LUKE 15.11-24
“The willingness to forgive is a sign of spiritual and emotional
maturity. It is one of the great virtues to which we all should aspire.
Imagine a world filled with individuals willing both to apologize and
to accept an apology. Is there any problem that could not be solved
among people who possessed the humility and largeness of spirit and soul
to do either -- or both -- when needed?”
Ever had of grown up babies or
big babies for that matter?
Then here we go.
Travel along with me as we
discover these truths, learn and un-learn what is beneficial for us.
Allow ourselves to undergo correctional stages as we proceed.
Holy Spirit of God
take us on this journey.
Definition of the word to GROW
Is to increase in
size, height, quantity or power
MATURE
Complete in natural
development
Ripe with fully
developed process of body and mind
Develop fully.
‘Concise oxford
dictionary’
“Don't you understand that we need to be childish in order to
understand? Only a child sees things with perfect clarity, because it
hasn't developed all those filters which prevent us from seeing things
that we don't expect to see.”
―
Douglas Adams,
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
KEY WORDS
- A certain man. “God”
- Two sons, one young, “the other old.
You and I”
- The young son knew about his
inheritance, asked of it and was given
- The old never attempted what the young
son did but remained home
- The father without thought divided the
inheritance equally to both sons
- The young son took his inheritance,
and left home for a far country.
THEME
To know God, Dwell in Him and
walk daily with Him irrespective of the circumstances
The reality of loving God is loving him like he's a Superhero who
actually saved you from stuff rather than a Santa Claus who merely gave
you some stuff.”
INTRODUCTION
The father took it
upon Himself the responsibility of dividing up the wealth equally to both sons.
The young one was so
happy and so planned his journey.
The older one just
received his inheritance and just sat home and never thought of anything.
It is important to
know that though the young son took his cut, he was not skilled or trained in
money management. He had been under his father’s care ever since he was born
He was not versed
with the outside world yet his first destination without thought was a far country.
The most challenge we
lean here was that he was not prepared to handle wealth, had no knowledge in
making of wealth neither did he know how to protect wealth when it comes.
And here he is with
bundles of cash.
Please take note that
the two were sons and not boys, rather they were not only grown us but maturity
was expected of them at least!
Imagine a man with a
National Identity, old enough to get married but does not know how to manage
finances.
It is a disaster if
not terrible.
Verse 13
The young man
gathered up all his belongings and left home.
Think about it and
his father asked him not.
-Outside there he
discovered the ‘good’ that is in the world
-Separated from
father’s watchful eye, guidance and instruction
-Here was first hand
test of his maturity. To determine what he Is made of.
-Indulged in wild
living i.e. practiced and tasted what the life had to offer with minding the
consequences.
Know the Kiswahili
saying ‘ASIYE FUNZWA NA MAMA HUFUNZWA NA….?’
“The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total
responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up.”
―
John C. Maxwell
Remember life is made
up of choices; these choices have consequences in themselves.
Joshua is clear
example of such.
Joshua 24.15 “But if
serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve, whether the gods of your fore fathers served beyond the
river or the gods of the Ammorites in whose land you are living. But as for me
and my household, we will serve the Lord”.
Verse 14 The
consequences:-
A)
Squandered
wealth
B)
Famine in
the whole country
Famine is an indicator of poor planning, disregard of warning, not
being serious with what you are doing or even crop failure
It is a pointer towards deficiency of the word, the absence of God as
we go back to our own selves or knowledge
It can as we be a warning sign from God of His impending judgment over
sin
Take note that there
was a famine in the country But not at home that he had left
There is fullness in
the presence of the King.
He has promised never
to leave you alone or even forsake you. Hebrews 13.5
In His presence are
no regrets or ‘I wish I knew’
Immediately you start
rolling away from the father vacuums start appearing. No vacuum is a vacuum it
has to find an occupant
The devil is an
expert of filling vacuums.
Mathew 12.43,
occupies empty, swept and garnished room [kj]
He brings short time
pleasures, cares of the world and mostly plays with our senses.
A good case of
reference is Adam and Eve in Genesis 3.5-6.
When out of the
father’s presence we try out so many things and tricks to survive.
Unfortunately one
leads to another, until we are at the brink of collapsing or tearing out.
For the young son, he
desired
to share food with the swine.
This is how low we
slide if we reject the advice of our father who is in heaven
The man could not
contain the pangs of hunger.
This was not his way
of life. May be to him lack of anything or fasting for that matter was alien to
him.
But here he finds
himself in this dangerous and embarrassing situation.
Pig’s food, what a
low state he had deteriorated to.
This is exactly where
sin leads us to. Mpango wa kando seems exitng at first, then the escapades grows
into routine and soon the marriage suffers irreparably or you are infected with
disease [desire to feast with the pigs].
Verse 16
While he was well
off, the company with him kept on growing.
But wait till he had
nothing, the best for him to do was to hung out with the pigs.
Though grown up, but
the attributes exemplified were those of child.
Rather his chief
companions were pigs, neither could speak, guide or even counsel him
Quite contrasting,
the pigs had food yet for him there was nothing.
Today some of us are
at cross roads.
Like the young son,
some big in form, but as light in mind as sponge, maturity is lacking. Here was
a grown up yet not yet matured son.
What a condition?
Listen! you beloved
of God!
God is talking to
someone amidst us today!
Dare you not to miss
out on the Lord’s visitation.
This is a golden
opportunity.
Chance on it and you
will never regret!
Amen!
Verse 17
The son comes to his
senses
Although he does this
forget not that time has lapsed and he is lagging behind in so many things.
Where have you been
and what is it you have engaged in as time transpired?
He is required to do
a catching up.
Allow me to register
that trouble is good sometimes. It brings us back to our senses.
Recall the disciples
in the midst of the storm in a boat that also carried Jesus as he slept.
Luke8.22-25
Just like the young
man, beloved, it is time to retrace our steps.
When you look at how
far we have drifted, you may be tempted to say that yours is a foregone story.
However, this is not
the time to consider the probable or what will people say.
The most important
and also urgent thing is to submit to the lord Jesus Christ.
The lord is merciful
and forgiving, full of grace and love.
Come now come back
home and gain maturity.
This life is yours,
come to your self make up your decision.
It is decision time!!
Halleluiah to Jesus!
May be you never
experienced forgiveness and maturity into adulthood ‘knowing the love of God’
Today you are going
to experience it, Bwana asifiwe sana!
So the young man
makes a 180 degrees turn and goes back home.
And guess what?
His father sees him
afar off.
Beloved this is the
side and nature of God you have admired for long.
Here is the
opportunity!!
Look at the welcome
the young man received in a long long time:-
Verse 20
-
A kiss to a pig
smelling lad which man would dare do this my Jehovah. And this how much the
love of Christ is expressed. Compassion was evidently full in the father’s
face.
-
The best robe, a
description of royalty, recall Joseph Genesis 41.42
-
Rings –Symbol of
authority
-
Sandals
–Achievement of maturity and shedding off of babyhood, higher level.
-
Party-Crowning
off of the new status and demonstration of all and sundry to see and welcome
you in the league of the matured.
The bible declares in Luke 15.7 that there is rejoicing in heave for
just one soul that comes to the lord.
My friend this is what you have been waiting for .the red carpet is
readily
rolled out for your majestic
walking on It.!
Come on take the bold step!
CONCLUSION
You are here and
seems like that describes you.
Proceed on and make
the bold step.
It is time to go back
home
It is time to chime
at maturity
Arise and shine for
the glory of the lord has shone on you
Failure
should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not
defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something
we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.
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