Participants: Lonnie Melashenko
Series Code: VOPS
Program Code: VOPS000016
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00:31 Dr. Tony Campolo who is a professor of Sociology
00:34 at Eastern College in Pennsylvania 00:37 tells a wonderful story of going to Hawaii 00:41 for a vacation where he prefers to go 00:43 and wander in the streets of Honolulu 00:45 at 3:30 in the morning 00:46 because tourists here from the East Coast 00:49 find themselves wide awake six hours before dawn 00:52 when they get to Honolulu. 00:54 So he said, I get up at 3:30, I'm ready to go. 00:56 I wanted some breakfast, 00:57 but he said everything was closed. 01:00 And as I was wandering these side streets, 01:01 I finally found a little "greasy spoon" restaurant 01:04 that was still open. 01:05 But he said when I came in 01:06 and sat down it was so filthy in there 01:09 I wouldn't even touch the menu. 01:11 He said, I sat down on a stool 01:13 and ordered some coffee and a donut. 01:16 Which the doctor would not approve of 01:18 but he said I ordered this from behind the-- 01:21 the big man behind the counter was a fat fellow 01:23 and he said, I found out later his name was Harry. 01:26 To show you how filthy the place was, 01:27 he says Harry reached in with his bare greasy hands, 01:30 he pulled the donut up and he handed it to me. 01:33 Well, he said, I sat there munching on my donut. 01:36 When all of a sudden much to my discomfort, 01:38 he said, the door to that little restaurant opened 01:42 and in marched eight or nine 01:44 very provocatively dressed and boisterous prostitutes. 01:49 And he said, guess where they sat down? 01:52 All around me. 01:53 And he said their talk was so loud and so crude 01:56 that as a Christian he said, I felt completely out of place 01:59 and was about to get out of there, 02:01 I was gonna make my getaway 02:02 when he said I overheard 02:03 the woman who was sitting right next to me 02:05 say to her friends, 02:07 "You know what, tomorrow's my birthday. 02:09 Can you imagine it, I'm going to be 39." 02:13 And the friend that was sitting beside her 02:15 responded rather nastily, 02:17 "So what do you want from me, you want a birthday party? 02:20 You want me to get you a cake, 02:21 you want me to sing 'Happy Birthday?' 02:22 What do you want?" 02:23 And the girl replied, "Oh, come on. 02:24 Why are you so mean? 02:25 I was just telling you, that's all. 02:27 Why do you have to put me down? 02:29 I was just telling you it was my birthday. 02:31 I don't want anything from you. 02:32 I mean, why should you give me a birthday party? 02:34 I've never had a birthday party in my whole life. 02:37 Why should I have one now?" 02:39 Well, When Tony Campolo heard that, he made a decision. 02:43 He decided to wait until the women went back out 02:45 on to the streets after their little break. 02:47 And then he said, "Harry, 02:51 do these women come in here every night?" 02:54 "Yeah, they do." 02:56 "Well, the one who sat right next to me, 02:58 does she come in here every night, too?" 03:00 "Yeah. That's Agnes. 03:02 Comes in here every night. Why do you want to know?" 03:06 Well, he said, "Because she said 03:07 tomorrow is her birthday. 03:09 And, Harry, what do you say 03:10 that you and I do something about that? 03:12 Never had a birthday party. 03:14 What do you think about us throwing a birthday party, 03:16 big surprise for her, right here tomorrow night?" 03:19 "That's great! I like it!" 03:22 Calling to the back room 03:24 through the hole in the kitchen there, 03:25 he said, "Hey Woman! Come out here!" 03:27 Found out later it was his wife who was the cook. 03:31 "Woman, this guy's got an idea, great idea. 03:33 Tomorrow's Agnes's birthday and this guy wants us 03:35 to go in and throw a party 03:37 for Agnes, right here, what do you think?" 03:40 Well, his wife came out all bright and smiley, 03:42 wiping her hands and she said, "Oh, that's wonderful!" 03:45 She said, "You know, Agnes is one of those people 03:47 who is really nice and she is so kind to everyone. 03:50 But nobody ever does anything nice or kind for Agnes." 03:54 "Well, look," says "Tony" he said, 03:57 "If it's okay with you, 03:58 I'm up bright and early, I'm from the East Coast 04:00 so I'll be here tomorrow morning at 2:30. 04:03 I'll bring some decorations, decorate the place, 04:05 in fact I'll even bring a birthday cake!" 04:07 "No way, no." Said Harry. 04:11 "Cake is my thing. I'll bake the cake." 04:14 "Okay" said Campolo. 04:16 Next morning 2:30 he was there, 04:18 great big box of crepe paper decorations, 04:20 and a huge cardboard sign saying "Happy Birthday, Agnes!" 04:24 And he decorated that diner from one end to the other. 04:26 Well, that woman who did the cooking in the kitchen, 04:29 she must have gotten the word out onto the street 04:31 because at 3:15 in the morning, 04:34 every prostitute in Honolulu was there. 04:37 Wall-to-wall prostitutes. 04:40 And one preacher, Tony Campolo. 04:43 On cue they must have gotten 04:46 some one of her friends out there, 3:30 on the dot, 04:49 the door swung open and in came Agnes with a friend. 04:52 And Campolo, who by now sort of dubbed 04:54 the automatic emcee for the evening, 04:57 he had everybody ready as they screamed out, 04:59 "Happy Birthday, Agnes!" 05:01 And she looked and she was absolutely stunned 05:04 and kind of confused, in fact she was so flabbergasted 05:07 and shaken that her mouth fell open 05:08 and her legs began to buckle. 05:10 And they sat her down on a bar stool. 05:12 And she got all misty-eyed. 05:15 But when the birthday cake came out, 05:17 she just lost it as Harry came out 05:20 with all of 39 candles 05:21 and they saying "Happy Birthday, dear Agnes." 05:25 She just wept uncontrollably like a baby 05:27 and Harry came over after the song 05:30 and he said, "Yo, Agnes, 05:33 you're supposed to blow out the candles, 05:35 blow out the candles, Agnes." 05:37 Agnes just wept, she couldn't control herself. 05:40 "Agnes, if you don't blow out the candles, 05:41 I'm gonna have to blow them out." 05:43 Harry had to blow out the candles. 