WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 I'm carrying on my lost and found. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.000 Apparently it's part three, the first week in a sentence, 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:12.000 my thrust was this real worship is the fruit 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.000 of a truly, personally received, forgiven life. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:20.000 In other words, to the degree you're forgiven, 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.000 to the degree you know for a fact that you are forgiven by Jesus 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:28.000 is a degree to which you are free. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:32.000 And when you free, your worship becomes so real 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:36.000 because you know who he is, you know how close the Lord is to you. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:40.000 Then the next week, it was unrestrained acceptance of God's will. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:44.000 Remember, Jesus tells a story of two brothers 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:48.000 that were sent out into a vineyard to work. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.000 And the one said, I'll go and doesn't go. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:56.000 And the other one says, I'm not going. And then goes, 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:00.000 and which one is the real servant in the picture? 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.000 And Jesus was telling us to the Pharisees 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:08.000 who were sitting in Moses seat, who had been given a role to play 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:12.000 in God's people and they didn't take it. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:16.000 And then he said, you will have prostitutes and tax collectors 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:20.000 on this side who will hear what God is saying, 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:24.000 repent, turn and come and serve. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.000 And the that really the issue last week was 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:32.000 be the person who says yes to the Lord. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:36.000 Now your life doesn't belong to you anymore. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:40.000 It belongs to the Lord. And learn to say yes to the Lord. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:44.000 This week, as I close the miniseries within the series 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.000 of the Kingdom of God Lost and Found, 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:52.000 I want to talk to you about the Father's mercy heart. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:56.000 Our Father in heaven and his mercy heart. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:00.000 Do you understand that if the God of this world, 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:04.000 the Prince of the power of the air is at work, 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.000 and Jesus said, he is a liar, I knew him. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:12.000 He's a liar from the beginning. He comes only to steal, kill and destroy. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:16.000 Do you start to understand something of the psyche of people in this world? 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:20.000 They expect nothing but a beating. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.000 It's almost a prophetic picture that a mother gives birth to a baby 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.000 and the first thing happens is the baby gets slapped, doesn't it? 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:32.000 The rest of your life you're going to get slapped by those in authority. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:36.000 And there are people who have a psyche of expecting 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:40.000 nothing from this world but pain and hardship and difficulty. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:44.000 And Jesus comes and says, I want to show you a real father, 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:48.000 a father who is very different to that, 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.000 a father who is merciful at the very core of his being. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:56.000 And our world needs to hear about this merciful God, 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:00.000 about how kind the Lord is. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:04.000 So my first point is the Father's giving heart. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:08.000 The Father's giving heart. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:12.000 It's a story we know as the prodigal son. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.000 It's another story of two brothers. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.000 This time it's not two brothers in a vineyard. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.000 It's two brothers working on their father's farm. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.000 And what you're going to see is there is a pull towards the world 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:32.000 in the heart of, of the younger brother, 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:36.000 the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:40.000 He doesn't want to stay at home with his life. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:44.000 There's a pull towards the world for him. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:48.000 And there's another brother, an older brother 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:52.000 who lives in a bubble where he cannot live 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:56.000 outside of his own selfish world. But he doesn't know it. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:00.000 And Jesus is going to contrast these two brothers 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:04.000 with the heart of a father, because both brothers 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:08.000 and the father are going to experience mercy. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 The older brother seems concerned about pleasing his father, 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:16.000 but it turns out he had a heart totally unlike his dad's. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:20.000 He didn't forgive, he wasn't generous. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:24.000 In fact, he was jealous of the love 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:28.000 his father gave his younger brother. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:32.000 What's happened? The younger son obviously doesn't like 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:36.000 his situation at home. How many teenagers today are like that? 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:40.000 They don't like their situation at home. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.000 It's very hard to be a teenager today, isn't it? 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:48.000 You have rules, screen time limits, bedtime rules, 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:52.000 must be in bed by 9 or 10 o'clock. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.000 All the things older people wish for. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:00.000 You get persecuted for being young these days. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:04.000 That I'm always on my phone and my parents are always on at me. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.000 You hear what I'm saying? I don't know this for a fact, 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:12.000 I just hear this kind of thing. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.000 But this younger son doesn't like his situation at home 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:20.000 and decides it's time to fend for himself. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:24.000 And this is where the story begins. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:28.000 And I want you to see. Whenever a story is in the Bible, 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:32.000 whenever you read a verse, try and read the verse in the paragraph, 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.000 try and read the paragraph in the chapter, 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:40.000 try and read the chapter in the book, 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:44.000 try and read the book in the Bible because. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:48.000 Because you get into trouble when you take things out of context. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.000 But when you keep things in context, it makes sense. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.000 And this story begins where Jesus is talking about 00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:00.000 these two brothers and one's about to be lost. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.000 It comes straight after the parable of the lost sheep 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:08.000 and straight after the parable of the lost coin. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.000 You see, God wants us to know. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:16.000 And please hear what I'm going to tell you right now. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:20.000 God always is going after that which is lost. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:24.000 He's always going after that which is lost. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:28.000 It's the nature of the Father's heart 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:32.000 for the men who are at our men's camp. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.000 You'll remember I said the first question in the Bible is, 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:40.000 God comes to Adam and says, where are you? 