WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.299 We're going to begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise in Psalm 103. 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:14.120 In the Scottish Psalter, Psalm 103, at the beginning of the psalm, we'll sing from verse 00:00:14.120 --> 00:00:19.699 1 to verse 5, the tune is London New, page 369 of the psalm. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:24.940 Because O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be stood it up, his 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:27.740 holy name to magnify and bless. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:31.199 We'll sing from verse 1 to 5, and we stand to sing. 00:00:57.740 --> 00:01:04.700 To my death I am blessed. 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:19.700 Bless, O my soul, the Lord my God, and God forgetful be. 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:36.159 Of all his gracious benefits, he hath bestowed on thee. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:51.159 All thy name, liberty to God, most graciously forgive. 00:01:51.159 --> 00:02:08.159 Who, by this season, all that grace, shall he love me, reveal me. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:24.400 Who doth redeem my life, but mine, to the end, mis-wrought, O die? 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:39.400 Who, with loving kindness, doth, attend thy mercies cry. 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:56.400 Who, with abundance of good things, doth satisfy thy mind. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:03:19.240 As bow our heads in a word of prayer, let us pray. 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:29.180 our gracious father in heaven as we come to worship you this evening we thank you for the 00:03:29.180 --> 00:03:35.680 words that we have sung together they remind us of the very purpose for which we come into your 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:42.760 presence why we gather as a people as we do this evening and why as we go on and go forth into the 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:49.979 week ahead that we live lord to give praise and worship to you and we ask lord that even as we 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:56.959 come this evening anew that our souls will be filled with a sense of gladness and a sense of 00:03:56.959 --> 00:04:04.699 rejoicing in you as our god as our father in heaven that you will help us to focus upon you 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:10.840 and that you will take away lord so many other things that can come between us and your and 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:17.199 worship of you for we know that so often in our hearts and in our minds that there are barriers 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:24.620 between us there are ones that we put up ourselves there are ones that are put there by others there 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:31.800 are so many other distractions to us but we pray lord that you will help us to be still this evening 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:40.000 and to know the goodness of god and to know the mercy of god we thank you that you are a god who 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:47.779 remember as the psalmist says and help us that we would not forget forget all the benefits that you 00:04:47.779 --> 00:04:55.279 have shown towards us that in our every need in this world that you are provided for us that in our 00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:03.759 weakness you give strength and in our strength you humble us for we know lord that we are not to go on 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:11.439 looking to ourselves or depending on ourselves for we are dependent upon you and the more we realize 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:17.800 that the more we know the strength that you are able to give the strength that you promise to all of 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:25.420 your people that strength that even renews us as the psalmist says and we pray lord that for all of us 00:05:25.420 --> 00:05:34.020 here together and for all of us who tune in online as well as we go on in this new year as we go on day 00:05:34.020 --> 00:05:40.160 by day that you will indeed renew our strength that you will lift us up that you will build us up as a 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:48.400 people that you will restore us lord to you as a people that you will draw us ever closer to yourself 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:55.199 that our walk with you that would be precious to us that our walk with you would be something that we long 00:05:55.199 --> 00:06:03.519 and desire for and that our walk with you lord would be blessed by you as well in the days that lie ahead 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:11.500 we do pray for our people we pray lord that you will come near to us in these days that you will minister 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:20.019 to us we have been reminded oh lord so much in these past days and weeks of how frail a people we are 00:06:20.019 --> 00:06:26.540 and so often as we have reflected already in these past weeks as we come to the end of the year and 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:34.120 the beginning of a new year there is so much oh lord that we look back upon and help us lord with all our 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:40.800 different emotions help us oh lord with all our different fears and worries to be able to cast our 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:48.079 cares upon you for you are the one who cares for us and we thank you lord that you give strength to 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:55.920 help in every time of need whether it's in times of grief and mourning as so many have experienced 00:06:55.920 --> 00:07:03.160 in these past months and even these past days that you promise oh lord to gather around your people 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:09.540 to uphold and to strengthen to be their shepherd leading them oh lord at all times 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:16.220 and so we pray that you will be near to those who need you in that way that you will uphold and 00:07:16.220 --> 00:07:22.220 strengthen us only you can remember those who are unwell as well in our midst remember those 00:07:22.220 --> 00:07:27.939 with so many different ailments throughout our congregation and throughout our communities at this 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:34.939 time we know lord that there is so much that goes on around us and that we don't know about 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:41.079 there are so many illnesses that are obvious to people but others that are hidden and only known 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:48.360 unto the individual or but known unto you as well and so we pray lord for those who are struggling in 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:55.659 different ways we pray lord that you will gather them to yourself that you will draw them oh lord to 00:07:55.660 --> 00:08:03.040 know that you are the all-sufficient god that you are the one who is able to do so much more than we 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:11.020 ask or imagine so help us all that we will come to you in prayer with faith believing that you are god 00:08:11.020 --> 00:08:16.220 believing that you are the one who made the heavens and the earth and all we see around us 00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:23.460 believing in you as the one who who makes all things work together around us when we survey the 00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:30.699 the world and the universe around us lord we marvel at the creation the way the days move on the way 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:37.620 the minutes take over the way the sun rises and the sun sets where the stars appear and disappear 00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:44.980 from our sight and yet oh lord it is all seen unto you there is nothing hidden from your sight 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:52.639 there is nothing unknown to you and so we pray that in humanity's search for wisdom and understanding 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:59.100 that we would recognize that you have given us so