The missed lesson in the story of the prodigal son

Most of us know the story of the prodigal son; if you do not you kind find it in Luke 15 starting in verse 11. Allow me to recap.

            Son says “Dad I want what will be mine when you’re dead, I don’t want to wait”. Dad gives it. Kid travel to the hottest party spot and then surrounds himself with people and parties until broke. Famine hits (think economic downturn) and he is out of cash. He finds himself in debt to a man that has him working in pig pins feeding them, he is considering eating that stuff they eat, remembering the good old days. Then he decides to go home.

Luke 15

            ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

So here we have a son of entitlement, thinking that all should be given to him. Much like we have today with kids living at home until they are 21-26 and some even older. There are people in their 30s still having parents pay for things for them. This is a generation of prodigal spirits. A society that says, I am entitled, I deserve this and that, I should not have to work and be patient. I want it now.

            So rather than argue, the father out of love gives the desires to the kid. Much as our heavenly Father has given to us freely, we have the freedom to choose, even if that choice abuses his good and loving nature. When the boy starts to return home, he knows that he has nothing of value left, he has tried to do it his way and has failed, he knows he deserves nothing. He decides he will beg to be a servant in the fathers house. He realizes his own failure and dirtiness and knows that if his father will have him he, will serve him. The act of the father taking him back in all his filthiness, despite all he has done, makes the boy want to serve him. He realizes that his father’s servants have good and happy lives of abundance, when he has squandered all he had. He realizes the intelligence of the father plan, and a goodness that he has abused.

            He goes home and is welcomed back. We have all been told that this is the way it is, that God loves us just like this prodigal son, and will accept us back, and He will!    …………………… But we see a change in the son in scripture. It is often overlooked. He went away with the heart of arrogance and self-desire. He returned with the heart of the servant, in humility. When we develop the heart of a servant then we truly can move into our true role in the house of the father. The arrogant son caused the father pain, the house was divided. But the humble servant that returned to him restored the family. Remember that the Father that accepts us regardless of circumstance, also desires to create in us the heart of a servant.

For even Jesus came to serve (Mark 10:45), and we should daily desire to be more Christ like.

Prayer:

Lord develop in me the character of a servant, ever willing to place my hands in the work of your kingdom. Let my desires be the completion of your activities. May others never hear me complain but always rejoicing in what you place before me. You are great and I am worthy only through the blood of your Son Jesus, thank you for welcoming me into your house. I love you Father. Amen

Does the your church share the gospel of Jesus?

It is with a unique mindset I begin this blog today.

I have struggled over whether to write this. The question comes from the fact that some who read this may be able to determine the churches that I mention, please realize that is not the point. There is no malice in the writing and I would ask that none of the readers even consider which churches I reference only the occurrences. This is an issue that can be found in too many churches and the Lord has burdened my heart with this.

My wife and I have been attending a church together for over a year now. In that time we have seen Sunday school and then eventually Wednesday night services canceled in the name of restructuring. I am in agreement that it was needed and I think that the idea was accepted as a good thing by the congregation, lack of progress weighs on some, but there is no lack of support. The pastor is a powerful worship leader, a gifted evangelist, and so we have what people would deem anointed worship meetings on Sunday morning. The music is phenomenal and we are blessed, but not growing.

I recently set in a meeting of the Sunday school remnant that met on their own accord and listened to people speak of tough spiritual times, they spoke of feeling they are in a holding pattern, hard times spiritually. I believe this is because they are in a holding pattern in the physical in regards to the church. Children of the kingdom were meant to serve and for those truly committed to serving and who had been serving the church, they are unsure of an outlet for that service. They desire to serve but they are struggling as there is no outlet and they feel they are linked to this physical church. They also know in spirit that there is something missing.

My wife and I began attending another church on Wednesday evening for a small group, we follow the preaching by podcast, and have attending a time or two. We both agree that it is not the type of church we prefer. These services are not as powerful and seem not to have the same flare. But they are growing, they are seeking to involve their members and have allowed us an outlet to serve the community, and without any pressure for us to leave our church home. Not a week goes by where they are not active in doing something in the community. Sometimes just quietly going to the park and picking up trash.

They are doing all the things the other church is not. They have published worship times, website, community involvement, outreach, small groups, and children’s ministries. I had thought to myself, clearly this is the reason they are growing. No it is not. I thought they get all members involved, giving them an area to serve, that must be the reason. No, a servant will serve regardless of whether their church organizes it for them. So why are they growing?? What is the secret??

There is no secret, I realized the other day what the difference is, it is obedience to the great commission. Keep in mind this is not meant to hurt feelings or step on toes. Most of you that read this have no idea the churches and those that do, understand this plays out all over the country in the same way. This is not unique. One church is sharing the gospel, people are being saved, heaven is rejoicing weekly for the lost sheep saved (Luke 15:1-7). As heaven erupts in rejoicing the church grows. Not only do they share the gospel every Sunday but they teach there people how to share it. Jesus is enough, no secret needed. Now the church that is not growing is great at worship and they love God, and they have fallen into a pattern. They have settled for the presence of God and worshiping together (there is nothing wrong with this) but there is no outreach, it is an inward presence. The church corporately is not sharing the Gospel. There had been no one professing salvation and no baptisms. After a year of attending I had to ask if the church even believed in baptism. I cannot remember the last time salvation was shared during Sunday morning, the sermons seem to soley address the saved. I asked a member that had been there longer than me about this, I almost cried, they said there had been no baptism in years (they had never seen one). Be honest, we all know a church like this one, you may even attend one. They gain member by doing better at something than others, or by creating an anointed environment, perhaps they have the latest and greatest music, coffee, or awesome youth group. They grow through transfers, or not at all.

I think Peter Haas says it best in latest book, “Sunday Morning is for Lost Sheep”, he states Substance Church was designed with the lost in mind. I think they all should be. If you are sick you go to the doctor, if you know you need a higher power to help, if you are prompted by the spirit to get help, you go to a church. Every Sunday somewhere there is a person that walks in needing to hear the gospel. Teach the flock, but also address the lost sheep. What good is anointed worship if heaven remains silent, grieving for the lost sheep that did not get to hear the gospel. 

Ask yourself 2 things and then read below:

Have I shared the gospel with anyone?

Is my church sharing the gospel from the pulpit and the classroom?

Please join me in praying that all churches will develop a burden for the lost, and that Jesus will always be shared, and the lost sheep will always be allowed to respond. We do not need revival to reach the world, this is a misconception, here is why. Remember Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”(Mathew 28:18-20) We need to share the gospel and disciple. It is brilliant really, here is why, 1/3 of the world’s population claims Christianity. Let’s assume half of them just answered that because it was popular. If we assume only 1/6 truly are believers, and for each one a person is saved and discipled in a five year time then repeats the same. In less than 15 years every person would be a Christian or at least heard the gospel. I used low numbers. I used long time periods. With God all things are possible, quicker than we can imagine, if we are willing to be used. God can do it in a little time as He chooses, but we must be willing to follow the great commissions.  Please join me (pray for revival if you feel led too) but pray always for boldness and to use the Spirit of boldness to share the gospel. Tell someone about Jesus and then lead you church in the direction of doing the same. When the kingdom grows, heaven rejoices.