Session 2 The Prodigal Son

 The Prodigal was wasting his life (he had left something good)

 ·       Choose to walk

-       He had taken his life into his OWN hands and had freely chosen to walk away from his father and his ways.

-       When you choose your own path you reject and DISTANCE yourself from God.

·       Ended up in a bad situation

-       Sin is PLEASURABLE for a while, but the fun will run out, and leave you starving, destitute, and deserted by everyone.

-       Satan will use you, and then DISCARD you like trash to die.

-       Apart from God you can’t be happy

 

The Prodigal came to his senses (he realized he was in a mess)

 ·       You must first see a problem before you can fix it.

-       He had to REALIZE that he was wrong, and what he thought would be the good life wasn’t.

-       He had to ADMIT to himself that he had made a mistake, and that he didn’t know what was best for him.

-       “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

 ·       A life lived with God is the best way

-       The prodigal REALIZED that he had left something good.

-       He realized that he would DIE if he didn’t return to his father.

-       “Unless you repent, you will perish.” (Luke 13:5)

-       Repentance:  to turn AROUND, to make steps to come back. 

 

The Prodigal was broken (he became sorry for his actions)

·       “I’m not worthy to be your son…”

-       He understood the seriousness of his actions, and that he had TREATED his good father shamefully.

-       He understood that he didn’t DESERVE to be a son anymore.

-       He had to admit to his FATHER that he was wrong and that his father really did know best.

-       This takes HUMILITY and brokenness.

-       “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

     (Psalm 51:17)

The Prodigal was embraced by the Father (he was restored as a son)

 ·       The Father saw him coming – and ran to him…

-       This is a time when a totally holy God closed the distance and EMBRACED the distant, dirty son.

 ·       The Father gave gifts of restoration

-       A ROBE (clean garments)

-       A RING (symbol of authority)

-       SANDALS (only sons wore shoes)

-       Fattened CALF (only used on special occasions)

 How Do Prodigals Find their Way Home?

 -       When you repent and HUMBLE yourself, He will pick you up, accept you, and remember your sins no more.

-      God is TRUSTWORTHY, and He can lead you on paths that lead to happiness and life.