05:46 Finally, he got a little knife and he handed her. 05:48 "Yo, Agnes, we want some cake. 05:52 Agnes, you got to cut the cake." 05:55 Agnes finally was able to get some words and she wailed. 05:59 "Is this my birthday? Is this my cake?" 06:04 "Yes, Agnes, it's your birthday, it's your cake." 06:08 "If it's my cake would you all mind 06:12 if I just took this cake home 06:13 and enjoyed it by myself for a while?" 06:17 "No, Agnes, it's your birthday party. 06:18 It's your cake, do what you want." 06:20 So Agnes left the party, 06:21 took the cake, and she was gone. 06:25 Well, Campolo rose to the occasion, 06:28 he said, "Okay, everybody, let's pray." 06:31 Bowed his head, began to have a nice little prayer, 06:33 he prayed for Agnes, he prayed for Harry, 06:35 and the girls there, and Harry had other refreshments, 06:38 so of course the girls had a great time. 06:40 When they were finally gone and back out on the streets, 06:42 Harry came over and he leaned on the counter 06:45 and he looked straight into the eyes of Compolo 06:46 and he said, "Hey! 06:48 You never told me you were a preacher! 06:53 What kind of a church do you belong to anyway?" 06:57 It's just one of those moments when the right words came. 07:00 Compolo said, "Well, Harry, 07:03 Harry, I belong to a church that throws birthday parties 07:06 for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning." 07:09 Amen. 07:11 Harry waited a moment, 07:12 then he sneered, "No, you don't. 07:17 There ain't no church like that. 07:19 Why if there was a church like that, I'd join it. 07:24 I would!" 07:28 I have a question for you this morning. 07:31 Isn't that precisely the kind of church 07:34 Jesus came to create? 07:36 Amen. 07:38 Maybe not quite the one we've got, 07:40 so prim and proper and dressed up. 07:43 When I look at the record, 07:45 I discovered that Jesus loved to party 07:50 with all kinds of left-out people. 07:53 The ones that don't get on the invitation list, 07:55 publicans, sinners, lepers. 07:57 And they all loved Him because He partied with them. 07:59 Amen. 08:01 But, you know, Jesus not only associated with sinners. 08:03 He actually enjoyed their company. 08:06 In fact, the record says 08:07 He preferred going to cocktail parties 08:10 with the mafia and the strippers. 08:13 And when the elders and the good people 08:14 confronted Him, Jesus said, "Well, quite frankly, 08:16 I prefer their company to yours." 08:18 Amen. 08:21 I'd like to submit this morning the daring evangelism 08:24 for the 21st century and a dying world 08:28 is gonna force us Christians 08:30 to take another look at the three parables 08:31 Jesus told in the 15 chapter, the book of Luke. 08:34 If you have your Bible, turn with me 08:36 to Luke Chapter 15 where Jesus tells 08:38 the familiar story of the lost coin, 08:41 the lost sheep, and the lost son. 08:46 It doesn't take a third grader 08:47 to figure out that they were all lost. 08:51 But they represent something. 08:53 May I have your eyes for a moment? 08:55 Big class, speak right out loud. 08:58 The Lost Coin, who does that coin represent? 09:02 Does the coin have a brain in its head? 09:04 Does it know it's lost. 09:05 No. No. 09:08 It has absolutely no awareness that it's lost. 09:10 So this coin would then represent those out there 09:14 who are brain-dead, hopelessly lost. 09:19 There is no way they will ever come to know Jesus Christ 09:22 unless someone goes out there and diligently sweeps 09:26 until they find that coin or its history. 09:30 So the coin represents those who are lost 09:33 and they don't know if they're lost. 09:35 All right, class. 09:36 You didn't do too well on that one, help me out. 09:38 The Lost Sheep. 09:40 Who does the sheep represent? 09:43 Does the sheep have a brain? 09:44 Yeah. We had some sheep. 09:47 Has a brain, it's about the size 09:48 of my little fingernail. 09:51 I mean, they are really hopeless 09:52 but they do have a brain. 09:54 And a sheep and I've had to go out 09:56 and get a lost sheep. 09:57 If a sheep gets lost believe me it knows it's lost. 09:59 Ba-ah, ba-ah. 10:01 The problem is the sheep doesn't have enough brain, 10:04 so as to know its way back. 10:06 Its only hope is that someone else 10:08 will go out and seek him out and bring him back. 10:11 Amen. 10:13 Well, let's see how you do on the third one. 10:15 The Prodigal Son. He knows he is lost. 10:20 But he also knows the way back. 10:24 In fact, he has marked the way. 10:26 But he is still lost too. 10:29 By the way there is another lost person in that parable. 10:32 Who is that? 10:34 The Elder Brother. 10:35 The Elder Brother, that's right. 10:38 Only, you see, he thinks he's perfectly okay 10:40 because he's in the home of the Father 10:44 and he even professes to be a Son. 10:47 But it's just lip-service. 10:50 So he represents those-- hang on, 10:53 today who are lost in the church. 10:59 True. 11:00 But now the point is they are all lost. 11:02 So what is the point? 11:03 Ah, these three stories were given on purpose by Jesus, 11:07 not to trumpet the various degrees of lost-ness, 11:10 because the grumpy Pharisees could figure that out. 11:12 But Jesus told this to emphasize 11:14 in each instance the finder's outrageous joy. 11:21 There I say it the "C" word, celebration. 11:28 Listen, friend. 11:29 Jesus designed the church to be a party. 11:32 Amen. 11:33 To show the world a thrilling foretaste of what's coming 11:37 and that knowing the Lord Jesus Christ today 11:39 can be more exciting than a Saturday night date. 11:41 Oh, true. Amen. 11:42 In fact, God historically called His Old Testament Jews 11:46 to do just precisely that. 11:48 In fact, He set it up 11:49 every 50th year was to be an outrageous party. 11:53 They would have canceled all the debts, 11:55 land would return back to its original owners, 11:58 prisoners would open up and set all the prisoners free. 12:01 And God's plan was that the heathen out there 12:03 in the other nations we talked about last night, 12:05 they would say, "Wow, have you heard 12:07 what it's like to be one of God's people? 