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:44.000 The next question in the Bible is, God comes to Adam's son 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:48.000 and says, where's your brother? 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:52.000 And in both cases, horrendous sin had been committed. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:56.000 And in both cases, God starts the conversation 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:00.000 because God is a father who's always going after what's lost. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.000 It's the nature of God. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:08.000 And I think that's why people who are unsaved get so irritated 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:12.000 when Christians start to talk. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:16.000 Because deep within themselves, they know that the God of the universe 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:20.000 who made them in his image is going after them. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:24.000 God is going after lost people. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.000 Every person in this room who's a Christian today, 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:32.000 every person watching, every person listening. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:36.000 You became a Christian because God went after you. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:40.000 Nothing in you was looking for Him. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.000 He came and found you because he wanted you. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.000 Luke, chapter 15 from verse 11, Luke 15:11. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.000 To illustrate the point further. Lost coin, lost sheep. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:56.000 Jesus told them the story. A man had two sons. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:00.000 The youngest son told his father, I want my share 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.000 of your estate now, before you die. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:08.000 So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:12.000 A few days later, this younger son packed all his belongings 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:16.000 and moved to a distant land. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:20.000 And there he wasted all his money in wild living. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:24.000 This story illustrates the heart of God, 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:28.000 the kind of merciful heart that is available to you and I. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:32.000 And I want to preface this sermon by saying this. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:36.000 You and I will not really understand love 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.000 until we understand the Father's kind of love. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:44.000 Where the last word with God is always mercy. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.000 Where the last word of God is always mercy. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.000 You see, this father we're illustrating has a giving heart. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.000 We're going to see that what the son asked wasn't wise. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:00.000 But the Father gave him what he wanted. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:04.000 And a pre lesson that Jesus wants us to understand 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:08.000 in this passage is it's one thing to say 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:12.000 God may have a giving heart. The other issue is, 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.000 do you have a receiving heart? 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.000 Can you receive when God wants to give? 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.000 Do you know how many people want to bless others 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:28.000 but they can't receive? 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:32.000 And freely you have received. Freely give. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.000 You can only give to the degree you have received. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.000 Do you remember Peter and John walking at the gate? 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:44.000 Beautiful. And there was a cripple and they expected money. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.000 He expected money from them and asked them. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:52.000 And they looked at him and said, we don't have money, 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:56.000 but what we have, we give you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:00.000 Rise up and walk. They gave what they have. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:04.000 And a pre question Jesus is going to be asking is this. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.000 Do you have a heart to receive what what God wants to give? 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:12.000 Because God wants to give a whole lot. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:16.000 But if you're not able to receive it, 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.000 so many stunted people in relationships 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.000 come out of relationships that are dysfunctional. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:28.000 Then when they get into a real relationship, 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:32.000 they're unable to receive from their partner. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:36.000 And how do you give if you can't receive 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:40.000 freely? You've received freely give. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:44.000 Can you receive forgiveness, acceptance, identity, favor? 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:48.000 Can you receive blessing? Can you receive healing? 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.000 Because you can't give what you haven't received by revelation? 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:56.000 And I believe that God wants to break open into our lives 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:00.000 a heart of overwhelming generosity. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.000 I think God wants us to live large. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:08.000 He wants us to care for, to nurture, 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:12.000 to always have something left in the bank of our hearts for others. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:16.000 I don't think he wants us depleted. Not enough. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.000 I think Israel struggled in not enough in Egypt. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.000 Then they moved into the wilderness. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.000 Remember, just enough manna for the day, 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.000 just enough quail for the day. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:36.000 And God moved them from not enough to just enough. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:40.000 Then he moved him into the promised land of more than enough. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.000 And the heart of God is that his sons and his daughters 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:48.000 start to learn to live in a space of more than enough 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:52.000 where you're not dictated to by the whims of a ruling party, 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:56.000 in a country where you're dictated to by the truth of scripture, 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:00.000 where the word of God dictates your spirit 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:04.000 and your heart of generosity. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:08.000 I want to just talk about South Africa for 1/30 seconds. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:12.000 And let me say this. This country belongs to the people who live in it. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:16.000 And our future should be determined by us, 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:20.000 not by a greedy few. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.000 And I want to say to you, I believe change is coming 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:28.000 because I believe there are so many million South Africans 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:32.000 who are saying, hang on, this is our land. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:36.000 It belongs to all of us who live in it. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:40.000 But I want to tell you, it's going to take a generous spirit 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:44.000 from generous people willing to live together 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:48.000 to bless our nation and the prophecies 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:52.000 God has spoken over. This land will come to pass, 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:56.000 but it will require a generous people. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:00.000 Thank you for your excitement. Yeah, whatever. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:04.000 Think back for a moment to how this parable ends. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:08.000 Strategically, we're going to get there. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.000 Jesus doesn't tell us what the older brother 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:16.000 decides to do with when the father addresses him. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:20.000 Jesus kind of leaves it up to us. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:24.000 How are we going to respond to the mercy 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:28.000 and the kindness of God? 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:32.000 You see, being a younger brother in those days 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:36.000 wasn't exactly a good position to be in 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:40.000 because when the father died, the older brother 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:44.000 got a double portion and all the other remaining siblings 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:48.000 got to share the rest. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:52.000 And as you can discover from this older brother, 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:56.000 looking at what he's like, you know, 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:00.000 no one knows a brother better than another brother, isn't it? 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.000 Siblings know each other best. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:08.000 Vanessa and I think we really know the boys 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:12.000 and we'll say something. And you look at the boys 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:16.000 and they look at each other and there's communication 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:20.000 happening without words. That says a whole lot, isn't it? 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.000 And I'm constantly surprised by my boys 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:28.000 realizing that they have revelation of each other 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:32.000 and something has happened that I don't think 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.000 that this younger brother is leaving home because of Dad. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:40.000 I think he's leaving because of his butt. He's out. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.000 That's why he says, I want inheritance before you die. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:48.000 Because once you die, this guy gets to manage everything. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:52.000 And there's no way on this planet I'm safe with him. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.000 I'm telling you. So rather give me what I've got, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:00.000 what I'm going to be due, that at least I know I get that. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:04.000 Parents in this room, please make sure your wills are sorted out. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:08.000 You don't want your legacy to be people fighting 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:12.000 each other over your stuff. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:16.000 And the younger brother makes this request 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:20.000 and you know what? The Father can look in this boy's eyes 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:24.000 and know the exact outcome and the exact consequences 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:28.000 of this request. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:32.000 He knows his youngest son well enough to know 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:36.000 he's unreliable and easily influenced, 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:40.000 but he doesn't comment on it. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:44.000 He gives to the Son what the Son really wants. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:48.000 And it's a picture from Jesus that. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.000 Listen to this. Every person is where they are 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:56.000 because they want to be there. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:00.000 Right now you are as close to the Lord 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:04.000 in your relationship with him as you've chosen to be. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:08.000 You're as far from the Lord as you've chosen to be. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:12.000 You're walking in as much of the Holy Spirit 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.000 as. As you've chosen to because he gives the Spirit without measure. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.000 You and I are pressing into God and receiving from him 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:24.000 and being as effective as we're choosing to be. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:28.000 God always gives you what you want 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:32.000 and he's showing us the consequences of the choices you make. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:36.000 That leaves you in the place you're in. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:40.000 But later we're going to discover that the Father's mercy heart 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:44.000 will always draw you into what's best. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:48.000 And. And it doesn't matter how far off the page you go. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:52.000 He'll always bring you back if you let him. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:56.000 This father had grounds to worry about his son, 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:00.000 but he released him. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:04.000 And you might say, this is dangerous. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:08.000 Have you ever tried to keep a person with you against their will? 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:12.000 It results in difficulty, hardship, stress, 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:16.000 and the father's just got to say, okay, you got to go. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:20.000 Because a time is going to come when the mercy you have received 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.000 is the mercy you're going to have to give. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.000 You know, our children were given us to love, 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:32.000 not to sit on their heads. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:36.000 And while we feel responsible for their behavior, 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:40.000 there does come a time we got to say, 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:44.000 well, to some degree, you've got to learn to live 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:48.000 in the decisions you're making. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:52.000 And so the father will not only give you his love, 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.000 he'll give you rope, he'll extend the leash, 00:17:56.000 --> 00:18:00.000 and you can decide how far you want to walk 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.000 and where you want to walk to. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:08.000 Which leads to number two, going big with pigs. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:12.000 Because if you're a younger brother, 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.000 if you're a person who does not have a disciplined life, 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:20.000 who doesn't live for the good of your father 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:24.000 but lives for yourself, you're going to go big with peace. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:28.000 There's no other way to say this. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:32.000 And sometimes people have to see for themselves. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:36.000 The Bible says, taste and see that the Lord is good, 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:40.000 but you can also taste and see that some things aren't good. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.000 And if you don't want to taste and see the Lord, 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.000 this father's heart must have troubled him. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:52.000 He watched his son walk out of the door, 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:56.000 suitcase in hand, a lot of cash in his pocket. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:00.000 How do you think that father felt just having a look 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.000 at his son walk out the door? 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.000 A word quickly to youth and to teenagers, young adults. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:12.000 You have your parents hearts in your hands. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:16.000 Handle them with love, with care, and with respect. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:20.000 Until you're a parent yourself, you will never understand 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.000 the degree to which your parents hold you in their hearts 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:28.000 and the degree to which your every decision 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:32.000 and your every action has an immediate ramification 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:36.000 on your parents. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:40.000 And it's the exact same with God, 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.000 an immediate ramification. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:48.000 He must have prayed deeply as his boy walks out the door 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.000 looking, lord help him and Lord help me. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.000 As it turns out, we know what's going to happen. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:00.000 The young man takes his money, goes to another country, 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.000 experiences hard times. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:08.000 Everything his father was concerned about 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:12.000 and probably warned him about happened. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:16.000 I carry on in verse 13. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:20.000 So a few days later, the young son packs all his belongings, 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:24.000 moves to a distant land. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:28.000 There he wastes all his money in wild living predictable. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:32.000 About the time his money ran out 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.000 a A Great famine swept over the land 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:40.000 and he began to starve. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.000 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.000 and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:52.000 The young man became so hungry that even the pods 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:56.000 he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:00.000 But no one gave him anything. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.000 Many people have found themselves in this place. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:08.000 You've been reduced to hanging with the piece. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:12.000 And when you hang with the pigs, 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:16.000 you don't even benefit from their piggy lifestyle, 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:20.000 you just hang with them. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:24.000 And in most cases, such people are actually acting 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:28.000 in rebellion against what they know is best, 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:32.000 while justifying the decisions they've made. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:36.000 How many times have you phoned someone in a bad way 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:40.000 and you say, how are you? I'm good, everything's good. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.000 It's called self justification. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:48.000 You see, the people, sometimes you hang with the pigs, 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:52.000 probably pretend to other people that things are going well, 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:56.000 while in reality their lives are going into increasing ruin 00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:00.000 and they will not surrender. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.000 They will never admit how bad it is 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:08.000 until finally they can't even eat the pig food. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:12.000 People don't often comment until they finally realize 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:16.000 how lost they are. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:20.000 And that's what happens in the story. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.000 The younger son eventually discovers, 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:28.000 to his own massive surprise, I'm actually lost. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:32.000 I'm actually not where I should be. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:36.000 And in that moment, verse 17 says, 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:40.000 he finally came to his senses. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.000 And he said to himself, at home, 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.000 even the hired servants have food enough to spare. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:52.000 And here I am, dying of hunger, 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:56.000 I will go home to my father. It's rehearsed here. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:00.000 I will go home to my father and say, father, 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:04.000 I've sinned both against heaven and you. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:08.000 I. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:12.000 Please take me on as a hired servant. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.000 He's thinking, this now, this is a plan. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:20.000 So now he heads for home. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.000 And as he heads for home and he's walking back, 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:28.000 can you imagine, as any parent would, 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:32.000 what the father's been doing this whole time? 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:36.000 During the days he's waiting for his son, 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:40.000 I think he may well have sent a servant to check on his boy. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:44.000 How's my son doing? 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:48.000 He may have tried to follow on social media through friends. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:52.000 How's my boy doing? 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:56.000 His heart went with his boy. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:00.000 And when the son leaves the home, 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:04.000 the father's heart goes with it. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:08.000 He's never quite the same again until his son returns. 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:12.000 Because you see, God says he never leaves nor forsakes us. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.000 So wherever you and I choose to go, 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:20.000 the heart of our father goes with. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:24.000 And I tell you, it bothers and it upsets and it hurts him. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:28.000 But he goes with us. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:32.000 But the moment came. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:36.000 I've underlined that in purple in my notes. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:40.000 The moment came. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:44.000 The moment every single praying parent ever prays for. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:48.000 When the father sees his son coming back 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:52.000 from a long way off, 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:56.000 I think he must have looked down that road 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:00.000 day after day after day. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.000 When with a longing and broken heart, 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.000 hoping his boy is going to come back. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:12.000 Verse 20 says, so he returned home to his father. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:16.000 And while he was still a long way off, 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:20.000 his father saw him coming. 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.000 Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:28.000 embraced him and kissed him. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:32.000 You see, in the story, the father didn't wait 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:36.000 for the younger son to properly show repentance. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:40.000 He didn't give him time to get the pig swill smell off of him. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.000 Doesn't give him time to say how sorry he is for long enough. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:48.000 You haven't said it enough. I want to hear some more. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.000 He doesn't. Tell him, you're not going to have to pay 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:56.000 a heavy price for your wastefulness. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:26:00.000 Just stand in the corner. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:04.000 The father gives the son no time. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:08.000 He literally runs after him, embraces him, 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:12.000 kisses him in his mess, in his dirt, 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:16.000 in his smell and in his sin. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:20.000 In a sense he's saying, come here, son. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:24.000 Come to me, boy. The bath and the cleanup can come later. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:28.000 Come to me. There's total joy in my heart. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:32.000 You're home. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:36.000 I think it's like the thief on the cross 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:40.000 or that woman we spoke about last week with her hair 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:44.000 washed. Jesus feet. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:48.000 They don't even have time to give the long prayers. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:52.000 That thief on the cross, remember me. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:56.000 Today you'll be with me. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:27:00.000 No sinner's prayer? No. Close your eyes. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:04.000 Repeat after me. Can someone please play the piano? 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:08.000 In fact, there's no record almost anywhere 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:12.000 in the whole Bible of anyone praying a sinner's prayer. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:16.000 This woman is washing Jesus feet. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:20.000 Remember we spoke about it last week. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:24.000 And Jesus says two things to her. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:28.000 He says, you sins are forgiven and your faith has saved you. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:32.000 Forgiven and saved. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:36.000 With a heart attitude that changes towards him. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:40.000 This younger son is welcomed immediately 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.000 by a father that is incredibly caring. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:48.000 He was lost and he's been found. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:52.000 The Bible says whosoever wants to may come. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:56.000 It was the Father's generosity towards the Son 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:00.000 that turned the heart of the Son towards home. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.000 You see, he knew his older brother, but. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:08.000 But he also knew his Father. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:12.000 And he knew that no matter where I go, 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:16.000 I cannot go far enough away from my Father. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:20.000 It is this kindness, it is this goodness 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:24.000 of God that leads to repentance. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:28.000 God is kind to the unthankful and the wicked. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:32.000 Luke 6:35. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.000 Do you know God is even kind to people 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:40.000 who actually prefer to sin? 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:44.000 The kindness of God invades, reaches out, goes towards. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.000 And you and I are going to go and meet 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:52.000 a whole lot of people tomorrow again 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:56.000 who are youngest brothers who have run off 00:28:56.000 --> 00:29:00.000 and the heart of the Father wants to reach towards them. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.000 Point number three, the sound of scandal. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:08.000 When you've been in a mess and you coming back, 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.000 God's going to erase and the enemy's going to remind you. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:16.000 God's going to erase, the enemy's going to remind, 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:20.000 God's going to erase, the enemy's going to remind, 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.000 and you're going to have to decide who you listen to. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:28.000 You see, we grow up in an environment 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:32.000 we raised with an attitude that forgiveness is hard to obtain. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:36.000 The way forgiveness works in human relationships 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:40.000 allows one person to grind away at another, 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:44.000 always holding their offence against them. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:48.000 That's why as Christians, once you forgive, 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.000 you should never go back there. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:56.000 Remember, Remember. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:00.000 Happens mostly in marriages, doesn't it? 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.000 Parents and children. You got your little checklist in the side, 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:08.000 you got to bring back what happened last week, you need ammo. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:12.000 And Jesus takes your sin, throws it in the sea of forgetfulness, 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:16.000 says, I won't go there again. I erase. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:20.000 The enemy reminds. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:24.000 And when someone in our family, 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:28.000 our physical or our spiritual family, 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:32.000 has done foolish things, it's not our job 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:36.000 to keep reminding them how foolish they've been 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:40.000 and the price they're going to have to pay. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:44.000 The forgiving heart of the Father is one that yearns 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:48.000 and waits for the lost child to come back. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.000 This should shape our responses and our attitudes 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:56.000 as a church towards anyone going through difficulty. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:31:00.000 What would our Father do? How would our Father. 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:04.000 Because this is currency of the kingdom. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:08.000 Some people are too ashamed, too dirty to come to church. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:12.000 They're too unworthy. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:16.000 How many of my biker friends I invite to church, 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:20.000 I get the standard response, hey, if I come in there, 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:24.000 lightning's gonna follow. I get it all the time. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:28.000 And my response is, we have lightning conductors. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:32.000 You're safe. We have insurance. You're safe. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:36.000 Some of us, isn't it? We want people to have a bath 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:40.000 before they come to church. That's what they believe. 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:44.000 Well, then don't get a gym contract until you lose your fat. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:48.000 It's the same context. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:52.000 And God is preparing us for broken people to come back, 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:56.000 where you and I have to extend the heart 00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:00.000 of a loving, caring, generous Father 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:04.000 whose heart reaches out for them 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:08.000 and it should shape our approach 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:12.000 and our response to ministry. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:16.000 Just in case you haven't got the angle on what I'm saying, 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:20.000 have you ever looked at the story of Hosea the prophet? 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:24.000 Hosea the prophet was a righteous prophet, 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:28.000 a teacher in Israel. But like a pastor today, 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:32.000 and to get a message to the nation of Israel, 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:36.000 God goes to Hosea the prophet and tells him 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:40.000 to marry a woman who is a prostitute 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:44.000 and and who's going to be unfaithful to him. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:48.000 His obedience meant he had to handle whispers, 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:52.000 scandal, questions. 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:56.000 As to those little kids running around your house, 00:32:56.000 --> 00:33:00.000 are you actually the father? 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:04.000 When Isaiah's wife Gomer became so degraded 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.000 through debt that she sold herself into slavery, 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:12.000 she's cheated with other guys, 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:16.000 she sold herself into slavery, she's made a mess of herself. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:20.000 Hosea is a leading prophet in Israel 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:24.000 and and God comes and says, at this point in her life, 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:28.000 I want you to go and I want you to buy her back. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:32.000 It's a tough assignment. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:36.000 Hosea 3:1 Then the Lord said to me, 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:40.000 go and love your wife again, 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:44.000 even though she commits adultery with another lover. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:48.000 This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:52.000 even though the people have turned to other gods 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:56.000 to love and worship them. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:00.000 So I bought her back for 15 pieces of silver 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:04.000 and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:08.000 Then I said to her, you must live in my house 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:12.000 for many days and stop your prostitution. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:16.000 During this time you will not have sexual relations 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:20.000 with anyone or even with me 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:24.000 who still wants to be a prophet. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:28.000 God uses an illustrated sermon 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:32.000 and he literally going to break Israel's heart, 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:36.000 as Gomer the wife of Hosea is to her 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:40.000 is how my people are to me. 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:44.000 God says, your hearts are always going off astray. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:48.000 And it's out of this story of Hosea, 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:52.000 the prophet with a broken heart 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:56.000 who has to minister to his wife 00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:00.000 in order to minister the word of God 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.000 to the people of God. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:08.000 It's out of that story that some of the most wonderful words 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:12.000 of the Old Testament come to us 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:16.000 that Jesus uses to help people understand 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:20.000 the merciful heart of our Father. 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:24.000 Do you remember the words? 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:28.000 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:32.000 and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:36.000 Do you remember that passage? 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:40.000 It comes out of the story of Hosea. 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:44.000 The new living translation says, 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:48.000 I want to show you love, not offer sacrifices. 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:52.000 I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:56.000 And Jesus uses that passage twice in the New Testament, 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:00.000 once in Matthew 9:13, 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:04.000 where the context of the passage 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:08.000 is the Pharisees are calling the people 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:12.000 Jesus is hanging around with 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:16.000 the Pharisees are calling them scum. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:20.000 Pharisees call the friends of Jesus scum. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:24.000 And Jesus stands up and says, 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:28.000 I desire mercy, not sacrifice 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:32.000 the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:36.000 And the second time is in Matthew 12:7. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:40.000 The Pharisees again. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:44.000 And this time the people of God. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:48.000 The disciples are walking, eating grain. 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:52.000 And the Pharisees say, why are they eating grain 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:56.000 on the Sabbath? They shouldn't be. 00:36:56.000 --> 00:37:00.000 And Jesus is saying, do you understand 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:04.000 that the Sabbath was created for man, 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:08.000 not the other way around? 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:12.000 God always desires mercy, whether it's in your stuff 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:16.000 or whether it's in your relationships. 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:20.000 God always wants mercy, 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:24.000 which leads to the end of the story today, 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:28.000 the power of mercy. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:32.000 As the prodigal son returns home, 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:36.000 the Father runs and embraces him, 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:40.000 indicating to us in his heart 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:44.000 he had forgiven his son long before he came home. 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:48.000 In the same way that Jesus was slain 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:52.000 before the foundation of the earth 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:56.000 as the Lamb of God. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:38:00.000 Every single person on this planet 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:04.000 who wants to come to Jesus, 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:08.000 his full forgiveness and acceptance 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:12.000 has already been paid for. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:16.000 The Father has already in his heart forgiven 00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:20.000 the the question is not can he give? 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:24.000 The question is, can you receive? 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:28.000 The Father so loved his son 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:32.000 that forgiveness was his only course of action. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:36.000 Verse 21. His son said, father, 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:40.000 I've sinned against both heaven and you. 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:44.000 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:48.000 But his Father said to the servants, quick, 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:52.000 bring the finest robe in the house. Put it on him. 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:56.000 Get a ring for his fingers, sandals for his feet. 00:38:56.000 --> 00:39:00.000 Kill the calf we've been fattening. 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:04.000 We must celebrate with a feast. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:08.000 For the Son of mine was dead 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:12.000 and has returned to life. 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:16.000 He was lost, but he's found. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:20.000 So the party began. Hey. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:24.000 The son didn't get to ask for forgiveness. 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:28.000 Think for a moment of the joy of the Father's heart 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:32.000 and the joy of the Son's heart 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:36.000 when the two find each other 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:40.000 in a place of reconciliation. 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:44.000 Every time someone receives the Gospel, 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:48.000 a father and a son or a father and a daughter 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:52.000 find each other and the agony of their parting 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:56.000 is removed by the joy of the celebration 00:39:56.000 --> 00:40:00.000 of a lost child coming home. 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:04.000 But of course, the older brother comes into the story now, 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:08.000 doesn't he? He can't enter that joy. 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:12.000 This is the saddest part of the story. 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:16.000 A great deal can be said for this older son. 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:20.000 He's worked hard for his father. He. 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:24.000 He's taken on responsibility of the younger son. 00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:28.000 Where would this church be if I wasn't here? 00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:32.000 Probably a lot better. 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:36.000 You See, the older son is living with the father, 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:40.000 but has never had a revelation of the father's love 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:44.000 because he can't show it to his brother. 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:48.000 He's a dutiful son. He's not a loving brother. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:52.000 He finds his place in crossing T's and dotting I's 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:56.000 making sure everything's right. 00:40:56.000 --> 00:41:00.000 There's not an overflowing of love. 00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:04.000 Love and of mercy and of forgiveness. 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:08.000 He doesn't know the depths of his father's field. 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:12.000 I carry on in verse 25. 00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:16.000 Meanwhile, the oldest son was in the fields working, 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:20.000 but of Martha there. 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:24.000 When he returned home, he heard music and dancing 00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:28.000 in the house. And he asked one of the servants, 00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:32.000 what's going on? Your brother's back, he's told, 00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:36.000 I'd love to have been there. Just look at his face. 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:40.000 Your father's killed the fattened calf. 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:44.000 We are celebrating because of his safe return. 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:48.000 The older brother was angry, wouldn't go in. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:52.000 His father came out. 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:56.000 Now the father has stopped looking for a younger son. 00:41:56.000 --> 00:42:00.000 Now he's looking for the older one. 