much that there are things hidden from us for our 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:05.059 reason but there are so many things that you have revealed to us and that for our benefit and we thank 00:09:05.059 --> 00:09:12.539 you for the revelation of your word we thank you for how clear it is how precious it is we thank you 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:17.980 that we have it before us even this evening and you to be able to read it and share from it together 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:24.460 and we pray that you will bless your word bless it to ourselves and to all your people who gather as 00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:30.779 we do bless it to our nation and bless it to the world that in all the different languages it goes out 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:38.539 and all the people it reaches that we would see oh lord that this is the wisdom that we need and the fear 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:44.560 of the lord is the beginning of all wisdom so teach us what it is to live in fear of you 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:51.599 not just trembling before you as a holy god not just fearful of judgment or all that that might 00:09:51.599 --> 00:10:00.919 entail but fearful in the sense of living for you rejoicing in you being glad to know that you are god 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:09.419 and above all being glad to know that you have provided for us a savior and that your own son the lord 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:16.819 lord jesus christ and that we will be glad to know that through faith in him we have the assurance of 00:10:16.819 --> 00:10:25.659 salvation and the hope of eternal life and so bless your word that unchanging word an unchangeable word 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:32.699 bless it to our souls bless it to our hearts anew this day and in all the days ahead may we find in 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:41.680 your word that source of life that source of blessing and that source of wisdom so bless your church we 00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:49.000 pray far and wide build it up for your glory come in a day of your power to revive your people 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:55.640 far and wide to revive ourselves in our hearts to be a people to go on in the strength of the lord 00:10:55.639 --> 00:11:04.519 looking unto jesus the one who perfects our faith and so we pray lord for your church we pray for our 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:11.259 our land at this time as well we pray lord that you will turn us to yourself that in the midst of 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:18.319 all that's going on around us in the midst of all the troubles of this world that you would turn us as a 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:24.780 people to call upon the name of the lord and so we pray lord that you will draw near to us and continue 00:11:24.780 --> 00:11:31.820 with us this day and in the days ahead as well in this week and all it entails in funeral service that 00:11:31.820 --> 00:11:38.600 are to take place and other activities that go on as things like the toddler group resume and so we look 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:44.760 forward to times of fellowship at different times as well we know lord that that is the reality of our 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:52.539 lives the mix of of highs and lows joys and tears but we thank you that in all things you are faithful 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:59.080 and may you bless us as we endeavor to go forward in your strength that you would bring us oh lord to 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:06.759 know the blessings of christ more and more draw people to yourself we pray we pray to see people 00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:13.740 coming out to church to come under the gospel not just here but far and wide to hear and rejoice of 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:19.740 sinners being saved and so we ask lord that you will bless us that you will come down in your power 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:26.379 that you will draw near to us as we seek to draw near to you guide us then we pray and go with us 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:32.720 throughout the rest of this service and the rest of this day and into the week ahead may you help us 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:38.620 to rejoice in you and even as we sing your praise this night oh lord help us to lift our voices 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:45.460 to you with gladness in our hearts and to sing with all our might help the one who leads us in the 00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:51.799 praise lord bless him and uphold him in that and bless us all together around your word and the singing 00:12:51.799 --> 00:13:00.480 of it and the reading of it and meditating upon it and all we ask we ask acknowledging our shortcomings 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:09.899 and how we fall short of your glory but yet oh lord we thank you for our redeemer the lord jesus christ the one 00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:17.100 who with loving kindness does us crown and so hear our prayers and pardon our sins 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:21.300 so we ask it all in jesus name and for his sake amen 00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:30.639 we're going to continue to praise god by singing from psalm 65 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:37.779 psalm 65 in the scottish psalter 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:48.859 page 297 of the psalm book we tune for this one is done firmly we're going to sing from verse 1 down 00:13:48.860 --> 00:14:05.200 to 5 to 5 to 5 to 5 to god's praise we stand to sing 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:26.740 praise wait for� заб 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:36.740 The mark of prayer, all flesh shall come to thee. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:51.740 Iniquities I must confess, we lay against me due. 00:14:51.740 --> 00:15:05.740 But as for our transgressions, then merge away, shalt thou. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:20.740 Blessed is the mother whom thou dost choose, and makes approach to thee. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:35.740 That he within thy courts, O Lord, may still the dweller be. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:51.740 We surely shall be satisfied with thy abundant grace. 00:15:51.740 --> 00:16:07.080 And with the goodness of thy powers, be not thy holy place. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:21.080 O God of our salvation, thou in thy righteousness, 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:36.080 Thy fearful words unto our prayers, thine answer dost express. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:52.080 There for the ends of all the earth, and those afar that be, 00:16:52.080 --> 00:17:06.079 upon the sea, their confidence, O Lord, will praise thee. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:15.859 We can turn together now to read God's word in the Gospel of Luke. 00:17:17.179 --> 00:17:22.299 In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, we take up our reading at verse 11. 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:25.460 Luke 15 at verse 11. 00:17:29.199 --> 00:17:32.819 And he said, there was a man who had two sons. 00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:35.740 And the younger of them said to his father, 00:17:36.419 --> 00:17:40.379 Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me. 00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:43.379 And he divided his property between them. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:48.200 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had, 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.839 and took a journey into a far country. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.939 And there he squandered his property in reckless living. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:01.019 When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:03.139 and he began to be in need. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:08.539 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:11.839 who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:16.920 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, 00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:19.460 and no one gave him anything. 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:23.059 But when he had come to himself, he said, 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:28.319 How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.960 but I perish here with hunger. 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:34.599 I will arise and go to my father, 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.339 and I will say to him, 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:40.899 Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:44.519 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:47.579 Treat me as one of your hired servants. 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:51.139 And he arose and came to his father. 00:18:51.659 --> 00:18:53.679 But while he was still a long way off, 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:56.159 his father saw him and felt compassion, 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:59.960 and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:02.480 And the son said to him, 00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:06.319 Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 00:19:06.919 --> 00:19:09.500 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:12.579 But the father said to his servants, 00:19:13.379 --> 00:19:15.819 Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him, 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:19.919 and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:23.099 and bring the fattened calf and kill it, 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.899 and let us eat and celebrate. 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:29.059 For this my son was dead and is alive again. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:31.939 He was lost and is found. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.099 And they began to celebrate. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:38.700 Now his older son was in the field, 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:41.980 and as he came and drew near to the house, 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.359 he heard music and dancing. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:48.000 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.719 And he said to him, 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.979 Your brother has come, 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:55.299 and your father has killed the fattened calf, 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:58.579 because he has received him back safe and sound. 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:01.639 But he was angry and refused to go in. 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:04.719 His father came out and entreated him. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.439 But he answered his father, 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:09.440 Look, these many years I have served you, 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:12.059 and I never disobeyed your command. 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:15.180 Yet you never gave me a young goat 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:17.320 that I might celebrate with my friends. 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:21.820 But when the son of yours came, 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:25.000 who has devoured your property with prostitutes, 00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:27.600 you killed the fattened calf for him. 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:29.620 And he said to him, 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:32.559 Son, you are always with me, 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.860 and all that is mine is yours. 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:38.119 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad. 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:42.339 For this, your brother was dead and is alive. 00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:45.299 He was lost and is found. 00:20:46.639 --> 00:20:49.939 And so may God bless that reading from his word. 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:53.439 Before we come to look at this passage, 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:55.119 we'll sing again to God's praise. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:57.719 This time in Psalm 42, 00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.759 in the Singed Psalms version, 00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:03.000 page 53 of the psalm book. 00:21:03.699 --> 00:21:06.899 Psalm 42, we'll sing from verse 1 to verse 5. 00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:09.839 And the tune is Meryl. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:13.159 As pants the deer for flowing streams, 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:15.739 so long's my soul, O God, for you. 00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:18.179 I thirst for God, the living God. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.419 When can I meet with God anew? 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:23.579 We'll stand to sing to God's praise. 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:35.579 As pants the deer for flowing streams, 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:43.579 so long's my soul, O God, for you. 00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:53.579 I thirst for God, the living God. 00:21:53.579 --> 00:22:01.579 When can I meet with God anew? 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:11.579 My tears have been my constant food, 00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:20.579 Both in the night and in the day. 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:29.579 My Lord, my Lord, my Lord, insist on me, 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:38.579 When is this God of yours to stay? 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:48.579 As I pour out my soul in grief, 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:56.579 These things I do remember still. 00:22:56.579 --> 00:23:06.579 How well the multitude I went, 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:16.579 Up to God's house on Zion air. 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:26.579 In their possession I would lead, 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:34.579 As we approached with cheerful song, 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:44.579 And shouts of joy and thankfulness, 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:53.579 Rejoicing with the festive throne. 00:23:53.579 --> 00:24:11.579 Why are you so disturbed in me? 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:20.579 Trust God for I will praise Him yet, 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:30.579 My Savior God, my God is He. 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:38.579 If we can turn back to our reading in the Gospel of Luke, 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:41.579 Chapter 15. 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:43.579 We're looking at this section we've read, 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:47.579 The parable of the prodigal son. 00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:53.579 We can read again at verse 20. 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:55.579 And he, that's the son who had gone away, 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:58.579 He arose and came to his father. 00:24:58.579 --> 00:25:01.579 But while he was still a long way off, 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:04.579 His father saw him and felt compassion, 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:09.579 And ran and embraced him and kissed him. 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:12.579 And so it goes on. 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:16.579 What is it that brings you to church tonight, 00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.579 Or this morning, 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:19.579 Or on a week to week basis, 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:21.579 Or maybe as a one off now and again? 