WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.419 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging 00:00:05.419 --> 00:00:06.879 lives for Christ. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:11.759 I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:15.240 Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:22.039 Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application. 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:26.920 This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day. 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:29.519 Let's dive in together into God's Word. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:32.079 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:34.600 Let's go ahead and take a seat. 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:40.679 We're going to go ahead and get started. 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:45.119 You know, can you believe it's ten days until Christmas? 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:47.519 How many of you guys are counting the days? 00:00:47.519 --> 00:00:52.760 I know when I was growing up, I used to, my mom used to buy those little, their little 00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:55.399 advent calendars, and you had the little door things. 00:00:55.399 --> 00:01:00.759 You open them, and sometimes you'd have different types of chocolates, or nuts, or whatever, 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:01.759 and different things. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:03.039 I haven't done that in a long time. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:04.359 They still do that, right? 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:05.359 All right. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:11.319 It's a real, just real good time, a real good excuse to have chocolates, too. 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:14.920 Well, I'm really glad that you guys are all here today keeping warm. 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:16.840 I know we've had the seasons change. 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:19.719 It got a little warmer at 46 degrees. 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:21.799 You know, praise God for that. 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:26.640 And so here we are today, it's still a little semi warmer, but you know, hey, we'll take 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:27.640 it. 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:29.159 We'll take anything that we've got. 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:35.079 And so today it is the third Sunday of Advent where we are talking about joy. 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:36.079 We think of joy. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:40.799 We think about the joy, the inexpressible, the inexhaustible joy that comes from knowing 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:41.799 the Lord. 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:46.920 And knowing Jesus Christ, I cannot help but tell you, it is the greatest decision that 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:52.359 you can make in this life that has eternal consequences. 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:54.000 We think of the Advent season. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:56.879 We think of the hope that comes from Jesus Christ. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:00.640 We think of the peace that surpasses all understanding. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:05.439 And we think of the inexhaustible, inexpressible joy that comes from Him. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:11.400 When we think of that joy that we receive, we also have to think of the Father's joy. 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:15.680 In our scripture reading today, we're going to turn through the Gospel of Luke chapter 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.120 15, verses 11 through 32. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:25.200 And what I want to do before we read, I want you to think for a moment. 00:02:25.200 --> 00:02:35.159 Realize that heaven, the angels, the Lord our God is full of joy when you become a believer. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:36.640 Amen. 00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:42.200 When you believe in Jesus Christ, when you have that faith in Him, right, believing in 00:02:42.200 --> 00:02:45.360 the Lord and being saved, there is joy in heaven. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.880 I want to show you real quick before we even start here. 00:02:48.880 --> 00:02:55.280 When we're talking about in Luke chapter 15, where Jesus says, right, before the parable 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:01.800 of the lost coin, just so I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:07.440 who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance. 00:03:07.440 --> 00:03:10.640 Do you understand the magnitude and the gravity of that? 00:03:10.640 --> 00:03:14.880 That's incredibly powerful that there's joy that is in heaven. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:19.799 When we go over the parable of the lost coin, we just did that very recently. 00:03:19.799 --> 00:03:26.639 Jesus also says, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:28.120 repents. 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:33.240 And let us be reminded that when we think of repentance, it is the changing of our mind 00:03:33.240 --> 00:03:38.599 and our thoughts on who Jesus Christ is from just being a cool guy with a beard and long 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:44.000 hair and walking around in a robe and sandals to something much greater than that. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:48.199 Now I know we can still think of him like that, but you've got to think beyond that, 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:50.400 that Jesus is all that we need. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:51.639 He is our Savior. 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:53.639 He is our Lord. 00:03:53.639 --> 00:03:56.680 And He is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:58.759 And so let's turn to this. 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:04.879 It's page 1039 in your ESVP Bibles, or you are free to use whatever mobile device or 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:06.360 whatever translation. 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:10.639 Hopefully it's not a weird one out there, but let's turn to there. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:13.719 So it's going to be verse 11. 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:17.079 This is known, many of you guys know this, the parable of the prodigal son. 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:18.160 You guys know that one? 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:19.360 Maybe not. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:22.040 If you haven't, it's a real good story. 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:23.839 Maybe it's been a while since you've read this one. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:29.639 I know when we think of Sunday school, we think that's a very common story that's taught 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:31.600 from Scripture. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:32.600 So it goes in here. 