12:09 We want in. 12:10 How can we become one of them?" 12:13 However, the Jews-- you go back 12:16 and study the Mishnah and the early Jewish writings, 12:19 they never observed Jubilee. 12:22 They taught it in the rabbinical schools, 12:26 but they declared, you know, 12:27 we think that that's gonna be from Messiah to actually do 12:30 when He ushers in the New Kingdom. 12:33 But, you see, God knew 12:34 that whenever His people get together 12:37 and they celebrate and they laugh 12:39 and they sing like we're doing here, 12:40 what we're doing in order to getting 12:41 together like that is we're evangelizing. 12:44 We're sending out a message to the unsaved. 12:46 Hey, you think you're having fun, 12:48 good news, The Kingdom is at hand. 12:50 Amen. 12:51 So those outside, they should be saying 12:53 and pounding on the doors of our church 12:55 and saying, "How do we get in? 12:57 You guys are having too much fun. 12:58 You're too happy." 13:00 The church is supposed to be like that. 13:02 So amazing and so happy and celebrating Jesus 13:04 that they'll say "What do we have to do to get in?" 13:10 Now I know that critics will blast away 13:12 and I'll get some emails tonight on the chat room. 13:15 I'm all right, I'm ready for you. 13:17 Amen. 13:18 Somebody will always find fault 13:20 if you make the Gospel good news. 13:23 In fact, Jesus warned, we'd be criticized 13:26 just like He was back there in Matthew 11:16-19 13:30 where they set up Jesus because He had so much fun 13:33 healing and helping people. 13:35 Well, "He hath a devil! 13:38 Eating, drinking... Behold a man gluttonous, 13:40 and a wine bibber, friend of sinners." 13:45 But Jesus said, "Wisdom is justified of her children." 13:50 In other words, He said, "You know what, 13:51 no matter what I do, there's going to be 13:53 religious types out here who will not be satisfied." 13:57 And, folks, there will always be faultfinders 13:59 who will try to pick us apart. 14:01 Judas-types, you know, 14:03 who complain about how much cologne you're wearing 14:06 or how much make up you have on. 14:09 But Jesus never let that kill-joy Judas 14:12 get away with throwing a wet blanket on His party, 14:15 never got away with that. 14:17 Amen. But now, please. 14:18 We're not talking about worldly partying. 14:22 I don't need to tell you in America particularly 14:24 that the world has its parties, too. 14:27 Like the hazing party up there in Illinois this last week 14:30 that's been in the news. 14:32 So repulsive, so obscene. 14:34 I don't even want to watch CNN clips. 14:37 Number of years ago there was a movie called "Animal House." 14:42 Hope nobody here saw that. 14:44 Because it portrayed college fraternity parties, 14:47 like the one there in Illinois. 14:49 It said, well, those are the best possible fun 14:51 that any late adolescent could hope to enjoy in this life. 14:56 But even Time Magazine and News Week said, listen, 15:00 "That's destroying our young people." 15:03 Folks, that's not the kind of partying Jesus is recommending, 15:06 these extravagant bashes with booze, babes, and boogie. 15:10 They're cruel, they are dehumanizing. 15:12 They are empty and totally impoverished. 15:15 They can never hold a candle 15:16 compared to the joyful celebrations 15:18 of the people of God." 15:19 Amen. 15:21 I appreciate the Amens 15:22 but I'm going to step on your toes right now 15:24 and see how responsive you are to this. 15:27 I know from personal experience, 15:29 I know this pastoring in a church 15:31 and visiting now many congregations, 15:33 my own church as well as other faiths. 15:37 So many of our worship services 15:40 are absolutely devoid of excitement, 15:43 in fact God's messenger says 15:45 a lot about that and about our worship, 15:46 you look up the index of the writings of Ellen White. 15:49 Pages on worship. 15:50 You know what she says about most of our worship? 15:55 She says, "Our worship tires the angels." 16:01 Because most men and women out there, folks, 16:02 live out their lives 16:03 in quiet desperation like Agnes. 16:07 That's why we need some spiritual daredevils. 16:10 Amen. 16:11 Some daring evangelism for a dying world. 16:13 Praise the Lord. 16:14 We need some Evil Knievel Christians 16:16 who'll become a very special kind of party animal, 16:20 not just accepting 16:21 27 propositional truths about Jesus, 16:23 but daring to let their lives become blazingly alive 16:27 and allowing Jesus to invade our entire personality. 16:30 Amen. 16:31 Daring evangelism creates a party 16:34 and that's God's radical plan for His family. 16:37 Whenever anybody becomes a Christian, 16:39 folks, it's party time. 16:41 Amen. 16:42 When I was in Paradise, California, 16:45 we really put focus on our baptismal services 16:48 to the point as we did out here just a few minutes ago, 16:50 we smothered them with flowers and books 16:52 and wrapped around us spiritual guardian 16:54 for that person to be their buddy for a year 16:56 to get him acquainted with a dozen people 16:57 and the new friends and the church family 17:00 to the point people who'd come 17:02 to meet me at the door and they'd say 17:03 "You know, I came to watch this person baptizing. 17:06 Man, if I ever decide to join a church 17:08 I'd like to be baptized in this church." 17:10 I said, "Well, were you thinking about that?" 17:13 "Well, not." 17:14 You know that we baptized four mayors in that community. 17:19 Amen. 17:20 Listen, this is precisely why Jesus told the story 17:23 of the prodigal son, to make this point. 17:27 Luke 15, look at it, verse 22 and on. 17:29 "The father said to his servants, 17:31 'Bring forth the best robe, 17:33 put it on him, put a ring on his hand, 17:34 and shoes on his feet, 17:35 and bring hither the fatted calf, 17:37 and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry. 17:40 For this my son was dead, and is alive again, 17:44 he was lost and is found.' 17:47 And they began to be merry." 17:51 I'm going to say something to my Caucasian friends. 