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The Home Coming
06/06/10 Luke 15:1-2, 11-32;
God speaks to us: Coming Home
INTRODUCTION: We need to keep in mind that while the parable of the Prodigal Son is about God’s grace as well as repentance and salvation, Jesus tells this parable and the two before it; The lost sheep, and the Lost coin in reaction to the criticism of the Pharisees. It is a familiar criticism “this man welcomes sinners and eats with them” The issue is that Jesus’ acceptance of the lost and down and outers is interpreted as accepting sin and tolerating decadent behavior. Some people interpret our church that way not only this church but church plants in general because we reach out to the hurting, to the broken, to the sinner, and it is seen as tolerating brokenness and sinfulness. I go on record today to say that we are against sin, sin is awful as we will find out in this parable but the church is not only against sin the church needs to help the sinner, and that is all of us, to move closer to Jesus so that sin can be overcome in our lives. Amen. It is for that perception of tolerating sin that Jesus tells these parables. The parable we read this morning is the most extensive of the three. God’s grace, man’s repentance, and God’s forgiveness is included as well as self righteousness and condemnations and lack of forgiveness. The highlight of the parable is the Father’s love; God’s grace, forgiveness, and God’s sacrifice in Jesus to bring us back to him. That sacrifice is what we celebrate every time we have communion.
I. The son that went missing.
A. Impatient, Temptation
We see that the younger son is impatient, he knows it all and he wants out of his father’s household. He thinks he is entitled to his inheritance early. Right now the freedom he wants is only a temptation it is not sin yet.
B. Impulsive, Giving in to temptation
Why didn’t the father refuse to give the money to him? God created us with freewill, he does not force his love on us, we can choose to love Jesus or not. The father gives him the money. The son impulsively moves far away to be free from the restraints of his family. He is not sinning yet but he has set himself up to fall. What you think about a lot is where you go. You are what you think about.
C. Inappropriate, sin takes over
Sin began as a seed in his mind, he did nothing to move it out of his mind and it grew until he is in a position to fall The results are predictable. You separate yourself from the people who love you. You refuse to take advice, you think you know better than everyone around you and Satan has set you up to fail.
II. Falling and repenting.
A. Sin comes full circle
That is what happens, sin comes full circle now, it is not a temptation; he gives in and he starts to live a wicked life, and foolishly wastes his money until he is broke. Sin does that, it takes over the decision making process and people start to make bad decisions.
B. God intervenes; He comes to his senses
As he is running out of money God intervenes and sends a famine into this area. Now he is broke and he is hungry, even if he had money food was not available. He starts to herd pigs, an awful thing for Jews and would never do if not for his need. Sin does that – people do things they would never do. He is at his wits end and turns to God; I have sinned against God and my father. Sometimes we have to come to a low spot in our lives before we allow God to take over again. The son now is able to make a responsible decision; he decides to go home, back to his father.
III. The Father
A. Looking for signs of his son, his children.
The father for his part walks out to the hill every day to see if his son is coming home. God is like that, he is patiently waiting for the people of the world to return to him. They are his people. Yet it is not a passive waiting, the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives, God intervenes into our lives, sometimes with difficult situations so that we turn our attention to him. Further, God gave himself in Jesus Christ so that we have a basis for returning to him.
B. He is ready to forgive, and rejoice.
When we come back to God or come to him for the first time the father is ready to forgive. It does not depend on our efforts. Before the son was able to say a word the Father had him in an embrace that he was never going to release again. The father accepts him back with no questions about his sin; the son had repented in his heart. God knows our hearts and forgives, never bringing up sins we committed again. They are gone, we are washed clean. The Father says restore my son to our household, “He was lost and now is found, he was dead and now is alive” All we need to do is turn back to God with a contrite and broken heart, have the desire to depend on him and to be close to him. That is enough! Praise the Lord! Are you living a lost life, pretending to be close to God but far away from him in your heart? Turn to him today! He accepts all who turn to him.
The older son is someone we as Christians, easily identify with. We stayed close to God; we did not leave his people for the world. We did not live a lost lifestyle that jeopardized our health, our souls and our minds. We should be upset with those who leave the church for the world and with those who refuse to go to church and serve God with their lives but that is not what we are talking about. Jesus told this parable because he was criticized for acting like the father in this parable; the father has the attitude of Jesus.
