Luke 15

PRODIGAL FALLS FOR THE ALLURE OF WORLDLY GAIN

Do not love the world or the things in the world. (1 John 2:15)

Lured to abandon the better path by corrupt internal desires

Desire for Adventure-Excitement-Fun

Desire for Affirmation-Esteem Desire for Pleasure

PRODIGAL ISOLATED FROM MORAL AUTHORITY

No god means no master; freedom to be an angel or a demon

Wanted no restraints Wanted silence from conviction

Wanted to be his own god

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. (Proverbs 18:1)

PRODIGAL OBTAINS EVENTUAL OUTCOME OF SIN

Traded long-term blessings for temporary pleasures

Missed God’s faithful and loving fellowship

Missed opportunities to be blessed Missed opportunities to gain wisdom

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. (Rom 1:25)

PRODIGAL RETURNS TO HIS SENSES

God leverages pain, suffering and failure to remind us of His goodness

Helps us see that something is missing

Helps us realize the sin in our lives Helps incline our hearts toward God

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PRODIGAL WELCOMED AND RESTORED

God forgives and forgets our sins when we turn to him with faith

No sin is too terrible for God to forgive No person is too far gone or too far away No forgiveness available except by Jesus

Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them…(2Cor 5:19)

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. (Psalms 145:18)