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:34.439 Let's start with verse 10, right? 00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:39.920 When Jesus is saying, just so I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:45.400 one sinner who repents, and that helps paint the scene for what's happening here. 00:04:45.400 --> 00:04:49.560 And He said, there was a man who had two sons. 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:51.480 So you got the younger and the older. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:56.319 The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me a share of property that is coming 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:57.639 to me. 00:04:57.639 --> 00:04:59.120 And he divided his property. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:01.879 The father divided the property between them. 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:06.240 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had, and he took a journey into a far 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:10.960 country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 00:05:10.960 --> 00:05:17.160 And when he had spent everything, oh, you know, he spent all of his inheritance, so to speak. 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:19.439 It's all gone, right? 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:20.439 He spent everything. 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:26.720 A severe famine arose in that country, and he began to what? 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.879 Began to be in need, or be needy, depending on the translation, right? 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:35.439 So he went out and he hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:36.439 him. 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:39.719 Let's go to that picture, actually, while we're looking at this. 00:05:39.719 --> 00:05:43.000 You see, I mean, he's got a bag of coins or whatever, right? 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:44.439 Taking all that he has, right? 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:45.439 Representing that. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:49.600 And he's out there with the pigs when we think about this, right? 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:55.680 He was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 00:05:55.680 --> 00:06:00.279 So he's in a really rough situation here. 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:04.079 But when he came to himself, he said, how many of my fathers hired servants have more 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:05.079 than enough bread? 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:06.519 And here I am, right? 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:09.199 But here I perish here with hunger. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:16.319 He's realizing at that moment, I don't need to be sitting here with no pigs, right? 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.240 I need to be sitting here. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:20.959 My father treated the servants better than I'm being treated right now. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:22.120 I need to turn things around. 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:25.319 I need to go back home, right? 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:28.839 How many of my fathers hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:29.839 hunger? 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:36.319 How many of my fathers have more than enough bread, and I am going to go back home, right? 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:39.679 And I am going to go back home, and I'm going to go back to my father. 00:06:39.679 --> 00:06:43.679 And I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 00:06:43.679 --> 00:06:46.000 Go back for a second in verse 14. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:50.399 Something I want us to take note here, it's not necessarily in your notes. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:55.919 Very often when you see in Scripture, when there is mentioning of a famine, we can look 00:06:55.920 --> 00:07:00.800 at the desert community, right, when we think of the lacking of food in famine, but also 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:05.199 think for a second, the spiritual famine. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:11.480 How very often there are times where we are in the wilderness or we are in a desert. 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:15.920 How many of you have experienced a spiritual famine before? 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:20.200 It's something to think about because in this story, you have the guy who's truly hungry, 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:26.639 you need something to eat, but also think of the spiritual famine that might have been 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:28.759 there, when Jesus is talking. 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:31.759 Let's go back to verse 19. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:35.639 So I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, I am no longer 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:37.120 worthy to be called your son. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:39.399 Treat me as one of your hired servants. 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:41.879 It's this place of humility. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:44.399 It's the hitting of the rock bottom as it were. 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:48.079 Now, I don't know if many of us have hit rock bottom to the point where we're eating with 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:53.680 a bunch of pigs, but certainly there have been times for some of us. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:58.959 Maybe you have thought of a point where you were dining with pigs, so to speak. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:01.279 And so it's going on at verse 20. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.719 He arose and he came to his father. 00:08:03.719 --> 00:08:08.399 And while he was still a long way off, what happened? 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:10.799 His father saw him and was angry? 00:08:10.799 --> 00:08:12.839 Oh, no. 00:08:12.839 --> 00:08:18.519 He says his father saw him and what, felt compassion and ran over to him. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:20.959 So it's not like he's like, oh, there's my son. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:22.239 He's coming on over. 00:08:22.239 --> 00:08:26.479 No, he felt compassion and he ran over. 00:08:26.479 --> 00:08:29.239 He ran and embraced his son and kissed him. 00:08:29.239 --> 00:08:33.439 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, I am no longer 00:08:33.439 --> 00:08:35.799 worthy to be called your son. 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:41.000 But the father said to his servants, bring quickly the best robe and put it on him and 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:45.080 put a ring on his hand and his shoes on his feet and bring the fat and calf and kill it 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:48.320 and let us eat and celebrate. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:54.159 Verse 24, this is very important. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:57.840 For this my son was what? 