IV. The older son.
- A. Anger, lack of forgiveness
So what is the problem with the older son that seemed to have done everything right? 1. He was angry not so much at his brother but at the father for taking his younger brother back. He lacked forgiveness; he was not willing to forgive his brother even though his father had forgiven him.
2. He was jealous, “you never gave me a party like this and I’ve been faithful to you”, he tells his father. “But you are always with me and everything I have is yours” His father responds. Your brother is found, and is alive, we have to celebrate.
B. Refused to enter the feast
The older son refuses to participate in the joyous reunion of father and son. He is suffering from selfish righteousness. The parable does not tell us the older brother repented and went into the feast. We are left with the impression that he did not. What Jesus is doing is equating the attitude of the older brother with the Pharisees and comparing that with the attitude of the father.
C. The attitude of the father
The attitude of non condemnation, a high concern for the lost and willing to associate with them in order to bring them closer to God and away from sin is the attitude of Jesus. And the purpose of this parable is for us to choose between the father and the older son. How are you going to live your Christian life? I encourage you as your former pastor to take on the attitude of Jesus, and do it on Sundays and every day of your lives.
There is great rejoicing in heaven when only one person is brought back from being lost and from being spiritually dead. Take on the attitude of Jesus and you will have life!
Being thankful for what God has given us.
052310 Philippians 4:4-9; Being thankful for what God has given us.
God speaks to us: Rejoice
INTRODUCTION: We are so blessed! That was our comment to each other as we came home last week in the middle of the night. After tens of thousands of miles traveled and three months in a new place we were home safe and sound. We continue to tell people how blessed we all are. One lady responded “how do we continue to be thankful”? What with a weak economy, no jobs available, sometimes we struggle with illness, with relational conflicts there is so much that happens in our lives that keep us from seeing God’s blessings much less be thankful. Our trip reminded us again how much God has blessed us, we missed our church, we missed the love shown to us, we missed all of you and our kids and grand kids. We missed the security of living without fear, yet God blessed us in Niger State as well as you read on our blog. Life in Niger State was intense, the heat, the travel conditions, the medical needs of the people and the spiritual needs all around. There are needs here as well but it seems to us we are not as concerned as we should be as Christians. One thing that stands out is our dependence on God was at a higher level over the three months while we worked in Niger State. Today is Pentecost; we celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit to all who call upon the Lord. Think about it, we have the Spirit working in us. That is different than positive thinking or depending on ourselves as we tend to do. In the context of the Spirit in us do we answer the question?
I. How can we thank God for his blessings all of the time?
A. Attitude, Honesty, Truthfulness, transparency.
I don’t know if you saw the interview with the Dali Lama on the Today’s Show this week. According to him people are getting better and more compassionate; he judges that by the response to Haiti and other natural disaster responses. From the Western world the response is good.
He said we all have to have a positive attitude. Begin with yourself and think positively about life and about the people around you
B. Think positively.
Not only think positive but act on it: like being honest with yourself and others. Be truthful about everything and be transparent, no hidden agendas. We can agree with all of that, we are much more likely to be thankful for God’s blessings all of the time if we have a positive attitude.
Paul gives advice like that
C. Paul’s advice.
He writes to the Philippians Ch. 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”.
Is it enough to be positive? No! That is not what keeps us being thankful for God’s blessings. What Paul suggests is a positive activity that flows from our attitude in Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit. Amen.
II. Our attitude in Jesus is where Paul begins in the passage we read today.
A. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Not just rejoicing but rejoicing in the Lord. Paul repeats it because it is important; rejoice because Jesus has called you! Rejoice because Jesus has saved you and forgiven you; rejoice because Jesus gives us a new life now and eternal life with him in the future. Rejoice always! Amen! Rejoicing comes from within and has nothing to do with our external circumstances. When we have joy in our hearts because of what Jesus does for us every day, it shows, it comes out in our lives.
B. Be gentle and show it.
Paul again: “Let your gentleness be evident to all” Rejoicing in the Lord is the attitude of Christ Jesus and that includes gentleness, being kind, soft hearted and compassionate. A fruit of the Spirit. The Lord is near Paul tells us. Do you believe that God is near to you? If so why be anxious?
