Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: EG
Program Code: EG002926
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00:09 >> IT'S BEEN 2,000 YEARS SINCE THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF THE CROSS
00:12 ILLUMINATED A WORLD VEILED IN DARKNESS AND CONFUSION 00:15 ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD. 00:17 AND STILL TODAY THE GREATEST NEED OF MANKIND IS A REVELATION 00:20 OF GOD'S LOVE AS REVEALED IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST. 00:23 AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS, "THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL," 00:26 WITH PASTOR DOUG BATCHELOR, COMING TO YOU EACH WEEK 00:29 FROM SACRAMENTO CENTRAL CHURCH IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA. 00:33 DISCOVER HIDDEN TREASURES IN GOD'S WORD TODAY. 00:38 >> BEAR WITH ME AS I JUST REVIEW QUICKLY A FAMILIAR STORY. 00:41 PLEASE TURN IN YOUR BIBLES TO LUKE 15 IS WHERE YOU FIND 00:46 THIS VERY IMPORTANT PARABLE. 00:48 AND I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL OF IT AGAIN. 00:51 IT BEGINS WITH VERSE 11. 00:53 IN SUMMARY, THERE'S A MAN THAT HAS TWO SONS. 00:56 THE YOUNGER SON CAN'T WAIT TO GET AWAY FROM HOME. 00:59 HE ASKS FOR HIS INHERITANCE. 01:02 HE TAKES IT TO A FOREIGN LAND AND SQUANDERS IT THERE. 01:07 THEN HE COMES HOME. 01:09 HE COMES TO HIS SENSES. 01:10 HE ENDS UP FEEDING PIGS IN THIS FOREIGN LAND AND REALIZES THINGS 01:14 WEREN'T SO BAD BACK IN DAD'S HOUSE. 01:17 COMES HOME, REPENTS, HIS FATHER ACCEPTS HIM, 01:22 AND THERE IS A GREAT REJOICING. 01:26 SO IT BEGINS WITH THE BOY, YOU KNOW, HE COMES BACK HOME. 01:31 THERE IS THE REPENTANCE. 01:38 THERE IS A RECEPTION. 01:41 AND THEN THERE IS REJOICING. 01:45 THE FATHER RECEIVES HIM JUST AS HE IS. 01:47 AND THEN HE PUTS THE BEST ROBE ON HIM. 01:49 HE SAYS, "LET'S GO BACK TO THE HOUSE AND WE'RE GONNA REJOICE." 01:53 SOMEBODY ONCE SUMMARIZED THIS STORY WITH A CLEVER ASSORTMENT 01:57 OF WORDS. 01:58 I THINK I MAY HAVE READ THIS TO YOU A FEW YEARS AGO. 02:00 "FEELING FOOTLOOSE AND FRISKY--" THIS IS THE PRODIGAL SON STORY 02:06 KIND OF REVAMPED A LITTLE BIT. 02:10 "FEELING FOOTLOOSE AND FRISKY, A FEATHER-BRAINED FELLOW FORCED 02:14 HIS FOND FATHER TO FORK OVER THE FARTHINGS AND FAST FLEW TO 02:18 A FOREIGN FIELD. 02:20 THEN HE FRITTERED HIS FORTUNE FEASTING FABULOUSLY 02:22 WITH FAITHLESS FRIENDS. 02:24 FLEECED BY HIS FELLOWS IN FOLLY AND FACING FAMINE, 02:28 HE FOUND HIMSELF A FOUL FEED FLINGER IN A FILTHY FARM. 02:33 FAIRLY FAMISHING HE FEIGNED WOULD HAVE FILLED HIS FRAME 02:37 WITH THE FORAGED FOOD FROM THE FODDER FRAGMENTS. 02:40 'FOEY! 02:41 MY FATHER'S FLUNKIES FAIR FAR FINER.' 02:44 THE FRAZZLED FUGITIVE FORLORNLY FUMBLED. 02:47 FRANKLY FACING FACTS, HE FLED FORTHWITH TO HIS FAR OFF FAMILY. 02:53 FINALLY FALLING AT HIS FATHER'S FEET, HE FORLORNLY FUMBLED, 02:56 'FATHER, I FLUNKED AND FRUITLESSLY FORFEITED 03:00 MY FAMILY FAVOR.' THE FAR-SIGHTED FATHER 03:04 FORESTALLING FUTURE FLINCHING, FRANTICALLY FLAGGED TO 03:08 THE FLUNKIES TO FETCH A FATLING FROM THE FLOCK AND FIX A FEAST." 03:13 I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AS MUCH FUN FOR YOU TO HEAR IT, 03:16 BUT IT'S SURE FUN FOR ME TO TRY AND READ IT. 03:20 "THE FUGACIOUS FRUSTRATED FAULT-FINDING BROTHER FROWNED 03:23 ON HIS FICKLE FORGIVENESS OF THE FORMER FOOL. 03:26 BUT THE FAITHFUL FATHER FIGURED FILIAL FIDELITY IS FINE. 03:32 BUT THE FUGITIVE IS FOUND. 03:34 WHAT FORBIDS FESTIVE FESTIVITY--FERVENT FESTIVITY? 03:38 LET FESTOON FLAGS BE UNFURLED AND FREELY FLY. 03:41 LET THE FANFARES FLARE." 03:45 ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POINT OF THAT WAS, BUT IT IS 03:48 THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON. 03:51 AND SOMEBODY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELF TO SEE IF THEY COULD 03:53 TELL THE WHOLE STORY USING ONLY WORDS THAT BEGIN WITH 03:55 THE LETTER "F." 03:56 BUT THAT WAS PRETTY CLEVER. 03:59 THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON COMES AS THE THIRD IN A TRILOGY 04:06 OF STORIES DEALING WITH THINGS THAT ARE LOST. 04:09 TALKS ABOUT A LOST SHEEP THAT IS FOUND. 04:13 THEN THERE'S THE LOST COIN THAT IS FOUND. 04:16 THEN THERE'S THE LOST SON THAT IS FOUND, 04:19 BUT PEOPLE OFTEN STOP THERE. 04:21 IN THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON, IT'S REALLY A PARABLE OF 04:25 THE PRODIGAL SONS, BECAUSE IT BEGINS BY TALKING ABOUT TWO LOST 04:32 BOYS, ONE WHO IS LOST AND KNOWS IT, ONE WHO IS LOST 04:38 AND DOESN'T KNOW IT. 04:40 AND THE LAST BOY IN THE STORY IS OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW. 04:45 AS YOU RECALL, THE SON COMES HOME, THE WAYWARD SON, 04:49 THE YOUNGER SON WHO HAD SQUANDERED EVERYTHING. 04:52 AND THE FATHER, INSTEAD OF LECTURING HIM, HE DOESN'T FOLD 04:56 HIS ARMS AND TAP HIS FOOT AND SAY, "I TOLD YOU SO. 04:59 YOU OUGHT TO GROVEL RIGHT NOW. 05:01 ISN'T THIS WHAT I SAID WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?" 05:03 AS SOMETIMES FATHERS DO. 05:05 BUT INSTEAD, THE BOY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING WRONG. 05:10 FATHER OPENS HIS ARMS, HE FREELY RECEIVES HIM. 05:13 AND THE BOY REPENTS. 05:15 HE CONFESSES. 05:17 HE GOES THROUGH ALL THE STEPS OF SALVATION. 05:19 AS SOON AS HE DOES THAT, THE FATHER DOESN'T EVEN MAKE 05:21 HIM RECITE HIS WHOLE SPEECH THAT HE PREPARED. 05:25 HE EMBRACES HIM JUST AS HE IS. 05:28 THAT'S JUSTIFICATION. 05:30 HE THEN COVERS HIM WITH THAT ROBE. 05:32 THAT'S SANCTIFICATION. 05:34 AND THEN HE SAYS, "WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO THE HOUSE, 05:37 AND WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE." 05:38 AND THEY BEGIN TO REJOICE. 05:41 BIBLE SAYS THERE'S SINGING IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER 05:45 WHO RETURNS. 05:47 LUKE 15:23. 05:49 FATHER SAYS, "AND BRING HERE THE FATTED CALF AND KILL IT. 05:53 AND LET US EAT AND BE MERRY. 05:55 FOR THIS MY SON WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE AGAIN. 05:59 HE WAS LOST AND IS FOUND. 06:01 AND THEY BEGIN TO MAKE MERRY." 06:03 NOW, I SHOULD MENTION HERE THAT OF THE DIFFERENT OFFERINGS 06:07 THAT COULD BE OFFERED, THEY HAD THE OFFERING OF THE POORER. 06:10 THAT WAS THE DOVES OR THE PIGEONS, QUAIL. 06:14 YOU REMEMBER THIS IS WHAT JESUS' PARENTS BROUGHT AS AN OFFERING. 06:16 THAT'S ALL THEY HAD WHEN HE WAS BORN. 06:19 AND THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE AN OFFERING OF A GOAT. 06:22 AND THEN A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, THE OFFERING 06:23 OF THE SHEEP. 06:25 AND THEN MORE EXPENSIVE OF COURSE WOULD BE THE OXEN 06:27 AND THE CATTLE. 06:28 THAT WAS THE VERY EXPENSIVE OFFERINGS. 06:31 SO THE FATHER, TO CELEBRATE, THEY COULD KEEP A CALF, A FATTED 06:35 CALF ALL READY FOR SLAUGHTER. 06:37 AND IT WAS CONSIDERED THE VERY BEST SAVED--IT'S LIKE 06:39 WHAT AMERICANS DO WITH A FATTED TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING. 06:43 AND THEY OFFER THEIR BEST OFFERING TO CELEBRATE 06:48 THIS SON'S RETURN. 06:50 IS IT APPROPRIATE TO SPEND MONEY ON A CELEBRATION? 06:56 HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU SPEND ON A WEDDING? 07:00 NOW THERE'S A QUESTION. 07:02 BUT DO YOU SPEND SOMETHING? 07:06 DO PEOPLE EXPECT FOR A WEDDING-- I MEAN HOW MANY BIG OCCASIONS 07:08 ARE THERE IN LIFE? 07:10 PEOPLE CELEBRATE A BIRTH. 07:11 SOMETIMES MONEY IS SPENT AT A FUNERAL. 07:14 THAT'S APPROPRIATE TO REMEMBER A PERSON'S LIFE, TO HONOR THEM 07:18 FOR THAT MEMORIAL. 07:20 AND A WEDDING IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GREAT CELEBRATION. 07:23 IT'S REALLY THE BIRTH OF A NEW FAMILY. 07:25 AND QUESTION IS SOME PEOPLE GO OVERBOARD RIGHT? 