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:04.000 His father came out and begged him, 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:08.000 but he replied, all these years I've slaved for you. 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:12.000 Never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:16.000 And then all that time, you never gave me 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:20.000 even one young goat for a feast for my friends. 00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:24.000 Yet when this son of yours comes back 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:28.000 after squandering your money on prostitutes, 00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:32.000 you celebrate by killing the fattened calf. 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:36.000 His father said to him, look, dear son, 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:40.000 you've always stayed by me. 00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:44.000 Everything I have is yours. 00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:48.000 We had to celebrate this happy day. 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:52.000 Your brother was dead and has come back to life. 00:42:52.000 --> 00:42:56.000 He was lost and now he's found 00:42:56.000 --> 00:43:00.000 dad goes out to the younger brother. 00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:04.000 Celebration goes out to the older brother. A fight. 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:08.000 He's not interested in the party. 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:12.000 And the father doesn't say to this older brother, 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000 hey, wake up. Get your heart right. Have a look. 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:20.000 He says to the older brother, do you realize 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:24.000 that everything I have is your horse? 00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:28.000 In other words, do you realize you could have had 00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:32.000 about a thousand fatted calves by now? 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:36.000 Your problem is not that I have given you. 00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:40.000 When I gave your brother his part of the inheritance, 00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:44.000 I gave you the double portion. 00:43:44.000 --> 00:43:48.000 What did you do with what I gave you? 00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:52.000 You see, the problem is not what I give. 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:56.000 The problem is your inability to receive. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:44:00.000 You couldn't receive the farm. 00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:04.000 You couldn't receive the privilege you have. 00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:08.000 And now you moan because your brother gets a calf. 00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:12.000 The farm is yours. Who knows? 00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:16.000 Did he have 100, 1,000, 10,000 cows? 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:20.000 Who knows you're moaning about one. 00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:24.000 Everything's yours. 00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:28.000 The church is the older brother 00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:32.000 you have received, but you don't know how to. 00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:36.000 All the calves are yours, all the celebration, 00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:40.000 all the friends, all the privilege. 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:44.000 Every day is yours. You couldn't see it. 00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:48.000 I'm slaving a slave for you. You're not. 00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:52.000 Listen here, you stupid punk. 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:56.000 See the sip of water? Do you realize 00:44:56.000 --> 00:45:00.000 when you're slaving away? 00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:04.000 It's not for your father, it's for you. 00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:08.000 The inheritance is yours. 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:12.000 You're working for nobody else. 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:16.000 Every inch you've put in is for your own life 00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:20.000 and your own future. 00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:24.000 You should have received that you can freely give. 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:28.000 The Father begged this older brother, have mercy. 00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:32.000 See, the heart of the Father is reconciliation. 00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:36.000 The Father not only forgives, 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:40.000 he reaches out to the one who doesn't think he needs forgiveness. 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:44.000 Isn't it amazing how God the Father 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:48.000 will always follow you to remind you that he loves you? 00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:52.000 I mean, He's God. Why does he have to run after you and I? 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:56.000 The Spirit pursues us. He follows us. 00:45:56.000 --> 00:46:00.000 He draws us back into relationship with him all the time. 00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:04.000 Every time you even blow it, 00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:08.000 the spirit goes after you to bring you back. 00:46:08.000 --> 00:46:12.000 Have you ever noticed that God, 00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:16.000 the God of the universe, is reaching out to you 00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:20.000 and showing you his love to bring you back to Him? 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:24.000 You would think it would be the other way around. 00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:28.000 You'd think he's going to put broken glass 00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:32.000 over a thousand kilometers for you to crawl over 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:36.000 to show him you're worthy of. 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:40.000 But you know what? When you big with pigs 00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:44.000 and you're eating the swill and you're out there 00:46:44.000 --> 00:46:48.000 and you're lost and broken and come back to him 00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:52.000 smelling like hell, he's the one who runs to you 00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:56.000 to embrace you. 00:46:56.000 --> 00:47:00.000 Why doesn't the church. 00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:04.000 This story is far more about the older brother. 00:47:04.000 --> 00:47:08.000 And I don't have time to preach on it. 00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:12.000 You know what the biggest problem was? 00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:16.000 The older brother was jealous of the younger brother. 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:20.000 You know what happens when you're jealous? 00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:24.000 The Bible shows you jealousy releases the demonic 00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:28.000 and you can be this upstanding. 00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:32.000 I'm slaved away. I've done everything right. 00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:36.000 I've done everything as I know to do. 00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:40.000 And you've released the demonic into your family 00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:44.000 and into your effect. 00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:48.000 1 Samuel 18. When the victorious Israelite army 00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:52.000 was returning home after David had killed the Philistine 00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:56.000 women from all over the towns of Israel 00:47:56.000 --> 00:48:00.000 came to meet King Saul. 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:04.000 They sang and danced for joy 00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:08.000 with tambourines and cymbals. 00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:12.000 This was their Song. 00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:16.000 Saul has killed his thousands, David his tens of thousands. 00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:20.000 This made Saul very angry. 00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:24.000 I mean, he just got his kingdom saved, by the way. 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:28.000 This made Saul very angry. What's this? He said, 00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:32.000 they Credit David with 10 thousands 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:36.000 and me with only thousands. 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:40.000 Next they'll be making him their king. 00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:44.000 From that time on, Saul kept a jealous eye over David. 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:48.000 The very next verse says, 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:52.000 the very next day a tormenting spirit from God 00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:56.000 overwhelmed him. 00:48:56.000 --> 00:49:00.000 You open the door. I look at my fellow, 00:49:00.000 --> 00:49:04.000 I look at this, I look at that, 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:08.000 and I've got a bit of jealousy. 00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:12.000 You open the door to the demonic. 