C. And do not be anxious about anything.
Rejoicing in Jesus allows us to face the most difficult situations, major loss, terminal illness, death of a loved one. Joy is not only laughter but often as not, it is tears. The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal. 5:22
D. Pray with thanksgiving.
Do not be anxious and pray with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving because we know that God will and does bless us, even if it is only salvation and assurance. That is everything! Amen.
III. The Peace of God. My peace I give you Jn. 14:27
A. Incomprehensible
Rejoicing in Jesus has a result in our lives: it is the peace of God, a peace that we do not understand because it comes by the Spirit of Christ, but we have it and we are secure in it. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. God lives in our hearts, who can be against us.
B. God’s peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus
The evil one wants to lead your heart astray and set your mind on all the things of this life, on all the stuff we want. He wants you to dwell on problems, on our own shortcomings, on the shortcomings of others. It is easy to find fault with this church and with the people in this church but
God’s peace keeps us from going there; we concentrate on what Jesus has done for us and the peace that he brings us.
CONCLUSION: Put your Christ-like attitude into practice.
We do not need to worry; Gremar and I did not have to worry about how things would work out in Nigeria. We had everything we needed, people accepted us. Matt and Laura, shared their lives with us, and we shared our lives with all those turning to Christ for salvation. Christ prepared us physically, emotionally and spiritually to serve him in that place; God is in control and he prepares the way ahead, we do not have to be afraid. Honestly, it all happens by allowing the attitude of Christ to flow through you by his Spirit.
When we display Christ’s attitude then we can go back to Paul’s advice in verse 8. Now that we know that all that we are is by the grace of Jesus. All that we will accomplish is by the grace of Jesus. When we put on Jesus’ attitude; we rejoice always, we become gentle and compassionate, we are prayerful, thankful in all circumstances and we hold onto God’s peace because our lives depend on it. Only then are we able to think positively about; “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. And the God of peace will be with you.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”
Leaving Niger State was a whirlwind, packing, tie up loose ends, and the difficulty of saying good by. We needed a little time in Jos to recover and people were gracious, inviting us over for meals and fellowship. The mission community was just great and we thank them. This trip was a study in contrasts and highlighted God’s wonderful diverse creation. It is indeed very good.
Gremar and I have started to read “The Story” together. The creation story is beautiful in its simplicity and tells us all we need to know. It is also a sad story and explains why life is as we know it today and we may only speculate on what could have been. When reading the first section of the story it seems like there is creation and immediately following, like a day or two, the fall. I speculate that is not the case and believe there were many years between creation and the fall. However the fall is a reality very much with us and will be for as long as Jesus is on the way. Even so God has promised us seasons, summer and winter and seed time and harvest up to the time Jesus comes again.
Are we still responsible for working and dressing the garden? Yes I believe we are to take care of the earth by being responsible with what God gives us now because what we do in the name of Jesus now are the building blocks for the New Heaven and the New Earth. We can only imagine what that will be like but if it is as beautiful as our present world we are in for a fantastic adventure lasting for eternity. It is a concept hard to come to grips with but the evidence is in God’s creation around us every day.
You have seen the dry season so I include a little rain taken by Jim Trezenberg and some nature shots.
Letting Go!
Letting Go! Life is full of change and most of us have to let go of things; jobs, houses we have lived in, people we have known, and favorite things we have hung onto for too long.