07:30 I'VE GOT A FAMILY MEMBER THAT WILL REMAIN NAMELESS THAT 07:35 SPENT--OH, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK THEY SPENT A QUARTER OF 07:41 A MILLION ON A WEDDING. 07:44 THAT ABOUT RIGHT, DEAR? 07:49 WHERE IS SHE? 07:52 IT SEEMED AWFULLY QUIET IN HERE. 07:57 I THINK IT WAS ABOUT $250,000. 08:00 I KNOW THEY SPENT $50,000 ON FLOWERS. 08:04 HAD IT AT THE PALM DRIVE HOTEL IN BEVERLY HILLS. 08:09 FOUR DAYS LATER, SHE ANNULLED IT. 08:13 AND WE NEVER DID GET OUR GIFT BACK. 08:16 NOW THAT TO ME WAS SPENDING TOO MUCH ON A WEDDING. 08:20 BUT YOU OUGHT TO SPEND SOMETHING. 08:22 AND SO THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH INVESTING IN CELEBRATING 08:25 THIS NEW BIRTH, THIS NEW LIFE. 08:30 SO THEY REJOICE. 08:32 NOW NOTICE IN ALL THREE PARABLES, THERE'S REJOICING. 08:36 WHEN THE SHEEP, THE MISSING SHEEP IS FOUND, IT SAYS HE 08:42 COMES HOME, HE CALLS TOGETHER HIS FRIENDS, HE SAYS, 08:44 "REJOICE WITH ME. 08:46 I FOUND MY SHEEP THAT IS LOST." 08:47 WHEN THE WOMAN FINDS THE MISSING COIN, SHE CALLS HER FRIENDS 08:51 AND SAYS, "REJOICE WITH ME." 08:53 AND THAT'S 15:9-10, "FOR I FOUND THE PIECE WHICH I LOST." 08:58 IF WE'RE GONNA REJOICE OVER A LOST SHEEP, OR A LOST COIN 09:03 FROM OUR COIN COLLECTION, HOW MUCH MORE WILL WE REJOICE 09:06 OVER A LOST SON, A LOST CHILD? 09:10 WHAT SHOULD CAUSE GREATER CELEBRATION THAN THIS BIRTH OF 09:15 ONE THAT WAS DEAD THAT IS NOW ALIVE, THAT WAS SICK 09:17 THAT IS NOW WELL, THAT WAS LOST THAT IS NOW FOUND. 09:20 AND SO THIS IS APPROPRIATE. 09:22 NOW, YOU HAVE HEARD PROBABLY SOMETHING SAID BEFORE ABOUT 09:27 CHURCHES THAT ARE PREDISPOSED TOWARDS TOO MUCH CELEBRATION. 09:33 TIMING IS EVERYTHING WITH A CHRISTIAN. 09:37 THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THERE'S A TIME TO SING, A TIME TO DANCE, 09:41 THERE'S A TIME TO MOURN. 09:43 AND EVEN THERE'S PROPER TIMES DURING THE WEEK. 09:47 WHEN WE ENTER INTO FORMAL WORSHIP, THAT IS TO BE DONE 09:52 WITH REVERENCE, AWE. 09:53 WE LISTEN TO GOD. 09:55 YOU KNOW IN OUR SERVICES, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO CLAP 09:58 DURING SPECIAL MUSIC, BUT TO SAY, "AMEN." 10:02 AND WHEN SOMEONE IS BAPTIZED, YOU SAY, "HALLELUJAH." 10:05 I MEAN IT'S WONDERFUL. 10:06 THAT'S A TIME TO REJOICE. 10:07 YOU MIGHT SING DIFFERENT SONGS DURING A WORSHIP SERVICE THAN 10:11 YOU WOULD SING MAYBE DURING AN EVANGELISTIC MEETING OR 10:13 A REVIVAL OR A CAMP MEETING. 10:15 RIGHT? 10:16 AND SO THERE'S A TIME AND THERE'S A PLACE FOR ALL 10:19 THINGS THAT DICTATES THAT. 10:22 BUT EVEN AMONG CHRISTIANS, WE OUGHT TO BE A HAPPY PEOPLE. 10:25 WE OUGHT TO REJOICE. 10:26 BUT OUR WORSHIP OUGHT TO BE REVERENT. 10:29 THERE'S ALSO A TIME FOR US TO SIGH AND TO CRY. 10:33 YOU READ EZEKIEL 9. 10:35 THERE'S A TIME TO MOURN. 10:36 NOW YOU DON'T WANT TO REJOICE AT SOMEONE'S FUNERAL. 10:44 USED TO HAVE SOMEONE CAME TO CHURCH HERE ALL THE TIME 10:46 AND THEY SAID "AMEN" AFTER EVERYTHING. 10:51 AND SOMETIMES YOU'D SAY SOMETHING VERY BAD 10:56 AND THEY'D SAY, "AMEN." 10:58 AND YOU'D THINK, WELL THAT WAS A BAD PLACE TO SAY IT. 11:02 SO TIMING IS VERY IMPORTANT. 11:04 AND I THINK ONE TIME I MISSPOKE AND I GOT THE NAME OF JESUS 11:08 AND SATAN MIXED UP. 11:09 AND THEY STILL SAID, "AMEN." 11:12 AND SO THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. 11:14 YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE RIGHT TIMING. 11:17 AND WHEN THIS SON CAME HOME, IT WAS A TIME TO REJOICE. 11:19 BUT THE SECOND SON, WHO'S THE FOCUS, 11:21 HE DIDN'T WANT TO REJOICE. 11:23 SO WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT REPENTANCE, 11:26 RECEPTION, REJOICING, AND NOW THERE'S RIVALRY. 11:32 THIS PARABLE BEGINS BY SAYING THAT THERE'S A FATHER THAT 11:35 HAD TWO SONS. 11:39 GO TO 15:25. 11:42 NOW WE GET TO THE SECOND SON. 11:45 "THE OLDER SON WAS IN THE FIELD. 11:49 AND HE CAME AND DREW NEAR TO THE HOUSE, AND HE HEARD 11:52 THE MUSIC AND THE DANCING. 11:54 SO HE CALLED ONE OF THE SERVANTS AND ASKED, 'WHAT DO THESE THINGS 11:57 MEAN?'" HE WOULDN'T EVEN GO IN, 11:59 FIND OUT FOR HIMSELF. 12:01 "AND THE SERVANT SAID, 'YOUR BROTHER HAS COME, AND BECAUSE 12:06 YOUR FATHER RECEIVED HIM SAFE AND SOUND, HE HAS KILLED 12:09 THE FATTED CALF.'" AND EVERYBODY'S CELEBRATING. 12:13 WELL, HOW DID THAT MAKE HIM FEEL? 12:16 YOU NOTICE THROUGH THE BIBLE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STORIES 12:19 THAT TALK ABOUT A RIVALRY BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS. 12:22 HOW DOES THE BIBLE BEGIN? 12:24 ADAM AND EVE INITIALLY HAVE-- THERE WAS A MAN THAT HAD 12:28 TWO SONS: CAIN AND ABEL. 12:31 WERE THEY DIFFERENT? 12:32 VERY DIFFERENT. 12:34 HOW DOES ONE BROTHER FEEL ABOUT THE OTHER? 12:38 ABEL IS DISAPPOINTED WITH CAIN BECAUSE CAIN IS NOT DOING 12:40 WHAT GOD SAID HE SHOULD DO. 12:43 AND CAIN IS UPSET BECAUSE HE'S GETTING, ABEL GETS THE 12:48 FAVOR OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER. 12:51 WHEN ABEL MAKES HIS OFFERING, THE FATHER SENDS FIRE DOWN. 12:55 HE'S FAVORED. 12:56 THAT MAKES CAIN ANGRY. 12:59 AND HE KILLS HIS BROTHER. 13:02 JACOB AND ESAU. 13:04 THERE WAS A MAN THAT HAD TWO SONS. 13:06 ARE THEY DIFFERENT? 13:08 ISAAC GIVES THE BLESSING TO JACOB. 13:12 INITIALLY HE'S SUPPOSED TO GIVE IT TO ESAU, 13:14 BUT HE GIVES IT TO JACOB. 13:16 AND HOW DOES ESAU FEEL? 13:18 HE WANTS TO KILL HIS BROTHER. 13:20 WELL AT THE END OF THAT STORY, THE BROTHERS RECONCILE. 13:23 THAT'S GOOD NEWS. 13:25 THEN YOU READ ON AND IT TELLS US THAT JACOB THROUGH RACHEL 13:29 HAD TWO SONS. 13:31 MATTER OF FACT, YOU CAN EVEN READ ABOUT THIS 13:32 IN GENESIS 44:27. 13:36 "THEN YOUR SERVANT MY FATHER SAID TO US, 'YOU KNOW THAT 13:38 MY WIFE BORE ME TWO SONS.'" IT'S INTERESTING THAT JACOB 13:41 WOULD SAY, "MY WIFE BORE ME TWO SONS." 13:43 HOW MANY BOYS DID JACOB HAVE? 13:45 TWELVE. 13:47 BUT JACOB WAS THINKING OF RACHEL AS HIS PRIMARY WIFE. 13:49 "SHE BORE ME TWO SONS." 13:51 ONE GOES INTO A FAR COUNTRY: JOSEPH. 13:55 WAS THERE A BIG REUNION WHEN JOSEPH COMES BACK TO HIS FATHER? 13:59 WAS THERE A REUNION WHEN THIS PRODIGAL CAME HOME? 14:02 IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON, JESUS IS DRAWING UPON 14:06 THE JEWISH HISTORY OF THESE TWO SONS. 14:11 AND YOU CAN FIND A NUMBER OF CASES LIKE THIS ALL THROUGH 14:15 THE JEWISH HISTORY OF THESE TWO BOYS. 14:17 SOME OF YOU REMEMBER THE STORY THAT JOAB PUT IN THE MOUTH OF 14:21 A WOMAN. 14:22 SHE TOLD KING DAVID. 14:23 TWO BOYS FOUGHT. 14:24 ONE KILLED THE OTHER. 14:25 AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE MY OTHER SON AWAY AND EXECUTE HIM. 14:28 AND ALL THROUGH THESE STORIES IN THE BIBLE, IT TALKS ABOUT 14:30 THESE TWO BOYS. 14:32 THEY SORT OF REPRESENT TWO CLASSES OF PEOPLE. 14:36 JESUS DIED BETWEEN TWO THIEVES--WHO KNOWS, 14:39 THEY MAY HAVE BEEN BROTHERS-- THAT REPRESENT THOSE SAME 14:42 TWO CLASSES. 14:44 AND THEN IN OUR SCRIPTURE READING THIS MORNING, 14:46 MATTHEW 21. 14:49 WHAT DO YOU THINK? 14:50 A MAN HAD TWO SONS. 14:51 ONE DID THE FATHER'S WILL; ONE DID NOT. 14:54 THE FIRST ONE STARTED OUT SAYING, "I'M NOT GONNA DO IT." 14:56 BUT HE REPENTS, AND THEN HE DOES IT. 14:59 THE OTHER ONE SAYS, "I'M GONNA DO IT," BUT IN THE END, 15:02 HE DOESN'T. 15:05 AND NOW WE GET TO THIS SECOND SON IN THE STORY OF 15:07 THE PRODIGAL SON. 15:10 AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, HE'S THE ONE WHO'S ON THE OUTSIDE. 15:13 IT'S VERY INTERESTING. 15:16 FATHER IS ASKING HIM TO COME IN, BUT HE WON'T. 15:20 THERE'S A RESISTANCE THERE. 15:23 LUKE 15:28, "HE BECAME ANGRY AND WAS NOT WILLING TO GO IN. 15:30 BUT HIS FATHER COMES OUT AND ENTREATS HIM." 15:34 HE PLEADS WITH HIM. 15:36 NOW THE FATHER DOES SOMETHING FOR THIS OLDER SON THAT HE DID 15:40 NOT DO FOR THE YOUNGEST SON. 15:42 WHEN THE YOUNGER SON LEFT HOME, THE FATHER LET HIM GO. 15:45 HE COULDN'T STOP HIM. 15:47 BUT HE CAME BACK. 15:48 NOW THE OLDER SON IS ON THE OUTSIDE. 