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:24.579 Perhaps even you're thinking of coming back, 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:27.579 To church at the beginning of a new year, 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:29.579 To try and maybe get back into the routine, 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:33.579 Get back into the habit of coming along to church. 00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:36.579 But what is it that it means to you, 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:38.579 To come to church? 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:41.579 There's a number of different ways we can think about it, 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:43.579 Or look at it, 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:45.579 And perhaps some of these ways you look at it yourself. 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:51.579 Sometimes we think of coming to church as coming to a particular place, 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:53.579 A particular building. 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:58.579 Sometimes we think of coming to church as something that we should do, 00:25:58.579 --> 00:26:00.579 That we ought to do. 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:06.579 Sometimes we think of coming to church as just hoping that it'll stop someone nagging you, 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:08.579 To come along to church. 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:12.579 There's so many different ways that we think about maybe coming to church, 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:15.579 Whether we've come on a regular basis, 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:17.579 Or whether we're just coming back, 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:20.579 Or maybe even never been before. 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:24.579 But it amounts to the same thing, 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:25.579 Coming to church. 00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:29.579 And it's none of these things that I've mentioned already. 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:32.579 Coming to church at the heart of it, 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:35.579 Should be about coming to meet with God. 00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:40.579 To meet with the Lord as he speaks to us through his word. 00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:44.579 Coming with the desire of the psalmist, 00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:47.579 As we've just sung from Psalm 42. 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:49.579 With his panting, with his longing, 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:52.579 Just like the deer pants for the flowing stream. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:55.579 So long's my soul, O God, for you. 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:58.579 I thirst for God, the living God. 00:26:58.579 --> 00:27:02.579 When can I meet with God anew? 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:07.579 Is that your desire as you come to church? 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:09.579 To meet with God. 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:11.579 To meet with God anew. 00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:17.579 That he puts this thirst in your soul that can only be quenched by him. 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:24.579 Coming to church is coming to hear a story that can change your life entirely. 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:30.579 That maybe for many here has changed your life entirely and in so many ways. 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:35.579 It's a story of a love beyond any other. 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:40.579 A love shown through God by giving us his son. 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:51.579 A love that brings us to realize that nothing in this world compares to knowing what this gospel story is all about. 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:57.579 Coming to church is coming to meet with God. 00:27:57.579 --> 00:28:02.579 And as we gather, we hear the word of God. 00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:06.579 And we hear the word of God proclaimed. 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:08.579 Perhaps you come today. 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:12.579 Perhaps you come every day and you hear the word of God again and again. 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:16.579 And you think to yourself, what's it actually doing for me? 00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:18.579 Is it changing anything within me? 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:21.579 Is it changing anything about me? 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:27.579 But the more you are putting your trust and your confidence in this word, the more it is building you up. 00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:29.579 The more it is strengthening you. 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:34.579 And the more it's helping you to realize that there is nothing in this world that compares. 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:46.579 And even at times when we try and maybe go and look and search for something else, as many of us have maybe done or many of us are maybe doing at the moment, we go chasing after the things of this world. 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:51.579 But when we've heard something of the word of God, it stays with us. 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:56.579 Just like it did with this son in this parable that Jesus tells. 00:28:56.579 --> 00:29:01.579 This story that Jesus tells of the prodigal son. 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:05.579 The one who thought that he could just go away from God. 00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:09.579 And there he would find everything that would satisfy him. 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:11.579 Everything that would fulfill his life. 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:13.579 And he found just emptiness. 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:21.579 He found there was nothing in this life for him that compared to what he had already had with the father. 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:23.579 And so he came back. 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:25.579 He came back to the father. 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.579 It's a wonderful story. 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:30.579 It's a wonderful gospel message for us. 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:36.579 For many people today, storytelling is a dying art. 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:40.579 Something that used to be such a powerful way of sharing together. 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:43.579 Where people would meet together in homes or different places. 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:45.579 Just sharing stories together. 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:50.579 That's not to say that there's not people today who can still spin a good story. 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:53.579 You can tell a good yarn. 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:55.579 There's plenty who can do that. 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:59.579 But so much of it has been replaced by almost this one-way communication. 00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:01.579 Just looking at a screen. 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:04.579 And just absorbing things off a screen. 00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:07.579 Instead of engaging with a good story. 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:09.579 But here in this parable. 00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:12.579 And these parables, in fact, you find in chapter 15. 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:15.579 You find Jesus engaging with a crowd. 00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:18.579 He was the greatest storyteller ever. 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:21.579 And he was telling the greatest story ever. 