WEBVTT 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:07.839 You've already turned or you swipe on your devices to Luke chapter 15. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:16.960 So let me ask all of us, just while we're all here in this space, what would it be like to be involved in a mission that could transform individuals? 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:22.000 Not only transform individuals, it could transform families and even whole communities. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:23.519 What would that be like? 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:26.640 And I mean the transformation for good, right by the way. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:30.559 It's a mission that's assured to set captives free. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:44.640 A mission that, whatever the life-dominating circumstances that may be engaged in your life, anything that you might be enslaved to, you would be set free from that, and others would as well. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:51.840 A mission which cares for those in poverty and those in oppression, those who are sick and those who are oppressed. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:54.560 Could we say yes, we want something like that, right? 00:00:55.920 --> 00:01:02.000 What if I told you God is on that mission right now, he invites every one of us into that mission? 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:03.039 Yeah. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:08.959 The mission of God is expressed in the institution that Jesus purchased with his blood. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:10.480 That's the church. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:16.480 And that institution, it outlasts all the empires. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:19.200 Every empire is going to pass. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:21.040 The church will remain. 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:25.599 It's an institution that goes behind iron curtains. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:34.159 It's an institution that meets where it's not supposed to meet, because the gates of hell will not prevail against it. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:40.560 Nothing will overcome his institution, his church. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:54.400 And so now, as you sit amidst his mission in action right now, I want to make sure that we would consciously, purposely, decisively move into that mission as his people. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:02:00.959 So I'm going to read what is arguably the best known parable of Jesus'. 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:04.959 So, Luke, if you're able, do me a favor, let's stand. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:08.960 Luke 15, beginning at verse 11. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:12.879 He also said, a man had two sons. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:20.080 The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me. 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:22.960 So he distributed these assets to them. 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:29.120 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:33.120 Or he squandered his estate in foolish living. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:38.800 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck the country, and he had nothing. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:45.360 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country who had sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:51.759 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:53.599 Then he came to his senses. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:58.240 He said, How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food? 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:01.039 And here I am dying of hunger. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:07.360 I'll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.400 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:13.360 Make me like one of your hired workers. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:16.319 So he got up and went to his father. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:22.080 But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.599 He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:30.000 The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:32.479 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:37.439 But the father told his servants, Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:41.199 Put a ring around his finger and sandals on his feet. 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:43.680 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:50.240 And let's celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:52.639 He was lost, he is found. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:54.719 So they began to celebrate. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:59.439 Now his older son was in the field, and as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:04.240 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:12.240 Your brother is here, he told them, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf, because he has been back safe and sound. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:17.120 Then he became angry and didn't want to go to him, so his father came out and pleaded with him. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:21.519 But he replied to his father, Look, I've been slaving many years for you. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:24.160 And I've never disobeyed your orders. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:28.319 Yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:36.560 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him. 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:41.920 Son, he said to him, You're always with me, and everything I have is yours. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:47.680 But we had to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:50.000 He was lost and is found. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.519 Join me while we pray. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:54.079 Lord, we thank you for your word right here. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.079 And that's sufficient right there. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:58.160 That's what we need, Lord, right here. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:03.759 So we pray it's by your word and by your spirit now that we will worship you through this. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:12.240 Not because of the words of a guy like myself, Lord, but because of your words that have the power to transform lives. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:16.399 And so we cry out now, be with us, Lord, be worshiped now, be praised now. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:17.759 In Jesus' name. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:18.399 Amen. 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:19.040 Amen. 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:20.639 Please have a seat. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:29.759 When Pastor Chris called, he says, you know, and it's just don't go over 90 minutes. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:41.120 But truthfully, um, the final song, or the among the the last song that we just sing, it really summed up this message. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.240 Our sins are many, but his mercies are more. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:44.959 Right? 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.279 So let's pray and wrap up. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:48.319 No, that's not what I'm saying. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.600 I'm saying it's it's it really hit the point. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:57.600 So in our in this parable, no one I doubt anyone said, oh, I've never heard that parable before. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:01.360 Well, um, it's deep in our cultural lexicon, isn't it? 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:08.399 George Lucas used it to define the relationship of Luke Skywalker with his father, Darth Vader, in the first Star Wars movies. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:09.920 It's the parable. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:14.959 It's the parable that formed Victor Hugo's protagonist in Les Miserables. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.680 And you know those times when you're singing in your car, and I see you, I know who you are. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:22.879 You sing along and you're singing to Adele, you're singing to Chris Stapleton? 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:24.560 I know, I can hear that. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:26.800 Listen closely to the words. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.959 Because they're the words of the son that's gone off or the daughter who's gone off. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:34.959 The person who's went off and the relationships are broken and they long to be back. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:39.360 They're filled with rhythms of rejection and longing for reconciliation. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.720 Because this parable is just part of our life. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:50.160 So if you want to call this parable the parable of the prodigal son, or the parable of the lost son, either one's fine, they're totally good. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:56.639 But don't miss, this parable is not primarily about either of these sons. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.279 That part would be the mistake and think it's about the son. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:00.319 It's about the father. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:02.160 It's always about the father. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:06.319 It's specifically, and this is on a slide, the father's mission. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:07.360 The father's mission. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:09.759 That's the title for today, or the subject, if you'd like that. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:18.800 And here's, if I sum this up into one sentence, the father's mission is fueled by his costly love, not by cautious distance. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:24.879 The father's mission is fueled by costly love and not by cautious distance. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:36.399 And what I want all of us to do is not just know the mission of God, not just to sit among the mission of God, but we would all join the mission of God. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:39.519 And I don't mean that in any accusatory way as if you're not. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.240 I get, abide is. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:50.480 But not only as a church, but as individuals, we would all consciously, purposely just go forward and live out the mission. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:55.439 Now this parable comes in the final of three parables. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:09.839 They're being told to the religious elite, the Pharisees and the scribes, they're standing and they're grumbling with a lot of pride because Jesus has brought some sinners to the table to sit with them. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:16.480 And that begins, Jesus begins by explaining the mission of the foolish son. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:18.079 The mission of the foolish son. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.240 If you're a note taker, that's be your first point. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:33.200 And I'm using the word mission a bit ironically in this case because every human life is moving towards something, even when it's moving away from God, and this son is going to move away from God. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:43.519 But let's also consider if this was an actual mission, it could be an ancient episode from a reality television program. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:49.679 About a painfully dysfunctional family, like the two sons of Jerusalem, we might call it. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:57.120 And of these two sons, Jesus said, the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:03.279 Now, we might think, if we just casually read this for the first time, well, that's like, hey, Father, I'm ready to marry. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:06.320 Can you help me out with the down payment so we can start our life off well? 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.159 That's not an unreasonable thing, is it? 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.639 We might all have that sort of thought. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:15.200 But it's actually a request that has deep familial shame. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:18.080 It has deep devastation in it. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.200 It's not a request, it's actually a rejection. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:27.120 The words meaning, Father, I wish you were dead, so give me my inheritance now. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:30.080 Culturally, that's what he's saying. 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:32.159 Because that's the only way this would happen. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.200 I wish you were dead. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:35.679 Give me what's mine. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:40.480 What's more shocking is that the father fulfills the request. 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.120 It's a shocking moment. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:47.200 He divided then his livelihood, it says. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:57.440 And then Jesus increases the pace, he increases the urgency of this narrative when he says, not many days after the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.519 So he packs up and goes with all. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:03.279 It's a final public declaration. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.080 I'm not only abandoning the father, I'm burning the bridges, I'm never coming back. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:13.840 Now, we know that's not going to be exactly true, but that's the initial sort of statements being made. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:18.639 And when he arrived in a distant country, he squandered his estate in foolish. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:22.639 Now, some of the Bibles might say prodigal, and both would be fine. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:31.120 So foolish or prodigal living, and whether foolish or whether prodigal, they infer excessive or self-indulgent actions. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:34.720 And we'll hear one specifically later in this. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:43.120 So he's not only living in life without the father, but he's a life without restraint, a life without any margin in it. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:47.360 And whenever that happens, crisis will often follow. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:49.919 So we read in verses 14 and 15. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:54.639 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country and he had nothing. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:11:00.720 And then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his field to feed pigs. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:04.559 Now, novels and movies and art and musical. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:16.960 And it also resonates with us because either relationally or personally, we we have experienced and grieved this pattern, haven't we? 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:22.480 I think we would all, and I don't suggest you do this, share the stories of family and loved ones or your own. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:30.879 Because we've all experienced this foolish living, where we've chosen to distance ourselves. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:41.919 No, it may not have been wasting the father's livelihood on foolish living, or it may not have resulted in like this Jewish son being enslaved to live among the unclean pigs, but this pattern is real. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:43.120 We know this. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:50.399 From our personally lived lives and the lives of those we live and work with and play with and study with, we know this pattern. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:52.159 It's deep in us, it resonates. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:58.000 It's not a pattern that begins with decline and destruction and desperation. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:02.320 It's a pattern that always begins with distancing from God. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:04.000 Understand, that's what's happening. 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.759 Distance himself from God. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:13.600 And when we distance ourselves from God, what will happen is that decline, that destruction, and that desperation. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:15.279 It always follows. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:17.519 It is the pattern. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:29.840 Now, the son's heart was so distanced from the father that he's no longer under the provision and protection and even in the identity of the father. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.080 He's off doing his own thing. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:41.679 And instead, he was in this situation leading to the decline and destruction. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:48.320 And in verse 17, he comes to that final D. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:51.279 It's a D of desperation. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:54.320 He says, I perish here with hunger. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.240 No. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:58.960 It's a parable. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:03.519 So we're going to presume maybe that's hyperbole, but who knows? 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:05.919 He's going to perish. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.759 It's desperation. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.080 He fears for his life. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:17.600 And that's not only the mission of fools and prodigals, it's the historical mission of humanity, isn't it? 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:23.759 It's in our DNA, and I'll come back to that in a more complete way in a moment. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:37.279 Now, for those of you who have experienced the distance, the decline, the destruction, or have walked with loved ones in that pattern, you know the D of desperation that's hitting the bottom. 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:42.399 And you know when that bottom is hit, when that desperation, that can actually be a moment of grace, can't it? 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:45.200 It can be a moment we all need. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.240 Well, let's just say it, not us, but like other churches. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:48.799 We don't need it. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:56.639 It can be brutally ugly, and yet it can be God glorifying desperation. 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:03.440 We don't feel that way in the midst of it once personal, and but we often recognize it in others, don't we? 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:17.039 Because in that time of crisis, in that time of fear, I might die this way, I might die separate from the Father, we read, He came to Himself, He said, How many of my Father's hired servants have more than enough bread? 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.759 But I perish here with hunger. 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.559 That's the plan. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:26.720 When we've become distance from the Father, this is the plan. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:31.120 See, foolish and prodigal living were not the problem. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:35.279 They're not the problem, they're the symptom of the separation. 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:37.759 That's for us to remember. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:43.039 So he began a new mission, and this mission is to return to the Father. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:54.639 And then, as if if rehearsing his own song of the prodigal in verse 16, he practiced, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:57.519 Treat me as one of your hired servants. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.840 That's brokenness. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.080 That's a humility. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:05.279 I don't deserve to be in your presence. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:08.240 I've sinned against you, I've sinned against heaven. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.840 I'm just here to serve. 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:16.320 It's such a beautiful song of brokenness, such a beautiful song of repentance. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.720 It's really not a dirge, it's not a sadness, it's a prayer of hope. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:28.399 It's a prayer of desperation that is so beautiful, it's easy to forget for a moment that this is a made-up parable that Jesus is saying. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.480 Because it speaks truth to the human condition. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:39.519 It's a passionate refrain that can only be sung by those who have come to the end of themselves. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:43.919 But they've come to the end of themselves, and that's where the Father is. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:49.279 That we all might sing, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:53.360 And importantly, I'm no longer worthy. 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:57.600 That's a hard place to be. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:01.360 And I imagine all of us have at some point been at this space. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:03.919 We have known people at this space. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:10.399 He mentions the Father three times in verses 17 and 18. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:15.679 And he knew it was not a meal, it wasn't clothes, it wasn't a job he missed. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:17.519 He's seeking the presence of the Father. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:24.559 He says, We are so we're just, we see this passion for returning to the Father. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:31.759 And we're so familiar with this parable, we can forget there's also a big angry elephant in that same pig pen with him. 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.480 We live in Africa for a bit. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:37.840 Talk about elephants and gorillas because we've seen elephants. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.200 Well, we haven't seen gorillas though, do we? 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.320 No. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:45.919 But that big angry elephant is the people that are hearing this. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:51.120 They're the righteous, the religious elite who are listening to Jesus as he tells this parable. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:56.799 The ones who are angry that he's sitting with the sinners, he's sitting with the foolish or the prodigal. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:02.960 The ones who judged and knew the foolish son was no longer worthy. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.640 They knew that. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:10.400 And displayed more foolishness that he might even consider that he can go back to the father. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.839 They're sitting cross-armed. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.839 What is he saying? 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:22.160 The ones who would would hear this and expect the father's judgment, they expect the condemnation to come upon this son. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:24.079 That's what they expect. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:30.480 So if we've seen the mission of the foolish, that's considered the mission of the Father. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:34.079 That's your second point as we cruise along here. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:38.240 Now, for clarity, the mission of the Father is not a Luke 15 thing. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.799 It's a whole Bible thing. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:44.799 From the Old to the New Testament. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:50.640 As a matter of fact, just I'm gonna take a moment to talk about that son I'm not supposed to talk about publicly. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:56.559 He gets really upset when someone funds the recording of the New Testament only. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:59.920 He says, Oh, that's only a portion of the story. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.119 We need the whole thing. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:04.160 The whole Bible speaks of Jesus. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:12.160 And so this distancing from the Father, it leads to this decline, it leads to destruction, it leads to desperation. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:19.359 Yet it's from that pattern we see the Father's mission is fueled by his costly love and not cautious distance. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:25.119 It's fueled by his costly love, not by cautious distance. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:28.079 Now, you know the story I'm about to tell you. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:33.759 He's God is this good God, He's created all things, including He created our first ancestors. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:41.440 He created them good, and as good as He placed humanity into a really good home with good provisions. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.920 It's not only good home with good provisions. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:49.119 There's a good relationship with He Himself, God Himself, there in that home. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:52.880 We might call it heaven on earth because it was heaven on earth. 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.799 God with humanity. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:00.880 And like the Father in this parable, God provided them with some loving boundaries. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:10.799 It says in Genesis 2, 16 and 17, You are free to eat from any tree in this garden, he said, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:13.920 For the day you eat of it, you will certainly die. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:23.759 Well, the Bible is an accurate narrative, right? 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:29.599 And in this we know that the hater of our souls was also in that space. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:35.359 The hater of souls, the souls of all humanity was there, and he brings deception into this story. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:40.000 So humanity was told, oh, you can distance yourself from God. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.640 You can live as you please. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:44.559 You can decide what is good and evil. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.599 You don't need someone else. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.519 Did God really say that? 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:53.279 You can decide what's good and evil for yourself. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:56.880 And they chose to distance themselves from God. 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:07.920 Their choice brought immediate decline, destruction, and desperation, not only to them, but we still experience that fall today, don't we? 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:10.480 The evidence is all around us. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:20.240 The evidence is in our own hearts when we are alone and maybe having those thoughts, and our mind is starting to spin, and we're starting to consider the things where we shouldn't be, the things we shouldn't be considering. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:27.440 And yet we also know you want to go to the Middle East, do you want to go to the Ukraine and see where's the result of sin? 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.799 It's there. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:37.599 So meaning their their choice to be distant, those first ancestors are their choice to be independent from the father, it was sin. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.119 To be distanced from the father was sin. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:42.960 And we know for the wages of sin is death. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:46.240 The wages of sin is death. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:49.680 And that was what began in that moment. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:53.680 So in shame, they they further distanced themselves from God. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:57.279 In shame they wore fig-leafed religion. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:03.279 But then in God's glory, he went on his mission. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.839 He went on his mission. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:12.240 He called to those who are made in his image, and this is chapter 3, verse 9, the third chapter of your Bible, Genesis 3, 9. 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:14.559 He says, Where are you? 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.799 Where are you? 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.400 That's the beginning of the mission. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:21.440 He's searching out that which is lost. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.119 Where are you? 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:28.079 And that mission is never to the deserving because there are none that deserve that. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:30.400 All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:34.960 The mission is only to the lost. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:40.240 Yet for those who have been found, he invites them to now live on his mission. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:48.319 And I want you to know when he says that, he's going to do something of great cost. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:51.039 He searched him out. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:53.119 He searched those two out. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:59.200 And he's building a loving bridge to overcome the distance that was created by the sin. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.240 He's still doing that today, by the way. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:09.359 At great cost, he'd sacrifice an animal that might cover their shame, the shame of our first ancestors. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.519 He covers their shame. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:18.400 It's a foreshadowing of the greater cost when he would be sent his son to be another sacrifice that might cover our sin. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:23.759 Now let's get back to the parable because now we see how this fits. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:29.440 I can't say Jesus was thinking of this when he says this parable, but it sure aligns, doesn't it? 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:35.119 Now let's consider the father's mission in the parable is the same. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:40.720 So while the son got up, he begins to move towards the father. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:46.160 And we read in verse 20, but while the son was still a long ways off, his father saw him. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:49.200 So the father's looking for him. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:54.160 He's been looking for him as if asking, Where are you? 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.759 Where have you been? 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:03.680 And when that son was found, the father didn't cross his arms and stand there like this. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:06.960 He didn't prepare to rebuke the son. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:12.160 He was filled with compassion for his son, it says. 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:45.279 That's the mission of the Father. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.920 To those who don't deserve it. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:53.920 And as if that emotional moment was not enough, the son did get to confess it. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:56.960 Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:59.279 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:03.839 But notice, the father was moving before the son could say anything. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:10.079 The father was grabbing and holding and pulling the son in before the son could say anything. 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:17.920 The father said in Luke 15, 24, for this my son was dead and is alive again. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.839 He was lost and he's found. 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:22.160 That's the celebration. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:32.799 His mission displays his action of lavishly pouring out his costly grace that he may bring life from death. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.720 That's the God we worship. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:36.960 That's the God we worship. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.240 Don't misunderstand. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:40.640 Our Lord is absolutely grieved over our sin. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:44.079 This isn't permission to go live foolishly. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.400 He grieves our rebellion against his love. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:50.720 He grieves our rebellion against his righteousness. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:54.400 Sin in this parable and in our lives, it's never glossed over. 00:24:55.519 --> 00:25:03.839 We also know God proved his own love for us that while we were still sinners, while we were lost, Christ died for us. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:19.200 While we were in sin, while our first ancestors were trying to rule the world, decide what was good and what was bad on their own, Christ weren't looking for them. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.400 God weren't looking for them. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.160 The Father went looking for them, better said. 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:26.799 Christ died for us while we were still sinners, according to Romans 5.8. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:38.160 The mission of the Father is fulfilled in that in great cost, he sent his son Jesus. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:48.240 He sent his son Jesus because he knew we would remain separated and dying if there was not a sacrifice to cover our sins. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:57.119 The mission of God is we deserve to see God with his arms crossed and saying it's too late. 00:25:57.440 --> 00:26:00.400 You've gone too far, you've done too much. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.200 We've been here before. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.960 Here we are again. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:05.839 No. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:08.160 That's what we deserve. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:17.039 But when we turn to him in repentance, we see he has compassion and he runs towards the repentant. 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:21.359 I need to be reminded of that pretty often. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:24.160 I suspect everyone in this room needs to be reminded of that pretty often. 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:26.000 We need to be reminded of it for ourselves. 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:28.799 We need to be reminded of it for those that we love and care about. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.640 And again. 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.160 And again. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.519 Drifted distance. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.839 Drift and distance between them and God. 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:41.519 This is why the Father in that parable did not ask the son, hey, what happened to my money? 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.200 Where'd it go? 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.599 What'd you do with that? 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:49.119 He didn't give him a list of rules. 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:54.799 He didn't like, you know, say, hey, your familial status is like you can just kind of live out here, but not with us. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:27:03.599 Instead, with that same urgency in which the son left, the father told the servants, quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:05.519 And that's going to cover his shame. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:11.920 Because I'm pretty confident that he's been funky with the pigs. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.400 Get some on him. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:20.160 Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, it's signifying the son's identity and protection as part of the family. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.920 He's in the father. 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:26.079 And he brings the fattened calf. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:35.200 It's not an accident that calf is slaughtered, it's sacrificed. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:40.240 And the father says, let's celebrate. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:44.480 He celebrates the repentance, the turn. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:49.359 See, the end is not that we may have brought distance. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:54.240 The end is when we turn to him, he's moving towards us. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:57.519 There is joy in the Father when this happens. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:59.200 There's joy in the Father. 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:02.720 He did this because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:04.640 He was lost and he's found. 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:14.000 So let me ask you you have a foolish or a prodigal past, but you've returned to the Father. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:22.559 Let me ask, do you know the experience of his lavish, his costly love upon you? 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.920 Do you know that grace of God? 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:25.119 Because it's still real. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:31.119 And the enemy of our souls still wants to push against us and say, you know, you don't deserve that. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:34.000 You can say, yeah, you're kind of right. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:36.720 But you're still the enemy of my soul, so get out here. 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:40.400 Because we don't, but that's the beauty of it. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:42.160 We don't deserve it. 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:47.839 And if you've truly repented and received the grace of Jesus, know your sin is gone. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:50.160 Don't allow that to defeat you. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.680 And hear me on this. 00:28:51.839 --> 00:29:03.440 If there's residual consequences of whatever past, regardless of the enemy, the lies of the enemy of our souls, you are clothed in God's righteousness. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:11.680 Regardless of any sin that's been committed against you, you have a costly garment covering your shame. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:16.880 Because let's recognize, yes, we're all sinners fall short of the glory of God. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:19.599 But also let's recognize this. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:21.839 Sin has happened upon us. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:29.039 But regardless of any sin that's been committed to us, we have a new identity. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:32.400 It's in that ring that our past is gone. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:37.519 We are now in proximity to the Father because of the sacrifice of the Son. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:42.799 Now, the Kasi lavished compassion and the grace of God displayed on his mission to the lost. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:44.400 It's not limited. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.240 That's the beauty of our God. 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:47.519 There's no limit to this. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:55.119 And this is where we move from the mission of the Father to deal with the older brother, which is the mission of the seemingly righteous. 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.279 The seemingly righteous. 00:29:58.319 --> 00:30:06.960 Now, the seemingly righteous are those religiously whom Jesus inserted into this parable as the older brother. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:10.079 That's the older brother, these seemingly righteous people. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:27.119 Now, those who may have judged the action of the foolish prodigal, may have judged them harshly, those who may have been standing with crossed arms as Jesus invited sinners to his table, that's who this is. 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:36.880 Those whose mission was displayed in their just harshness, their judgmental attitude. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:47.759 So as this eldest son is returning from the field of work, he hears the music, he hears the dancing going on, and he's asking, What is this all about? 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:59.200 And one of the servants there says, Hey, your brother is here, your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.920 And what should happen? 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:07.279 Dropping whatever implements he has and just going towards us and going and hugging his brother. 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.799 That's what should be happening. 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.640 Hugging his father. 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:13.279 Grabbing some barbecue. 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:22.960 But in response, his response is in verse 28, it defines the seemingly righteous man's heart. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:25.839 Then he became angry and didn't want to go in. 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:33.119