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:00.919 Dead and is alive again. 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:04.639 He was lost and he is now found. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:06.759 And they began to celebrate. 00:09:06.759 --> 00:09:10.000 That's how we understand this parable. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.559 But the son was once lost. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:14.519 He ran off. 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:17.759 He squandered his money. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:18.759 Reckless living. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:20.639 I mean, we think of reckless driving. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:26.240 How many of us have been a reckless liver before, living this life? 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:30.720 You don't want to be living your life recklessly like that, but sometimes we do and often we 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:31.840 do. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:36.600 But here is a time where the father is recognizing. 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:39.559 He was lost, but he is now found. 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:42.559 He was dead, but he is now alive. 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:46.119 Now his older son was in the field and he came and he drew near to the house and he 00:09:46.119 --> 00:09:48.719 heard music and dancing. 00:09:48.719 --> 00:09:51.359 For some of us when we're in the field, we hear music and dancing. 00:09:51.359 --> 00:09:53.559 We kind of want to know what's going on, right? 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:58.879 We want to go and maybe partake in the music or whatever is going on there. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.719 We want to know what's going on. 00:10:00.719 --> 00:10:03.519 He called one of his servants and asked, what these things meant? 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:07.879 And he said to him, your brother has come and your father has killed the fat and calf 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:11.039 because he has received him back safe and sound. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:15.200 But he, the older brother, was angry and refused to go in. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:18.200 His father came out and treated him. 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:24.000 He answered his father, look, these many years I have served you and I never disobeyed your 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:25.000 command. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.960 Yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:32.399 But when this son of yours came, that's not a nice thing to say, right? 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:39.439 When this son of yours came back, right, who had devoured this property with prostitutes, 00:10:39.439 --> 00:10:41.199 you killed the fat and calf for him. 00:10:41.199 --> 00:10:47.480 And he said to them, the father said to the older son, son, you are always with me and 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:52.179 all that is mine is what is yours. 00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:57.720 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad for this, your brother, it's a repetition like 00:10:57.720 --> 00:10:59.079 we were finding. 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:03.639 This is emphasizing the importance of this parable. 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:06.759 Your brother was dead and is alive. 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:10.560 He was lost and now he is found. 00:11:10.560 --> 00:11:15.960 And when we read this, right, this, this parable is the third of many parables highlighting 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:24.879 God's joy, the Lord's, the father's joy in redeeming the lost, knowing that in heaven, 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:32.519 the angels and even God, the father is celebrating when we were once lost, when we were once 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:37.439 in darkness like vessels that were put in a place where they shouldn't belong, being 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:43.799 redeemed and being reconciled to God, the father, knowing that there's an invitation 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:47.240 for all of you to believe in Jesus Christ. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:50.120 And there's a celebration in that. 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:55.159 That goes to show how not only how important it is when we think of the spiritual, when 00:11:55.159 --> 00:12:02.279 we think of heaven, but we have to think for us how important it is for people to believe 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:08.200 in Jesus Christ, to recognize Him as Savior and Lord. 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:12.399 So when someone believes and they say, I've believed in Jesus Christ, I am now a Christian, 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:18.320 I believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Him, we should celebrate that. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.920 That's how important it is. 00:12:20.920 --> 00:12:23.879 It's important for us to celebrate that. 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:30.800 And Jesus is telling the story to emphasize the amount of grace that God has for us. 00:12:30.800 --> 00:12:33.960 And I want this to be a reminder for all of us. 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:37.200 It doesn't matter what your background is. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:39.960 It doesn't matter what you have been through. 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:43.080 And it doesn't matter what you are going through. 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:49.240 Maybe you, maybe you have been, or maybe you are with the pigs. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:54.800 Maybe you're at that low point where you're thinking, maybe I need to go to the Father 00:12:54.800 --> 00:13:01.560 whose arms are wide open, ready to receive those to come to Him. 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:05.120 Do you understand the importance of that? 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:08.960 So we think here the younger son's rebellion, right? 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:12.360 The younger son, he demanded his inheritance. 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:16.879 Maybe think about this on the surface, we can't help but think of our own lives. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:21.039 If you have an inheritance for your kids and you want it all now, what are you going to 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:23.080 do with it, bud? 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:25.320 But it's looking beyond that. 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:29.800 It's looking beyond money. 00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:33.240 So the younger son demands his inheritance and he squanders it. 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:37.639 It says right in there, it has to do with prostitutes and stuff. 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:40.240 That is reckless living. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:51.680 And we see that, let's go back to that, the picture with the son, the one before that. 00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:57.279 He probably left so proud, so ready to go out on his own. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:02.960 We have to think about this as our reliance on God the Father. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:07.879 How very often for us, we like to do things on our own, don't we? 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:10.200 It's the American way, right? 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:14.039 Pull ourselves up from our bootstraps and we go make a name for ourselves. 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:20.600 But when it comes to matters of spirituality, we have to rely on the Lord. 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:26.320 And this is a scenario of someone who left the presence of the Father, who left the Father 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.320 and tried doing it on his own. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:32.080 And there was a consequence that was from that. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:39.720 And so after living that fast paced life, living in the highway as it were, think of 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:46.120 reckless driving, reckless living, he gets humbled. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:53.560 How many of us have lived life in the fast lane before? 00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:55.560 Did you eventually crash? 00:14:55.560 --> 00:14:57.840 You don't answer that, okay? 00:14:57.840 --> 00:15:05.120 But for a lot of us, for many of us, we live life in the fast lane, I think of that song, 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.120 right? 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:08.440 Life in the fast lane. 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:13.920 Eventually there comes a point where you get humbled, where you hit that low point and 00:15:13.920 --> 00:15:15.040 it says here, right? 00:15:15.040 --> 00:15:23.480 His repentance and in desperation, in that famine, in that time where he's hungry. 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:27.040 He recognizes, he realizes his need. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:35.519 He realizes what he had and certainly what he could have in returning to the Father. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:39.459 And so he hopes to be accepted just as a servant. 00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:41.459 Talk about humility. 00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:45.919 I mean, we can think of a lot of initial points here when we think of family bonds, if we've 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:47.719 done our family wrong. 00:15:47.719 --> 00:15:53.159 We can also think of if we've done the Lord wrong. 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:58.480 Maybe it's time for you to think of your trajectory and what path you're on. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:06.439 And in realizing in that sense of humility, the Father runs to meet him. 00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:14.240 The Father embraces him and celebrates the return with a feast with a celebration. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:22.639 When we think about the grace and love that God has for us, it's love that's everlasting. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:30.639 It's love that's unlike anything else and that joy that the Father has for the Son returning 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:33.039 is remarkable. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:40.159 And so we have the older son's resentment then, where he struggles. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:43.759 Some of us identify with the younger son, yeah? 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:46.519 Some of us we identify with that guy. 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:53.159 And some of us identify with the older son and they, well, wait just a minute. 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:55.319 You seen this kid? 00:16:55.319 --> 00:16:58.120 Do you see what he did? 00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:04.279 And we kind of do this over compulsive making up words here, over compulsive comparison 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.879 disorder, right? 00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:10.720 Where we compare our lives to someone else. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:13.920 We have to think of our own backstory. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:21.320 How you come to the Lord is unique to you, but what's important is that both sons need 00:17:21.320 --> 00:17:22.920 to check themselves. 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:28.400 There's a famous saying out there, check yourself before you wreck yourself, right? 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:33.600 And in the case of the older son, he needs to check his pride. 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:39.160 And in the younger son, well, he's already recognizing he did wrong here. 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:45.640 Instead of looking at both of the sons look towards the father in this case. 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:50.759 The father is telling the older son, look, everything I have is yours. 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:52.400 You're already in. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:54.800 You're already a part of this. 00:17:54.800 --> 00:17:58.800 The younger son, unfortunately he wasn't. 00:17:58.800 --> 00:18:03.440 But now he's alive and now he is found. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:07.560 I know as when I was younger, I struggled with this parable. 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:09.359 I struggled so much. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:13.319 I thought, wait, just a minute. 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.599 There's so many people. 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:19.879 You mean to tell me if you lived a life full of sin and prostitutes and all these people 00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:24.679 that if they come to the Lord at the very end, they'll be saved? 00:18:24.679 --> 00:18:25.799 Absolutely. 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:30.720 The thief on the cross is one of your great examples. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:36.559 In recognizing that even on your deathbed before the moment you die, you still have an 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:39.720 opportunity to believe in Jesus Christ. 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:45.079 That is a love that is unlike any other love. 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:49.039 Knowing that that grace is extended for everyone. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:52.399 It can be hard on human standards, I admit. 00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:58.440 But when we think of matters of God, well, that's something that's an entirely different 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.440 matter. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.599 And so what does all this mean? 