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.579 The story of salvation. 00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:27.579 The story of hope for a lost and a perishing people. 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:31.579 And so here, as he tells these stories, these parables. 00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:35.579 They are stories that people could relate to. 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:38.579 They were hearing these things being spoken about. 00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:40.579 They were engaging with them. 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:45.579 And Jesus taught them in this way to realize that he was so often talking about them. 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:49.579 He was talking to them and about them. 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:53.579 He was talking about the realities of their lives. 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:57.579 And as you look at these three parables. 00:30:57.579 --> 00:31:00.579 We didn't read the first two at the beginning of chapter 15. 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:03.579 But you have three parables in this chapter. 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:05.579 And they all link together. 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:07.579 The parable of the lost sheep. 00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:09.579 The parable of the lost coin. 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:12.579 And the parable, if you like, of the lost son. 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:14.579 The prodigal son. 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:19.579 There's Jesus speaking about what it meant to be lost. 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:23.579 But the great rejoicing that there is in being found. 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:27.579 And especially about being found by God. 00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:32.579 And the prodigal son, this story may be familiar to you. 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:36.579 It's perhaps something you've read or heard on many some occasion. 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:38.579 And we know it so well. 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:41.579 But what is it about? 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:45.579 What is it that Jesus is telling us here? 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:50.579 What's your immediate reaction as you read through this parable? 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:52.579 Who is it about? 00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:55.579 And what is it speaking to us about? 00:31:55.579 --> 00:32:01.579 Our immediate reaction is so often to focus on this younger brother. 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:05.579 The prodigal son, as he's called. 00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:09.579 The one who goes away to live the life that he wants. 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:13.579 Who goes away to live the way that he wants. 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:20.579 And how he begins to realize that he comes to himself and realizes how wrong he was. 00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:25.579 Or there's the older brother at the end of the parable too. 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:27.579 The older brother who was jealous. 00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:32.579 Who had lived in many ways, in his own eyes, such a good life. 00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:36.579 He'd honored his father unlike his younger brother. 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:38.579 But he too had something wrong. 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:40.579 He had this jealous nature in him. 00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:43.579 We could look at that and maybe we will another time. 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:45.579 But you see, there's these two sons. 00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:49.579 But who is the main character in this? 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:56.579 Well, the main character is not the older brother or the younger brother called the prodigal son. 00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:59.579 The main character in this is the father. 00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:01.579 The prodigal father. 00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:04.579 And that's why we really want to come and see. 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:11.579 The father who shows this wonderful love, this wonderful grace towards both sons. 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:16.579 He shows it to the younger son in the way he receives him back. 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:19.579 The way he shows him mercy. 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:23.579 A father who welcomes his son home. 00:33:23.579 --> 00:33:35.579 And what Jesus is talking about in this parable is a reminder to all of his people of how our father in heaven longs to receive his children. 00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.579 To welcome them home. 00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:38.579 He invites them. 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.579 He calls on them. 00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:42.579 And he rejoices in them returning. 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:45.579 That is what we see here. 00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:49.579 It's a wonderful welcome from a glorious father. 00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:59.579 And so we want to look tonight and this evening together at this younger son as he comes to meet with the father. 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:03.579 It's something we all need to hear. 00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:13.579 So that wherever we have been and whatever we have done, we will recognize that God can still welcome us home. 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:17.579 That God still calls us to himself. 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:20.579 That this is the embrace that we should all long for. 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:24.579 The embrace of our father who is in heaven. 00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:29.579 But we begin to see in this parable first of all the young son. 00:34:29.579 --> 00:34:37.579 And we see at the start, first two things about him is his request and his recklessness. 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:46.579 The kind of attitude that this young son has is an attitude perhaps many of us can relate to. 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:50.579 How many of us can relate to this younger brother? 00:34:50.579 --> 00:34:55.579 He is like so many since the time of Jesus telling this parable. 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.579 Telling this story to them. 00:34:57.579 --> 00:35:05.579 How many generations of sons and daughters have just the same kind of heart as this younger brother? 00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:12.579 We think and we think everything is better away from God. 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:16.579 Everything will be so much better if I can just get away from this word of God. 00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:19.579 From this God that maybe my parents have been forcing onto me. 00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:22.579 This God that I've heard so much about growing up. 00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:26.579 I just want to get away from this God. 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:30.579 This younger brother is just like so many since. 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:34.579 And so many who will still come in God's will. 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:37.579 We just want to go and do our own thing. 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:41.579 We want to go and do it in our own way. 00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:45.579 If you've ever watched the movie Braveheart. 00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:49.579 It's a movie that's almost becoming older. 