00:49:12.000 --> 00:49:16.000 This older brother has welcomed the door 00:49:16.000 --> 00:49:20.000 to that which steals, kills and destroys 00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:24.000 when he should have been so happy, 00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:28.000 because everything's his anyway. 00:49:28.000 --> 00:49:32.000 Matthew 5:7. God blesses those who are merciful, 00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:36.000 for they will be shown mercy. 00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:40.000 1 Corinthians 10:24. Don't be concerned for your own good. 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:44.000 Be concerned for the good of others. 00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:48.000 The older brother just wouldn't believe it. 00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:52.000 And I close this morning with these words. 00:49:52.000 --> 00:49:56.000 At the heart of all we profess as Christians 00:49:56.000 --> 00:50:00.000 stands the cross. 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:04.000 The cross is the merciful heart of God. 00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:08.000 You cannot comprehend the cross 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:12.000 until you understand that God's mercy 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:16.000 and his justice are not opposed. 00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:20.000 They're expressions of his love on the cross. 00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:24.000 He was kind to the unthankful and the unmerciful. 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:28.000 It is the power of mercy that conquers the hardened heart. 00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:32.000 The surest way to lead a city to repentance 00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:36.000 is to be merciful to them. 00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:40.000 And I'm going to urge you, stand with me, please. 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:44.000 I'm going to urge you to receive 00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:48.000 the merciful heart of your God. 00:50:48.000 --> 00:50:52.000 Because the only way that you'll ever release mercy 00:50:52.000 --> 00:50:56.000 is when you've received it. 00:50:56.000 --> 00:51:00.000 And I think some of us have forgotten 00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:04.000 the depths from which we've been saved, 00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:08.000 the depths from which we've been forgiven. 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:12.000 Can you remember back to a time in your life 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:16.000 where all you could rely on was the mercy of God, 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:20.000 nothing else? 00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:24.000 And he came through for you. 00:51:24.000 --> 00:51:28.000 And what he was doing was not only forgiving you, 00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:32.000 he was teaching you to receive. 00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:36.000 And I believe if you and I can receive 00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:40.000 the mercy heart of God, it'll be so easy to give it. 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:44.000 Okay, now quickly got to do one more thing. 00:51:44.000 --> 00:51:48.000 There are folks here that you know you're forgiven. 00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:52.000 You know you're a child of God. God, 00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:56.000 but you struggle to receive mercy. 00:51:56.000 --> 00:52:00.000 I wanted to start by saying you struggle to give mercy, 00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:04.000 but that's not the problem. 00:52:04.000 --> 00:52:08.000 The problem is you struggle to receive. 00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:12.000 It's because you struggle to receive. 00:52:12.000 --> 00:52:16.000 That you can't give. 00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:20.000 If you need God to break something in your spirit today 00:52:20.000 --> 00:52:24.000 so that you can receive his mercy. 00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:28.000 It talks about your worthiness, 00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:32.000 where the enemy tells you you're just not worth anything. 00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:36.000 And God says you're joking. 00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:40.000 I sent my son just for you. 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:44.000 You are so worth it. 00:52:44.000 --> 00:52:48.000 And I believe God wants to totally set people free 00:52:48.000 --> 00:52:52.000 to enable them to receive his mercy. 00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:56.000 So again, just one prayer. 00:52:56.000 --> 00:53:00.000 I pray over everybody. 00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:04.000 If you know you need to receive mercy from God, 00:53:04.000 --> 00:53:08.000 come stand here across all platforms. 00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:12.000 You need to receive mercy from God today. 00:53:12.000 --> 00:53:16.000 There is a hardness, perhaps a criticism, 00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:20.000 perhaps you hold things in against people. 00:53:20.000 --> 00:53:24.000 Perhaps you haven't realized you actually just need 00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:28.000 to receive mercy. That's all. 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:32.000 Just keep coming. There's people coming 00:53:32.000 --> 00:53:36.000 from all over the place. Just keep coming. 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:40.000 And as you do, I just want to point this out to you, okay? 00:53:40.000 --> 00:53:44.000 I'm not going to get a whole lot of people 00:53:44.000 --> 00:53:48.000 together around you and pray for you. 00:53:48.000 --> 00:53:52.000 I'll tell you why. Because if you need 00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:56.000 the same mercy tomorrow morning, 00:53:56.000 --> 00:54:00.000 you need to come to the same God. 00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:04.000 You need to learn that he ministers to you. 00:54:04.000 --> 00:54:08.000 He does. He. He ministers. 00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:12.000 You got to allow him to minister. 00:54:12.000 --> 00:54:16.000 You know what happens? Hey, that word gets tested tomorrow. 00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:20.000 And you got to be able to stand in the mercy of your God 00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:24.000 and be merciful and watch how the anointing of God 00:54:24.000 --> 00:54:28.000 releases things in your life. 00:54:28.000 --> 00:54:32.000 There's still people coming forward. 00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:36.000 Just quickly come forward. Come stand here together. 00:54:36.000 --> 00:54:40.000 Okay? Can I ask the rest of us 00:54:40.000 --> 00:54:44.000 just to extend our hands towards him? 00:54:44.000 --> 00:54:48.000 Father, we bring our beautiful brothers and sisters to you. 00:54:48.000 --> 00:54:52.000 And we pray, Holy Spirit, 00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:56.000 that you confirm your word with signs that now follow. 00:54:56.000 --> 00:55:00.000 Help each one deep within their beings 00:55:00.000 --> 00:55:04.000 to leave here today with joy. 00:55:04.000 --> 00:55:08.000 In a sense, every person here in the front 00:55:08.000 --> 00:55:12.000 needs to walk out of these doors 00:55:12.000 --> 00:55:16.000 in the next 10 minutes and get the party started. 00:55:16.000 --> 00:55:20.000 They are home with their father. 00:55:20.000 --> 00:55:24.000 Sandals on the feet, ring on the finger, 00:55:24.000 --> 00:55:28.000 robe around. You haven't even had time to take a bath. 00:55:28.000 --> 00:55:32.000 And the Father just honouring you simply 00:55:32.000 --> 00:55:36.000 because you're a son or a daughter today. 00:55:36.000 --> 00:55:40.000 And I ask you just to receive chains and shackles 00:55:40.000 --> 00:55:44.000 coming, being broken off your emotions 00:55:44.000 --> 00:55:48.000 and your heart right now. 00:55:48.000 --> 00:55:52.000 And as they fall to the ground, 00:55:52.000 --> 00:55:56.000 allow them to disappear like dust 00:55:56.000 --> 00:56:00.000 and make a decision in this moment. 00:56:00.000 --> 00:56:04.000 I'm not going back there again. 00:56:04.000 --> 00:56:08.000 God erases the enemy, reminds, 00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:12.000 and I'm going with God on this 00:56:12.000 --> 00:56:16.000 and just allow him to release you right now. 00:56:16.000 --> 00:56:20.000 Receive mercy. Blessed are the merciful. 00:56:20.000 --> 00:56:24.000 And from this day, out of the riches 00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:28.000 of the mercy, you have received. 00:56:28.000 --> 00:56:32.000 Go and be merciful and watch how God sets people free 00:56:32.000 --> 00:56:36.000 because you choose to be merciful. 00:56:36.000 --> 00:56:40.000 So Lord, we thank you for all these people 00:56:40.000 --> 00:56:44.000 who responded this morning. 00:56:44.000 --> 00:56:48.000 We thank you for the richness of your mercy. 00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:52.000 And I pray Lord that the overarching fruit 00:56:52.000 --> 00:56:56.000 of this moment is joy. 00:56:56.000 --> 00:57:00.000 The joy of a lost son and a father 00:57:00.000 --> 00:57:04.000 who felt find each other and agree 00:57:04.000 --> 00:57:08.000 that now we're going to party, we're going to celebrate. 00:57:08.000 --> 00:57:12.000 There is now no for no condemnation 00:57:12.000 --> 00:57:16.000 for those who are in Christ. 00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:20.000 And I speak freedom and I speak incredible joy 00:57:20.000 --> 00:57:24.000 over you today. 00:57:24.000 --> 00:57:28.000 And I want to tell you as you leave this place this morning, 00:57:28.000 --> 00:57:32.000 please know this. 00:57:32.000 --> 00:57:36.000 The joy of the Lord is your your strength. 00:57:36.000 --> 00:57:40.000 I speak that over you this morning 00:57:40.000 --> 00:57:44.000 in Jesus name and God's people say Amen. 00:57:44.000 --> 00:57:48.000 God bless you all. Have a great Sunday.