Dr. Tony Campolo who is
a professor of Sociology
00:00:31.30\00:00:34.65
at Eastern
College in Pennsylvania
00:00:34.68\00:00:37.76
tells a wonderful
story of going to Hawaii
00:00:37.79\00:00:41.22
for a vacation
where he prefers to go
00:00:41.25\00:00:43.69
and wander in the
streets of Honolulu
00:00:43.72\00:00:45.73
at 3:30 in the morning
00:00:45.76\00:00:46.85
because tourists
here from the East Coast
00:00:46.88\00:00:49.06
find themselves wide
awake six hours before dawn
00:00:49.09\00:00:52.95
when they get to Honolulu.
00:00:52.98\00:00:54.57
So he said, I get up
at 3:30, I'm ready to go.
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I wanted some breakfast,
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but he said
everything was closed.
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And as I was
wandering these side streets,
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I finally found a little
"greasy spoon" restaurant
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that was still open.
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But he said when I came in
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and sat down it
was so filthy in there
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I wouldn't even touch the menu.
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He said, I sat down on a stool
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and ordered some
coffee and a donut.
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Which the doctor
would not approve of
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but he said I ordered
this from behind the--
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the big man behind the
counter was a fat fellow
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and he said, I found out
later his name was Harry.
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To show you how
filthy the place was,
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he says Harry reached in
with his bare greasy hands,
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he pulled the donut up
and he handed it to me.
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Well, he said, I sat
there munching on my donut.
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When all of a sudden
much to my discomfort,
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he said, the door to
that little restaurant opened
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and in marched eight or nine
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very provocatively dressed
and boisterous prostitutes.
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And he said, guess
where they sat down?
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All around me.
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And he said their talk
was so loud and so crude
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that as a Christian he said,
I felt completely out of place
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and was about to
get out of there,
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I was gonna make my getaway
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when he said I overheard
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the woman who was
sitting right next to me
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say to her friends,
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"You know what,
tomorrow's my birthday.
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Can you imagine it,
I'm going to be 39."
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And the friend that
was sitting beside her
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responded rather nastily,
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"So what do you want from
me, you want a birthday party?
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You want me to get you a cake,
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you want me to
sing 'Happy Birthday?'
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What do you want?"
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And the girl
replied, "Oh, come on.
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Why are you so mean?
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I was just
telling you, that's all.
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Why do you have to put me down?
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I was just telling
you it was my birthday.
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I don't want anything from you.
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I mean, why should you
give me a birthday party?
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I've never had a
birthday party in my whole life.
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Why should I have one now?"
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Well, When Tony Campolo
heard that, he made a decision.
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He decided to wait
until the women went back out
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on to the streets
after their little break.
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And then he said, "Harry,
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do these women come
in here every night?"
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"Yeah, they do."
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"Well, the one who
sat right next to me,
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does she come in
here every night, too?"
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"Yeah. That's Agnes.
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Comes in here every
night. Why do you want to know?"
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Well, he said, "Because she said
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tomorrow is her birthday.
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And, Harry, what do you say
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that you and I do
something about that?
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Never had a birthday party.
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What do you think about
us throwing a birthday party,
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big surprise for her,
right here tomorrow night?"
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"That's great! I like it!"
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Calling to the back room
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through the hole
in the kitchen there,
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he said, "Hey
Woman! Come out here!"
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Found out later it was
his wife who was the cook.
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"Woman, this guy's
got an idea, great idea.
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Tomorrow's Agnes's
birthday and this guy wants us
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to go in and throw a party
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for Agnes, right
here, what do you think?"
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Well, his wife came
out all bright and smiley,
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wiping her hands and she
said, "Oh, that's wonderful!"
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She said, "You know,
Agnes is one of those people
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who is really nice and
she is so kind to everyone.
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But nobody ever does anything
nice or kind for Agnes."
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"Well, look,"
says "Tony" he said,
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"If it's okay with you,
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I'm up bright and
early, I'm from the East Coast
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so I'll be here
tomorrow morning at 2:30.
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I'll bring some
decorations, decorate the place,
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in fact I'll even
bring a birthday cake!"
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"No way, no." Said Harry.
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"Cake is my thing.
I'll bake the cake."
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"Okay" said Campolo.
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Next morning 2:30 he was there,
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great big box of
crepe paper decorations,
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and a huge cardboard sign
saying "Happy Birthday, Agnes!"
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And he decorated that
diner from one end to the other.
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Well, that woman who did
the cooking in the kitchen,
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she must have gotten
the word out onto the street
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because at 3:15 in the morning,
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every prostitute
in Honolulu was there.
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Wall-to-wall prostitutes.
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And one preacher, Tony Campolo.
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On cue they must have gotten
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some one of her friends
out there, 3:30 on the dot,
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the door swung open and
in came Agnes with a friend.
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And Campolo, who
by now sort of dubbed
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the automatic
emcee for the evening,
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he had everybody
ready as they screamed out,
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"Happy Birthday, Agnes!"
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And she looked and
she was absolutely stunned
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and kind of confused, in
fact she was so flabbergasted
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and shaken that
her mouth fell open
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and her legs began to buckle.
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And they sat her
down on a bar stool.
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And she got all misty-eyed.
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But when the
birthday cake came out,
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she just lost it
as Harry came out
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with all of 39 candles
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and they saying
"Happy Birthday, dear Agnes."
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She just wept
uncontrollably like a baby
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and Harry came
over after the song
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and he said, "Yo, Agnes,
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you're supposed to
blow out the candles,
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blow out the candles, Agnes."
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Agnes just wept, she
couldn't control herself.
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"Agnes, if you don't
blow out the candles,
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I'm gonna have
to blow them out."
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Harry had to
blow out the candles.
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Finally, he got a
little knife and he handed her.
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"Yo, Agnes, we want some cake.
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Agnes, you got to cut the cake."
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Agnes finally was able to
get some words and she wailed.
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"Is this my
birthday? Is this my cake?"
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"Yes, Agnes, it's your
birthday, it's your cake."
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"If it's my cake
would you all mind
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if I just took this cake home
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and enjoyed it by
myself for a while?"
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"No, Agnes, it's
your birthday party.
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It's your cake,
do what you want."
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So Agnes left the party,
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took the cake, and she was gone.
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Well, Campolo
rose to the occasion,
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he said, "Okay,
everybody, let's pray."
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Bowed his head, began to
have a nice little prayer,
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he prayed for
Agnes, he prayed for Harry,
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and the girls there, and
Harry had other refreshments,
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so of course the
girls had a great time.
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When they were finally gone
and back out on the streets,
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Harry came over and
he leaned on the counter
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and he looked straight
into the eyes of Compolo
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and he said, "Hey!
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You never told me
you were a preacher!
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What kind of a church
do you belong to anyway?"
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It's just one of those moments
when the right words came.
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Compolo said, "Well, Harry,
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Harry, I belong to a church
that throws birthday parties
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for prostitutes at
3:30 in the morning."
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Amen.
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Harry waited a moment,
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then he sneered, "No, you don't.
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There ain't no church like that.
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Why if there was a
church like that, I'd join it.
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I would!"
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I have a question
for you this morning.
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Isn't that
precisely the kind of church
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Jesus came to create?
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Amen.
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Maybe not quite
the one we've got,
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so prim and
proper and dressed up.
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When I look at the record,
00:07:43.90\00:07:45.38
I discovered that
Jesus loved to party
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with all kinds
of left-out people.
00:07:50.38\00:07:53.12
The ones that don't
get on the invitation list,
00:07:53.15\00:07:55.10
publicans, sinners, lepers.
00:07:55.13\00:07:57.13
And they all loved Him
because He partied with them.
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Amen.
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But, you know, Jesus not
only associated with sinners.
00:08:01.30\00:08:03.92
He actually
enjoyed their company.
00:08:03.95\00:08:06.65
In fact, the record says
00:08:06.68\00:08:07.84
He preferred going
to cocktail parties
00:08:07.87\00:08:10.23
with the mafia
and the strippers.
00:08:10.26\00:08:13.06
And when the
elders and the good people
00:08:13.09\00:08:14.37
confronted Him, Jesus
said, "Well, quite frankly,
00:08:14.40\00:08:16.58
I prefer their
company to yours."
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Amen.
00:08:18.93\00:08:21.44
I'd like to submit this
morning the daring evangelism
00:08:21.47\00:08:24.94
for the 21st
century and a dying world
00:08:24.97\00:08:28.45
is gonna force us Christians
00:08:28.48\00:08:29.99
to take another look
at the three parables
00:08:30.02\00:08:31.71
Jesus told in the 15
chapter, the book of Luke.
00:08:31.74\00:08:34.59
If you have your
Bible, turn with me
00:08:34.62\00:08:36.33
to Luke Chapter
15 where Jesus tells
00:08:36.36\00:08:38.31
the familiar
story of the lost coin,
00:08:38.34\00:08:41.81
the lost sheep,
and the lost son.
00:08:41.84\00:08:46.07
It doesn't take a third grader
00:08:46.10\00:08:47.86
to figure out that
they were all lost.
00:08:47.89\00:08:51.08
But they represent something.
00:08:51.11\00:08:53.68
May I have your
eyes for a moment?
00:08:53.71\00:08:55.63
Big class, speak right out loud.
00:08:55.66\00:08:58.19
The Lost Coin, who
does that coin represent?
00:08:58.22\00:09:02.19
Does the coin have
a brain in its head?
00:09:02.22\00:09:04.04
Does it know it's lost.