00:35:49.579 --> 00:35:53.579 Every year goes past so long ago now since it first came out. 00:35:53.579 --> 00:36:00.579 There was a phrase used towards the end of that film that kept being repeated. 00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:05.579 A word that so many people were looking for and longing for. 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:08.579 And the word was freedom. 00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:13.579 It's a word that gets cried out towards the end of the film. 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.579 Freedom. 00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:18.579 People just longing for freedom. 00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:22.579 And you can almost imagine this younger son. 00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:26.579 This is the word that he's crying out for. 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:28.579 He's looking for his freedom. 00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:31.579 He's looking to find his freedom in life. 00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:36.579 And this freedom he wants no matter what. 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:38.579 No matter what the cost. 00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:41.579 He wants this freedom. 00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:43.579 He wants to be his own boss. 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:46.579 He wants to do his own thing. 00:36:46.579 --> 00:36:50.579 Not to be told do this or don't do that. 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:51.579 He's had enough. 00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:53.579 He's sick of all of this. 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:55.579 He wants his freedom. 00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:58.579 He wants to get away. 00:36:58.579 --> 00:37:03.579 But when you see his request as he says in verse 12. 00:37:03.579 --> 00:37:07.579 The younger of them said to his father. 00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:12.579 Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me. 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:16.579 Give me what I will be due. 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:22.579 Give me saying now what one day will be mine. 00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:28.579 And it shows us just how serious this request is. 00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:35.579 What he is wanting is what he would expect to receive when his father passed away. 00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:38.579 But he's saying, I want it now. 00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:41.579 And behind what he's saying is. 00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:45.579 Father, I wish you were dead. 00:37:45.579 --> 00:37:50.579 I wish you were dead so I could have what will be mine one day. 00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:55.579 I wish you were dead so I could go and enjoy my life to the full. 00:37:55.579 --> 00:38:02.579 The seriousness of his request and his recklessness towards life. 00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:07.579 The son would get his inheritance one day. 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:10.579 But he wants it now. 00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:16.579 And how does that relate to us today? 00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:22.579 How would that relate to the crowd that Jesus was preaching to here? 00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:25.579 What would they see and what should we see in this? 00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:28.579 Well, Jesus is showing the people. 00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:31.579 This is your attitude towards God. 00:38:31.579 --> 00:38:33.579 When this is your heart. 00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:35.579 When this is your desire in life. 00:38:35.579 --> 00:38:39.579 Just to get away from God. 00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:40.579 No matter what. 00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:45.579 To flee away thinking that everything is going to be so much better. 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:46.579 What you are saying is. 00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:49.579 God, I wish you were dead. 00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:54.579 I wish I didn't have you in my life in this way. 00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:59.579 I wish I didn't feel this burden of sin that I so often feel. 00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:02.579 I want to be free. 00:39:02.579 --> 00:39:05.579 I want to be away from all of this. 00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:08.579 God, I want you dead. 00:39:08.579 --> 00:39:12.579 It's like so many of us. 00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:14.579 Maybe we have been. 00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:16.579 Maybe we are like this. 00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:21.579 We are just tired of all the do's and don'ts. 00:39:21.579 --> 00:39:25.579 The do's and don'ts of what we see as a religion. 00:39:25.579 --> 00:39:29.579 A religion that is there just to spoil our life. 00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:32.579 To weigh heavy upon us. 00:39:32.579 --> 00:39:35.579 And what you notice is. 00:39:35.579 --> 00:39:39.579 The father gives him what he wants. 00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:41.579 He gives him this. 00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:45.579 He gives him all that he is longing for. 00:39:45.579 --> 00:39:47.579 Even though his heart would be breaking in it. 00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:49.579 He gives it to the son. 00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:51.579 And what does the son do? 00:39:51.579 --> 00:39:55.579 He goes away to enjoy himself. 00:39:55.579 --> 00:39:57.579 Or so he thinks. 00:39:57.579 --> 00:40:01.579 His lifestyle here in verse 13. 00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:04.579 Is described as reckless living. 00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:06.579 Not many days later. 00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:08.579 The younger son gathered all he had. 00:40:08.579 --> 00:40:10.579 Took a journey into a far country. 00:40:10.579 --> 00:40:13.579 And there he squandered his property. 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:15.579 In reckless living. 00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:18.579 He blew the lot. 00:40:18.579 --> 00:40:21.579 He thought he was going to enjoy himself. 00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:22.579 And maybe for a time. 00:40:22.579 --> 00:40:24.579 He felt like he was. 00:40:24.579 --> 00:40:26.579 He spent everything. 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:29.579 Literally means he just threw it in the wind. 00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:31.579 He threw it all away. 00:40:31.579 --> 00:40:35.579 And he's called the prodigal son. 00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:37.579 Because the word prodigal. 00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.579 One of its meaning is. 00:40:38.579 --> 00:40:42.579 Spending money or using resources recklessly. 00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:44.579 And that's what he's doing. 00:40:44.579 --> 00:40:46.579 He squandered his property. 00:40:46.579 --> 00:40:48.579 And reckless living. 00:40:48.579 --> 00:40:51.579 That's why he's called the prodigal son. 00:40:51.579 --> 00:40:54.579 And here you see him. 00:40:54.579 --> 00:40:56.579 Running away from God. 00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:59.579 Looking for joy and happiness. 00:40:59.579 --> 00:41:00.579 Fulfillment. 00:41:00.579 --> 00:41:02.579 In a far off country. 00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:05.579 Thinking I can get away from God. 00:41:05.579 --> 00:41:07.579 Hoping to be able to cry. 00:41:07.579 --> 00:41:08.579 I am free. 00:41:08.579 --> 00:41:10.579 I have found my freedom. 00:41:10.579 --> 00:41:11.579 My freedom. 00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:13.579 But what did he find? 00:41:13.579 --> 00:41:17.579 He found the emptiness of this life. 00:41:17.579 --> 00:41:22.579 He found just how there was nothing there for him. 00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:23.579 In verse 14. 