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:02.399 Let's go on from here. 00:19:02.399 --> 00:19:04.200 The lesson here, what can we learn? 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.960 What can we interpret from these verses? 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:10.120 The first thing that comes up is the Father's joy in restoration. 00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:13.160 Was the Father angry when the Son returned? 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:15.000 Well, no. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.519 He was joyful, right? 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:22.079 God rejoices in the restoration of sinners and welcomes them back with unconditional 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.880 love. 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:28.000 What a beautiful example that we can see here in this parable. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:32.519 Someone that does such horrible things, but yet doesn't hold it against them, receives 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:34.200 him back. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:35.640 What a powerful parable. 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:42.400 What powerful verses when we think about, well, maybe you've been recklessly living. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:49.520 Maybe you need to realize how joyful the Father will be when you come to Him. 00:19:49.520 --> 00:19:54.840 And that same joy that comes from the Father, we celebrate in that joy. 00:19:54.840 --> 00:20:01.720 We think of this Christmas season of being joyful for what God has done for us by sending 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:03.360 His Son. 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:05.280 So the Father's celebration, right? 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:09.879 It's God's joy in restoring sinners to Himself. 00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:12.839 We think of this idea of unconditional love. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:16.720 We think of being reconciled unto God. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:18.519 We want people to be reconciled. 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:22.039 We want people to be restored to the Lord. 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:25.359 And God's love is unconditional. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:30.680 He meets us in our brokenness and welcomes us with open arms. 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:36.039 The second thing then, grace is a what? 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:40.560 It's a gift, not a reward. 00:20:40.560 --> 00:20:44.000 Ooh, what does that mean, right? 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:46.920 The free gift of salvation. 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:52.480 It's about what has been done, not about what we can do. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:55.640 We have to know the difference. 00:20:55.640 --> 00:21:03.560 The younger son's return, it shows that restoration, it's based on God's grace, the Father's grace 00:21:03.560 --> 00:21:12.400 towards the Son, not on what He did, right? 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:15.040 It's not about what the younger son did. 00:21:15.040 --> 00:21:22.560 It's about the Father's love and celebrating in that joy in the restoration of the Son. 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:28.480 The older son's resentment reveals the danger of self-righteousness. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:31.559 Sometimes that can blind us in being joyful. 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.559 It's hard. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:36.159 I don't like that part, but it's true though. 00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:39.279 It keeps us in check though. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:42.839 And so I want you to remember this, that grace is a free gift. 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:44.960 It is that invitation. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:47.799 It's not about what you can do. 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:50.079 It's about what has been done. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:54.799 We move on to the next one then, that true joy is found in reconciliation. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:59.319 The Father's words to the older son, it shows that joy, right? 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:06.859 There's that joy from celebrating this idea of restoration and reconciliation. 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:11.279 Because the Son realized He couldn't do it on His own, and He needed to return to the 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.279 Father. 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:20.879 And in the same way, joy in heaven, joy with the angels, joy with the Lord, and knowing 00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:25.079 that someone is being restored is very powerful for us. 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:31.839 And this parable, I really hope this makes us to reflect and think for a moment how we 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:36.960 are to respond to God's grace, knowing that God's arms are open. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:40.399 There is an opportunity for you to come to the Lord. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:43.160 Are you going to respond? 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:47.000 Do you recognize there's maybe pigs in your life situation? 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.600 I don't want to say there's a bunch of pigs around you. 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:50.480 That wouldn't be right. 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:54.400 What I'm trying to say though is, maybe you're at a low point in your life. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:59.200 Maybe you need to recognize that. 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:05.880 And the next thing then is the proclamation of joy in Christ, where we think of the coming 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.880 of Christ, right? 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:09.840 That is the ultimate proclamation of joy. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:16.319 The coming of Christ brings joy, peace, and salvation to all who believe. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:19.119 That's the reason to be joyful. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:25.199 Knowing Jesus being born in the manger, being the fulfillment of prophecy, we should celebrate 00:23:25.199 --> 00:23:26.919 that. 00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:30.119 That's why we celebrate this season, right? 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:32.119 His the season. 00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:33.439 That Jesus is, right? 00:23:33.439 --> 00:23:36.740 The famous saying, Jesus is the reason for the season. 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:44.559 We think about that and the advent reminds us that the joy of reconciliation is, well, 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:47.759 it's part of the gospel story. 