It seems like missionaries have to let go more than the average person. We let go of our life in our home country, we let go of people we work with every home service and then the process begins all over again. We change jobs, mission stations, people groups and turn over in mission staff. We seem to be letting go much of the time. That is what we are facing right now; letting go of the people we have come close to at Mahula, letting go of Bible school students, evangelists, pastors and their wives we have had the privilege to teach and letting go of Matt, Laura and David. I think we forgot how difficult letting go is when people get into your life like the people we have spent the last three months with. I think a good solution is what we have had to do so many times before; that is to be thankful for the past and look forward to what God has in store for us next. What we leave behind will always be in our hearts, and always prepares us for the future. It is good practice for Christians, ultimately we have to let go of this life but are prepared for the life to come; the New Heaven and the New Earth built with all the things we have had to let go of. Eph. 4:11-13, Rev. 14:13
The Importance of Willingness
Not long ago, after we retired someone asked me: how does one in ministry finish well? My answer: Be willing! Be willing in ministry and be willing in retirement, ministry does not stop. Last week we were looking forward to have our Pastoral Care course in Momo when we became aware of the continued health problems of John and Grace’s 2 week old baby, they both attend the course. When we saw the child it was obvious that he needed immediate care. Nothing to do but skip the course and take them to the hospital at Tuden Magagia 2 1/2 hrs away. We arrived at the hospital but they did not do what we thought needed to be done; hospitalize the child, administer fluids, and treat Grace to increase her breast milk. What they got was multivites, we suspect they did not give this very sick child much chance of recovery. What to do? Take them home to Maratu? Give them travel money to get home? We decided that we would invite them to come to Mahula with us and do what we could for this child. Gremar and Grace worked hard for three days; Similac spoon fed, antibiotics by mouth, children’s motrin and antimalarias. Gremar was able to get medication from Laura to increase Grace’s milk flow. The baby continued to have a fever but he was starting to nurse a little. Things were touch and go for a while but by Friday he was starting to turn the corner. John and I looked for medication and we were able to get a vial of antibiotics, needles and syringes because his temperature was still higher than normal. We brought them home on Saturday and the local health worker continued with treatment. We thank God, Habila is still improving everyday and we thank God for the opportunity to serve him in this very important way. God is good all of the time!
Volumo
Before going to the launching at Volumo on Sunday I was asked to preach at Mahula in Hausa so I need to reflect in English on Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the lost son, and/or of the compassionate father. We have come to know this parable as the parable of the Prodigal Son because of the two parables that go before it; the Lost Sheep, and the Lost Coin. These parables are about praise; praises that go on in heaven and the praises of the angels of God because what was lost is found, what was broken is restored. The third parable is what we will concentrate on. There are three major players; the younger son, the father, and the older son. It is a parable that includes; sinfulness, self-righteousness, repentance, forgiveness, compassion, and restoration. In a word this is a story of God’s love extended freely to his broken and fallen creation.
The story is about us! Where are we? As Christians we are restored to God’s fellowship.
We have come home. Before we knew Jesus we wandered aimlessly in a place far away. We came to our senses and accepted the way back to God by believing in and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Yet, we can again find ourselves in a far away place. Sin, drives us back to that awful place. Like the son in the parable we don’t stop being God’s child, like the father, God is on the lookout for us every day. Like the father, God is ready to receive us back, not as a worker or a slave but as a son and daughter with the full privileges of a child of God. Better yet, Lets stay home!
Maybe that is the case, we stayed home like the older brother, yet things are not right. He is angry about the younger sons return and that his father has accepted him unconditionally. Has not the father also accepted him unconditionally? “You are always with me and all I have is yours” the father tells him. The older son is not able to forgive, he is self-righteous, and he is condemning. Today, many Christians find themselves with the older son’s attitude. According to the parable it is a very bad place to be and he is in danger of being excluded from the reconciliation celebration.
The attitude of the father is the attitude of Christ. Before the prodigal could say one word, before we can do one thing or say one thing God has us in his arms and has already restored us because restoration is accomplished by God’s act in Jesus Christ. God’s compassion is for us difficult to comprehend and impossible to duplicate but that is what this parable is trying to teach us; the un-reconcilable difference between the older son’s and the father’s attitude. If we are to be like Jesus and I believe we are to be insofar as we are able, it is the attitude of the father that we must cultivate and hold onto. The angels will rejoice!
That afternoon a launching was held for the church building at Volumo
Moworo
On Sunday I was asked to officiate at the communion service being held at Moworo where Obadia and Briskila are stationed. They participate in the Mahula pastor’s course. Rev. Likita was scheduled to preach and he brought an extra pastor’s robe for me. The church building is small so we had the worship service outside under the mango tree near the church. There was a nice breeze to go with it as a bonus because the temperature is about as high as it gets here this time of the year; 105- 110 degrees F, cooling to 90 on some nights. I was glad I did not have to put the pastor’s robe on until the communion service later held in the church building. We had 28 people at the communion service but only 20 cups so we did that part twice. I noticed that the church did not have benches, people sat on boards on the ground; we hope we will be able to change that. It was however a meaningful service; I gave up trying to read the form and its difficult Hausa and opted to explain the intent of the form in simpler Hausa, simpler for me. All in all both services were meaningful and uplifting. We were very glad to participate and I was glad to take that robe off but using it for the service was important to the people present. When in Rome do as the Romans do.