00:41:23.579 --> 00:41:24.579 When he had spent everything. 00:41:24.579 --> 00:41:26.579 A severe famine arose. 00:41:26.579 --> 00:41:29.579 And he began to be in need. 00:41:29.579 --> 00:41:31.579 He had everything. 00:41:31.579 --> 00:41:35.579 And now he's got nothing. 00:41:35.579 --> 00:41:37.579 Running away from the father. 00:41:37.579 --> 00:41:39.579 Seems for a time. 00:41:39.579 --> 00:41:41.579 All is well and good. 00:41:41.579 --> 00:41:43.579 But ultimately. 00:41:43.579 --> 00:41:45.579 We're never free. 00:41:45.579 --> 00:41:48.579 And we're never away from God. 00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:51.579 And we may look at that as a negative. 00:41:51.579 --> 00:41:54.579 But we should really see it. 00:41:54.579 --> 00:41:56.579 As such a positive. 00:41:56.579 --> 00:41:58.579 And such a blessing. 00:41:58.579 --> 00:42:00.579 That the father is still. 00:42:00.579 --> 00:42:02.579 Watching for us. 00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:04.579 And you can imagine. 00:42:04.579 --> 00:42:06.579 Jesus telling this story. 00:42:06.579 --> 00:42:08.579 This parable. 00:42:08.579 --> 00:42:09.579 And the crowd. 00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.579 The hearers. 00:42:10.579 --> 00:42:11.579 They're shocked. 00:42:11.579 --> 00:42:14.579 By the behavior of this younger son. 00:42:14.579 --> 00:42:15.579 And they would have been. 00:42:15.579 --> 00:42:17.579 To think maybe at this point. 00:42:17.579 --> 00:42:19.579 That Jesus is going to tell them. 00:42:19.579 --> 00:42:21.579 What happens to those. 00:42:21.579 --> 00:42:23.579 Who do bad things. 00:42:23.579 --> 00:42:25.579 How Jesus is going to tell. 00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:27.579 How the father is going to deal. 00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:29.579 So harshly with his son. 00:42:29.579 --> 00:42:31.579 Who has treated him in this way. 00:42:31.579 --> 00:42:33.579 And they're maybe just. 00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.579 Starting to sit up a little. 00:42:34.579 --> 00:42:35.579 At this point. 00:42:35.579 --> 00:42:37.579 And listening to what Jesus is saying. 00:42:37.579 --> 00:42:38.579 Hoping that they. 00:42:38.579 --> 00:42:40.579 Think that what they're going to hear. 00:42:40.579 --> 00:42:41.579 Is this. 00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:44.579 But not so. 00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:47.579 Jesus is going to turn. 00:42:47.579 --> 00:42:49.579 This story on its head. 00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:50.579 For them. 00:42:50.579 --> 00:42:52.579 We come to see that. 00:42:52.579 --> 00:42:53.579 In a moment. 00:42:54.579 --> 00:42:56.579 But when you think of this. 00:42:56.579 --> 00:42:57.579 Prodigal son. 00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:59.579 How can you relate. 00:42:59.579 --> 00:43:00.579 To him. 00:43:00.579 --> 00:43:02.579 And another man. 00:43:02.579 --> 00:43:03.579 Who had just this. 00:43:03.579 --> 00:43:04.579 Kind of attitude. 00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:06.579 And his name. 00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:07.579 Was John Newton. 00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:09.579 And on the back of your. 00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:10.579 Notice sheet. 00:43:10.579 --> 00:43:11.579 You can read. 00:43:11.579 --> 00:43:12.579 About John Newton. 00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:13.579 If you haven't already done. 00:43:13.579 --> 00:43:14.579 So do it. 00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:15.579 When you go home. 00:43:15.579 --> 00:43:17.579 Because it's 250 years. 00:43:17.579 --> 00:43:18.579 Since. 00:43:18.579 --> 00:43:19.579 The words of. 00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:20.579 Amazing grace. 00:43:20.579 --> 00:43:21.579 Were first read. 00:43:21.579 --> 00:43:22.579 Publicly. 00:43:22.579 --> 00:43:24.579 On the 1st of January. 00:43:24.579 --> 00:43:25.579 1773. 00:43:25.579 --> 00:43:34.199 1973. It was John Newton who wrote these words of amazing grace, a hymn that's been sung on many 00:43:34.199 --> 00:43:43.019 occasions since. And the wonder of those words still echo today, amazing grace. And part of that 00:43:43.019 --> 00:43:50.759 hymn, it has these words, I once was lost, but now I'm found. And you can see how that relates 00:43:50.760 --> 00:43:59.800 to the son here. In verse 24, it says, the father says, for this my son was dead and is alive again. 00:43:59.880 --> 00:44:10.160 He was lost and is found. So you see there, the son, he was as good as dead. Just like John Newton 00:44:10.160 --> 00:44:17.440 himself, who ran away from God, who was in the slave trade, captain of a ship, a foul mouth, 00:44:17.440 --> 00:44:25.720 drinking heavily, no thought or interest in God until God took hold of him. Until he came to know 00:44:25.720 --> 00:44:33.260 the amazing grace of God. The interesting thing about John Newton was he had a good mother. 00:44:34.579 --> 00:44:42.720 A mother who prayed for him so often and had taught him of a savior who could save anyone. 00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:50.980 And John Newton, even though he had gone so far away from God, he came to know that amazing grace, 00:44:51.079 --> 00:44:59.319 just like this prodigal son. Just like me. And just like many of you, I'm sure, you have known this 00:44:59.319 --> 00:45:12.379 amazing grace. Dead, but made alive in Christ. So you have this request and recklessness of the 00:45:12.380 --> 00:45:20.920 prodigal son. But then we come to see just how the story changes. And we see it in the reality and 00:45:20.920 --> 00:45:30.140 returning of this son. The son, instead of finding freedom, what did he find? He found the life of 00:45:30.140 --> 00:45:37.059 freedom and joy he thought he would have. It wasn't so. As the saying goes, the grass isn't always greener 00:45:37.059 --> 00:45:44.019 on the other side. And this son, he squandered his living. He had nothing. And where does he find 00:45:44.019 --> 00:45:52.960 himself? He finds himself feeding pigs in this far off country. The lowest kind of work that he could 00:45:52.960 --> 00:46:01.320 find, that he could know. Feeding pigs. Longing even just to have one of the pods that the pigs ate, 00:46:01.320 --> 00:46:10.880 but they gave him nothing. He had nothing. He had no one to help him. This famine came and his hope 00:46:10.880 --> 00:46:19.140 was gone. And you can imagine the crowd gathered hearing Jesus sharing this story, waiting now for 00:46:19.140 --> 00:46:27.580 judgment to be pronounced. This is what happens if this is the kind of life you live. This is a story 00:46:27.579 --> 00:46:36.480 coming to a conclusion in their eyes, where he's going to get what he deserves. But it's not what 00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:45.420 they expected. Jesus, having made this point, he begins to turn the story around. And this is the 00:46:45.420 --> 00:46:56.119 gospel. This is the good news. The son who stands condemned and hopeless, Jesus begins to show that there is 00:46:56.119 --> 00:47:03.380 a way back. What could he do? Well, look at what it says in verse 17. 00:47:04.679 --> 00:47:12.819 But when he came to himself, he said, how many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, 00:47:13.440 --> 00:47:24.960 but I perish here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father. He comes to himself. The story doesn't 00:47:24.960 --> 00:47:32.579 end with the situation of the prodigal in complete disarray. It doesn't end with him in among the pigs, 00:47:33.019 --> 00:47:45.179 longing to eat some of their food. It turns. It says, he came to himself. Grace awoke him. 00:47:45.179 --> 00:47:53.339 The Lord awoke him in the midst of being in this pit of despair, as we heard of this morning. 