15:52 AND THE FATHER HEARS THAT HE'S ON THE OUTSIDE. 15:54 HE COULD HAVE SAID, "WELL, I'LL JUST WAIT FOR HIM 15:56 TO COME HOME LIKE I WAITED FOR THE OTHER ONE." 15:57 BUT HE GOES AFTER HIM. 15:59 WELL, HE JUST HAS TO GO OUTSIDE. 16:02 HE GOES OUT TO PLEAD WITH HIM AND ENTREATS HIM TO COME IN. 16:07 HE DOESN'T WANT TO. 16:09 WHO DOES THIS OLDER BOY REPRESENT? 16:14 LET ME TELL YOU WHAT CHRIST IS CONSTANTLY DEALING 16:17 WITH IN THE GOSPELS. 16:20 YOU'VE GOT THE JEWISH NATION-- NOW THIS IS GONNA APPLY 16:23 TO YOU SO PLEASE LISTEN--YOU'VE GOT THE JEWISH NATION WHO FOR 16:27 2,000 YEARS WERE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE. 16:31 THEY WERE GIVEN THE ORACLES OF TRUTH. 16:34 THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE SPECIAL PEOPLE. 16:37 AND NOW JESUS COMES ALONG AND HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW WHAT? 16:40 I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS. 16:41 NOT ONLY DO I WANT TO SAVE MY PEOPLE, THE JEWS, 16:45 I WANT TO SAVE EVERYBODY THAT'S WILLING TO COME TO ME." 16:48 AND THE JEWS ARE GOING, "WAIT A SECOND. 16:49 YOU MEAN WE'RE NOT EXCLUSIVE ANYMORE? 16:52 THIS IS NOT A MEMBERS ONLY? 16:54 YOU'RE GONNA LET ALL THE GENTILES, THESE UNCLEAN 16:56 GENTILES, THEY'VE BEEN OUR ENEMIES FOR MILLENNIA, 16:59 YOU'RE GONNA LET THEM COME IN? 17:02 THEY'VE BEEN SQUANDERING THEIR HERITAGE," 17:04 JUST LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON, "AND YOU'RE GONNA LET THEM COME 17:08 INTO THE FATHER'S HOUSE? 17:09 WE THOUGHT WE WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT WOULD BE SITTING DOWN 17:11 IN THE KINGDOM WITH OUR FATHERS ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB." 17:14 AND ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR THEM TO ACCEPT IS THAT JESUS 17:18 PLANNED ON SAVING THE GENTILES. 17:19 EVEN THE APOSTLES STRUGGLED WITH THIS. 17:22 GOD HAD TO BEAT PETER OVER THE HEAD WITH A VISION THREE 17:24 TIMES BEFORE HE UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD HAS CLEANSED THE GENTILES. 17:29 THAT VISION OF THE ANIMALS THAT CAME DOWN HAD NOTHING TO DO 17:31 WITH PORK. 17:33 PETER SAID, "GOD HAS SHOWN ME NOT TO CALL ANY MAN UNCLEAN." 17:37 BECAUSE EVEN 3 1/2 YEARS AFTER STEPHEN IS STONED, THE APOSTLES 17:41 ARE ONLY TALKING TO JEWS. 17:44 AT PENTECOST, IT WAS JEWS THAT WERE BAPTIZED. 17:47 AND GOD IS TRYING TO SAY, "LOOK, I WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT THEY 17:51 GET TO GO TO THE FATHER'S HOUSE TOO, THE GENTILES, 17:54 NOT JUST THE JEWS." 17:56 AND THERE'S GONNA BE SOME JEWS THAT WON'T BE IN. 17:59 LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW OTHER PASSAGES THAT BEAR THIS OUT. 18:02 THIS IS THE CENTRAL MEANING OF THIS PARABLE. 18:04 SURE, THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON IS TELLING US ABOUT 18:08 THE LOVE OF GOD FOR THE SINNER. 18:10 BUT THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING MUCH DEEPER THAN THIS. 18:13 IT'S TALKING ABOUT GOD'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE ALL KINDS 18:15 OF PEOPLE FROM ALL KINDS OF BACKGROUNDS, NOT JUST MEMBERS 18:19 OF OUR CHURCH, BUT PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T KNOW CHRIST. 18:24 NOT MEMBERS OF JUST ONE RACE OR ONE NATION, BUT THOSE WHO'VE 18:28 BEEN IN A FAR COUNTRY GET TO COME. 18:31 THAT WAS THE GENTILES, THE ONES IN THE FAR COUNTRY. 18:35 LUKE 5:30, LUKE 5:30, "AND THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES BEGAN 18:42 GRUMBLING AT HIS DISCIPLES." 18:45 JESUS AFTER HE INVITED MATTHEW TO BE ONE OF THE APOSTLES, 18:48 MATTHEW WANTED TO HAVE A DINNER FOR HIM. 18:50 AND MATTHEW INVITED JESUS TO HIS HOUSE FOR DINNER. 18:52 AND THEY WOULD EAT IN A COURTYARD OUTSIDE. 18:55 EVERYBODY COULD SEE WHO'S EATING THERE IN THE COOL OF THE DAY. 18:57 AND MATTHEW, FORMER PUBLICAN, BROUGHT ALL OF HIS FRIENDS 19:00 FROM HIS PAST LIFE. 19:02 AND IT INCLUDED SOME LADIES OF THE NIGHT AND SOME OF THE OFF 19:06 SCOURING OF SOCIETY. 19:08 AND THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS 19:10 RABBI, JESUS, WAS ASSOCIATING WITH THESE PEOPLE. 19:16 "AND THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES BEGAN GRUMBLING 19:18 AT HIS DISCIPLES, SAYING, 'WHY DO YOU EAT AND DRINK WITH 19:20 TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS?' AND JESUS OVERHEARD 19:24 WHAT THEY WERE SAYING. 19:25 HE "ANSWERED AND SAID, 'IT IS NOT THOSE WHO ARE WELL 19:29 THAT NEED A PHYSICIAN, BUT THOSE WHO ARE SICK. 19:32 I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS, 19:34 TO REPENTANCE.'" SCRIBES AND PHARISEES THOUGHT 19:36 THAT THEY WERE RIGHTEOUS. 19:38 AND THEY SAID, "WHY WOULD THE LORD SAVE THESE PEOPLE?" 19:42 AND AGAIN, LUKE 19:7, IN THE STORY OF ZACCHAEUS, WHEN 19:46 ZACCHAEUS, THIS TAX COLLECTOR IS ACCEPTED BY JESUS, WHEN 19:50 THE PEOPLE SAW THAT HE WAS GONNA GO TO THE HOUSE OF A PUBLICAN, 19:54 "THEY ALL BEGAN TO GRUMBLE AND SAY, 'HE HAS GONE TO BE 19:57 THE GUEST OF A MAN WHO IS A SINNER.'" 19:59 JESUS RESPONDS BY SAYING, "THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SEEK 20:03 AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH IS LOST." 20:05 YOU REMEMBER WHEN CHRIST WAS IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON, A PUBLICAN 20:09 WHO HAD BEEN A LEPER THAT WAS FORGIVEN, A PHARISEE--NOT 20:13 A PUBLICAN--A PHARISEE WHO HAD BEEN A LEPER THAT WAS FORGIVEN. 20:16 AND WHEN MARY IS WASHING HIS FEET, SIMON THINKS WITHIN 20:21 HIMSELF, "WELL, IF THIS MAN WAS A PROPHET, HE'D KNOW WHO 20:23 AND WHAT MANNER OF WOMAN THIS IS THAT'S TOUCHING HIM, 20:26 FOR SHE'S A SINNER." 20:27 THEY HAD IT IN THEIR MIND THAT GOD HATED SINNERS. 20:31 THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD HATES IS SIN. 20:34 GOD LOVES THE SINNER, JUST LIKE THE FATHER LOVED 20:36 THE PRODIGAL SON. 20:37 EVEN THOUGH HE WAS IN A FAR COUNTRY AND NEEDED TO COME HOME, 20:40 HE LOVED HIM. 20:42 AND GOD LOVES EVERYBODY. 20:44 AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE 20:46 OF GOD. 20:47 GOD LOVES THE LOST WHO ARE OUT THERE IN THESE PAGAN COUNTRIES. 20:52 GOD LOVES THE LOST, TAX COLLECTORS, AND HARLOTS 20:55 THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT DON'T KNOW HIM. 20:58 THEY'RE JUST LIVING FOR THE WORLD. 21:00 HE LOVES THEM. 21:01 HE WANTS THEM TO COME TO HIS HOUSE. 21:04 BUT SOMETIMES THE SON THAT IS IN THE HOUSE LIKE THE SCRIBES 21:09 AND PHARISEES THINK WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT HE LOVES, 21:13 'CAUSE WE'RE WORKING FOR HIM. 21:15 WE HAVE TO REALIZE IN OUR MINDS THAT, YES, HE LOVES US. 21:20 BUT HE DOESN'T LOVE US MORE THAN HE LOVES THE LOST. 21:26 GOD LOVES THE SAVED. 21:28 THAT'S WHY WE ARE SAVED. 21:31 BUT HE LOVES THE LOST. 21:32 AND IF WE LOVE HIM, WE WANT TO SAVE THE LOST. 21:35 WE WANT TO LOVE THEM TOO. 21:37 THIS OLDER BOY DOES NOT LOVE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER. 21:42 HE FIGURES, "OH, HE'S GONE AND WASTED HIS LIFE ON THE WORLD. 21:46 HE'S GETTING WHAT HE DESERVES." 21:48 MATTHEW 20:11, ANOTHER ONE. 21:52 THIS IS THE REAL CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THIS PARABLE. 21:57 "AND WHEN THEY HAD RECEIVED IT, THEY COMPLAINED AGAINST THE 22:01 LANDOWNER, SAYING, 'THESE LAST MEN HAVE WORKED ONLY ONE HOUR, 22:05 AND YOU'VE MADE THEM EQUAL TO US WHO HAVE BORNE THE BURDEN OF 22:08 THE HEAT OF THE DAY.'" YOU REMEMBER THE PARABLE. 22:11 JESUS SAID THERE WAS A MAN. 22:13 HE ASKED THESE MEN TO GO WORK IN HIS VINEYARD. 22:16 AND DIFFERENT TIMES DURING THE DAY HE WENT TO THE 22:17 MARKETPLACE AND SAID, "I STILL HAVE WORK TO DO IN MY VINEYARD, 22:20 WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO GO?" 22:21 AND HE TOLD THE FIRST ONES, "I'LL PAY YOU A PENNY." 