17:54 I grew up in a black church. 17:56 My father was ordained 17:57 in an African-American church in the islands. 18:01 We miss a lot in our services, folks, a lot. 18:07 But as that one African-American 18:08 preacher put it. 18:09 He said, "You know what" 18:10 he said, "You got to be in the possession, 18:13 not just a profession 18:15 or you won't be in the procession." 18:18 Or else he said, "If you're not in the possession 18:21 and it's just a profession, 18:22 you won't be in the possession, 18:24 but you will be in the dispossession. 18:29 Now this prodigal is about as rotten a figure 18:32 in the New Testament as Jesus ever characterized. 18:34 In fact, it's impossible to over-dramatize 18:38 how deceptive this kid was and manipulative, 18:40 ego-centered, arrogant. 18:43 He finally comes up to his father one day, 18:45 he says "Dad, let me put it to you straight. 18:48 I hate you. 18:50 I don't like being your son. 18:52 In fact, to be honest with you, I wish you were dead 18:54 because if you were dead in our culture 18:56 at least I could collect my inheritance. 18:57 So, Dad, since you now know how I feel about you, 19:01 why don't we just act like you're dead 19:04 and I'm out of here, I'm history. 19:06 Give me my inheritance." Luke 15:12. 19:11 "The younger one said to his father, 19:13 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' 19:16 So he divided his property between them." 19:19 I mean, this dumb dad gives the boy what he wants, 19:23 half the family fortune and the bag-- 19:25 The kid, he packs his bags, 19:26 he heads straight over here to the new car dealership, 19:29 he buys a shiny brand new 2004 Chevy Corvette. 19:34 He points that car and he heads west straight to Las Vegas. 19:38 That is exactly what it says in Luke 15:13. 19:41 Look at your Bible. 19:42 "Not long after that, the younger son 19:45 got together all that he had, set off for a distant country 19:49 and there squandered his wealth in wild living." 19:53 That's an interesting Greek expression, 19:55 it says that he, it implies he plunges 19:57 into the worst kind of sin and immorality possible. 20:00 And he blows the entire bundle on booze, bunnies, 20:05 bimbos, blackjack, and bubbly burgundy wine. 20:09 He is light years from home 20:12 down there in glitter gulch on the great wide way. 20:16 But, you know what, the pen of inspiration 20:19 reminds us of the sad, sobering fact, friends, 20:23 those prodigals are our kids. 20:30 And that should haunt us this morning. 20:33 They're the ones who are not with us here, 20:35 not seated beside us in church. 20:38 So my question this morning is, 20:40 "What can be done to win the prodigals back to God?" 20:45 I want to share something with you about this parable 20:47 that just might shock you. 20:49 But before I do, so no one misunderstands, 20:52 let's review first those questions 20:54 I asked in the beginning, see how well we learned. 20:56 The Lost Coin. You remember. 20:58 How was the lost coin found? 21:03 Someone had to sweep, turn the place upside down. 21:06 We would say today in our modern evangelism techniques 21:09 that's the people who go out there like 21:11 the doctors and others like him 21:13 and they do 5-Day stop smoking plans out there 21:16 for some great business 21:17 or turn on 23 projectors 21:19 and have a Weigh-Right program or a Medical Van Ministry 21:23 such as we have on Wall Street there 21:25 where people come out and they don't have a clue 21:27 that why do you do this? 21:28 What makes you tick? 21:29 And they find out a little bit more. 21:31 All right, the Lost Sheep. 21:35 How was the Lost Sheep finally found? 21:39 Again, someone had to go, the shepherd in search, 21:42 this would typify I believe evangelism 21:46 such as we're doing here, personify 21:48 whether it's Voice of Prophecy or it is written. 21:51 Our wonderful associate 21:52 Faith for Today telecast or Breath of Life. 21:55 Many of these other reaching out to find people 21:58 and lead them back closer to a walk with Jesus. 22:01 But in the Prodigal Son story, answer me out loud. 22:05 Who went after him? Who went to see him? 22:11 He was sought after by no one. 22:13 Which tells me, folks, 22:15 you and I don't go after the prodigal. 22:18 In fact, inspiration corroborates 22:21 this about our children who leave the faith. 22:24 Don't go after them, don't harass them, 22:27 don't hound them, or else what will happen to them? 22:31 You'll drive them farther away. 22:34 So what does this father do? 22:37 Well, he does his part. 22:41 From the cradle right on up, 22:42 he starts to take that precious child 22:44 by the hand to the little cradle roll class, 22:47 maybe Sabbath School, Sunday School, 22:49 Elementary School and then Junior Camp, 22:51 Pathfinders or Boy Scouts, 22:53 he's there when that child's baptized, 22:55 foot washing, academy, college. 22:58 But one sad day that son or that daughter goes astray, 23:03 tearing out the hearts of those parents. 23:06 You know, it's interesting that people that you think 23:08 are your best friends will come up and say 23:09 "Well, I never thought I would say this before 23:11 'cause I didn't want to make any waves 23:13 but do you mind if I give you a little counsel 23:16 as to why your son or daughter went astray?" 23:19 And they give you a big guilt trip. 23:22 Here's where you failed as a parent 23:25 or, you know, you should blame the school, 23:27 or that teacher that your child had, 23:29 Sunday School teacher, or Sabbath School teacher. 23:31 You know, folks, we forget that the very best parent 23:35 ever failed with two perfect kids. 23:39 In fact, if we read it, it won't back that up, 23:41 He failed with a whole planet of rebellious kids. 23:47 But I want you to notice the parable. 23:49 Does this father hire a detective 23:53 to slip into Vegas there 23:55 and kind of spy on his son to kind of check things out? 23:57 Does he call a minister in that far town? 24:00 Or maybe like I've had many people 24:02 when I was pasturing there in Paradise, they emailed me. 24:05 "Hey, we hear you have a 12 step program? 24:07 We hear that you're reaching druggies and unmarried-- 24:11 Would you go and check on my daughter? 24:12 Tell her about it. Does this father do that? 24:15 What did he do? Nothing. 24:18 Didn't even leave his house. 24:20 You see, since he had met all of his requirements, 24:24 now he could expect that God would come through 24:27 with His promise to save our children. 24:29 He could get on his knees 24:31 and he could pray, "Holy Spirit, 24:32 I can't go harass that son but you go after my son." 24:36 But his father was home, he was ready, 24:39 he was waiting, and he left the light on. 24:43 And sure enough one day at those Vegas slots. 24:45 Luke says that the money finally runs out. 24:48 And suddenly this young Don Juan kid, 24:52 he's got no friends. 24:53 He's sunk to the bottom. 24:54 Bible says he's eating with the pigs. 24:58 We would say today he was eating-- 24:59 actually looking for what floated by out of the sewers. 25:03 Now notice verse 17 25:05 because this is profoundly significant. 25:09 It says "And when he" what? 25:11 "Came to himself." 25:17 My friend, to save the prodigal you don't send a posse, 25:23 you don't even mail them 25:24 the Signs of the Times or the Voice of Prophecy 25:26 discover guide or reading tracts, 25:29 you don't send pleading letters with big tear drops on them. 25:33 He knows he's lost. 25:35 And he also knows the way back. 25:38 Amen. 25:39 You've got to let the Holy Spirit 25:41 awaken him with a spiritual pinch. 25:45 And he has to come to this moment of truth 25:47 himself, in his own time. 25:49 And one day sure enough he wakes up and he looks around 25:52 and where he has pigs oinking there him 25:54 and he says, "What am I doing here? 25:58 I am a prince, but I created this mess. 26:02 I have no food, I have no money, 26:03 I don't have any friends, I don't even have any options. 26:06 But you know something I cannot blame 26:09 my principal back there at the academy, 26:11 I can't even blame any of my friends or my parents. 26:14 In fact, I can't even blame 26:16 my religious fanatic brother back home." 26:20 And he says "You know what, 26:23 Flip Wilson's theology is right." 26:27 "The devil made me do it." 26:31 And in his moment of realization, 26:32 he completely gives up. 26:35 And he finally says to himself in verses 17-20, 26:39 "'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, 26:43 and here I am starving to death. 26:46 I will set out and go back to my father 26:48 and say to him, Father, I have sinned 26:50 against heaven and against you. 26:52 I am no longer worthy to be called your son, 26:54 make me like one of your hired men.' 26:57 So he got up and went to his father." 27:02 Now I want you to please note. 27:04 Friend, it does not say that he has repented yet. 27:09 He hasn't changed yet. 27:12 Oh, he's made up a little speech. 27:14 But I want you to notice, it is totally works-oriented: 27:19 "I'm going to go home and I'm going to work for Dad. 27:21 I'm going to work so hard, 27:22 I'll qualify to maybe even be accepted as a servant. 27:26 And then I'll try to earn my keep." 27:29 Many theologians say that this son comes back home 27:32 for one reason and one reason only. 27:35 He comes back to try to manipulate 27:37 the father once again. 27:39 Because you see, friends, that is the way sin always is. 27:43 Whenever we as sinners come to Jesus, 27:45 we always come for the worst possible reasons. 27:48 Like Judas, Iscariot, Exhibit A." 27:53 But the point is I want you to notice 27:54 what happens next 'cause this is very important. 27:58 The father doesn't care why the son comes home. 28:04 By the way he doesn't walk out to meet his son. 28:08 He runs. Now in the Middle East-- 28:10 I wish I could take the time to tell you. 28:12 This is not-- this would be, it would be unheard of. 28:15 The father in this instance 28:16 would be very dignified, very proper. 28:20 Jesus on purpose goads the Pharisees 28:23 and twists the knife and he has the father running. 28:26 And notice, does he accept that son 28:29 because he has got a big repentance? 28:31 No. 28:32 It's crystal clear from the Gospels. 28:34 One day that father sees him at a great distance away. 28:38 In other words, this son hasn't changed yet, 28:42 he's still a hobo, he's still a bum. 28:44 In fact, he's father can smell 28:45 his ragamuffin breath a half of mile away. 28:47 Yet the father still runs and he embraces him, 28:51 welcomes him before the son can confess 28:55 or make any statement whatsoever. 28:57 The son is accepted, period. 29:00 Oh, he starts out to blubber out 29:02 his little memorized excuse. 29:03 But he's interrupted right in the middle of that excuse. 29:06 Notice verses 20-24. 29:08 "But while he was still a long ways off, 29:13 his father saw him and was filled 29:14 with compassion for him, he ran to his son, 29:17 threw his arms around him and kissed him. 29:19 The son said to him, 29:20 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 29:22 I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'" 29:24 But the father interrupts him, see. 29:26 He says "To his servants, 'Quick! 29:28 Bring the best robe, put it on him. 29:31 Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 29:33 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. 29:35 Let's have a feast and celebrate. 29:37 For this my son was dead, is alive again, 29:42 he was lost and is found.'" 29:44 Amen. 29:48 I've met Philip Yancey one time 29:50 but I'm not promoting his book, 29:52 I'm not getting any commission. 29:53 But if you ever want to buy a book 29:55 at any religious bookstore in any part of the world, 29:58 you ask for Philip Yancey's book 30:00 called "What's So Amazing About Grace." 30:06 Philip Yancey tells the story of a young teenage girl, 30:09 little teeny bopper who lived in Traverse City, Michigan. 30:13 One day this little teenager decided 30:15 that her dad was just playing stupid, 30:17 home was stupid, church was stupid. 30:21 So she decided to run away to Detroit. 30:25 Parents, you pray that if your children 30:26 ever run away they don't go to Detroit. 30:29 She goes to Detroit and sure enough, 30:31 ends up on the streets as a druggie, 30:34 earning a living by turning tricks 30:36 like the other homeless girls do. 30:38 And she's sleeping on the metal grates 30:40 outside of the department stores 30:42 through the harsh Detroit winter. 30:44 You know, I never realized 30:45 how true this is across North America 30:47 until I saw it with my own eyes. 30:49 Couple of years ago, 30:50 I was in Toronto, Canada in December. 30:53 I was walking along the street and all of these lumps there. 30:56 I asked the friend who was with me. 30:57 It was night time and these lumps 30:59 would move under big sheets of cardboard. 31:03 This is beside Simpson-Sears, 31:05 Eaton's of Canada, the Hudson's Bay Company. 31:10 He said, those are homeless teenagers. 31:12 I could see that they were sipping 31:14 little hot McDonalds chocolate coffee or something. 31:18 Our kids. 31:21 And this girl finally decides one night 31:22 as she's shivering there and she knows 31:24 that some disease is coming. 31:26 She is there, I just miss home so-- 31:29 she hadn't called home for months. 31:31 And she goes to a telephone booth 31:33 and she gets some change out of her jeans pocket 31:35 and she puts it in and calls home 31:37 and three times straight 31:39 she gets her folks' answering machine. 31:42 Dad saying, "Leave your message after the beep." 31:46 Well, she hangs up quickly. 31:49 Finally after the third time she goes, 31:51 she puts the money in and she hears Dad's voice 31:56 "Leave your message after the beep." 31:58 She says "Dad, Daddy, Mom, it's me, it's your daughter. 32:02 I'm down here in Detriot, I'm so cold. 32:05 I think I'm sick. 32:07 And I was just kind of wondering about 32:09 maybe coming home. 32:12 And I'm going to catch a bus up your way 32:14 tomorrow afternoon about 4 o'clock. 32:16 It would take me seven hours, 32:18 I'll be getting into Traverse City 32:19 about midnight tomorrow. 32:22 Could you meet me at the station? 32:24 Well, if you're not there, 32:26 I guess I'll just stay on the bus 32:27 till it hits Canada." 32:30 She hung up. 32:32 Next day this teenager is riding for seven hours. 32:35 And she is worrying and she is practicing her little speech. 32:38 "Daddy, Mom, I've been so foolish. 32:40 Can you ever forgive me?" 32:41 But the bus is getting closer and closer 32:43 and her heart starts to pound 32:44 as it's just within minutes of getting to Traverse City. 32:48 And she thinks to herself. 32:51 "What if they're not home, 32:53 what if they never got my message? 32:54 What if they're on some cruise or on a vacation somewhere? 32:57 What if nobody is there?" 32:59 And finally Yancey describes 33:01 how the bus pulls into the station. 33:03 There it is, a little, tiny, tiny station at Traverse City. 33:07 And there is the neon lights in the station, 33:09 the big air brakes of the bus, stop. 33:12 The lights come on inside 33:13 but then the driver's voice says, 33:15 "Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's midnight. 33:16 Welcome to Traverse City. 33:18 This is a little short rest stop, 15 minutes, folks. 33:22 You can get out of the bus and stretch, 33:25 rest rooms on the right, coffees on the left." 33:27 Fifteen minutes to decide her life. 33:32 And for this little teenager, it's pure terror. 33:35 Yancey says how she pulls out her little makeup kit 33:38 and she checks her hair, 33:39 and she licks the lipstick off of her teeth. 33:43 Now according to the mathematics of the world, 33:47 she ought to get nothing. 33:49 Zip. And she knows it. 33:52 No forgiveness, no welcome back, 33:54 no making up, especially after 33:57 how she slapped everyone in the face before 33:59 she left home and then took off. 34:02 So this young teenager, she gets off the bus, 34:07 and she walks into this terminal, 34:10 not knowing what on earth to expect. 34:12 Never in her wildest dream expecting to see what's there. 34:16 All kinds of people, 20, 30, 40 people, 34:20 brothers, sisters, cousins, great-aunts, uncles, 34:24 there's grandmother and even great, great-grandmother. 34:27 Midnight and they're all wearing 34:28 these funny goofy party hats and blowing noisemakers. 34:31 And there is a huge banner 34:32 across the entire terminal "Welcome home, sweetheart!" 34:37 And there comes her Dad. 34:39 Her eyes are filled with tears, 34:40 and she begins her little memorized speech, 34:43 "Daddy, I'm so sorry. I know I hurt you." 34:46 And he interrupts her. He says "Hush, child. 34:50 We've got no time for that right now. 34:52 You're going to be late for the party. 34:54 There is a banquet waiting for you, 34:55 the whole town is waiting for you back home." 35:01 Folks, so often when the prodigals say 35:04 they call us up, "Dad, Mom. 35:07 Folks, I'm so sorry. 35:08 I think I screwed up. 35:10 I've sinned. 35:12 I think I need God." 35:14 So often parents say, "Yeah, right. 35:19 I've been praying for you to come to your senses, boy. 35:22 It's about time. 35:23 Girl, do you know how my reputation's been shot 35:26 in this town because of what you've been doing?" 35:29 So many parents, they get so aggravated at their kids, 35:32 they go, pow, pow! 35:35 You shamed me. 35:37 You embarrassed me, daughter. 35:39 Pow!" 35:41 Folks, don't say that. 35:44 Keep your mouth shut. 35:47 And let the Holy Spirit finish the job. 35:50 Amen. 35:51 When they say "Dad, Mom, could I come back?" 35:56 Say "Okay." 36:00 Not, "Well, girl, unless you mean it this time 36:03 for serious assure and you changed, 36:05 you can jolly well just pack your bags and leave." 36:08 Friend, listen, dear hearts, 36:11 if you have a prodigal, I have some in my family. 36:16 If you've done your very best. 36:19 Two things this parable tells me. 36:22 Number one, don't worry, 36:27 and please don't nag. 36:31 Because, my Christian friend, you can send the Holy Spirit. 36:36 You can get down on your knees, 36:37 because God will not forget His faithful servant. 