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:53.759 Knowing that Jesus was born in that manger, changing the course of history, making salvation 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:57.200 available for all who believe. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:59.240 That's something to be joyful for. 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:04.160 And if, if you're not, you got to really think again. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:07.279 And so in all this then, how can I apply? 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.640 How can I live this out? 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:15.120 All right, pastor, you told me about the father's love for the son who ran off and squandered 00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:17.160 his money and lived recklessly. 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:24.160 And you talked about the older son who seemed to be resentful and very prideful as it were. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:26.040 What do I do with this? 00:24:26.040 --> 00:24:27.960 This is very important, right? 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:29.200 We observe the text. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:32.160 We read it together. 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:35.920 We look at the lessons that we can think of in our personal walk with the Lord, but the 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:39.320 other part is what we do with this. 00:24:39.320 --> 00:24:44.560 The first thing is celebrate the joy of reconciliation. 00:24:44.560 --> 00:24:48.880 It's a call for you to rejoice in God's joy. 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:53.960 If God's celebrating, if heaven is celebrating, you should too. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:25:00.720 You should celebrate in the joy when a sinner repents, when there's a changing of the mind, 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:04.240 when someone comes to believe in the Lord. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:12.759 And so take time this week to reflect on God's joy in restoring you to himself. 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:17.000 Rejoice in his unconditional love and grace. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:23.200 And I challenge you, share this joy with someone in your life. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:27.839 Maybe you know someone who's like the older son. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:33.000 Maybe you know someone who's like the younger son, who we can think of more people like 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:38.839 the younger one, but there's also a call for the older son. 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:41.079 Matters of the heart. 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:43.000 Check yourself. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:45.439 How are you out with the Lord? 00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:47.559 Are you returning to the Lord? 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:53.000 Do you realize God has greater plans for your life? 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:57.319 The next thing then is a difficult one is let go of anger and resentment. 00:25:57.319 --> 00:26:02.559 This would be more for the older ones. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:06.359 Release any bitterness or self-righteousness that robs you of God's joy. 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:11.599 And that's kind of the thing we can think of with the older son is that there is that 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.960 sense of resentment. 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:19.039 Sometimes we can be so filled with anger that it robs us of our joy. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:22.919 We haven't experienced that before, have we? 00:26:22.919 --> 00:26:24.919 I'm sure we all have. 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.919 One point or another. 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:31.759 We've been so filled with anger that it, that's all that occupies your mind and your heart. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:33.320 It's not easy. 00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:36.480 This is not an easy thing to do, letting go of anger or resentment. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:42.920 But that would be what we can do if you identify more with the older son. 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:51.279 The next thing then, this is a good one, extend grace to others to forgive and celebrate the 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:56.019 victories and restoration in others' lives. 00:26:56.019 --> 00:27:04.359 When there is a new believer, someone who is ready to receive that free gift of salvation, 00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:06.440 we've got to celebrate in that. 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.440 You just have to. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:11.879 That's only the most, the biggest decision you can make. 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:13.639 It affects this life in the next one. 00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:16.440 Why wouldn't we celebrate that? 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:19.319 That's something for us to remember, for us to keep in mind, right? 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:24.960 Like the father in the parable, be quick to forgive and ready to celebrate the victories 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:30.480 and restoration in others' lives and use this advent season. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:37.799 Use this as that opportunity to reach out to someone who has been distant. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:39.079 Maybe it's a family member. 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:44.639 Maybe it's someone very near and dear to your heart, someone who has been distant and is 00:27:44.639 --> 00:27:47.159 experiencing that. 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:52.640 The next thing then, they're telling me my time's almost up. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:54.880 Proclaim the joy of Christ's coming. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:28:01.080 Share the joy of the gospel intentionally this advent season. 00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:04.720 Invite someone to church or share the story. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.480 Maybe share the story of this parable. 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:10.560 Maybe share in the gospel message. 00:28:10.560 --> 00:28:12.800 But be relational, be intentional. 00:28:12.800 --> 00:28:16.560 It's not about shoving faith down someone's throat. 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:19.279 It's about relationships, my friends. 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:23.879 That's very, it's very good for us. 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:28.879 And finally, reflect the father's heart. 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:31.799 Show what? 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:34.839 Compassion, what else? 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:41.919 Patience and love embodying God's grace in your interactions. 