22:24 THAT WAS THE DAY'S WAGES. 22:26 AND THEN DURING THE DAY, HE SAID, "YOU GO 22:28 AND I'LL PAY YOU WHAT'S FAIR." 22:29 AND DIFFERENT TIMES. 22:29 FINALLY THE ELEVENTH HOUR HE FINDS SOME GUY STILL LINGERING. 22:32 HE SAYS, "HOW COME YOU'RE NOT WORKING?" 22:33 "OH, WE WEREN'T HERE AND DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE ASK." 22:35 "LOOK, YOU GO WORK IN MY VINEYARD, 22:37 I'LL PAY YOU WHAT'S FAIR." 22:38 SO IT COMES TIME TO PAY 'EM AT THE END OF THE DAY. 22:40 AND HE STARTS WITH THE ONES WHO WERE HIRED LAST. 22:44 AND HE GIVES THEM A PENNY. 22:45 OH, THE ONES WHO'VE BEEN WORKING ALL DAY LONG THINK, 22:47 "AH, THEY GAVE THEM A PENNY; HE'S GONNA GIVE US A BONUS." 22:51 BUT HE COMES ALONG: PENNY, PENNY, PENNY, PENNY, PENNY. 22:55 AND THE ONES WHO HAD WORKED ALL DAY LONG SAID, 22:57 "WAIT A SECOND HERE! 22:58 WHAT ARE YOU DOING GIVING THEM--THEY WORKED ONE HOUR! 23:02 JUST SOMETHING'S GOING DOWN. 23:03 THEY WORKED ONE HOUR AND YOU'RE GIVING THEM 23:04 THE SAME THING YOU GIVE US? 23:05 THAT'S JUST NOT FAIR." 23:09 GOD IS NOT FAIR. 23:12 PRAISE GOD HE IS NOT FAIR. 23:15 PEOPLE ASK ME, "HOW ARE YOU DOING, DOUG?" 23:18 MY FAVORITE ANSWER LATELY IS, "MUCH BETTER THAN I DESERVE." 23:23 PRAISE GOD HE'S NOT FAIR. 23:25 IF GOD WAS FAIR, WOULD YOU HAVE A CHANCE? 23:29 WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR SIN? 23:31 WHAT DO YOU DESERVE? 23:33 IF GOD'S GONNA BE FAIR, HE GIVES YOU WHAT YOU'VE EARNED. 23:36 ANYONE HERE WANT WHAT THEY'VE EARNED? 23:39 YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? 23:42 THIS OLDER BROTHER IS SAYING, "WHILE I HAVE WORKED 23:46 ALL DAY LONG, HOW COME I'M NOT GETTING--YOU'VE NEVER GIVEN ME 23:51 A GOAT." 23:52 "WELL, NEVER ASKED FOR ONE." 23:54 HE WAS ASKING TOO LITTLE. 23:57 SO LET ME GIVE YOU ONE MORE, MATTHEW 21:32. 24:02 I'M DEALING WITH THE PRINCIPLE HERE OF WHO THIS OLDER BOY 24:08 REPRESENTS. 24:11 "FOR JOHN CAME UNTO YOU IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 24:15 AND YOU BELIEVED HIM NOT; BUT THE PUBLICANS AND THE HARLOTS 24:18 BELIEVED HIM; AND WHEN YOU HAD SEEN IT, YOU REPENTED 24:22 NOT AFTERWARD THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE HIM." 24:26 AND SO HERE ARE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. 24:28 THEY'RE ON THE OUTSIDE. 24:30 WHO WAS IT THAT WAS READY FOR JESUS WHEN HE CAME? 24:32 THE POOR SHEPHERDS IN THE FIELD AND THESE WISE MEN FROM 24:35 ANOTHER COUNTRY. 24:36 WAS THERE A CELEBRATION AMONG THE CHURCH MEMBERS 24:39 WHEN JESUS CAME THE FIRST TIME? 24:41 OR WERE THEY OBLIVIOUS TO IT? 24:44 AND THIS IS SORT OF ONE OF THE MESSAGES THAT THE LORD IS 24:47 GIVING US IN THIS PARABLE. 24:49 NOW ONE OF THE THINGS I SEE AS THE DIFFERENCE. 24:52 WHY DID THE YOUNGER SON LEAVE HOME? 24:56 HE THOUGHT HIS FATHER WAS TOO STRICT. 24:59 HE WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM THE LAW OF THE FATHER. 25:04 AND SO HE WAS UPSET WITH THE FATHER'S TOO LEGALISTIC, 25:07 TOO MANY RULES. 25:08 "I'M GONNA GET OUT THERE, AND I'M GONNA HAVE SOME FUN. 25:10 I'VE BEEN IN THE CHURCH ALL MY LIFE. 25:12 I CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT THERE IN THE WORLD." 25:14 NOT REALIZING HE WAS GONNA END UP STARVING IN A PIG PEN. 25:19 HE FINALLY REALIZED HOW GOOD IT WAS IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE, 25:21 HE COMES TO HIS SENSES. 25:22 HE COMES HOME. 25:23 BUT THE OLDER BROTHER, HE NEVER LEAVES HOME. 25:27 HE NEVER HAS THAT EPIPHANY TO REALIZE HOW GOOD THE FATHER IS. 25:30 THE PROBLEM WITH THE OLDER BROTHER WAS THE FATHER'S LOVE. 25:35 HE THINKS THE FATHER'S TOO MERCIFUL. 25:38 HE GETS MAD WHEN THE FATHER FORGIVES HIS YOUNGER BROTHER. 25:42 THE YOUNGER SON LEAVES HOME BECAUSE OF THE FATHER'S LAW. 25:46 THE OLDER BROTHER WILL NOT GO IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE 25:48 OF THE FATHER'S LOVE. 25:50 ISN'T THAT RIGHT? 25:53 YOU COULD PUT IT THIS WAY. 25:54 ONE: HE ERRS ON THE SIDE OF LAW. 25:58 THE OTHER ONE ERRS ON THE SIDE OF GRACE. 26:01 ONE'S UPSET BECAUSE OF THE LAW. 26:02 ONE'S UPSET BECAUSE OF THE GRACE. 26:04 DO WE STILL HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH TODAY? 26:07 YOU GET THESE TWO EXTREMES. 26:10 SO WHO IS THE LORD SPEAKING TO IN THIS PARABLE? 26:13 ME AND YOU AND YOU. 26:19 HE'S TALKING TO ALL OF US. 26:20 WE'RE ALL IN HERE SOMEWHERE. 26:21 JUST THINK ABOUT ALL THE PLAYERS IN THIS PARABLE. 26:24 TALKS ABOUT THE FATHER. 26:25 WHO IS HE? 26:26 IT'S GOD, JESUS. 26:28 TALKS ABOUT THE FAR COUNTRY. 26:31 THAT'S BEING LOST. 26:32 TALKS ABOUT THE YOUNG SON. 26:33 HE'S THE ONE WHO'S IN THE FAR COUNTRY. 26:35 HE'S LOST. 26:37 TALKS OF THE OLDER BROTHER: THOSE WHO ARE LOST IN CHURCH. 26:40 THE YOUNGER BOY COMES HOME. 26:42 TALKS ABOUT THE PIGS AND THE FOOD OF THE PIGS. 26:47 IT'S TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE WORLD EATS. 26:49 WHY DO YOU EAT THAT WHICH IS NOT GOOD? 26:51 IT TALKS ABOUT THE BREAD IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE. 26:53 THAT'S THE WORD OF GOD. 26:54 TALKS ABOUT THE STRANGER IN THE FAR COUNTRY THAT ENSLAVES 26:57 THE YOUNGER SON. 26:58 THAT'S THE DEVIL. 27:00 MAKES HIM FEED HIS PIGS. 27:01 ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION ARE REALLY 27:04 IN THIS STORY. 27:06 SO WE'RE IN THERE SOMEWHERE. 27:09 AND WE'VE ALL PROBABLY BEEN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT. 27:12 SOMETIMES WE MIGHT LOOK DOWN OUR NOSES AT OTHERS AND ARE PLAYING 27:17 THE PART OF THE OLDER BROTHER. 27:20 IN THE RESPONSE OF THE OLDER BROTHER TO THE FATHER, LISTEN 27:25 TO HIS EMPHASIS ON HIMSELF. 27:29 LUKE 15:29. 27:31 IF YOU HAVE A PEN OR PENCIL, IF YOU MAKE ANY MARKINGS IN YOUR 27:33 BIBLE, YOU MIGHT CIRCLE A COUPLE OF THESE. 27:36 "AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID TO HIS FATHER, 27:40 'LO, THESE MANY YEARS I--" CIRCLE THAT-- "HAVE SERVED 27:46 THEE; NEITHER TRANSGRESSED I AT ANY TIME THY COMMANDMENT; AND 27:52 YET THOU NEVER GAVEST ME A KID, THAT I MIGHT MAKE MERRY 27:57 WITH MY FRIENDS." 28:00 BY THE WAY, IN THAT PASSAGE IN ISAIAH WHERE THE DEVIL SAYS, 28:05 "I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH. 28:07 I WILL MAKE MY THRONE UP IN THE STARS," HE MENTIONS "I" 28:12 FIVE TIMES ALSO. 28:14 AND HERE YOU'VE GOT IT. 28:16 "I," "I," "ME," "I," "MY." 28:20 WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF THE OLDER BROTHER? 28:23 YOU WOULD THINK SINCE HE NEVER LEFT HOME, HE REPRESENTS 28:25 THE SAVED, IT'S GONNA BE LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. 28:28 YOU MEAN THERE COULD BE SOMEBODY IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE 28:30 AND ALL THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT IS THEMSELF? 28:32 MOST OF OUR PROBLEMS IN RELATIONSHIP 28:35 ARE DUE TO SELFISHNESS. 28:39 MOST OF OUR PROBLEMS IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER, 28:42 WHETHER IT'S BROTHER AND SISTER, BROTHER AND BROTHER, HUSBAND 28:44 AND WIFE, ALMOST ALWAYS, 99.99% OF THE TIME, 28:51 HAVE TO DO WITH SELFISHNESS, TYPICALLY ON THE PART OF BOTH, 28:54 SOMETIMES ON THE PART OF ONE. 28:56 BUT SOMEBODY'S BEING VERY SELFISH. 28:59 AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS IN THE CONFLICT. 29:02 THIS BROTHER, IS HE THINKING ABOUT THE FATHER'S MERCY 29:07 OR IS HE THINKING ABOUT, "ALL I'VE DONE FOR THE FATHER"? 29:09 "I HAVE SERVED YOU THESE MANY YEARS." 29:11 IT'S LIKE THOSE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD. 29:13 "WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE HEAT OF THE DAY." 29:15 EVEN THE DISCIPLES SAID, "LORD, WE'VE SERVED YOU 29:17 AND LEFT EVERYTHING. 29:18 WHAT DO WE GET?" 29:19 IT'S KIND OF HUMAN NATURE. 