36:41 If we will be faithful to come to these meetings 36:43 and support the follow up meetings 36:44 and go out after the lost sheep and after the lost coin, 36:47 we can leave it with God then 36:49 to go after the prodigal son or the prodigal daughter. 36:52 Amen? Amen. 36:55 Do you know what the Inspired Pen says 36:58 that the final message to this world is? 37:00 I know we talked about the Elijah message. 37:03 But she says the last message of love 37:05 to this world is about what? 37:07 Someone? 37:09 The character of God, which is love. 37:14 Well, folks, listen, 37:16 the radical good news of the Gospel 37:18 is that the Father is more prodigal 37:22 than the prodigal. 37:25 Go home and look up at your dictionary, 37:27 Webster's, and look up that word "Prodigal." 37:28 You know what it really means? 37:30 The word "Prodigal" means overly lavish, 37:33 overly extravagant, generous, wild, 37:36 reckless, wasteful, spendaholic. 37:40 Wow, the real prodigal in the story is the father. 37:44 Outrageous generosity. 37:47 He gives away half the family fortune 37:49 and then when that prodigal comes back 37:51 he hands the prodigal the keys to the bank all over again. 37:55 Undiminished love for both sons. 38:00 Both of those sons sinned. 38:03 Both were prodigals. 38:05 Both needed Jesus. 38:08 Today, every one listening to my voice, 38:11 you are in this story. 38:15 Today, we've either taken the inheritance 38:17 down to zero in our lives, 38:20 or maybe you're like the elder brother, 38:21 you have a few dollars left stashed away 38:23 of good deeds in the bank. 38:26 But the Bible says we're all prodigals. 38:30 You know, in Luke 15 here I was blown away to discover 38:35 that Jesus never finished the story. 38:40 You ever notice that? 38:41 It's the unfinished symphony if you wish. 38:44 There is no hint that either son ever changed his ways, 38:48 that the young prodigal ever conducted himself honorably. 38:53 Do you know why Jesus didn't finish the story? 38:57 He told it this way on purpose. 39:00 The little book "Christ's Object Lessons," 39:02 page 209 says, 39:03 "It's because those two prodigals represent us." 39:11 And it's up to us to go out of these doors this morning, 39:15 out into the world, and we finish the story. 39:20 And the good news, folks, is God is waiting out there. 39:24 He's ready to party. 39:25 He is ready with the ring, He is ready with the robe, 39:27 He is ready with the shoes. 39:29 Oh, and there's one more thing about heaven. 39:32 You know, they seem to be able to afford 39:34 an awful lot of parties up there. 39:38 Oh, in the little "P.S." 39:41 The movie industry calls it a denouement. 39:44 The end of the show Raymond, 39:45 there's always the last 30 seconds 39:47 you don't want to miss that, that's a denouement. 39:51 The P.S. Tony Campolo 39:54 reported in "Publisher's Weekly" not long ago 39:56 that the story there in Honolulu is going on. 40:00 He says, "I was sent to deliver a very scholarly lecture 40:03 at some college up in the State of Oregon. 40:06 He says, "As I approached the platform, 40:08 I saw it was all decorated 40:10 with all sorts of metallic balloons 40:11 and there on the rostrum was a great big sign, 40:14 "Happy Birthday, Tony Compolo, 40:17 love from Agnes, your friend from Honolulu." 40:22 He says, "Somehow this girl had found out who I was, 40:25 when my birthday was, and where I would be. 40:27 And she had enlisted somebody up there in Oregon 40:29 to set the whole thing up." 40:31 But then he says, "The nicest part of the story is this. 40:35 Agnes is no longer living the life of a prostitute." 40:42 She hasn't made the strongest commitment to Jesus Christ yet, 40:45 but now she's working for Harry, 40:47 the fat guy behind the counter, the diner. 40:50 And Harry has committed his life to Jesus Christ 40:54 and he's now using his restaurant 40:55 as the place to help people, 40:57 street people who come in with problems 41:00 in the middle of the night they have nowhere else to turn. 41:03 So you see, the story continues. 41:06 And it's not over yet. 41:08 Never will be until Jesus comes. 41:11 Because of the heart of the Father 41:13 and the heart of Jesus Christ, 41:14 friend, it must be the heart of every Christian, all of us. 41:20 God wants us to be just like that, 41:23 creating parties for prodigals. 41:26 Making our churches and our homes 41:28 and our job sites places 41:30 where sinners can come and feel welcome again 41:33 and comfortable even the Agneses 41:35 and the prodigals of this world. 41:39 This morning as the Heritage Singers 41:41 sing about home, 41:44 I know that there are individuals right here, 41:47 in your downlink site 41:48 and the churches wherever you are meeting 41:49 and here in this auditorium, I know there are individuals, 41:52 I know that there are families, there are parents, 41:54 my own parents right now 41:57 who want to respond to this message this morning, 42:00 maybe you feel like the prodigal 42:03 and you want to respond to the open arms of the Father 42:05 and you want to say, "Lord, I'm coming home. 42:10 I want to invite you this morning to come forward 42:13 while the Heritage Singers will sing. 42:15 And there are others too out there 42:18 who have a prodigal. 42:22 Well, maybe you know a prodigal. 42:25 While the Heritage sing, 42:28 I want every person here to make some kind of decision, 42:33 maybe you can be a priest on behalf 42:34 of that young person, or that loved one, 42:36 or that companion or that grandchild or a parent, 42:40 come forward and pray on behalf of them. 42:43 Respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit 42:45 playing sensitively on our hearts this morning. 42:48 Right now I'm gonna ask that the row captains 42:53 pass those containers down. 42:55 Please take a commitment card 42:58 and as you respond and decide to come forward, 43:00 bring that card with you 43:01 because we want to go through that together, 43:04 it's so important. 43:06 Perhaps we're aching for loved ones, prodigals. 43:10 We all have one, we know that they aren't here this morning. 