00:09:04.07\00:09:05.82
No. No.
00:09:05.85\00:09:08.34
It has absolutely no
awareness that it's lost.
00:09:08.37\00:09:10.73
So this coin would then
represent those out there
00:09:10.76\00:09:14.77
who are
brain-dead, hopelessly lost.
00:09:14.80\00:09:19.34
There is no way they will
ever come to know Jesus Christ
00:09:19.37\00:09:22.05
unless someone goes out
there and diligently sweeps
00:09:22.08\00:09:26.62
until they find
that coin or its history.
00:09:26.65\00:09:29.99
So the coin
represents those who are lost
00:09:30.02\00:09:32.98
and they don't
know if they're lost.
00:09:33.01\00:09:35.33
All right, class.
00:09:35.36\00:09:36.43
You didn't do too well
on that one, help me out.
00:09:36.46\00:09:38.48
The Lost Sheep.
00:09:38.51\00:09:40.03
Who does the sheep represent?
00:09:40.06\00:09:41.91
Does the sheep have a brain?
00:09:43.10\00:09:44.70
Yeah. We had some sheep.
00:09:44.73\00:09:47.24
Has a brain, it's about the size
00:09:47.27\00:09:48.64
of my little fingernail.
00:09:48.67\00:09:51.45
I mean, they are really hopeless
00:09:51.48\00:09:52.79
but they do have a brain.
00:09:52.82\00:09:54.46
And a sheep and
I've had to go out
00:09:54.49\00:09:56.07
and get a lost sheep.
00:09:56.10\00:09:57.15
If a sheep gets lost
believe me it knows it's lost.
00:09:57.18\00:09:59.95
Ba-ah, ba-ah.
00:09:59.98\00:10:01.83
The problem is the sheep
doesn't have enough brain,
00:10:01.86\00:10:04.12
so as to know its way back.
00:10:04.15\00:10:06.25
Its only hope is
that someone else
00:10:06.28\00:10:08.42
will go out and seek
him out and bring him back.
00:10:08.45\00:10:11.83
Amen.
00:10:11.86\00:10:13.42
Well, let's see how
you do on the third one.
00:10:13.45\00:10:15.47
The Prodigal Son.
He knows he is lost.
00:10:15.50\00:10:20.41
But he also knows the way back.
00:10:20.44\00:10:24.21
In fact, he has marked the way.
00:10:24.24\00:10:26.81
But he is still lost too.
00:10:26.84\00:10:29.20
By the way there is another
lost person in that parable.
00:10:29.23\00:10:32.12
Who is that?
00:10:32.15\00:10:34.78
The Elder Brother.
00:10:34.81\00:10:35.95
The Elder Brother, that's right.
00:10:35.98\00:10:37.97
Only, you see, he
thinks he's perfectly okay
00:10:38.00\00:10:40.83
because he's in
the home of the Father
00:10:40.86\00:10:44.17
and he even
professes to be a Son.
00:10:44.20\00:10:47.76
But it's just lip-service.
00:10:47.79\00:10:50.69
So he
represents those-- hang on,
00:10:50.72\00:10:53.84
today who are
lost in the church.
00:10:53.87\00:10:59.47
True.
00:10:59.50\00:11:00.82
But now the point
is they are all lost.
00:11:00.85\00:11:02.41
So what is the point?
00:11:02.44\00:11:03.80
Ah, these three stories
were given on purpose by Jesus,
00:11:03.83\00:11:07.38
not to trumpet the
various degrees of lost-ness,
00:11:07.41\00:11:09.97
because the grumpy
Pharisees could figure that out.
00:11:10.00\00:11:12.37
But Jesus told this to emphasize
00:11:12.40\00:11:14.91
in each instance the
finder's outrageous joy.
00:11:14.94\00:11:21.69
There I say it the
"C" word, celebration.
00:11:21.72\00:11:27.97
Listen, friend.
00:11:28.00\00:11:29.10
Jesus designed the
church to be a party.
00:11:29.13\00:11:32.34
Amen.
00:11:32.37\00:11:33.40
To show the world a thrilling
foretaste of what's coming
00:11:33.43\00:11:37.09
and that knowing the
Lord Jesus Christ today
00:11:37.12\00:11:39.00
can be more exciting
than a Saturday night date.
00:11:39.03\00:11:41.15
Oh, true. Amen.
00:11:41.18\00:11:42.46
In fact, God historically
called His Old Testament Jews
00:11:42.49\00:11:46.02
to do just precisely that.
00:11:46.05\00:11:48.10
In fact, He set it up
00:11:48.13\00:11:49.39
every 50th year was to
be an outrageous party.
00:11:49.42\00:11:53.79
They would have
canceled all the debts,
00:11:53.82\00:11:55.62
land would return back
to its original owners,
00:11:55.65\00:11:58.44
prisoners would open up
and set all the prisoners free.
00:11:58.47\00:12:01.11
And God's plan was
that the heathen out there
00:12:01.14\00:12:03.76
in the other nations we
talked about last night,
00:12:03.79\00:12:05.69
they would say,
"Wow, have you heard
00:12:05.72\00:12:07.79
what it's like to
be one of God's people?
00:12:07.82\00:12:09.85
We want in.
00:12:09.88\00:12:10.95
How can we become one of them?"
00:12:10.98\00:12:13.44
However, the Jews-- you go back
00:12:13.47\00:12:16.54
and study the Mishnah and
the early Jewish writings,
00:12:16.57\00:12:19.01
they never observed Jubilee.
00:12:19.04\00:12:22.26
They taught it in
the rabbinical schools,
00:12:22.29\00:12:25.98
but they declared, you know,
00:12:26.01\00:12:27.59
we think that that's gonna
be from Messiah to actually do
00:12:27.62\00:12:30.15
when He ushers
in the New Kingdom.
00:12:30.18\00:12:33.55
But, you see, God knew
00:12:33.58\00:12:34.67
that whenever His
people get together
00:12:34.70\00:12:37.24
and they
celebrate and they laugh
00:12:37.27\00:12:39.01
and they sing
like we're doing here,
00:12:39.04\00:12:40.48
what we're doing
in order to getting
00:12:40.51\00:12:41.94
together like that
is we're evangelizing.
00:12:41.97\00:12:44.52
We're sending out a
message to the unsaved.
00:12:44.55\00:12:46.74
Hey, you think
you're having fun,
00:12:46.77\00:12:48.41
good news, The
Kingdom is at hand.
00:12:48.44\00:12:50.61
Amen.
00:12:50.64\00:12:51.69
So those outside,
they should be saying
00:12:51.72\00:12:53.64
and pounding on
the doors of our church
00:12:53.67\00:12:55.13
and saying, "How do we get in?
00:12:55.16\00:12:57.07
You guys are
having too much fun.
00:12:57.10\00:12:58.54
You're too happy."
00:12:58.57\00:13:00.39
The church is
supposed to be like that.
00:13:00.42\00:13:02.15
So amazing and so
happy and celebrating Jesus
00:13:02.18\00:13:04.93
that they'll say "What
do we have to do to get in?"
00:13:04.96\00:13:07.91
Now I know that
critics will blast away
00:13:10.33\00:13:12.66
and I'll get some emails
tonight on the chat room.
00:13:12.69\00:13:15.81
I'm all right,
I'm ready for you.
00:13:15.84\00:13:17.36
Amen.
00:13:17.39\00:13:18.56
Somebody will always find fault
00:13:18.59\00:13:20.02
if you make the
Gospel good news.
00:13:20.05\00:13:23.27
In fact, Jesus
warned, we'd be criticized
00:13:23.30\00:13:26.24
just like He was back
there in Matthew 11:16-19
00:13:26.27\00:13:30.78
where they set up Jesus
because He had so much fun
00:13:30.81\00:13:33.63
healing and helping people.
00:13:33.66\00:13:35.19
Well, "He hath a devil!
00:13:35.22\00:13:38.16
Eating, drinking...
Behold a man gluttonous,
00:13:38.19\00:13:40.71
and a wine bibber,
friend of sinners."
00:13:40.74\00:13:45.08
But Jesus said, "Wisdom is
justified of her children."
00:13:45.11\00:13:50.23
In other words, He
said, "You know what,
00:13:50.26\00:13:51.45
no matter what I
do, there's going to be
00:13:51.48\00:13:53.43
religious types out here
who will not be satisfied."
00:13:53.46\00:13:57.19
And, folks, there
will always be faultfinders
00:13:57.22\00:13:59.55
who will try to pick us apart.
00:13:59.58\00:14:01.87
Judas-types, you know,
00:14:01.90\00:14:03.69
who complain about how
much cologne you're wearing
00:14:03.72\00:14:06.42
or how much make up you have on.
00:14:06.45\00:14:09.24
But Jesus never
let that kill-joy Judas
00:14:09.27\00:14:12.56
get away with throwing a
wet blanket on His party,
00:14:12.59\00:14:15.88
never got away with that.
00:14:15.91\00:14:17.05
Amen. But now, please.
00:14:17.08\00:14:18.19
We're not talking
about worldly partying.
00:14:18.22\00:14:22.05
I don't need to tell
you in America particularly
00:14:22.08\00:14:24.25
that the world
has its parties, too.
00:14:24.28\00:14:27.34
Like the hazing party up
there in Illinois this last week
00:14:27.37\00:14:30.27
that's been in the news.
00:14:30.30\00:14:32.31
So repulsive, so obscene.
00:14:32.34\00:14:34.75
I don't even want
to watch CNN clips.
00:14:34.78\00:14:37.92
Number of years ago there was
a movie called "Animal House."
00:14:37.95\00:14:42.20
Hope nobody here saw that.
00:14:42.23\00:14:44.37
Because it portrayed
college fraternity parties,
00:14:44.40\00:14:47.31
like the one there in Illinois.
00:14:47.34\00:14:49.02
It said, well, those
are the best possible fun
00:14:49.05\00:14:51.19
that any late adolescent could
hope to enjoy in this life.
00:14:51.22\00:14:56.72
But even Time Magazine
and News Week said, listen,
00:14:56.75\00:15:00.80
"That's
destroying our young people."
00:15:00.83\00:15:03.19
Folks, that's not the kind of
partying Jesus is recommending,
00:15:03.22\00:15:06.20
these extravagant bashes
with booze, babes, and boogie.
00:15:06.23\00:15:10.66
They're cruel,
they are dehumanizing.
00:15:10.69\00:15:12.96
They are empty and
totally impoverished.
00:15:12.99\00:15:14.98
They can never hold a candle
00:15:15.01\00:15:16.75
compared to the
joyful celebrations
00:15:16.78\00:15:18.55
of the people of God."
00:15:18.58\00:15:19.80
Amen.
00:15:19.83\00:15:21.72
I appreciate the Amens
00:15:21.75\00:15:22.80
but I'm going to step
on your toes right now
00:15:22.83\00:15:24.49
and see how
responsive you are to this.
00:15:24.52\00:15:27.02
I know from personal experience,
00:15:27.05\00:15:29.50
I know this
pastoring in a church
00:15:29.53\00:15:31.59
and visiting now
many congregations,
00:15:31.62\00:15:33.62
my own church as
well as other faiths.
00:15:33.65\00:15:37.41
So many of our worship services
00:15:37.44\00:15:40.02
are absolutely
devoid of excitement,
00:15:40.05\00:15:43.36
in fact God's messenger says
00:15:43.39\00:15:45.05
a lot about that
and about our worship,
00:15:45.08\00:15:46.69
you look up the index of
the writings of Ellen White.
00:15:46.72\00:15:49.27
Pages on worship.
00:15:49.30\00:15:50.33
You know what she says
about most of our worship?
00:15:50.36\00:15:55.08
She says, "Our
worship tires the angels."
00:15:55.11\00:15:59.03
Because most men and
women out there, folks,
00:16:01.01\00:16:02.84
live out their lives
00:16:02.87\00:16:03.90
in quiet desperation like Agnes.
00:16:03.93\00:16:07.57
That's why we need
some spiritual daredevils.
00:16:07.60\00:16:10.14
Amen.
00:16:10.17\00:16:11.23
Some daring
evangelism for a dying world.
00:16:11.26\00:16:13.81
Praise the Lord.
00:16:13.84\00:16:14.87
We need some Evil
Knievel Christians
00:16:14.90\00:16:16.84
who'll become a very
special kind of party animal,
00:16:16.87\00:16:20.28
not just accepting
00:16:20.31\00:16:21.34
27 propositional
truths about Jesus,
00:16:21.37\00:16:23.83
but daring to let their
lives become blazingly alive
00:16:23.86\00:16:27.66
and allowing Jesus to
invade our entire personality.
00:16:27.69\00:16:30.54
Amen.
00:16:30.57\00:16:31.79
Daring
evangelism creates a party
00:16:31.82\00:16:34.29
and that's God's
radical plan for His family.
00:16:34.32\00:16:37.59
Whenever anybody
becomes a Christian,
00:16:37.62\00:16:39.46
folks, it's party time.
00:16:39.49\00:16:41.85
Amen.
00:16:41.88\00:16:42.91
When I was in
Paradise, California,
00:16:42.94\00:16:45.64
we really put focus
on our baptismal services
00:16:45.67\00:16:48.04
to the point as we did out
here just a few minutes ago,
00:16:48.07\00:16:50.55
we smothered them
with flowers and books
00:16:50.58\00:16:52.81
and wrapped around
us spiritual guardian
00:16:52.84\00:16:54.63
for that person to be
their buddy for a year
00:16:54.66\00:16:56.41
to get him
acquainted with a dozen people
00:16:56.44\00:16:57.96
and the new friends
and the church family
00:16:57.99\00:17:00.82
to the point people who'd come
00:17:00.85\00:17:02.29
to meet me at the
door and they'd say
00:17:02.32\00:17:03.93
"You know, I came to
watch this person baptizing.
00:17:03.96\00:17:06.66
Man, if I ever
decide to join a church
00:17:06.69\00:17:08.54
I'd like to be
baptized in this church."
00:17:08.57\00:17:10.84
I said, "Well, were
you thinking about that?"
00:17:10.87\00:17:13.16
"Well, not."
00:17:13.19\00:17:14.96
You know that we baptized
four mayors in that community.
00:17:14.99\00:17:19.01
Amen.
00:17:19.04\00:17:20.75
Listen, this is precisely
why Jesus told the story
00:17:20.78\00:17:23.92
of the prodigal
son, to make this point.
00:17:23.95\00:17:27.11
Luke 15, look at
it, verse 22 and on.
00:17:27.14\00:17:29.95
"The father
said to his servants,
00:17:29.98\00:17:31.75
'Bring forth the best robe,
00:17:31.78\00:17:33.33
put it on him, put
a ring on his hand,
00:17:33.36\00:17:34.84
and shoes on his feet,
00:17:34.87\00:17:35.92
and bring
hither the fatted calf,
00:17:35.95\00:17:37.66
and kill it, and let
us eat, and be merry.
00:17:37.69\00:17:40.30
For this my son was
dead, and is alive again,
00:17:40.33\00:17:44.49
he was lost and is found.'
00:17:44.52\00:17:47.22
And they began to be merry."
00:17:47.25\00:17:51.34
I'm going to say something
to my Caucasian friends.
00:17:51.37\00:17:54.45
I grew up in a black church.
00:17:54.48\00:17:56.69
My father was ordained
00:17:56.72\00:17:57.96
in an African-American
church in the islands.
00:17:57.99\00:18:01.78
We miss a lot in our
services, folks, a lot.
00:18:01.81\00:18:07.14
But as that one African-American
00:18:07.17\00:18:08.47
preacher put it.
00:18:08.50\00:18:09.61
He said, "You know what"
00:18:09.64\00:18:10.90
he said, "You got to
be in the possession,
00:18:10.93\00:18:13.46
not just a profession
00:18:13.49\00:18:15.62
or you won't be
in the procession."
00:18:15.65\00:18:18.78
Or else he said, "If
you're not in the possession
00:18:18.81\00:18:21.03
and it's just a profession,
00:18:21.06\00:18:22.78
you won't be in the possession,
00:18:22.81\00:18:24.47
but you will be
in the dispossession.
00:18:24.50\00:18:29.42
Now this prodigal is
about as rotten a figure
00:18:29.45\00:18:32.69
in the New Testament as
Jesus ever characterized.
00:18:32.72\00:18:34.91
In fact, it's
impossible to over-dramatize
00:18:34.94\00:18:38.12
how deceptive this
kid was and manipulative,
00:18:38.15\00:18:40.55
ego-centered, arrogant.
00:18:40.58\00:18:43.43
He finally comes up
to his father one day,
00:18:43.46\00:18:45.10
he says "Dad, let me
put it to you straight.
00:18:45.13\00:18:48.94
I hate you.
00:18:48.97\00:18:50.91
I don't like being your son.
00:18:50.94\00:18:52.25
In fact, to be honest
with you, I wish you were dead
00:18:52.28\00:18:54.85
because if you
were dead in our culture
00:18:54.88\00:18:56.40
at least I could
collect my inheritance.
00:18:56.43\00:18:57.91
So, Dad, since you now
know how I feel about you,
00:18:57.94\00:19:01.18
why don't we just
act like you're dead
00:19:01.21\00:19:04.28
and I'm out of
here, I'm history.
00:19:04.31\00:19:06.67
Give me my
inheritance." Luke 15:12.
00:19:06.70\00:19:11.00
"The younger one
said to his father,
00:19:11.03\00:19:13.72
'Father, give me my
share of the estate.'
00:19:13.75\00:19:16.52
So he divided his
property between them."
00:19:16.55\00:19:19.82
I mean, this dumb dad
gives the boy what he wants,
00:19:19.85\00:19:23.13
half the family
fortune and the bag--
00:19:23.16\00:19:25.18
The kid, he packs his bags,
00:19:25.21\00:19:26.95
he heads straight over
here to the new car dealership,
00:19:26.98\00:19:29.51
he buys a shiny brand
new 2004 Chevy Corvette.
00:19:29.54\00:19:34.63
He points that car and he heads
west straight to Las Vegas.
00:19:34.66\00:19:38.22
That is exactly what
it says in Luke 15:13.
00:19:38.25\00:19:40.99
Look at your Bible.
00:19:41.02\00:19:42.89
"Not long after
that, the younger son
00:19:42.92\00:19:45.76
got together all that he had,
set off for a distant country
00:19:45.79\00:19:49.06
and there squandered
his wealth in wild living."
00:19:49.09\00:19:53.42
That's an
interesting Greek expression,
00:19:53.45\00:19:55.23
it says that he,
it implies he plunges
00:19:55.26\00:19:57.46
into the worst kind of
sin and immorality possible.
00:19:57.49\00:20:00.94
And he blows the entire
bundle on booze, bunnies,
00:20:00.97\00:20:05.10
bimbos, blackjack,
and bubbly burgundy wine.
00:20:05.13\00:20:09.82
He is light years from home
00:20:09.85\00:20:12.25
down there in glitter
gulch on the great wide way.
00:20:12.28\00:20:16.72
But, you know what,
the pen of inspiration
00:20:16.75\00:20:19.27
reminds us of the sad,
sobering fact, friends,
00:20:19.30\00:20:23.36
those prodigals are our kids.
00:20:23.39\00:20:30.70
And that should
haunt us this morning.
00:20:30.73\00:20:33.41
They're the ones who
are not with us here,
00:20:33.44\00:20:35.00
not seated beside us in church.
00:20:35.03\00:20:38.83
So my question this morning is,
00:20:38.86\00:20:40.55
"What can be done to win
the prodigals back to God?"
00:20:40.58\00:20:45.65
I want to share something
with you about this parable
00:20:45.68\00:20:47.91
that just might shock you.
00:20:47.94\00:20:49.23
But before I do, so
no one misunderstands,
00:20:49.26\00:20:52.00
let's review
first those questions
00:20:52.03\00:20:54.04
I asked in the beginning,
see how well we learned.
00:20:54.07\00:20:56.55
The Lost Coin. You remember.
00:20:56.58\00:20:58.94
How was the lost coin found?
00:20:58.97\00:21:01.52
Someone had to sweep,
turn the place upside down.
00:21:03.42\00:21:06.60
We would say today in our
modern evangelism techniques
00:21:06.63\00:21:09.91
that's the people
who go out there like
00:21:09.94\00:21:11.87
the doctors and others like him
00:21:11.90\00:21:13.25
and they do 5-Day stop
smoking plans out there
00:21:13.28\00:21:16.50
for some great business
00:21:16.53\00:21:17.87
or turn on 23 projectors
00:21:17.90\00:21:19.67
and have a Weigh-Right program
or a Medical Van Ministry
00:21:19.70\00:21:23.14
such as we have
on Wall Street there
00:21:23.17\00:21:25.17
where people come out
and they don't have a clue
00:21:25.20\00:21:26.98
that why do you do this?
00:21:27.01\00:21:28.44
What makes you tick?
00:21:28.47\00:21:29.52
And they find out
a little bit more.
00:21:29.55\00:21:31.25
All right, the Lost Sheep.
00:21:31.28\00:21:35.02
How was the Lost
Sheep finally found?
00:21:35.05\00:21:39.17
Again, someone had to
go, the shepherd in search,
00:21:39.20\00:21:42.55
this would typify
I believe evangelism
00:21:42.58\00:21:45.99
such as we're
doing here, personify
00:21:46.02\00:21:48.73
whether it's Voice of
Prophecy or it is written.
00:21:48.76\00:21:51.23
Our wonderful associate
00:21:51.26\00:21:52.75
Faith for Today
telecast or Breath of Life.
00:21:52.78\00:21:55.38
Many of these other
reaching out to find people
00:21:55.41\00:21:58.77
and lead them back
closer to a walk with Jesus.
00:21:58.80\00:22:01.50
But in the Prodigal Son
story, answer me out loud.
00:22:01.53\00:22:05.69
Who went after him?
Who went to see him?
00:22:05.72\00:22:11.17
He was sought after by no one.
00:22:11.20\00:22:13.72
Which tells me, folks,
00:22:13.75\00:22:15.38
you and I don't go
after the prodigal.
00:22:15.41\00:22:18.48
In fact,
inspiration corroborates
00:22:18.51\00:22:21.49
this about our
children who leave the faith.
00:22:21.52\00:22:24.62
Don't go after
them, don't harass them,
00:22:24.65\00:22:27.50
don't hound them, or
else what will happen to them?
00:22:27.53\00:22:31.62
You'll drive them farther away.
00:22:31.65\00:22:34.53
So what does this father do?
00:22:34.56\00:22:37.82
Well, he does his part.
00:22:37.85\00:22:41.21
From the cradle right on up,
00:22:41.24\00:22:42.69
he starts to take
that precious child
00:22:42.72\00:22:44.71
by the hand to the
little cradle roll class,
00:22:44.74\00:22:47.33
maybe Sabbath
School, Sunday School,
00:22:47.36\00:22:49.05
Elementary School
and then Junior Camp,
00:22:49.08\00:22:51.49
Pathfinders or Boy Scouts,
00:22:51.52\00:22:53.30
he's there when
that child's baptized,
00:22:53.33\00:22:55.42
foot washing, academy, college.
00:22:55.45\00:22:58.23
But one sad day that son
or that daughter goes astray,
00:22:58.26\00:23:03.64
tearing out the
hearts of those parents.
00:23:03.67\00:23:06.34
You know, it's interesting
that people that you think
00:23:06.37\00:23:08.16
are your best
friends will come up and say
00:23:08.19\00:23:09.53
"Well, I never thought
I would say this before
00:23:09.56\00:23:11.50
'cause I didn't
want to make any waves
00:23:11.53\00:23:13.74
but do you mind if I
give you a little counsel
00:23:13.77\00:23:16.51
as to why your son or
daughter went astray?"
00:23:16.54\00:23:19.31
And they give
you a big guilt trip.
00:23:19.34\00:23:22.84
Here's where you
failed as a parent
00:23:22.87\00:23:25.30
or, you know, you
should blame the school,
00:23:25.33\00:23:27.31
or that teacher
that your child had,
00:23:27.34\00:23:29.27
Sunday School teacher,
or Sabbath School teacher.
00:23:29.30\00:23:31.26
You know, folks, we
forget that the very best parent
00:23:31.29\00:23:35.38
ever failed with
two perfect kids.
00:23:35.41\00:23:39.96
In fact, if we read
it, it won't back that up,
00:23:39.99\00:23:41.90
He failed with a whole
planet of rebellious kids.
00:23:41.93\00:23:47.02
But I want you to
notice the parable.
00:23:47.05\00:23:49.36
Does this
father hire a detective
00:23:49.39\00:23:53.62
to slip into Vegas there
00:23:53.65\00:23:55.48
and kind of spy on his son
to kind of check things out?
00:23:55.51\00:23:57.94
Does he call a
minister in that far town?
00:23:57.97\00:24:00.53
Or maybe like
I've had many people
00:24:00.56\00:24:02.41
when I was pasturing there
in Paradise, they emailed me.
00:24:02.44\00:24:05.35
"Hey, we hear you
have a 12 step program?
00:24:05.38\00:24:07.18
We hear that you're reaching
druggies and unmarried--
00:24:07.21\00:24:11.11
Would you go and
check on my daughter?
00:24:11.14\00:24:12.63
Tell her about it.
Does this father do that?
00:24:12.66\00:24:15.72
What did he do? Nothing.
00:24:15.75\00:24:18.42
Didn't even leave his house.
00:24:18.45\00:24:20.78
You see, since he had
met all of his requirements,
00:24:20.81\00:24:24.14
now he could expect
that God would come through
00:24:24.17\00:24:27.03
with His promise
to save our children.
00:24:27.06\00:24:29.93
He could get on his knees
00:24:29.96\00:24:31.24
and he could pray, "Holy Spirit,
00:24:31.27\00:24:32.64
I can't go harass that
son but you go after my son."
00:24:32.67\00:24:36.80
But his father was
home, he was ready,
00:24:36.83\00:24:39.72
he was waiting, and
he left the light on.
00:24:39.75\00:24:43.21
And sure enough one
day at those Vegas slots.
00:24:43.24\00:24:45.84
Luke says that the
money finally runs out.
00:24:45.87\00:24:48.78
And suddenly this
young Don Juan kid,
00:24:48.81\00:24:52.42
he's got no friends.
00:24:52.45\00:24:53.56
He's sunk to the bottom.
00:24:53.59\00:24:54.89
Bible says he's
eating with the pigs.
00:24:54.92\00:24:58.19
We would say
today he was eating--
00:24:58.22\00:24:59.52
actually looking for what
floated by out of the sewers.
00:24:59.55\00:25:03.81
Now notice verse 17
00:25:03.84\00:25:05.36
because this is
profoundly significant.
00:25:05.39\00:25:09.13
It says "And when he" what?
00:25:09.16\00:25:11.80
"Came to himself."
00:25:11.83\00:25:17.62
My friend, to save the
prodigal you don't send a posse,
00:25:17.65\00:25:23.09
you don't even mail them
00:25:23.12\00:25:24.16
the Signs of the Times
or the Voice of Prophecy
00:25:24.19\00:25:26.32
discover guide
or reading tracts,
00:25:26.35\00:25:29.55
you don't send pleading letters
with big tear drops on them.
00:25:29.58\00:25:33.32
He knows he's lost.
00:25:33.35\00:25:35.76
And he also knows the way back.
00:25:35.79\00:25:38.28
Amen.
00:25:38.31\00:25:39.43
You've got to
let the Holy Spirit
00:25:39.46\00:25:41.09
awaken him with
a spiritual pinch.
00:25:41.12\00:25:45.48
And he has to come
to this moment of truth
00:25:45.51\00:25:47.47
himself, in his own time.
00:25:47.50\00:25:49.59
And one day sure enough he
wakes up and he looks around
00:25:49.62\00:25:52.73
and where he has
pigs oinking there him
00:25:52.76\00:25:54.40
and he says,
"What am I doing here?
00:25:54.43\00:25:58.32
I am a prince, but
I created this mess.
00:25:58.35\00:26:02.29
I have no food, I have no money,
00:26:02.32\00:26:03.65
I don't have any friends, I
don't even have any options.
00:26:03.68\00:26:06.74
But you know
something I cannot blame
00:26:06.77\00:26:09.23
my principal back
there at the academy,
00:26:09.26\00:26:11.30
I can't even blame any
of my friends or my parents.
00:26:11.33\00:26:14.93
In fact, I can't even blame
00:26:14.96\00:26:16.96
my religious
fanatic brother back home."
00:26:16.99\00:26:20.28
And he says "You know what,
00:26:20.31\00:26:23.41
Flip Wilson's
theology is right."
00:26:23.44\00:26:27.56
"The devil made me do it."
00:26:27.59\00:26:31.12
And in his
moment of realization,
00:26:31.15\00:26:32.83
he completely gives up.
00:26:32.86\00:26:35.95
And he finally says to
himself in verses 17-20,
00:26:35.98\00:26:39.67
"'How many of my father's
hired men have food to spare,
00:26:39.70\00:26:43.23
and here I am starving to death.
00:26:43.26\00:26:46.46
I will set out and
go back to my father
00:26:46.49\00:26:48.79
and say to him,
Father, I have sinned
00:26:48.82\00:26:50.74
against heaven and against you.
00:26:50.77\00:26:52.00
I am no longer worthy
to be called your son,
00:26:52.03\00:26:54.70
make me like one
of your hired men.'
00:26:54.73\00:26:57.22
So he got up and
went to his father."
00:26:57.25\00:27:02.23
Now I want you to please note.
00:27:02.26\00:27:04.54
Friend, it does not say
that he has repented yet.
00:27:04.57\00:27:09.40
He hasn't changed yet.
00:27:09.43\00:27:12.16
Oh, he's made
up a little speech.
00:27:12.19\00:27:14.45
But I want you to notice,
it is totally works-oriented:
00:27:14.48\00:27:19.31
"I'm going to go home and
I'm going to work for Dad.
00:27:19.34\00:27:21.66
I'm going to work so hard,
00:27:21.69\00:27:22.78
I'll qualify to maybe
even be accepted as a servant.
00:27:22.81\00:27:26.23
And then I'll
try to earn my keep."
00:27:26.26\00:27:29.26
Many theologians say
that this son comes back home
00:27:29.29\00:27:32.25
for one reason
and one reason only.
00:27:32.28\00:27:35.04
He comes back to
try to manipulate
00:27:35.07\00:27:37.00
the father once again.
00:27:37.03\00:27:39.13
Because you see, friends,
that is the way sin always is.
00:27:39.16\00:27:43.14
Whenever we as
sinners come to Jesus,
00:27:43.17\00:27:45.78
we always come for the
worst possible reasons.
00:27:45.81\00:27:48.78
Like Judas,
Iscariot, Exhibit A."
00:27:48.81\00:27:53.19
But the point is
I want you to notice
00:27:53.22\00:27:54.67
what happens next
'cause this is very important.
00:27:54.70\00:27:58.18
The father doesn't
care why the son comes home.
00:27:58.21\00:28:04.10
By the way he doesn't
walk out to meet his son.
00:28:04.13\00:28:08.39
He runs. Now in
the Middle East--
00:28:08.42\00:28:10.55
I wish I could take
the time to tell you.
00:28:10.58\00:28:12.33
This is not-- this would
be, it would be unheard of.
00:28:12.36\00:28:15.46
The father in this instance
00:28:15.49\00:28:16.55
would be very
dignified, very proper.
00:28:16.58\00:28:20.29
Jesus on purpose
goads the Pharisees
00:28:20.32\00:28:23.10
and twists the knife and
he has the father running.
00:28:23.13\00:28:26.69
And notice, does
he accept that son
00:28:26.72\00:28:29.05
because he has
got a big repentance?
00:28:29.08\00:28:31.54
No.
00:28:31.57\00:28:32.63
It's crystal
clear from the Gospels.
00:28:32.66\00:28:34.82
One day that father sees
him at a great distance away.
00:28:34.85\00:28:38.89
In other words, this
son hasn't changed yet,
00:28:38.92\00:28:42.19
he's still a
hobo, he's still a bum.
00:28:42.22\00:28:44.02
In fact, he's father can smell
00:28:44.05\00:28:45.25
his ragamuffin
breath a half of mile away.
00:28:45.28\00:28:47.74
Yet the father still
runs and he embraces him,
00:28:47.77\00:28:51.63
welcomes him
before the son can confess
00:28:51.66\00:28:55.08
or make any
statement whatsoever.
00:28:55.11\00:28:57.27
The son is accepted, period.
00:28:57.30\00:29:00.83
Oh, he starts out to blubber out
00:29:00.86\00:29:02.47
his little memorized excuse.
00:29:02.50\00:29:03.82
But he's interrupted right
in the middle of that excuse.
00:29:03.85\00:29:06.01
Notice verses 20-24.
00:29:06.04\00:29:08.51
"But while he was
still a long ways off,
00:29:08.54\00:29:13.07
his father saw
him and was filled
00:29:13.10\00:29:14.56
with compassion for
him, he ran to his son,
00:29:14.59\00:29:17.02
threw his arms
around him and kissed him.
00:29:17.05\00:29:19.05
The son said to him,
00:29:19.08\00:29:20.14
'Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you.
00:29:20.17\00:29:22.56
I am no longer worthy
to be called your son.'"
00:29:22.59\00:29:24.40
But the father
interrupts him, see.
00:29:24.43\00:29:26.37
He says "To his
servants, 'Quick!
00:29:26.40\00:29:28.51
Bring the best
robe, put it on him.
00:29:28.54\00:29:31.08
Put a ring on his
finger and sandals on his feet.
00:29:31.11\00:29:33.45
Bring the
fattened calf and kill it.
00:29:33.48\00:29:35.65
Let's have a
feast and celebrate.
00:29:35.68\00:29:37.61
For this my son was
dead, is alive again,
00:29:37.64\00:29:42.12
he was lost and is found.'"
00:29:42.15\00:29:44.73
Amen.
00:29:44.76\00:29:45.79
I've met Philip Yancey one time
00:29:48.68\00:29:50.41
but I'm not promoting his book,
00:29:50.44\00:29:52.09
I'm not getting any commission.
00:29:52.12\00:29:53.89
But if you ever
want to buy a book
00:29:53.92\00:29:55.07
at any religious bookstore
in any part of the world,
00:29:55.10\00:29:58.68
you ask for Philip Yancey's book
00:29:58.71\00:30:00.43
called "What's So
Amazing About Grace."
00:30:00.46\00:30:06.39
Philip Yancey tells the
story of a young teenage girl,
00:30:06.42\00:30:09.47
little teeny bopper who lived
in Traverse City, Michigan.
00:30:09.50\00:30:13.73
One day this
little teenager decided
00:30:13.76\00:30:15.13
that her dad was
just playing stupid,
00:30:15.16\00:30:17.71
home was stupid,
church was stupid.
00:30:17.74\00:30:21.77
So she decided to
run away to Detroit.
00:30:21.80\00:30:25.25
Parents, you pray
that if your children
00:30:25.28\00:30:26.77
ever run away they
don't go to Detroit.
00:30:26.80\00:30:29.81
She goes to
Detroit and sure enough,
00:30:29.84\00:30:31.28
ends up on the
streets as a druggie,
00:30:31.31\00:30:34.66
earning a living
by turning tricks
00:30:34.69\00:30:36.69
like the other
homeless girls do.
00:30:36.72\00:30:38.39
And she's sleeping
on the metal grates
00:30:38.42\00:30:40.87
outside of the department stores
00:30:40.90\00:30:42.66
through the
harsh Detroit winter.
00:30:42.69\00:30:44.82
You know, I never realized
00:30:44.85\00:30:45.95
how true this is
across North America
00:30:45.98\00:30:47.67
until I saw it with my own eyes.
00:30:47.70\00:30:49.25
Couple of years ago,
00:30:49.28\00:30:50.48
I was in Toronto,
Canada in December.
00:30:50.51\00:30:53.05
I was walking along the street
and all of these lumps there.
00:30:53.08\00:30:56.54
I asked the
friend who was with me.
00:30:56.57\00:30:57.89
It was night
time and these lumps
00:30:57.92\00:30:59.58
would move under
big sheets of cardboard.
00:30:59.61\00:31:03.23
This is beside Simpson-Sears,
00:31:03.26\00:31:05.70
Eaton's of Canada,
the Hudson's Bay Company.
00:31:05.73\00:31:10.20
He said, those are
homeless teenagers.
00:31:10.23\00:31:12.96
I could see that
they were sipping
00:31:12.99\00:31:14.34
little hot McDonalds
chocolate coffee or something.
00:31:14.37\00:31:18.46
Our kids.
00:31:18.49\00:31:21.17
And this girl
finally decides one night
00:31:21.20\00:31:22.94
as she's shivering
there and she knows
00:31:22.97\00:31:24.11
that some disease is coming.
00:31:24.14\00:31:26.70
She is there, I
just miss home so--
00:31:26.73\00:31:29.70
she hadn't
called home for months.
00:31:29.73\00:31:31.95
And she goes to
a telephone booth
00:31:31.98\00:31:33.16
and she gets some
change out of her jeans pocket
00:31:33.19\00:31:35.13
and she puts it
in and calls home
00:31:35.16\00:31:37.05
and three times straight
00:31:37.08\00:31:39.27
she gets her
folks' answering machine.
00:31:39.30\00:31:42.88
Dad saying, "Leave your
message after the beep."
00:31:42.91\00:31:46.60
Well, she hangs up quickly.
00:31:46.63\00:31:49.03
Finally after the
third time she goes,
00:31:49.06\00:31:51.89
she puts the money in
and she hears Dad's voice
00:31:51.92\00:31:56.37
"Leave your
message after the beep."
00:31:56.40\00:31:58.47
She says "Dad, Daddy, Mom,
it's me, it's your daughter.
00:31:58.50\00:32:02.91
I'm down here in
Detriot, I'm so cold.
00:32:02.94\00:32:05.32
I think I'm sick.
00:32:05.35\00:32:07.22
And I was just
kind of wondering about
00:32:07.25\00:32:09.40
maybe coming home.
00:32:09.43\00:32:12.75
And I'm going to
catch a bus up your way
00:32:12.78\00:32:14.50
tomorrow
afternoon about 4 o'clock.
00:32:14.53\00:32:16.02
It would take me seven hours,
00:32:16.05\00:32:18.31
I'll be getting
into Traverse City
00:32:18.34\00:32:19.47
about midnight tomorrow.
00:32:19.50\00:32:22.04
Could you meet
me at the station?
00:32:22.07\00:32:24.89
Well, if you're not there,
00:32:24.92\00:32:25.99
I guess I'll
just stay on the bus
00:32:26.02\00:32:27.68
till it hits Canada."
00:32:27.71\00:32:30.46
She hung up.
00:32:30.49\00:32:32.16
Next day this teenager
is riding for seven hours.
00:32:32.19\00:32:34.98
And she is worrying and she
is practicing her little speech.
00:32:35.01\00:32:38.02
"Daddy, Mom,
I've been so foolish.
00:32:38.05\00:32:40.19
Can you ever forgive me?"
00:32:40.22\00:32:41.43
But the bus is
getting closer and closer
00:32:41.46\00:32:43.28
and her heart starts to pound
00:32:43.31\00:32:44.41
as it's just within minutes
of getting to Traverse City.
00:32:44.44\00:32:48.39
And she thinks to herself.
00:32:48.42\00:32:51.19
"What if they're not home,
00:32:51.22\00:32:53.43
what if they
never got my message?
00:32:53.46\00:32:54.60
What if they're on some cruise
or on a vacation somewhere?
00:32:54.63\00:32:57.46
What if nobody is there?"
00:32:57.49\00:32:59.69
And finally Yancey describes
00:32:59.72\00:33:01.17
how the bus
pulls into the station.
00:33:01.20\00:33:03.17
There it is, a little, tiny,
tiny station at Traverse City.
00:33:03.20\00:33:07.39
And there is the neon
lights in the station,
00:33:07.42\00:33:09.72
the big air
brakes of the bus, stop.
00:33:09.75\00:33:12.58
The lights come on inside
00:33:12.61\00:33:13.77
but then the
driver's voice says,
00:33:13.80\00:33:15.01
"Well, ladies and
gentlemen, it's midnight.
00:33:15.04\00:33:16.93
Welcome to Traverse City.
00:33:16.96\00:33:18.75
This is a little short
rest stop, 15 minutes, folks.
00:33:18.78\00:33:22.16
You can get out of
the bus and stretch,
00:33:22.19\00:33:25.08
rest rooms on the
right, coffees on the left."
00:33:25.11\00:33:27.88
Fifteen minutes
to decide her life.
00:33:27.91\00:33:32.73
And for this little
teenager, it's pure terror.
00:33:32.76\00:33:35.92
Yancey says how she
pulls out her little makeup kit
00:33:35.95\00:33:38.15
and she checks her hair,
00:33:38.18\00:33:39.80
and she licks the
lipstick off of her teeth.
00:33:39.83\00:33:43.90
Now according to the
mathematics of the world,
00:33:43.93\00:33:47.38
she ought to get nothing.
00:33:47.41\00:33:49.76
Zip. And she knows it.
00:33:49.79\00:33:52.30
No forgiveness, no welcome back,
00:33:52.33\00:33:54.50
no making up, especially after
00:33:54.53\00:33:57.16
how she slapped
everyone in the face before
00:33:57.19\00:33:59.66
she left home and then took off.
00:33:59.69\00:34:02.65
So this young
teenager, she gets off the bus,
00:34:02.68\00:34:07.86
and she walks
into this terminal,
00:34:07.89\00:34:10.24
not knowing what
on earth to expect.
00:34:10.27\00:34:12.24
Never in her wildest dream
expecting to see what's there.
00:34:12.27\00:34:16.69
All kinds of
people, 20, 30, 40 people,
00:34:16.72\00:34:20.63
brothers, sisters,
cousins, great-aunts, uncles,
00:34:20.66\00:34:24.35
there's grandmother and
even great, great-grandmother.
00:34:24.38\00:34:27.09
Midnight and they're all wearing
00:34:27.12\00:34:28.56
these funny goofy party
hats and blowing noisemakers.
00:34:28.59\00:34:31.31
And there is a huge banner
00:34:31.34\00:34:32.75
across the entire terminal
"Welcome home, sweetheart!"
00:34:32.78\00:34:37.31
And there comes her Dad.
00:34:37.34\00:34:39.17
Her eyes are filled with tears,
00:34:39.20\00:34:40.84
and she begins her
little memorized speech,
00:34:40.87\00:34:43.06
"Daddy, I'm so
sorry. I know I hurt you."
00:34:43.09\00:34:46.75
And he interrupts
her. He says "Hush, child.
00:34:46.78\00:34:50.51
We've got no time
for that right now.
00:34:50.54\00:34:52.60
You're going to be
late for the party.
00:34:52.63\00:34:54.33
There is a
banquet waiting for you,
00:34:54.36\00:34:55.92
the whole town is
waiting for you back home."
00:34:55.95\00:35:01.04
Folks, so often
when the prodigals say
00:35:01.07\00:35:04.78
they call us up, "Dad, Mom.
00:35:04.81\00:35:06.99
Folks, I'm so sorry.
00:35:07.02\00:35:08.96
I think I screwed up.
00:35:08.99\00:35:10.09
I've sinned.
00:35:10.12\00:35:12.11
I think I need God."
00:35:12.14\00:35:14.63
So often parents
say, "Yeah, right.
00:35:14.66\00:35:19.48
I've been praying for you
to come to your senses, boy.
00:35:19.51\00:35:22.76
It's about time.
00:35:22.79\00:35:23.82
Girl, do you know how
my reputation's been shot
00:35:23.85\00:35:26.71
in this town because of
what you've been doing?"
00:35:26.74\00:35:28.98
So many parents, they get
so aggravated at their kids,
00:35:29.01\00:35:32.67
they go, pow, pow!
00:35:32.70\00:35:35.80
You shamed me.
00:35:35.83\00:35:37.48
You embarrassed me, daughter.
00:35:37.51\00:35:39.14
Pow!"
00:35:39.17\00:35:41.52
Folks, don't say that.
00:35:41.55\00:35:44.79
Keep your mouth shut.
00:35:44.82\00:35:47.70
And let the Holy
Spirit finish the job.
00:35:47.73\00:35:50.41
Amen.
00:35:50.44\00:35:51.47
When they say "Dad,
Mom, could I come back?"
00:35:51.50\00:35:56.73
Say "Okay."
00:35:56.76\00:36:00.63
Not, "Well, girl,
unless you mean it this time
00:36:00.66\00:36:03.74
for serious
assure and you changed,
00:36:03.77\00:36:05.95
you can jolly well just
pack your bags and leave."
00:36:05.98\00:36:08.20
Friend, listen, dear hearts,
00:36:08.23\00:36:11.36
if you have a prodigal,
I have some in my family.
00:36:11.39\00:36:16.82
If you've done your very best.
00:36:16.85\00:36:19.89
Two things this
parable tells me.
00:36:19.92\00:36:22.49
Number one, don't worry,
00:36:22.52\00:36:27.70
and please don't nag.
00:36:27.73\00:36:31.01
Because, my Christian friend,
you can send the Holy Spirit.
00:36:31.04\00:36:36.04
You can get down on your knees,
00:36:36.07\00:36:37.45
because God will not
forget His faithful servant.
00:36:37.48\00:36:41.46
If we will be faithful
to come to these meetings
00:36:41.49\00:36:43.55
and support the
follow up meetings
00:36:43.58\00:36:44.96
and go out after the lost
sheep and after the lost coin,
00:36:44.99\00:36:47.69
we can leave it with God then
00:36:47.72\00:36:49.64
to go after the prodigal
son or the prodigal daughter.
00:36:49.67\00:36:52.06
Amen? Amen.
00:36:52.09\00:36:55.94
Do you know what
the Inspired Pen says
00:36:55.97\00:36:58.07
that the final
message to this world is?
00:36:58.10\00:37:00.65
I know we talked
about the Elijah message.
00:37:00.68\00:37:03.24
But she says the
last message of love
00:37:03.27\00:37:05.47
to this world is about what?
00:37:05.50\00:37:07.74
Someone?
00:37:07.77\00:37:09.30
The character of
God, which is love.
00:37:09.33\00:37:14.33
Well, folks, listen,
00:37:14.36\00:37:16.17
the radical good
news of the Gospel
00:37:16.20\00:37:18.51
is that the
Father is more prodigal
00:37:18.54\00:37:22.28
than the prodigal.
00:37:22.31\00:37:23.68
Go home and look
up at your dictionary,
00:37:25.21\00:37:27.02
Webster's, and look
up that word "Prodigal."
00:37:27.05\00:37:28.68
You know what it really means?
00:37:28.71\00:37:30.29
The word "Prodigal"
means overly lavish,
00:37:30.32\00:37:33.33
overly
extravagant, generous, wild,
00:37:33.36\00:37:36.60
reckless, wasteful, spendaholic.
00:37:36.63\00:37:40.20
Wow, the real prodigal
in the story is the father.
00:37:40.23\00:37:44.58
Outrageous generosity.
00:37:44.61\00:37:47.10
He gives away
half the family fortune
00:37:47.13\00:37:49.55
and then when that
prodigal comes back
00:37:49.58\00:37:51.10
he hands the prodigal the
keys to the bank all over again.
00:37:51.13\00:37:55.18
Undiminished love for both sons.
00:37:55.21\00:38:00.95
Both of those sons sinned.
00:38:00.98\00:38:03.42
Both were prodigals.
00:38:03.45\00:38:05.74
Both needed Jesus.
00:38:05.77\00:38:08.57
Today, every one
listening to my voice,
00:38:08.60\00:38:11.87
you are in this story.
00:38:11.90\00:38:15.25
Today, we've either
taken the inheritance
00:38:15.28\00:38:17.93
down to zero in our lives,
00:38:17.96\00:38:20.13
or maybe you're
like the elder brother,
00:38:20.16\00:38:21.79
you have a few
dollars left stashed away
00:38:21.82\00:38:23.85
of good deeds in the bank.
00:38:23.88\00:38:26.75
But the Bible says
we're all prodigals.
00:38:26.78\00:38:30.91
You know, in Luke 15 here
I was blown away to discover
00:38:30.94\00:38:35.48
that Jesus never
finished the story.
00:38:35.51\00:38:40.16
You ever notice that?
00:38:40.19\00:38:41.64
It's the unfinished
symphony if you wish.
00:38:41.67\00:38:44.06
There is no hint that either
son ever changed his ways,
00:38:44.09\00:38:48.02
that the young prodigal ever
conducted himself honorably.
00:38:48.05\00:38:53.32
Do you know why Jesus
didn't finish the story?
00:38:53.35\00:38:57.63
He told it this way on purpose.
00:38:57.66\00:39:00.14
The little book
"Christ's Object Lessons,"
00:39:00.17\00:39:01.97
page 209 says,
00:39:02.00\00:39:03.88
"It's because those two
prodigals represent us."
00:39:03.91\00:39:11.54
And it's up to us to go out
of these doors this morning,
00:39:11.57\00:39:15.15
out into the world,
and we finish the story.
00:39:15.18\00:39:20.94
And the good news, folks,
is God is waiting out there.
00:39:20.97\00:39:24.21
He's ready to party.
00:39:24.24\00:39:25.72
He is ready with the
ring, He is ready with the robe,
00:39:25.75\00:39:27.67
He is ready with the shoes.
00:39:27.70\00:39:29.55
Oh, and there's one
more thing about heaven.
00:39:29.58\00:39:32.37
You know, they seem
to be able to afford
00:39:32.40\00:39:33.98
an awful lot of
parties up there.
00:39:34.01\00:39:38.46
Oh, in the little "P.S."
00:39:38.49\00:39:41.42
The movie industry
calls it a denouement.
00:39:41.45\00:39:44.16
The end of the show Raymond,
00:39:44.19\00:39:45.24
there's always
the last 30 seconds
00:39:45.27\00:39:47.71
you don't want to miss
that, that's a denouement.
00:39:47.74\00:39:51.38
The P.S. Tony Campolo
00:39:51.41\00:39:54.01
reported in "Publisher's
Weekly" not long ago
00:39:54.04\00:39:56.85
that the story there
in Honolulu is going on.
00:39:56.88\00:40:00.01
He says, "I was sent to
deliver a very scholarly lecture
00:40:00.04\00:40:03.83
at some college up
in the State of Oregon.
00:40:03.86\00:40:06.44
He says, "As I
approached the platform,
00:40:06.47\00:40:08.18
I saw it was all decorated
00:40:08.21\00:40:10.01
with all sorts
of metallic balloons
00:40:10.04\00:40:11.87
and there on the
rostrum was a great big sign,
00:40:11.90\00:40:14.84
"Happy Birthday, Tony Compolo,
00:40:14.87\00:40:17.59
love from Agnes, your
friend from Honolulu."
00:40:17.62\00:40:22.69
He says, "Somehow this
girl had found out who I was,
00:40:22.72\00:40:25.50
when my birthday
was, and where I would be.
00:40:25.53\00:40:27.48
And she had enlisted
somebody up there in Oregon
00:40:27.51\00:40:29.53
to set the whole thing up."
00:40:29.56\00:40:31.66
But then he says, "The nicest
part of the story is this.
00:40:31.69\00:40:35.83
Agnes is no longer living
the life of a prostitute."
00:40:35.86\00:40:42.05
She hasn't made the strongest
commitment to Jesus Christ yet,
00:40:42.08\00:40:45.84
but now she's working for Harry,
00:40:45.87\00:40:47.95
the fat guy behind
the counter, the diner.
00:40:47.98\00:40:50.85
And Harry has committed
his life to Jesus Christ
00:40:50.88\00:40:53.98
and he's now
using his restaurant
00:40:54.01\00:40:55.59
as the place to help people,
00:40:55.62\00:40:57.48
street people who
come in with problems
00:40:57.51\00:41:00.40
in the middle of the night
they have nowhere else to turn.
00:41:00.43\00:41:03.11
So you see, the story continues.
00:41:03.14\00:41:06.04
And it's not over yet.
00:41:06.07\00:41:08.28
Never will be until Jesus comes.
00:41:08.31\00:41:11.48
Because of the
heart of the Father
00:41:11.51\00:41:12.99
and the heart of Jesus Christ,
00:41:13.02\00:41:14.79
friend, it must be the heart
of every Christian, all of us.
00:41:14.82\00:41:20.88
God wants us to
be just like that,
00:41:20.91\00:41:23.69
creating parties for prodigals.
00:41:23.72\00:41:26.92
Making our
churches and our homes
00:41:26.95\00:41:28.71
and our job sites places
00:41:28.74\00:41:30.09
where sinners can
come and feel welcome again
00:41:30.12\00:41:33.62
and comfortable even the Agneses
00:41:33.65\00:41:35.86
and the prodigals of this world.
00:41:35.89\00:41:39.22
This morning as
the Heritage Singers
00:41:39.25\00:41:41.69
sing about home,
00:41:41.72\00:41:44.01
I know that there are
individuals right here,
00:41:44.04\00:41:46.99
in your downlink site
00:41:47.02\00:41:48.22
and the churches
wherever you are meeting
00:41:48.25\00:41:49.52
and here in this auditorium,
I know there are individuals,
00:41:49.55\00:41:52.20
I know that there are
families, there are parents,
00:41:52.23\00:41:54.69
my own parents right now
00:41:54.72\00:41:57.16
who want to respond to
this message this morning,
00:41:57.19\00:42:00.76
maybe you feel like the prodigal
00:42:00.79\00:42:03.67
and you want to respond to
the open arms of the Father
00:42:03.70\00:42:05.88
and you want to say,
"Lord, I'm coming home.
00:42:05.91\00:42:10.09
I want to invite you
this morning to come forward
00:42:10.12\00:42:13.39
while the
Heritage Singers will sing.
00:42:13.42\00:42:15.74
And there are
others too out there
00:42:15.77\00:42:18.54
who have a prodigal.
00:42:18.57\00:42:22.09
Well, maybe you know a prodigal.
00:42:22.12\00:42:25.73
While the Heritage sing,
00:42:25.76\00:42:28.12
I want every person here
to make some kind of decision,
00:42:28.15\00:42:33.20
maybe you can be
a priest on behalf
00:42:33.23\00:42:34.70
of that young
person, or that loved one,
00:42:34.73\00:42:36.48
or that companion or
that grandchild or a parent,
00:42:36.51\00:42:40.82
come forward and
pray on behalf of them.
00:42:40.85\00:42:43.58
Respond to the
voice of the Holy Spirit
00:42:43.61\00:42:45.23
playing sensitively on
our hearts this morning.
00:42:45.26\00:42:48.85
Right now I'm gonna
ask that the row captains
00:42:48.88\00:42:53.20
pass those containers down.
00:42:53.23\00:42:55.86
Please take a commitment card
00:42:55.89\00:42:58.55
and as you respond and
decide to come forward,
00:42:58.58\00:43:00.43
bring that card with you
00:43:00.46\00:43:01.53
because we want to go
through that together,
00:43:01.56\00:43:03.99
it's so important.
00:43:04.02\00:43:06.49
Perhaps we're aching
for loved ones, prodigals.
00:43:06.52\00:43:10.26
We all have one, we know that
they aren't here this morning.
00:43:10.29\00:43:13.68
I want you to stand,
00:43:13.71\00:43:15.50
come forward right here
in front of the big screen,
00:43:15.53\00:43:18.42
right there in your
location wherever you are.
00:43:18.45\00:43:20.48
Come as the Heritage
Singers will be signing.
00:43:20.51\00:43:23.45
Maybe you feel you wandered away
00:43:23.48\00:43:24.79
and now you want to come back,
00:43:24.82\00:43:26.01
some of you sense
you need to be baptized
00:43:26.04\00:43:28.77
or rebaptized or you feel
a special need for prayer.