29:20 "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? 29:22 WHAT DO I GET?" 29:24 AND YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL PLAYS ON THAT EVEN WITHIN THE CHURCH. 29:30 PASTORS ARE TEMPTED. 29:32 I'VE BEEN TEMPTED TO TRY TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO CHRIST 29:35 BY TELLING THEM WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE. 29:38 NOW THERE ARE BENEFITS. 29:40 AND THERE ARE BLESSINGS. 29:43 BUT HE DOESN'T PROMISE TO MAKE US ALL RICH 29:46 AS SOME PASTORS HAVE SAID. 29:48 THERE'S GREAT BLESSINGS IN THE HEALTH MESSAGE. 29:52 BUT NOT EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE HEALED. 29:55 YOU GOTTA BE HONEST WITH FOLKS. 29:58 AND THERE IS A CROSS, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS WANTING TO KNOW, 30:02 "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?" 30:03 SO YOU GOTTA TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT HEAVEN. 30:05 AND THAT'S IMPORTANT. 30:06 YOU GOTTA TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE GOLDEN STREETS. 30:09 BUT THE BEST THING IS THE LOVE OF BEING IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE. 30:15 WHY DID THAT BOY NOT RUN AWAY WITH HIS YOUNGER BROTHER? 30:18 YOU KNOW, YOU ALMOST--YOU ALMOST HAVE TO WONDER, WHEN THE YOUNGER 30:21 BOY LEFT, AND HE TOOK THE FORTUNE, AND HE WENT TO THIS 30:25 FAR COUNTRY, AND HE WAS PARTYING THESE WILD PARTIES, 30:28 THE OLDER BROTHER MIGHT HAVE BEEN THINKING, 30:30 "AH, I'D LIKE TO DO THAT TOO. 30:34 BUT I GOTTA STICK AROUND, BECAUSE I'LL GET MORE 30:38 IF I STICK AROUND. 30:40 I'LL GET THE HOUSE." 30:43 AND YOU WONDER, WHY DID HE STAY HOME? 30:48 HIS FOCUS IS NOT, "DAD, IT'S REALLY BEEN GREAT 30:50 BEING WITH YOU ALL THESE YEARS." 30:52 HIS FOCUS IS, "I'VE SERVED YOU. 30:54 YOU DIDN'T EVEN GIVE ME A LITTLE GOAT FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS." 31:01 SO WE NOTICE ONE THING, ONE REASON HE'S NOT HAPPY. 31:04 HE'S SAYING, "THIS ISN'T FAIR." 31:07 HE'S THINKING HE'S EARNED SOMETHING. 31:09 SO WHO DOES HE REPRESENT? 31:12 WELL, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES, 31:15 BUT HE ALSO REPRESENTS MANY IN THE CHURCH TODAY WHO THINK 31:19 THAT WE'VE EARNED IT. 31:21 I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. 31:23 HE'S ALSO CONSCIENCE OF HIS PERFECTION. 31:25 LUKE 15:29, NOTICE, "I NEVER TRANSGRESSED 31:30 YOUR COMMANDMENT AT ANY TIME." 31:33 HE'S--FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO 31:35 THE FATHER? 31:36 THAT YOU LOVE YOUR BROTHER. 31:38 AND HE DOESN'T LOVE HIS BROTHER. 31:41 LUKE 18:10, "TWO MEN WENT UP TO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY." 31:46 YOU NOTICE LUKE IS OFTEN EMPHASIZING THE CONTRAST BETWEEN 31:51 THE WICKED LOST AND THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS WHO THINK 31:55 THEY'RE SAVED, ANOTHER PARABLE THAT BARES THIS OUT. 31:58 "TWO MEN GO UP TO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY; ONE IS A PHARISEE, 32:01 THE OTHER IS A TAX COLLECTOR. 32:02 THE PHARISEE STOOD AND HE PRAYED THUS WITH HIMSELF, 'GOD, I THANK 32:06 YOU THAT I AM NOT LIKE OTHER MEN-EXTORTIONERS, UNJUST, 32:08 ADULTERERS, OR EVEN THIS TAX COLLECTOR. 32:11 I FAST TWICE A WEEK; AND I PAY TITHE OF ALL THAT I POSSESS.'" 32:14 AND OF COURSE THE PUBLICAN IN THE BACK "DOES NOT LIFT UP 32:17 SO MUCH OF HIS EYES UNTO HEAVEN, BUT HE SMITES ON HIS BREAST, 32:20 AND SAYS, 'LORD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER!'" 32:23 HERE AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT THE ONE WHO IS IN THE CHURCH, 32:26 SELF-RIGHTEOUS. 32:29 AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE PUBLICAN, THE SINNER, 32:31 HE'S ASKING FOR MERCY. 32:33 THE YOUNGER SON CAME HOME. 32:34 HE REPENTED. 32:35 HE ASKED FOR MERCY. 32:36 HE'S FORGIVEN. 32:38 THE PUBLICAN DOES NOT GO DOWN TO HIS HOUSE--NO, NO, NO-- 32:41 THE PHARISEE DOES NOT GO DOWN TO HIS HOUSE FORGIVEN, 32:45 BECAUSE HE'S TRUSTING IN HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. 32:47 HE'S TRUSTING IN HIS WORKS. 32:49 THIS OLDER BROTHER IS SAYING, "I'VE SERVED YOU 32:52 ALL THESE YEARS. 32:53 I'VE EARNED IT." 32:55 HE'S CONSCIOUS OF HIS PERFECTION. 32:59 "I'VE NEVER BROKEN YOUR COMMANDMENT." 33:01 IT'S LIKE THAT PHARISEE. 33:02 "ALL THESE THINGS I'VE KEPT FROM MY YOUTH UP." 33:04 REMEMBER THE RICH, YOUNG RULER COMES TO JESUS? 33:06 "ALL THESE THINGS I'VE KEPT." 33:07 THEY HAD A VERY PUNY IDEA OF THE LAW. 33:10 IT WAS ALL EXTERNAL OBEDIENCE TO THEM. 33:12 IT WASN'T THE INTERNAL ATTITUDES. 33:15 THEY WOULD PRAY TO BE SEEN OF MEN AND FAST TO BE SEEN OF MEN 33:18 AND GIVE TO BE SEEN OF MEN. 33:19 IT'S ALL IN THE OUTSIDE. 33:21 I'VE NEVER BROKEN YOUR COMMANDMENT. 33:22 PAUL EVEN THOUGHT THAT WAY. 33:24 HE SAID, YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE JEWISH PERSPECTIVE, "I WAS 33:28 NEVER OUTSIDE THE LAW ONCE UNTIL SIN REVIVED AND THEN I DIED." 33:32 HE REALIZED THROUGH GOD'S SPIRIT, HE WAS A SINNER." 33:36 IT'S MORE THAN AN ACTION; IT'S AN ATTITUDE. 33:39 AND HE SAID IN VERSE 29, I'M BACK IN LUKE 15, 33:45 "I'M NOT GETTING WHAT I DESERVE. 33:47 YET YOU NEVER GAVE ME A YOUNG GOAT, THAT I MIGHT MAKE MERRY 33:50 WITH MY FRIENDS." 33:53 THIS IS FAVORITISM. 33:55 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SIBLINGS? 33:58 COME ON. 33:59 I HAVE ONE STEP-BROTHER, ONE REAL BROTHER. 34:05 NOW A SHOW OF HANDS. 34:07 HOW MANY OF YOU THINK SOMETIMES YOUR PARENTS SHOW FAVORITISM? 34:14 HOW MANY OF YOU CAN'T RAISE YOUR HAND, 'CAUSE IT MIGHT GET OUT? 34:18 I THINK EVERY KID THAT HAS A BROTHER OR A SISTER THINKS 34:22 AT ONE TIME, "I'M NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY." 34:27 AND WE GOT NATHAN AND STEPHEN HERE. 34:28 THEY'RE PROBABLY THINKING THAT TOO. 34:31 I DIDN'T NOTICE THEIR HANDS. 34:34 BUT WAS THE FATHER SHOWING FAVORITISM? 34:40 IN A SENSE. 34:43 BUT YOU KNOW, EVERY PARENT SHOWS FAVORITISM TOWARDS 34:46 THE ONE WHO'S LOST AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE WHO'S SAVED. 34:50 IF YOU'VE GOT A THANKSGIVING DINNER, AND YOU GOT TEN KIDS, 34:53 AND THERE'S ONE EMPTY CHAIR, 'CAUSE YOU'VE GOT A KID IN 34:56 THE FAR COUNTRY, WHICH KID ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT AS A PARENT? 35:01 YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT'S IN A FAR COUNTRY. 35:03 IS THAT FAVORITISM, OR IS THAT THE NATURAL, YEARNING LOVE OF A 35:06 PARENT TOWARDS THE ONE WHO NEEDS IT THE MOST? 35:09 YOU KNOW WHY I RAISED MY HAND WHEN I SAID I THINK MY PARENTS 35:12 SHOWED FAVORITISM? 35:13 MY BROTHER WAS BORN WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS. 35:16 SO FALCON GOT A LOT OF SPECIAL ATTENTION. 35:19 I DON'T BEGRUDGE HIM THAT. 35:21 I UNDERSTAND IT. 35:22 BUT YEAH, HE DID GET FAVORITISM. 35:24 WHY? 35:25 'CAUSE HE NEEDED IT. 35:28 BECAUSE I LOVE MY BROTHER, I UNDERSTOOD IT. 35:31 AND THAT OTHER BROTHER, THAT OLDER BROTHER, 35:33 SHOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD. 35:35 "I AM SO GLAD MY BROTHER'S HOME." 35:37 HE NEEDED FAVORITISM. 35:40 I AM SO HAPPY FOR MY FATHER. 35:41 HE'S REJOICING NOW. 35:42 BUT HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE HAPPINESS OF THE FATHER. 35:45 HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE SERVANTS THAT ARE REJOICING. 35:47 HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT HIS BROTHER WHO'S FOUND 35:49 HIS WAY HOME. 35:50 WHO IS HE THINKING ABOUT? 35:52 JUST HIMSELF. 35:54 HE'S BEEN IN CHURCH ALL THESE YEARS, 35:56 AND HE'S STILL JUST SELFISH. 36:00 THE BOTTOM LINE IS AT THE END OF THE STORY, EVERYBODY'S 36:03 INSIDE THE HOUSE EXCEPT THE OLDER BROTHER. 36:07 IS IT POSSIBLE THAT AT THE END OF THE STORY, PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN 36:11 IN CHURCH ALL THEIR LIVES, STILL ARE MOTIVATED BY SELFISHNESS? 36:17 AND THEY'RE NOT IN THERE CELEBRATING SALVATION. 36:21 THIS IS--YOU KNOW, EVERYONE ALWAYS FOCUSES ON THE FIRST PART 36:24 OF THE STORY. 36:26 AND I'VE HEARD EVEN PREACHERS STOP WITH THE SON COMING HOME, 36:28 THE FATHER RECEIVING HIM. 36:29 THEY DON'T READ THE REST OF THE STORY. 36:31 JESUS TOLD THE WHOLE PARABLE AS A WARNING. 36:34 THAT'S WHY CHRIST SAID, "MANY WILL COME TO ME IN THAT DAY, 36:39 SAYING, 'LORD, LORD.' I'VE BEEN IN CHURCH ALL MY LIFE. 36:44 I'VE CAST OUT DEVILS AND I'VE TAUGHT IN THE STREETS AND 36:47 I'VE DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS. 36:48 MATTER OF FACT, I JUST CAME FROM THE FIELD." 36:52 AND THE LORD IS GONNA SAY, "I DON'T KNOW YOU." 36:56 THEY'RE NOT DOING IT 'CAUSE OF LOVE FOR GOD. 36:58 THEY'RE DOING IT, HE SAYS, "DEPART FROM ME, 37:00 YE WHO WORK INEQUITY." 37:01 AS LONG AS WE'RE STILL MOTIVATED BY SELFISHNESS, 37:04 WE DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT. 37:07 YOU'LL NEVER BE HAPPY IN THE WORLD MOTIVATED BY SELFISHNESS. 37:11 YOU WON'T BE HAPPY IN THE CHURCH MOTIVATED BY SELFISHNESS. 37:14 YOU NEED A NEW HEART. 37:15 THIS IS WHAT CONVERSION IS ALL ABOUT. 37:17 IT'S A NEW HEART. 37:18 IT'S A HEART OF LOVE. 37:19 THE FATHER HEART, HIS HEART'S BEEN BROKEN. 37:22 THE YOUNGER BROTHER'S HEART HAS BEEN BROKEN. 37:26 THEY EMBRACE. 37:27 THEY RECEIVE. 37:27 THEY LOVE. 37:28 THIS OTHER BOY'S OUT IN THE FIELD. 37:30 HE'S DOING ALL THE WORK. 37:30 HE'S LIKE MARTHA, MAD AT HER YOUNGER SISTER. 37:35 THERE YOU GET SIBLING RIVALRY AGAIN. 37:38 SHE'S SAYING, "JESUS, I'VE JUST BEEN OUT HERE SLAVING, GETTING 37:42 READY FOR A DINNER TO HONOR YOU. 37:45 IF YOU CARE ABOUT ME AT ALL, TELL MY SISTER TO HELP ME. 37:48 YOU'RE SHOWING FAVORITISM. 37:49 SHE'S JUST SITTING THERE GUSHING OVER YOUR EVERY WORD. 37:52 MAKE HER GET UP." 37:53 DOES JESUS MAKE HER GET UP? 37:56 HE SAYS, "NO, MARY'S HERE BECAUSE SHE LOVES. 37:59 SHE'S DRINKING IN THE WORD. 38:01 SHE WAS LOST, AND NOW SHE'S FOUND." 38:03 OF THE TWO GIRLS, MARTHA AND MARY, 38:05 WHICH ONE WAS THE PRODIGAL? 38:08 MARY WAS. 38:10 AND SHE'S SITTING AT JESUS' FEET. 38:12 SHE'S HAPPY TO BE IN THE HOUSE. 38:14 CAN YOU SEE THIS THEME? 38:16 BEING IN CHURCH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. 38:19 I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO COME REGULARLY 38:22 THAT HAVE A COMMITMENT. 38:23 AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU KIND OF BOUNCE AROUND FROM CHURCH TO 38:26 CHURCH, WEEK TO WEEK, DEPENDING ON WHO THE PREACHER IS. 38:28 I'M THANKFUL FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE A COMMITMENT TO COME. 38:32 SO I'M NOT TRYING TO DIMINISH FROM THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR 38:40 CHURCH ATTENDANCE. 38:42 BUT ARE WE SAVED BY BEING IN THE HOUSE? 38:48 AND SO THIS BOY, HE'S SAYING, "I'M NOT GETTING 38:51 WHAT I DESERVE." 38:54 THE LORD'S GONNA DECLARE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST DAYS. 38:57 LUKE 15:29, "SO THEN HE ANSWERS AND HE SAYS TO HIS FATHER, 39:01 'LO, THESE MANY YEARS I HAVE BEEN SERVING YOU; I'VE NEVER 39:03 TRANSGRESSED YOUR COMMANDMENT.'" VERSE 30, "BUT AS SOON 39:06 AS THIS YOUR SON." 39:08 HA! 39:09 HOW DOES HE REFER TO HIS BROTHER? 39:11 "THIS SON OF YOURS!" 39:15 I CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN ONE OF THE BOYS IS IN TROUBLE. 39:17 KAREN SAYS, "YOUR SON." 39:21 SHE SAYS, "YOUR SON IS UP THERE." 39:25 AND I'LL SAY, "KAREN, THAT BOY OF YOURS NEEDS SOME ATTENTION." 39:30 AND WHENEVER THEY'RE MISBEHAVING, I'LL SAY, 39:31 "JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER. 39:34 YOU TAKE AFTER YOUR MOTHER." 39:36 AND THEY'RE MISBEHAVING, SHE SAYS, "OH, 39:37 JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER." 39:39 WE WANT TO DISOWN 'EM WHEN THEY'RE BAD, RIGHT? 39:43 I'VE SEEN PARENTS DO THAT BEFORE. 39:46 THEY GOT, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE KIDS, ONE'S ADOPTED. 39:48 WHEN THE ADOPTED ONE MISBEHAVES, THEY SAY, "WELL, 39:51 YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ADOPTED. 39:53 COULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. 39:55 IT'S GENETIC." 39:57 WE WANT TO DISOWN 'EM. 39:59 HE SAYS, "THIS SON OF YOURS." 40:04 HE SAYS, "I NEVER TRANSGRESSED YOUR COMMANDMENT, BUT THIS SON 40:06 OF YOURS WHO SQUANDERED YOUR INHERITANCE WITH HARLOTS AND 40:10 PRODIGAL LIVING, HE COMES HOME; YOU HAVE A PARTY." 40:14 YOU NOTICE HE'S COMPARING HIMSELF. 40:17 2 CORINTHIANS 10:12, "FOR WE DARE NOT CLASS OURSELVES 40:24 OR COMPARE OURSELVES WITH THOSE WHO COMMEND THEMSELVES. 40:29 BUT THEY," SPEAKING OF THIS LOST CATEGORY, "MEASURING THEMSELVES 40:33 BY THEMSELVES, AND COMPARING THEMSELVES AMONG THEMSELVES--" 40:36 NOTICE AGAIN THE EMPHASIS ON SELF-- "COMPARING THEMSELVES 40:40 AMONG THEMSELVES, ARE NOT WISE." 40:44 THAT'S A VERY DANGEROUS WAY TO OPERATE AS A CHRISTIAN. 40:47 IN LOOKING AT OTHERS AROUND YOU AND SAYING, "WELL, 40:49 AS LONG AS I'M BETTER THAN THEM. 40:52 AS LONG AS I'M BETTER THAN THEM." 40:54 AND IT'S REAL EASY FOR US TO SAY, "LORD, I THANK THEE 40:56 I'M NOT AS OTHER MEN. 40:57 AND WE POINT TO OTHERS IN THE CHURCH THAT WE THINK 41:00 ARE SPIRITUALLY INFERIOR. 41:01 AND YOU NOTICE WE'VE ALL GOT A REALLY SPECIAL GIFT. 41:05 WE USUALLY HAVE VERY CLEAR VISION WHEN IT COMES TO 41:07 IDENTIFYING FLAWS IN OTHER PEOPLE'S LIFESTYLE, BUT WE DON'T 41:13 EVER LIKE TO COMPARE OURSELVES WITH THE ONES THAT 41:16 ARE HOLIER THAN US. 41:19 I MEAN THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL VERY GOOD. 41:22 WE ARE TO USE COMPARISON. 41:24 YOU SHOULD COMPARE. 41:26 YOU ONLY SHOULD COMPARE YOURSELF TO ONE PERSON. 41:29 WHO IS THAT? 41:31 CHRIST IS YOUR MEASUREMENT. 41:35 WE ARE TO MEASURE OURSELVES BY HIM. 41:36 WE'RE TO PUT OUR FEET WHERE HE PUTS HIS FEET. 41:38 WE'RE TO WALK LIKE HE WALKS. 41:40 WE'RE TO FORGIVE AS HE FORGIVES. 41:41 CHRIST--BIBLE DOESN'T TELL US TO--MATTER OF FACT, EVEN PAUL 41:44 ONE TIME, HE SAYS, "FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST." 41:49 SO THE ONLY WAY WE OUGHT TO HOLD ANYONE OUT THERE AS AN EXAMPLE 41:53 IS ONLY AS THEY FOLLOW CHRIST. 41:55 CHRIST IS OUR ULTIMATE EXAMPLE. 41:57 OTHERWISE WE COULD END UP LIKE PETER. 42:00 YOU KNOW WHEN JESUS SAID, "ONE OF YOU IS GONNA FORSAKE ME," 42:02 PETER HAD TO BE THE BIG MOUTH WHO SAID, 42:04 "THOUGH ALL THESE FORSAKE YOU, I'LL NOT FORSAKE YOU." 42:08 AND LATER HE HAD TO EAT THOSE WORDS, DIDN'T HE? 42:11 JESUS AFTER THE RESURRECTION SAID, "PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME 42:14 MORE THAN THESE? 42:15 MORE THAN THESE? 42:16 YOU WANT TO COMPARE YOURSELF?" 42:17 HE WOULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE. 42:18 HE SAID, "LORD, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU. 42:19 DIDN'T COMPARE HIMSELF ANYMORE. 42:23 CHRIST KNOWS OUR HEARTS. 42:25 AND GOD FROWNS ON IT WHEN WE COMPARE OURSELVES 42:28 AMONG OURSELVES. 42:29 THE BIG PROBLEM, IN SUMMARY, OF THE OLDER BROTHER, WAS AN 42:34 ATTITUDE OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. 42:37 HE THOUGHT HE'D EARNED IT. 42:38 HE WAS TRUSTING IN HIMSELF. 42:40 HE THOUGHT HE COULD GET IT BY HIS WORKS. 42:43 THE SON WHO CAME HOME, YOU KNOW WHAT ADVANTAGE HE HAD? 42:46 HE REALIZED HE DID NOT DESERVE IT. 42:49 HE SAID, "FATHER, MAKE ME ONE OF YOUR HIRED SERVANTS. 42:53 I DON'T DESERVE. 42:54 I AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE YOUR SON. 42:57 THE OLDER BROTHER FEELS LIKE HE'S EARNED IT. 43:00 HE FEELS WORTHY. 43:02 IT'S DANGEROUS WHEN WE START THINKING, "GOD OWES ME," LIKE 43:05 THOSE WHO SAY, "LORD, LORD, HAVEN'T WE TAUGHT 43:08 IN YOUR STREETS? 