43:13 I want you to stand, 43:15 come forward right here in front of the big screen, 43:18 right there in your location wherever you are. 43:20 Come as the Heritage Singers will be signing. 43:23 Maybe you feel you wandered away 43:24 and now you want to come back, 43:26 some of you sense you need to be baptized 43:28 or rebaptized or you feel a special need for prayer. 43:33 Well, you come as they sing. 43:36 Bring your decision card with you and a pencil, 43:39 but come just now. 44:04 Home is where the heart is 44:10 My heart's own home 44:14 Though I never really had one to call my own 44:24 I've been given a key 44:29 By the Carpenter of Galilee 44:34 With interest paid the title's made to me 44:44 Home, where there is no night 44:49 Home, where the Son is the light 44:54 The place I've been dreaming of so long 45:04 Loved one's there to welcome me 45:08 But His sweet face will be the first I see 45:13 When my journey's over I am going home 45:29 Everybody dreams 45:34 Of going home it seems 45:38 Lately I am no exception 45:42 To the rule 45:47 Oh, but home is so much more than the windows 45:54 Walls and doors 45:58 It's a warm embrace 46:00 Where a smiling face is awaiting you 46:08 Home, where there is no night 46:13 Home, where the Son is the light 46:18 The place I've been dreaming of so long 46:28 Loved one's there to welcome me 46:32 But His sweet face will be the first I see 46:37 When my journey's over I am going home 46:47 Home, where there is no night 46:52 Home, where the Son is the light 46:57 The place I've been dreaming of so long 47:07 Loved one's there to welcome me 47:12 But His sweet face will be the first I see 47:16 When my journey's over I am going home 47:26 And when my journey's over I am going home 47:41 You know, I know God's Spirit is here. 47:44 I'm thinking about all those downlink locations 47:46 where there maybe many people still seated 47:48 out in the auditorium because well, 47:50 you're little conscious about walking up toward that screen. 47:54 This is not a call right now to join a church, 47:58 this is a call for commitment for your loved one 48:03 that God will change you first, 48:06 then He can reach out and touch them. 48:08 So if you are still seated there 48:10 and you can't make your way 48:11 down the isle or it's too crowded, 48:12 I want you to just stand wherever you are seated. 48:15 You're going to be an intercessor, 48:17 you can let heaven start with you and your life. 48:20 You're gonna join in this prayer 48:22 as we pray together. 48:23 Let's just maybe reach out 48:25 and take the hand of someone next to us 48:27 and affirm them, they maybe alone tonight feeling like, 48:30 little discouraged this morning. 48:33 Let's pray together. 48:34 Father in heaven, Lord, here we are, 48:37 Your great church, hearts overflowing with tears 48:41 and contrition, God, we're melted, 48:44 we're penitent and waiting, needing healing 48:49 and we sense our heavenly Father rushing toward us 48:51 right now to envelop us 48:54 in Your strong arms, we're needing Jesus' 48:58 strong loving arms to embrace us 49:00 and welcome us home, wrap us up in your precious blood. 49:04 Forgive our sins, Lord. 49:05 Take our guilt away. 49:08 Lord, just now would you bless our homes, 49:11 we have kind words for the stranger 49:13 and sweet thoughts for the sometime guests 49:16 but off for our own, there is the bitter tone. 49:20 But we love our own the best. 49:24 Save our homes and maybe someone out there 49:27 who hasn't been able to get up 49:29 and walk forward or even stand on their feet. 49:32 Friend, if you'd like to be included in this prayer, 49:34 would you just raise your hand 49:36 wherever you are and God will see your response. 49:40 Please, Lord, You know our hearts. 49:43 Would You keep them close to You 49:44 and help us to join the festive spirit 49:47 of your party for prodigals. 49:49 What a God we serve. 49:52 Lord, we've run away from these people 49:53 but You run toward them, 49:56 toward us prodigals who need Jesus. 50:01 This morning we can only respond, 50:02 Lord, I'm coming home. 50:06 Amen. 50:08 I want you to take that response card 50:11 if you didn't bring with you, 50:13 you can go back to your seats quietly in just a moment. 50:17 If you'd like to check number one, 50:19 "I surrender my life to Jesus 50:22 and accept Him as my Savior and Lord." 50:25 Just put a check beside number one, that first box. 50:30 We've invited many individuals to come 50:32 and be here at this service 50:33 who may have been a long time from being at church. 50:37 Maybe you have felt impressed 50:38 this is the time for you to check number two. 50:41 "I have wandered away from God 50:43 and I wish to re-commit my life to Jesus." 50:45 Would you check that if God's Spirit 50:47 is directing you to do that right now? 50:50 Number three. 50:53 I hope many individuals who've been wondering 50:55 and maybe uncertain will decide 50:57 this is the time I need to get baptized. 50:59 We had a wonderful baptism a few minutes ago. 51:02 And we have more of these in our services. 51:05 Please check that today, make your decision right now. 51:09 And finally number four. 51:11 There'll be many who want to check this 51:12 "I desire special prayer for loved ones 51:15 who need to come back to Jesus." 51:17 Amen. 51:18 Would you check that one? Yes. 51:21 Let's do that right now. 51:25 I've gonna ask that the hostesses 51:28 and the row captains make sure 51:30 that they have plenty of the baskets at the doorways 51:33 so that you can have a chance to turn these in. 51:36 We're going to ask in all of the downlink sites 51:38 and here at Columbia that everyone be seated 51:42 because I have a very important announcement 51:44 after I go off the air to share. 51:46 I want you to remember though that tonight 51:47 the meeting will be at 7:15, 51:50 one of the most important in all of this series 51:52 called "The Woman of Revelation Chapter 12." 51:57 Remember as you go, friend, 51:59 God really does love you. 52:04 God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17