In His Image Week 4 – The Path of the Prodigal
May 28, 2023…“The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate (inheritance) now before you die….”
“…So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.” Luke 15:12-13 NLT
THE TRAP OF COMPARISON
THE TRAP OF DISCONTENTEDNESS
THE TRAP OF ENTITLEMENT/PRIDE
“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” James 4:1-3 NLT
“…As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NLT
“About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.” Luke 15:14 NLT
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” John 15:4 NLT
“Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.” John 15:6 NLT
“[The prodigal] persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.” Luke 15:15 NLT
“…[the Prodigal] said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! He then says to himself: “I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,” Luke 15:17-18 NLT
THE PATH BACK HOME:
• STEP 1: REPENT (CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION)
“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.” Acts 3:19-20 NLT
THE PATH BACK HOME:
• STEP 2: COME AS YOU ARE
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 NLT
THE PATH BACK HOME:
• STEP 3: BRING HUMILITY, NOT EXCUSES
“His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. ]But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.” Luke 15:21-22 NLT
“…it’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.” Romans 2:4
Jesus said, “I am the Way, The Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6
“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness…” Isaiah 61:10
“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your NEW NATURE, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT