I would like to start today's sermon from the story of the prodigal son, which is one of the parables Jesus Christ spoke to the Pharisees and scribes who murmurs against him that He received sinners as well as eat with them according to Luke 15:2. In this sermon, Jesus Christ spoke about the importance of seeking that which was lost. But in this sermon, we want to explore the consequence(s) of being separated from God's divine plan and protection for our lives. In the text we read starting from Luke 15:11-24, we can see that a young man approached his father to request for the portion of his inheritance. The bible did not tell us about the age of this young man, but we can easily conclude that the young man is grown up and able to know right from wrong. In essence, he is fully aware of the decision he is about to be taken.
The bible in Luke 15:13 said that after he had got his own portion of his inheritance, he decided to be separated from his father to move to a far country and wasted the inheritance his father gave him in riotous living forgetting what the scripture said in Proverbs 14:12 that there is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end are the ways of death.
The bible in Luke 15:14-16 said that after he had enjoyed himself to his own satisfaction and all the inheritance received from his father had been wasted. He now began to be in want due to the mighty famine in the country he fled to. He tried to find a way of survival by identifying himself as a citizen of the country so as to get a job for his survival and eventually got a job to feed the swine believing that he could get food to eat out of the swine left over, but he was wrong. This is what normally happens when a child of God decided to leave the presence of his maker to enjoy the world a little. The scripture in 1 John 2:15-17 told us not to love the world, neither the things that is in the world because there is no way you can love the world and at the same time love the father, because everything that is in the world namely lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life are not of the father, and the world will soon pass away as well as all those things we are craving for, but doing the will of God will make you stand stronger in the midst of the storm.
The devil therefore made this young man to lust for the things of the world and the devil know if that this young man being in the enclosure of his father will be protected adequately, he (the devil) therefore put it in his heart to tell his father to give him the portion of his inheritance and eventually lured him to leave his father's household. The devil, therefore waited patiently for him to enjoy himself very well before pouncing on him with affliction of hunger. Here is someone who has been in his father's house eating three square meal a day now became someone that can not even get anything to eat. What an affliction from the devil?!
I pray for anyone under this sermon or reading it that no matter how long the devil has lured you out of the divine coverage of God to afflict you, that according to the word of God is Ezekiel 13:20-23 that you shall be delivered in Jesus Name. The Word of God in Isaiah 49:25 said the even the legal captivity shall be delivered, I pray for you that no matter how legally you have been in captivity either through ignorance of yours or through your selfishness, you shall be delivered in Jesus Name.
The good thing is that when the veil used to cover his face by the devil was removed, the young man now realised in Luke 15:17-19 that he needed to go back home to under his father's protection where he will be in abundance as well as adequately nourished. But first he will need to tell his father that has repented of his action and that he no longer should be identified as a son but a servant because the Scripture in John 8:35 said that a servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the son abideth for ever.
The scripture in Luke 15:20 tells us that while this young man repented and decides to go back to his father, that his father saw him a far off and had compassion for him and ran to meet him and hugged and kissed him. Meaning that the father has long been expecting him back home. What a compassionate father? Luke 15:7 and Luke 15:10 said that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repented.
Have you been separated from the plan of God and its protection for your life for a long time, it is now the right time to go back to your father like the young man and ask for God’s forgiveness through the redemptive power in the blood of Jesus Christ?
Are you here today, and you are saying that I have been long gone from the presence of the Almighty God and there is no reinstatement for me? I want to tell you the good news is that Jesus Christ said in John 6:37 and John 6:39 that all that the father had given to him, he will in no wise cast out and everyone that the Father gave him will not be lost. Make up your mind today to go back as tomorrow may be too late.
Let us Pray!
Wonderful Father, we humbly come in humility to you and ask for the forgiveness of all the sins we have committed as well as being rebellious to have left the security of your presence to seek the world. We pray that as the prodigal son have repented, we also repented of our self will and come back home to you. Henceforth, we promise you Abba Father to continue living in your will for our lives in Jesus Name. Amen!