Zuru
Saturday we went to a wedding at Zuru about 1 hr.1/2 North of Mahula. We were invited but we were also asked to drive the groom and bride back to the groom’s place in Uva’di which is near Mahula. The wedding ceremony was to be held at the ECWC (Evengelical Church of West Africa) in Zuru. We were surprised at all the different churches in this average sized city. I was told that that most people in Zuru are Christians. Nothing starts on time in Nigeria but the first thing we heard from the ECWA pastor was that we were late and he had assumed we were no longer coming. Normally, one hour is not late. I think I got used to NCCN not starting on time. I was to go to the father of bride’s house to pick her up and bring her to church. The location of the house was not clear to anyone as far as I could see and if you have ever driven in the neighborhoods off the main road in Nigerian cities with narrow, partially blocked, and unmarked streets you know that I am talking about frustration. Finally, a couple of little kids eating mangoes showed us the way. The way was blocked by the vehicle that was to pick up her stuff. I parked off to the side only to be told by John and Obadiah the Evangelists accompanying me that we were being fined for being late, not us but the groom and that needed to be paid. Apparently, the bride refused to come out of her room. I made a comment about paying the driver. I wonder if that was not a ploy for cash by an enterprising family member. However, when they pulled the other vehicle out of the way and I backed into that spot to pick up the bride, the father came out and declared my vehicle unfit to take his daughter to the church. I thought I had seen it all! Somehow this was all resolved in short order by John and Obadiah and we were off to the church; bride, attendants, and a whole lot of other people. The wedding was typically Nigerian; a procession by the bride, attendants, and father into the church. The groom and bride sit in front of the pulpit facing the congregation while every group in the church is given a chance to sing a special number. If people like the song they come up and drop money at the feet of those singing and I assume this for the couple. Then there was a very appropriate sermon by the ECWA pastor (the bride’s pastor) on Proverbs 18:22. I was asked to pray for the couple; I had a hard time with it but not because of the Hausa language. Then it was Rev. Jolly Tonko’s turn, the Principle of the Bible School, to begin the official ceremony. He began with prayer, a declaration by the father, vows, exchange of rings, a demonstration of depending on each other, gave them the church’s certificate and a blessing. After the service we loaded up the bride, groom, and attendants for the hr.+1/2 ride to Uva’di. Matt. Lancer had also agreed to help out and he took all the Pastor’s, Evangelists, and wives back to Uva’di. What was amazing about that trip was that there was very little conversation but the maid of honor sang Christians songs for every bit of the hr.+1/2; We were impressed she knew so many songs from memory. Uva’di is about 10 miles from the main road and consists of many family compounds separated by each other’s fields. Compounds are far apart when compared to the city where they are right on top of each other. There will be a lot to get used to for this new wife but they both are Christians and the groom is a friend of Samson the Evangelist placed there. The bride is from a Christian family. The groom was a Muslim and married before with two kids but when he contracted polio and ended up with a severe limp his wife left him and took the kids with her. That difficult time opened up for him the way to become Christian Now that he is married we wonder if he will try to get his children back since they are being raised as Muslims. After I heard the whole story Gremar and I were glad to be part of this very important event. Gremar is the one taking most of the pictures.
Water Wins
We have been talking about the need for water and for the need for wells and pumps. The organization that supplies clean water, spiritual water and other development is: http://www.waterwins.com The pictures you have seen about that work and the pictures with this post are people from that organization at work. Check out their webpage. The need for clean water and readily assessable water is acute as is the need to repair the pumps that are down. Not every village has the resources to keep the pumps maintained. We are thankful for the pump at Mahula it is now repaired so that I can pump directly into our overhead tanks at the same time everyone has free use. In this dry hot environment you learn to appreciate simply water; it is physical life as the Spirit is life for the soul. With out one or the other we die!
- Taking a break on the rig
Heavenhigh 