00:43:28.80\00:43:33.76
Well, you come as they sing.
00:43:33.79\00:43:36.02
Bring your decision
card with you and a pencil,
00:43:36.05\00:43:39.07
but come just now.
00:43:39.10\00:43:40.95
Home is where the heart is
00:44:04.93\00:44:10.22
My heart's own home
00:44:10.25\00:44:14.66
Though I never really
had one to call my own
00:44:14.69\00:44:22.66
I've been given a key
00:44:24.57\00:44:29.04
By the Carpenter of Galilee
00:44:29.07\00:44:34.20
With interest paid
the title's made to me
00:44:34.23\00:44:42.20
Home, where there is no night
00:44:44.39\00:44:49.52
Home, where the Son is the light
00:44:49.55\00:44:54.18
The place I've
been dreaming of so long
00:44:54.21\00:45:02.18
Loved one's there to welcome me
00:45:04.17\00:45:08.92
But His sweet face
will be the first I see
00:45:08.95\00:45:13.50
When my journey's
over I am going home
00:45:13.53\00:45:21.50
Everybody dreams
00:45:29.19\00:45:34.45
Of going home it seems
00:45:34.48\00:45:38.11
Lately I am no exception
00:45:38.14\00:45:42.86
To the rule
00:45:42.89\00:45:47.85
Oh, but home is so
much more than the windows
00:45:47.88\00:45:54.65
Walls and doors
00:45:54.68\00:45:58.17
It's a warm embrace
00:45:58.20\00:46:00.56
Where a smiling
face is awaiting you
00:46:00.59\00:46:08.55
Home, where there is no night
00:46:08.58\00:46:13.49
Home, where the Son is the light
00:46:13.52\00:46:18.31
The place I've
been dreaming of so long
00:46:18.34\00:46:26.11
Loved one's there to welcome me
00:46:28.08\00:46:32.83
But His sweet face
will be the first I see
00:46:32.86\00:46:37.24
When my journey's
over I am going home
00:46:37.27\00:46:45.24
Home, where there is no night
00:46:47.77\00:46:52.75
Home, where the Son is the light
00:46:52.78\00:46:57.42
The place I've
been dreaming of so long
00:46:57.45\00:47:05.42
Loved one's there to welcome me
00:47:07.43\00:47:12.00
But His sweet face
will be the first I see
00:47:12.03\00:47:16.76
When my journey's
over I am going home
00:47:16.79\00:47:24.76
And when my
journey's over I am going home
00:47:26.02\00:47:34.02
You know, I know
God's Spirit is here.
00:47:41.68\00:47:44.70
I'm thinking about all
those downlink locations
00:47:44.73\00:47:46.93
where there maybe
many people still seated
00:47:46.96\00:47:48.68
out in the
auditorium because well,
00:47:48.71\00:47:50.57
you're little conscious about
walking up toward that screen.
00:47:50.60\00:47:54.94
This is not a call
right now to join a church,
00:47:54.97\00:47:58.62
this is a call for
commitment for your loved one
00:47:58.65\00:48:03.45
that God will change you first,
00:48:03.48\00:48:06.72
then He can reach
out and touch them.
00:48:06.75\00:48:08.71
So if you are still seated there
00:48:08.74\00:48:10.12
and you can't make your way
00:48:10.15\00:48:11.18
down the isle or
it's too crowded,
00:48:11.21\00:48:12.58
I want you to just
stand wherever you are seated.
00:48:12.61\00:48:15.88
You're going to
be an intercessor,
00:48:15.91\00:48:17.65
you can let heaven
start with you and your life.
00:48:17.68\00:48:20.70
You're gonna join in this prayer
00:48:20.73\00:48:22.08
as we pray together.
00:48:22.11\00:48:23.85
Let's just maybe reach out
00:48:23.88\00:48:25.44
and take the hand
of someone next to us
00:48:25.47\00:48:27.19
and affirm them, they maybe
alone tonight feeling like,
00:48:27.22\00:48:30.51
little discouraged this morning.
00:48:30.54\00:48:33.30
Let's pray together.
00:48:33.33\00:48:34.37
Father in heaven,
Lord, here we are,
00:48:34.40\00:48:37.34
Your great church,
hearts overflowing with tears
00:48:37.37\00:48:41.59
and contrition,
God, we're melted,
00:48:41.62\00:48:44.59
we're penitent and
waiting, needing healing
00:48:44.62\00:48:49.35
and we sense our heavenly
Father rushing toward us
00:48:49.38\00:48:51.94
right now to envelop us
00:48:51.97\00:48:54.84
in Your strong
arms, we're needing Jesus'
00:48:54.87\00:48:58.35
strong loving arms to embrace us
00:48:58.38\00:49:00.92
and welcome us home, wrap
us up in your precious blood.
00:49:00.95\00:49:04.02
Forgive our sins, Lord.
00:49:04.05\00:49:05.28
Take our guilt away.
00:49:05.31\00:49:08.02
Lord, just now
would you bless our homes,
00:49:08.05\00:49:11.80
we have kind
words for the stranger
00:49:11.83\00:49:13.85
and sweet thoughts
for the sometime guests
00:49:13.88\00:49:16.48
but off for our own,
there is the bitter tone.
00:49:16.51\00:49:20.43
But we love our own the best.
00:49:20.46\00:49:24.01
Save our homes and
maybe someone out there
00:49:24.04\00:49:27.94
who hasn't been able to get up
00:49:27.97\00:49:29.20
and walk forward or
even stand on their feet.
00:49:29.23\00:49:32.71
Friend, if you'd like to
be included in this prayer,
00:49:32.74\00:49:34.86
would you just raise your hand
00:49:34.89\00:49:36.51
wherever you are and
God will see your response.
00:49:36.54\00:49:40.48
Please, Lord,
You know our hearts.
00:49:40.51\00:49:43.20
Would You keep them close to You
00:49:43.23\00:49:44.68
and help us to
join the festive spirit
00:49:44.71\00:49:47.64
of your party for prodigals.
00:49:47.67\00:49:49.76
What a God we serve.
00:49:49.79\00:49:52.21
Lord, we've run
away from these people
00:49:52.24\00:49:53.85
but You run toward them,
00:49:53.88\00:49:56.18
toward us
prodigals who need Jesus.
00:49:56.21\00:50:01.02
This morning we
can only respond,
00:50:01.05\00:50:02.59
Lord, I'm coming home.
00:50:02.62\00:50:06.82
Amen.
00:50:06.85\00:50:08.44
I want you to
take that response card
00:50:08.47\00:50:11.69
if you didn't bring with you,
00:50:11.72\00:50:13.31
you can go back to your
seats quietly in just a moment.
00:50:13.34\00:50:17.41
If you'd like to
check number one,
00:50:17.44\00:50:19.77
"I surrender my life to Jesus
00:50:19.80\00:50:22.52
and accept Him as
my Savior and Lord."
00:50:22.55\00:50:25.90
Just put a check beside
number one, that first box.
00:50:25.93\00:50:30.60
We've invited many
individuals to come
00:50:30.63\00:50:32.39
and be here at this service
00:50:32.42\00:50:33.57
who may have been a long
time from being at church.
00:50:33.60\00:50:37.36
Maybe you have felt impressed
00:50:37.39\00:50:38.57
this is the time for
you to check number two.
00:50:38.60\00:50:41.59
"I have wandered away from God
00:50:41.62\00:50:43.32
and I wish to
re-commit my life to Jesus."
00:50:43.35\00:50:45.83
Would you check
that if God's Spirit
00:50:45.86\00:50:47.65
is directing you
to do that right now?
00:50:47.68\00:50:50.50
Number three.
00:50:50.53\00:50:53.02
I hope many individuals
who've been wondering
00:50:53.05\00:50:55.11
and maybe uncertain will decide
00:50:55.14\00:50:57.10
this is the time I
need to get baptized.
00:50:57.13\00:50:59.85
We had a wonderful
baptism a few minutes ago.
00:50:59.88\00:51:02.61
And we have more of
these in our services.
00:51:02.64\00:51:05.21
Please check that today,
make your decision right now.
00:51:05.24\00:51:09.21
And finally number four.
00:51:09.24\00:51:11.21
There'll be many
who want to check this
00:51:11.24\00:51:12.73
"I desire special
prayer for loved ones
00:51:12.76\00:51:15.62
who need to come back to Jesus."
00:51:15.65\00:51:17.28
Amen.
00:51:17.31\00:51:18.34
Would you check that one? Yes.
00:51:18.37\00:51:21.74
Let's do that right now.
00:51:21.77\00:51:25.03
I've gonna ask
that the hostesses
00:51:25.06\00:51:28.78
and the row captains make sure
00:51:28.81\00:51:30.06
that they have plenty of
the baskets at the doorways
00:51:30.09\00:51:33.59
so that you can have a
chance to turn these in.
00:51:33.62\00:51:36.52
We're going to ask in
all of the downlink sites
00:51:36.55\00:51:38.68
and here at Columbia
that everyone be seated
00:51:38.71\00:51:42.11
because I have a very
important announcement
00:51:42.14\00:51:44.14
after I go off the air to share.
00:51:44.17\00:51:46.06
I want you to
remember though that tonight
00:51:46.09\00:51:47.47
the meeting will be at 7:15,
00:51:47.50\00:51:50.05
one of the most
important in all of this series
00:51:50.08\00:51:52.14
called "The Woman of
Revelation Chapter 12."
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Remember as you go, friend,
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God really does love you.
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God bless you.
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