43:09 HAVEN'T WE EARNED THIS?" 43:10 NOW YOU KNOW WHY THIS MESSAGE IS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY 43:13 FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE IN THIS CONGREGATION TODAY, 43:17 BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ANY PROFESSED CHRISTIAN 43:20 IN THE LAST AGE OF THE CHURCH. 43:22 IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT, I THINK WE'RE LIVING IN 43:24 THE LAST AGE OF THE CHURCH. 43:27 THE LAST AGE OF THE CHURCH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGES OF 43:29 THE CHURCH IN REVELATION 2-3 IS CALLED THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA. 43:35 AND THE WORD LAODICEA MEANS "A JUDGING OF THE PEOPLE." 43:37 AND THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CHURCH IN THAT LAST AGE IS 43:41 THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE OLDER BROTHER. 43:44 HE SAYS, "I'M HERE IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE. 43:45 I'M RICH AND INCREASED WITH GOODS. 43:47 I DON'T NEED ANYTHING. 43:47 I'VE EARNED IT. 43:49 I'M ENTITLED." 43:51 AND HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT HE'S POOR AND WRETCHED, MISERABLE, 43:54 BLIND AND NAKED. 43:58 SEE, ONE BOY CAME HOME DIRTY FROM THE PIG PEN, BUT HE WAS 44:04 COVERED BY THE FATHER'S ROBE. 44:06 HE'S IN THE HOUSE. 44:07 THE OTHER BOY CAME HOME DIRTY FROM THE FATHER'S FIELD. 44:11 HE'S BEEN OUT WORKING, RIGHT? 44:12 HE SAYS HE RETURNED FROM THE FIELD. 44:14 DO YOU THINK HE WAS CLEAN OR DIRTY? 44:16 HE DOESN'T FEEL HE NEEDS THE FATHER'S ROBE. 44:20 AND MY APPEAL RIGHT NOW IS FOR EVERYBODY, AND IT DOESN'T 44:27 MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE A CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY, OR WHETHER 44:30 YOU WERE RAISED BY CHRISTIAN PARENTS, THERE IS A VERY REAL 44:33 DANGER, ACCORDING TO THE WORDS I'VE READ THIS MORNING. 44:35 JESUS SAYS IT ALL THROUGH THE GOSPELS, THAT YOU AND I CAN MAKE 44:40 THE VERY SAME MISTAKE AS THE JEWS OF THINKING THAT SOMEHOW 44:44 BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE CHURCH THAT WE'VE EARNED IT. 44:47 IT'S ONLY BY GRACE THAT WE GET INTO THE FATHER'S HOUSE. 44:51 YOU KNOW, CHRIST DOESN'T TELL US WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF 44:53 THE STORY. 44:55 THIS CHAPTER ENDS BY THE FATHER SAYING IT'S APPROPRIATE 44:58 THAT WE SHOULD REJOICE BECAUSE THIS BROTHER OF YOURS WAS DEAD, 45:00 AND HE'S ALIVE. 45:01 HE WAS LOST, AND NOW HE'S FOUND. 45:04 AND IT NEVER SAYS WHETHER OR NOT THAT OLDER BROTHER RELENTED 45:08 AND SAID, "YOU KNOW, DAD, YOU'RE RIGHT. 45:10 I'LL COME IN WITH YOU AND I'LL CELEBRATE." 45:12 MAYBE LIKE ESAU HE RECONCILES WITH HIS BROTHER. 45:15 AND IT ENDS WELL. 45:18 MAYBE IT DOESN'T. 45:21 LIKE THE JEWISH NATION THAT JUST COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY 45:23 THE GENTILES WOULD COME IN. 45:27 YOU GOT THAT PARABLE. 45:28 FATHER HAD TWO SONS, AND HE SAYS, "BOYS, WORK IN MY FIELD." 45:35 THE YOUNGER ONE SAYS, "I'M NOT GOING." 45:38 BUT HE LATER REPENTS, AND HE GOES. 45:39 THE OLDER ONE SAYS, "I'M GOING," BUT HE DOESN'T GO. 45:44 HE STAYS ON THE OUTSIDE. 45:45 SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS. 45:46 YOU KNOW WHAT? 45:47 YOU GET TO WRITE THE ENDING TO THE STORY. 45:52 ARE YOU WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL NEED 45:55 THE FATHER'S ROBE? 45:57 WE ALL NEED THE FATHER'S MERCY. 46:00 ARE YOU SERVING GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU? 46:02 ARE YOU THINKING THAT YOU DESERVE IT? 46:05 OR DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL ARE UNWORTHY AND THAT IT'S A 46:09 GIFT, THAT WE'RE SAVED BY LOVE? 46:12 AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I LEFT OUT, 46:14 I REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HERE, IS THE LOVE OF A BROTHER. 46:21 WHAT BREAKS THE HEART OF THE FATHER MORE THAN ANYTHING? 46:25 THAT HIS BROTHER--THAT HIS BOYS DON'T LOVE EACH OTHER. 46:29 LISTEN 1 JOHN 4:20, "IF SOMEONE SAYS, 'I LOVE GOD,' AND HATES 46:35 HIS BROTHER, HE IS A LIAR; FOR IF HE DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER 46:40 WHO HE HAS SEEN, HOW CAN HE LOVE GOD WHO HE HAS NOT SEEN?" 46:44 NOW, YOU KNOW THE BIBLE SAYS WE OUGHT TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES, 46:47 RIGHT? 46:49 WE CERTAINLY OUGHT TO LOVE OUR SPOUSES. 46:52 AND WE OUGHT TO LOVE OUR SIBLINGS. 46:54 WE OUGHT TO LOVE FELLOW CHURCH MEMBERS. 46:56 I MEAN, THIS IS SO BASIC. 46:58 AND YET, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH AND WE HAVEN'T 47:01 LEARNED TO LOVE EACH OTHER. 47:03 HOW CAN WE LOVE GOD, WHO WE HAVE NOT SEEN, 47:05 IF WE CAN'T LOVE OUR BROTHER? 47:09 THIS OLDER BOY, HE STAYED AT THE FATHER'S HOUSE, BUT HE NEVER 47:11 REALLY LOVED HIS BROTHER. 47:14 SO YOU WONDER, DID HE MAKE IT INSIDE THE FATHER'S HOUSE 47:16 FOR THE CELEBRATION? 47:20 ALL OF US ARE SAVED BY GRACE, FRIENDS. 47:23 AND NONE OF US CAN SAY WE'VE DESERVED IT. 47:25 THAT'S WHY I PICKED THIS AS OUR CLOSING HYMN. 47:28 IT'S 295. 47:30 IT'S "NOT I, BUT CHRIST." 47:33 WE DON'T DESERVE IT. 47:34 ALL OF US NEED TO COME TO THE FATHER LIKE THAT YOUNGER BOY 47:38 DID, AND SAY, "FATHER, I AM NO LONGER WORTHY 47:41 TO BE CALLED YOUR SON." 47:42 DOES HE ACCEPT HIM AS A SON? 47:44 HE DOES. 47:45 DOES HE GET THE ROBE? 47:46 HE DOES. 47:47 HE GETS JUSTIFIED. 47:48 HE GETS SANCTIFIED. 47:49 HE GOES TO THE FATHER'S HOUSE AND THERE HE'S GLORIFIED 47:52 AND THERE'S A CELEBRATION. 47:53 I WANT TO BE AT THAT WEDDING FEAST. 47:55 I WANT TO BE AT THAT CELEBRATION IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE, FRIENDS. 47:58 BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE THAT MARTHA MADE, 48:03 SAYING, "WE'VE WORKED FOR THE LORD." 48:05 BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THAT OLDER 48:08 BROTHER, OR THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES, JUST CONCERNED ABOUT 48:12 THE EXTERNALS, THAT IT REALLY IS A HEART RELIGION, THAT WE 48:17 LOVE THE LORD AND WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR, AND THAT ALL OF 48:20 IT COMES AS A GIFT. 48:21 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT, THEN MAKE THIS SONG 48:25 A PRAYER. 48:26 LET'S STAND AND SING IT TOGETHER. 48:27 295, I BELIEVE, IS THAT RIGHT? 48:30 "NOT I, BUT CHRIST--" "CHIEF OF SINNERS," I'M SORRY! 48:36 [MUSIC] 48:42 ♪ CHIEF OF SINNERS ♪ ♪ THOUGH I BE, ♪ 48:47 ♪ JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD FOR ME; ♪ ♪ DIED THAT I MIGHT LIVE ♪ 48:54 ♪ ON HIGH, ♪ ♪ DIED THAT I MIGHT NEVER DIE; ♪ 49:01 ♪ AS THE BRANCH IS ♪ ♪ TO THE VINE, ♪ 49:06 ♪ I AM HIS, AND HE IS MINE. ♪ 49:13 >> NOW YOU PROBABLY REALIZED I'D PAUSE HERE DURING THE HYMN. 49:17 WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE PRODIGAL SON, IT REALLY IS A STORY 49:21 ABOUT COMING HOME. 49:23 BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE YOUNGER SON THAT WENT INTO 49:25 A FAR COUNTRY. 49:27 THAT'S THOSE WHO ARE BLATANTLY OUT IN THE WORLD, THAT SAY 49:30 THEY WANT TO COME BACK TO THE FATHER'S HOUSE. 49:32 BUT IT'S ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE BOY WHO HAS THE ILLUSION 49:35 THAT HE'S HOME, BUT HE'S STILL OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. 49:40 AND HE WON'T GO IN BECAUSE OF HIS PRIDE AND HIS SELFISHNESS. 49:43 WHATEVER CATEGORY YOU MIGHT BE IN, THE FATHER LOVES BOTH SONS. 49:49 HE WANTS TO ACCEPT BOTH SONS. 49:53 HE WENT OUT AND PLEADED WITH THAT OLDER BOY. 49:56 HE ENTREATED HIM TO COME HIM. 49:58 HE RAN TO MEET THE YOUNGER BOY AND COVERED HIM WITH A ROBE. 50:01 THAT MEANS THE LORD LOVES EVERYBODY HERE, AND HE WANTS US 50:04 ALL IN THAT PLACE OF CELEBRATION WHEN THE TIME COMES. 