mal 3:6, Heb 13:8). The purpose of the believer on the earth hasn’t changed–we are still strengthening the ‘bride’ and collecting the harvest until the day of our Lord’s return. Jesus is alive, and so is His Spirit!

When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the sacrifice of our sins once and for all. Every hurt, every pain, every struggle; everything that’s been done to you, and everything you’ve done that has brought destruction to yourself or someone else–it died with Jesus on the cross. He was resurrected, and the sin wasn’t; the bondage of sin has been taken care of. To become a Christian means to surrender to God and accept the free gift of perfect freedom, love, joy, peace, and so forth. He already bought the gift of freedom–for the whole world. It’s an acceptance of that gift to the point of full re-birth. People don’t go to Hell because they don’t believe in God, but because they’ve rejected Him. Everyone at some point has the choice to accept or reject Him; it’s a serious decision. When we choose Him we get to walk out of the bondage and straight into the Kingdom. Don’t you know, the Kingdom is at hand!?! And in the Kingdom are miracles galore! We are new creations, equipped with supernatural gifts. We do heal the sick and cast out demons and prophesy and do miracles, just as His first disciples did. We love God to such an extent that we can’t help show His love in demonstrations to everyone we meet. Heaven is a party and it starts now! And that’s GOOD NEWS! When Jesus returns to be King the party is only going to get bigger! YAY!!

There was a moment in my life (quite a ways after my decision to be saved, repentance, and water baptism) where God in His supernatural power and grace, immersed me with His Spirit and, in a moment, re-birthed me into perfect freedom. None of my old self was there. I became completely new. My thoughts changed, my moods changed, I stopped taking medication for my various psychological disorders because they were gone, I didn’t have to pretend to be happy because I really truly was (to an even greater extent today!), even many of my interests changed! I cannot describe the peace that’s in my spirit. Fear is gone!

If you haven’t experienced this level of joy, and peace–whether you’ve been a Christian for years or if you identify with a different religion all together–I want to say a short prayer for you:

May you encounter the very presence and being of God Himself through Jesus Christ the Lord, the people who live in His Kingdom, and the mighty restoration of the grace of His salvation!

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Review of Small is Big!: Unleashing the Big Impact of Intentionally Small Churches by Tony and Felicity Dale, and George Barna

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Genre: Church Planting and Growth/House Churches

Recommended.

Originally published as The Rabbit and the Elephant, this book is now updated and expanded. What makes Small is Big special are the personal stories of various simple (house) churches: how they were started, how they worked, how they expanded, and so forth. It’s also about evangelism and outreach, since most of the churches are started among non-Christians outside of church culture.

It is more balanced than many other house church books in that it speaks positively regarding both “simple” (organic) and “legacy” (traditional) churches. The benefit of this is that the pastor/leader of a traditional church could easily glean from the information given without necessarily reforming all of church structure. It’s also informative regarding the predominate move toward house and non-conventional churches, even in the Western world. Examples are taken from diverse movements within the church body, ranging from Iris Ministries in Mozambique (very organic and charismatic) to Saddleback Church (a program-lead mega church). It is a unifying resource.

On the other hand, it’s not as specific or detailed regarding the “theology” of house churches so to speak. For the reader who has specific questions regarding communion, giving, five-fold ministry, and so on, I recommend: The House Church Book by Wolfgang Simson, and Corinthian Elders by Jack Fortenberry. Small is Big is an encouraging and simple book about simple church, not a complete work on the ins and outs of the house church movement.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Tyndale Blog Network.

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