00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:45.879 Because as we believe in the Lord and we're saved, we're called to grow as individuals. 00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:50.840 We're called to grow collectively as the body of Christ and to go out into the world 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:56.600 and exhibit the light, love, and truth of Jesus Christ in what we say and in what we 00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:59.600 do in our everyday interactions. 00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:05.240 And that looks like, well, if you're a student, how you interact with other students in your 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:10.520 work, how do you deal with that micromanaging boss? 00:29:10.520 --> 00:29:12.480 I know, right? 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:15.240 How do you deal with the difficult coworker? 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:18.160 How do you deal with that obnoxious teacher? 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:20.079 We've all had that. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:24.920 If you haven't, I commend you. 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:26.400 But it's exhibiting that, right? 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:31.920 It's pointing people to Christ just like that famous song, They Will Know We Are Christians 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:34.640 By Our Love. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:40.160 They will know we are Christians by us being ambassadors for Christ, putting on the new 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:45.039 self, being restored. 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:49.039 Along the fact that you're saved by grace through faith, wouldn't you want to share 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.039 in that? 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:56.759 Wouldn't you want to exhibit compassion and aren't we called to be more, to be molded, 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:59.200 to be more holy? 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:03.039 The process of sanctification as it were? 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:07.039 To be more following in the footsteps of Christ. 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.759 So we reflect the Father's love. 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:11.399 We exhibit that to others. 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:16.880 The love of Christ, the grace that comes from Him, the joy that comes from Him. 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:23.759 We are to mirror that and show that to others so that others will see that there is a better 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:26.800 way in Jesus Christ. 00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:35.160 And as we lit that third candle, let us remember that true joy is found in being reconciled 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:40.280 with God, being restored unto God. 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:48.160 The Father's celebration in the parable mirrors the joy of heaven over every sinner who repents. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:56.200 May this joy overflow in our lives and inspire us to extend grace to others and to celebrate 00:30:56.200 --> 00:31:01.599 restoration and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:08.519 And as we close this week, I challenge you, reach out to someone who needs to hear the 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:15.240 good news of the gospel, who needs to hear about the joy of reconciliation. 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:19.960 Share your story of how God has worked in your life. 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:23.240 This world needs transformation. 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:26.559 This world needs restoration. 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:31.960 I mean, hearing about all the UFOs and all this stuff in the sky, I don't know what in 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:34.039 the world is going on. 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:39.759 But quite honestly, we've got to focus and set our minds on things that are higher, not 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:44.079 be distracted by the worries of this world. 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:47.879 Let's close together and let's pray. 00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:50.639 Gracious Father, we thank you. 00:31:50.639 --> 00:31:55.319 We thank you for the joy that comes in knowing who you are. 00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:58.720 May we celebrate in this joy of being restored to you. 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:04.480 May we have that heart like you have. 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:09.600 Help us to rejoice in your grace and share that joy with other people. 00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:14.920 May this season, Father, may we recognize that this Advent season, this is a time of 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:22.480 celebration and proclamation as we await for the celebration of the coming, the first coming 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:24.880 of your Son Jesus Christ. 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:32.240 But also, as we in the same way patiently wait for the promises and prophecies to be 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:36.640 fulfilled of the second coming. 00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:38.360 We love you, Father. 00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:39.360 We praise you. 00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:41.680 We glorify you and we honor you. 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:44.120 We thank you for sending your Son. 00:32:44.120 --> 00:32:50.080 We thank you for this joy that's inexhaustible. 00:32:50.080 --> 00:32:52.400 We love you so much. 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:58.840 Thank you for just allowing us to be together, to sing songs together, and to go into this 00:32:58.840 --> 00:33:07.200 parable, showing the love and the opportunity that we have to come to you. 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:11.320 And I pray, Father, if there's anyone who identifies with the older Son, who's struggling 00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:17.080 with bitterness and resentment, that you work in and through them. 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:27.199 And if there are people who are more like the younger Son, who may be recklessly living, 00:33:27.199 --> 00:33:33.240 we pray that you will lead and guide them to be reconciled to you and restored to you. 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:40.839 In all of these things, we pray and we all say together, amen, amen. 00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:44.679 Thank you for listening for this week's message from Ontario Community Church. 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:49.480 I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened in your walk with Christ. 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:55.000 For more sermons and resources, visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:33:55.000 --> 00:34:17.159 May God bless you as you live out His grace and truth every single day.