50:07 IF YOU'RE NOT SURE THAT YOU'RE THERE, AND IF YOU WANT TO HAVE 50:12 THAT ASSURANCE, MAYBE YOU NEED SPECIAL PRAYER FOR SOME REASON, 50:15 YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND JUST DEMONSTRATE THAT TODAY, AND 50:18 SAY, "LORD, I WANT A NEW HEART. 50:20 I WANT TO HAVE LOVE FOR YOU AND FOR MY BROTHER." 50:22 COME AS WE SING VERSE 2 AND VERSE 3, 50:24 "CHIEF OF SINNERS," 295. 50:27 ♪ O THE HEIGHT OF JESUS' LOVE! ♪ ♪ HIGHER THAN ♪ 50:34 ♪ THE HEAVEN ABOVE, ♪ ♪ DEEPER THAN THE DEEPEST SEA, ♪ 50:43 ♪ LASTING AS ETERNITY; ♪ ♪ LOVE THAT FOUND ME ♪ 50:52 ♪ WONDROUS THOUGHT! ♪ ♪ FOUND ME WHEN ♪ 50:57 ♪ I SOUGHT HIM NOT! ♪ ♪ CHIEF OF SINNERS ♪ 51:04 ♪ THOUGH I BE, ♪ ♪ CHRIST IS ALL IN ALL TO ME; ♪ 51:12 ♪ ALL MY WANTS ♪ ♪ TO HIM ARE KNOWN, ♪ 51:18 ♪ ALL MY SORROWS ARE HIS OWN; ♪ ♪ SAFE WITH HIM ♪ 51:26 ♪ FROM EARTHLY STRIFE, ♪ ♪ HE SUSTAINS ♪ 51:31 ♪ THE HIDDEN LIFE. ♪ 51:40 >> OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, LORD, AS WE'VE CONSIDERED DURING THESE 51:46 2 WEEKS THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON, WE SEE 51:51 THAT IS REALLY THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SONS. 51:55 SOME REALIZE THAT THEY WERE OUT IN THE WORLD AND THEY CAME HOME. 52:00 OTHERS WERE IN THE HOUSE AND DIDN'T REALIZE HOW 52:03 SEPARATED FROM THE FATHER AND THEIR BROTHER THEY WERE. 52:06 LORD, I PRAY THAT WHEREVER WE FIND OURSELVES THAT WE 52:10 WILL REALIZE YOU LOVE US, THAT WE ARE ALL SINNERS, 52:14 THAT WE ALL NEED CLEANSING. 52:16 AND WE'RE WILLING TO COME TO THEE. 52:18 I PRAY THAT YOU'LL BLESS EACH PERSON HERE WITH THAT NEW HEART, 52:22 LORD. 52:23 SAVE US FROM OUR PRIDE, OUR STUBBORNNESS, OUR SELFISHNESS. 52:27 HELP US TO HAVE THE MIND AND THE HEART OF JESUS 52:30 IN OUR OWN HEARTS. 52:31 IT'S A MIRACLE, LORD. 52:32 WE CAN ONLY HAVE THIS AS YOU GIVE IT TO US AND WE RECEIVE 52:34 IT BY FAITH. 52:36 THANK YOU FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS. 52:38 WE COME TO YOU. 52:39 WE REPENT OF OUR SINS. 52:41 WE SAY, FATHER, WE ARE NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE YOUR SONS. 52:44 AND WE ALSO HEAR YOU SAY THAT YOU ACCEPT US. 52:48 WE FEEL THAT YOU EMBRACE US. 52:50 YOU COVER US WITH YOUR ROBE. 52:52 AND IF WE'RE IN THE CHURCH, LORD, BUT WE'VE BEEN SEPARATED 52:56 FROM YOU, YOU COME OUT AND YOU ENTREAT AND YOU PLEAD 52:58 WITH US TO COME IN. 53:00 LORD, THANK YOU FOR THAT PERSISTENT LOVE YOU'VE BORN 53:04 WITH US PATIENTLY FOR YEARS. 53:06 I PRAY THAT WE CAN NOT ONLY ACCEPT THAT LOVE, BUT NOW 53:10 DEMONSTRATE THAT LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. 53:12 BE WITH EACH PERSON IN OUR LIVES. 53:14 BLESS OUR HOMES THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE. 53:17 BLESS THE FAMILIES AND THE MARRIAGES, LORD. 53:20 BLESS IN THE SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS THAT THERE 53:23 CAN BE LOVE. 53:25 THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE SPIRIT. 53:26 THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS CHURCH. 53:29 AND MAY WE ALL BE FOUND IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE DURING 53:32 THAT GREAT FEAST. 53:33 IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. 53:37 >> HELLO FRIENDS, I'M DOUG BATCHELOR. 53:39 FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN 53:43 A MINISTRY OF EVANGELISM, REACHING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, 53:47 CHANGING LIVES WITH THE POWERFUL MESSAGE OF HOPE 53:51 AND PURPOSE FOUND IN THE BIBLE. 53:53 AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE HERE AT AMAZING FACTS HAVE ACCEPTED 53:57 THE GREAT COMMISSION CHALLENGE, TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS 54:00 THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. 54:01 WHAT BEGAN AS A 15-MINUTE RADIO PROGRAM HAS BEEN BLESSED BY GOD 54:06 TO GROW INTO A MULTIFACETED INTERNATIONAL MEDIA MINISTRY. 54:11 THESE ARE TRULY EXCITING TIMES, YET WE CANNOT DO ANY OF THIS 54:15 WITHOUT YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. 54:18 >> THE AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN A HUGE CORNERSTONE IN 54:21 MY WHOLE CONVERSION EXPERIENCE AND MY WALK WITH CHRIST. 54:25 >> INVESTING IN AMAZING FACTS IS A NO-BRAINER. 54:28 IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN ETERNITY. 54:29 >> I'M SO THANKFUL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AMAZING FACTS. 54:31 IT'S CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES. 54:33 >> AMAZING FACTS HAS TOUCHED MY LIFE IN WAYS THAT 54:36 I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN. 54:38 >> WE ARE A PART OF GOD'S GREATER, GREATER PLAN. 54:41 >> INVESTMENT IN AMAZING FACTS IS ACTUALLY AN INVESTMENT 54:44 IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 54:46 >> I'M A PRODUCT OF THE GIFTS THAT SOMEONE HAS GIVEN. 54:50 >> I'M ONE CHANGED LIFE. 54:52 >> I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME. 54:53 >> THOUSANDS OF LOST SOULS ARE COMING TO KNOW JESUS, 54:56 AND ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS. 54:59 THOUSANDS MORE ARE EXPERIENCING NEW DEPTH IN 55:02 THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. 55:04 WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH CONTINUED PRAYER, TRUST IN GOD, 55:08 AND OUR SACRIFICIAL GIVING, THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS MESSAGE 55:11 OF HOPE AROUND THE WORLD TO ONE AND TO ALL. 55:25 >> HOW MUCH MORE EXCITING CAN IT BE THAN THAT? 55:40 >> VIRTUALLY EVERYONE ON THE EARTH, REGARDLESS OF RELIGION 55:43 OR NATIONALITY, RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS SOME FORM OF BATTLE 55:48 RAGING IN THE WORLD AROUND US, BETWEEN THE FORCES OF GOOD 55:51 AND EVIL, A COLOSSAL STRUGGLE BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS, 55:56 TRUTH AND ERROR, OPPRESSION AND FREEDOM, RIGHT AND WRONG, 56:00 AND ULTIMATELY LIFE AND DEATH. 56:09 >> JOURNEY BACK THROUGH TIME TO THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. 56:14 DISCOVER HOW A PERFECT ANGEL TRANSFORMED INTO SATAN, THE 56:19 ARCH VILLAIN, THE BIRTH OF EVIL, A REBELLION IN HEAVEN, A MUTINY 56:26 THAT MOVED TO EARTH; BEHOLD, THE CREATION OF A BEAUTIFUL 56:31 NEW PLANET AND THE FIRST HUMANS. 56:34 WITNESS THE TEMPTATION IN EDEN. 56:37 DISCOVER GOD'S AMAZING PLAN TO SAVE HIS CHILDREN. 56:42 THIS IS A STORY THAT INVOLVES EVERY LIFE ON EARTH, EVERY LIFE: 56:49 "THE COSMIC CONFLICT." 56:51 IF GOD IS GOOD, IF GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL, IF GOD IS LOVE, 56:56 THEN WHAT WENT WRONG? 57:05 >> IN THE SAME WAY ALL OF THE PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM 57:08 REVOLVE AROUND THE SUN, EVERYTHING WE DO HERE AT 57:11 AMAZING FACTS REVOLVES AROUND THE NUCLEUS OF GOD'S WORD, 57:16 THE SCRIPTURES. 57:17 THAT'S WHY WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE RELEASE OF 57:19 A NEW RESOURCE THAT WILL BLESS YOU IN YOUR PERSONAL STUDY. 57:23 IT'S THE AMAZING FACTS PROPHECY STUDY BIBLE. 57:27 AND THIS BIBLE IS LIKE NO OTHER. 57:28 IT IS FILLED WITH WONDERFUL RESOURCES. 57:31 OF COURSE IT HAS A CONCORDANCE. 57:32 IT HAS THE MAPS, RED LETTER EDITION, NEW KING JAMES VERSION, 57:36 HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE. 57:38 AND BEST OF ALL, ALL 27 OF THE POPULAR AMAZING FACTS 57:42 STUDY GUIDES ARE IN THIS BIBLE, ANSWERING QUESTIONS LIKE, 57:46 "HOW WILL JESUS COME?" 57:48 "WHO IS THE BEAST?" 57:49 "WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST?" 57:50 "WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT DEATH AND HELL AND HEAVEN?" 57:54 AND MUCH MORE. 57:55 IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN OBTAIN A COPY OF THIS 57:57 INCREDIBLE BIBLE STUDY RESOURCE, THEN SIMPLY CALL THE TOLL-FREE 58:00 NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, OR GO TO AMAZINGFACTS.ORG. |
Revised 2015-02-06