00:47:54.579 --> 00:48:03.319 And here he is. He knows his father has something better for him. This is the beginning of the prodigal 00:48:03.319 --> 00:48:14.239 repenting. He comes to himself. He realizes how far away he's gone. But he realizes too that there is still 00:48:14.239 --> 00:48:26.000 hope. He had forgotten so much for so long. But he hadn't forgotten his father. And he hadn't forgotten 00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:37.699 his father's house. And so he ups and comes back. And for many of us here, or many of us around ourselves 00:48:37.699 --> 00:48:47.960 here, this is where we need to come to, to realize that it is to come to our senses and to return to the God 00:48:47.960 --> 00:48:55.659 who we may be shunned, mocked and put away and run away from for so long. Realizing the emptiness of 00:48:55.659 --> 00:49:13.699 life without him, to come to the Father. How many of us have longed to get away from home. Away from the 00:49:13.699 --> 00:49:24.319 binds of church. Away from the binds of everything else it entails. And only to realize we were so blessed 00:49:24.320 --> 00:49:34.740 to have it. And to realize the sorrow that there is without it. But the Father still says to come home. 00:49:35.320 --> 00:49:48.840 To return. He may have gone the wrong way. But he realizes there's a way back. And there's one way back. 00:49:48.840 --> 00:49:56.600 With the storm last night and this morning. It wasn't maybe a surprise to hear this morning with the high 00:49:56.600 --> 00:50:03.640 tides and the strong winds that the braai was closed. But what was maybe a surprise to many was the way it 00:50:03.640 --> 00:50:13.620 was reported. Where people were told to find an alternative route to use. It caused a few chuckles, 00:50:13.619 --> 00:50:19.039 I'm sure, I'm sure, around the place. Whoever wrote it didn't realize that there's only one road in and out. 00:50:20.339 --> 00:50:29.400 There's one way. And it was closed. And when we look at the son here, there was one way. 00:50:30.739 --> 00:50:38.639 He'd gone away from the Father. And there was no other way back. There was no alternative route to take. 00:50:38.639 --> 00:50:49.519 But the way was open. The road was not blocked. And the Father was there. And as you see in verse 18, 00:50:49.639 --> 00:50:57.980 it says, I will arise and go to my Father. And I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven 00:50:57.980 --> 00:51:05.759 and before you. And this is the way back. The way that is open to sinners through Christ. 00:51:05.760 --> 00:51:16.860 To come in repentance. Father, I have sinned against you. And the wonder is, would the way you see 00:51:16.860 --> 00:51:28.240 the Father come? The Son turns to go home. The final thing we see here is this reunion and rejoicing. 00:51:28.239 --> 00:51:58.219 It says in verse 20, 00:51:58.219 --> 00:52:07.019 What does he get? He gets everything again. Everything and more. He gets the Father's love. 00:52:07.559 --> 00:52:13.939 He gets the best robe. He gets a fine ring. He gets shoes. He gets the farted calf. 00:52:14.439 --> 00:52:21.219 He gets everything. And he didn't deserve it. He knows it. But this is the wonder of God's amazing grace 00:52:21.219 --> 00:52:29.219 that gives us all. He deserves nothing. He deserves nothing. In many ways, maybe he didn't want anything. 00:52:29.319 --> 00:52:34.819 He says, if I could just maybe be a servant in my Father's house, that would be enough. 00:52:34.820 --> 00:52:45.519 But he gets restored. The expectation of the crowd here would be that the Father would give him what they thought he deserved. 00:52:45.519 --> 00:52:56.920 A punishment. That he would soon sort him out. But what you find here is a prodigal father. 00:52:56.920 --> 00:53:01.480 for just like the son is known as the prodigal son 00:53:01.480 --> 00:53:04.880 who spent everything extravagantly. 00:53:06.320 --> 00:53:09.280 Prodigal means to waste everything in that way 00:53:09.280 --> 00:53:12.039 but prodigal also has a second meaning. 00:53:13.240 --> 00:53:16.059 And it's this that we see in the prodigal father 00:53:16.059 --> 00:53:21.400 for it also means giving something on a lavish scale. 00:53:22.700 --> 00:53:24.700 And that's what the father does. 00:53:24.699 --> 00:53:29.099 The father is doing, he is looking for the son 00:53:29.099 --> 00:53:32.779 and he lavishes his love on him. 00:53:33.500 --> 00:53:35.259 He gets the best. 00:53:37.059 --> 00:53:39.919 What do you make of this? 00:53:40.739 --> 00:53:43.819 How do you understand this yourself? 00:53:45.679 --> 00:53:51.619 The crowd probably thought he's going far too far with this. 00:53:51.619 --> 00:53:55.139 The son doesn't deserve any of this. 00:53:55.699 --> 00:53:56.880 Look at what he's done. 00:53:57.299 --> 00:53:59.819 He's wasted everything his father gave him already 00:53:59.819 --> 00:54:01.699 and here he is giving him more. 00:54:02.599 --> 00:54:03.460 What a waste. 00:54:05.779 --> 00:54:09.099 A waste for that ungrateful son. 00:54:09.099 --> 00:54:15.239 And this is what Jesus wants them and wants us to realize. 00:54:16.480 --> 00:54:22.500 The wonder of this grace is that the father longs to give us more 00:54:22.500 --> 00:54:26.219 if we will but come to him. 00:54:27.980 --> 00:54:30.019 And for ourselves this evening, 00:54:30.019 --> 00:54:34.139 it's about coming to look at this parable, 00:54:34.259 --> 00:54:35.519 to look at this story, 00:54:36.619 --> 00:54:38.840 to see ourselves in it, 00:54:39.480 --> 00:54:41.400 to see that we have, 00:54:41.699 --> 00:54:43.079 just like the prodigal son, 00:54:43.519 --> 00:54:45.139 we've run away from God. 00:54:45.880 --> 00:54:48.440 We've all maybe turned and gone our own way 00:54:48.440 --> 00:54:50.699 and wanted to do our own thing. 00:54:50.699 --> 00:54:53.960 And maybe we've forgotten 00:54:53.960 --> 00:54:57.159 the love of his amazing grace. 00:54:58.299 --> 00:55:00.879 Maybe we've been a Christian for so long, 00:55:01.339 --> 00:55:03.519 we've lost sight of this wonder 00:55:03.519 --> 00:55:07.019 of God's amazing love towards us. 00:55:07.980 --> 00:55:09.179 Maybe we've been wasting 00:55:09.179 --> 00:55:11.539 this love that he's shown to us, 00:55:11.599 --> 00:55:13.919 not just as unconverted people, 00:55:14.000 --> 00:55:15.319 but as converted people, 00:55:15.320 --> 00:55:18.360 that we haven't lived for God. 00:55:18.880 --> 00:55:21.260 We haven't given out all for God. 00:55:22.039 --> 00:55:24.559 Maybe we too have become reckless 00:55:24.559 --> 00:55:25.800 in the way we live. 00:55:27.400 --> 00:55:30.120 But God is calling us to come. 00:55:31.260 --> 00:55:33.340 Whatever stage we're at, 00:55:34.460 --> 00:55:36.559 whatever place we're in in this world 00:55:36.559 --> 00:55:38.260 where we've never believed 00:55:38.260 --> 00:55:40.780 or whether we've believed for years to come 00:55:40.780 --> 00:55:44.000 and to know the wonder of this grace. 00:55:45.320 --> 00:55:48.680 We can all waste so much time in this world. 00:55:49.320 --> 00:55:52.240 We can all squander so much in this world. 00:55:52.800 --> 00:55:54.760 But the parable is teaching us 00:55:54.760 --> 00:55:57.260 to always have our focus 00:55:57.260 --> 00:55:59.380 on our Father in heaven 00:55:59.380 --> 00:56:03.120 and the love that he has shown for us. 00:56:04.000 --> 00:56:05.519 And that as we do that, 00:56:06.059 --> 00:56:08.120 even in our wasting so much, 00:56:08.680 --> 00:56:10.480 he is still able to bless 00:56:10.480 --> 00:56:11.620 and restore us 00:56:11.620 --> 00:56:14.820 and help us to love him all the more. 00:56:15.320 --> 00:56:17.840 A former free church minister 00:56:17.840 --> 00:56:21.360 sadly passed away a few years ago, 00:56:21.480 --> 00:56:22.220 John McLean, 00:56:22.340 --> 00:56:24.720 who was ministering Kilmour and Skye. 00:56:25.800 --> 00:56:27.880 In December 2018, 00:56:28.220 --> 00:56:30.320 he was doing supply preaching 00:56:30.320 --> 00:56:32.200 down in South Uist. 00:56:33.080 --> 00:56:34.380 During his stay there, 00:56:34.900 --> 00:56:37.240 he wrote the words of a poem. 00:56:38.240 --> 00:56:39.640 And the poem was called 00:56:39.640 --> 00:56:41.740 Those Wasted Years. 00:56:41.739 --> 00:56:45.319 I'm going to quote two of the verses, 00:56:45.500 --> 00:56:46.179 but if you can, 00:56:46.259 --> 00:56:47.799 look it up and read it all. 00:56:48.079 --> 00:56:50.519 There's wonderful words in them. 00:56:51.839 --> 00:56:52.739 But these two verses 00:56:52.739 --> 00:56:54.319 I want to share with you this evening. 00:56:54.419 --> 00:56:55.519 In one verse he says, 00:56:56.199 --> 00:56:58.299 How often did you hear him speak? 00:56:58.939 --> 00:57:01.039 And you just closed your ears. 00:57:01.819 --> 00:57:03.099 With others lost, 00:57:03.199 --> 00:57:04.279 then you will say, 00:57:04.959 --> 00:57:07.119 O Lord, those wasted years. 00:57:07.119 --> 00:57:09.639 There's a challenge for us 00:57:09.639 --> 00:57:11.079 in these words. 00:57:11.199 --> 00:57:14.139 How often did you hear him speak? 00:57:14.799 --> 00:57:17.380 And you just closed your ears. 00:57:19.579 --> 00:57:20.900 Don't let tonight 00:57:20.900 --> 00:57:23.279 or these days be times 00:57:23.279 --> 00:57:24.679 when you close your ears 00:57:24.679 --> 00:57:26.400 to God's speaking. 00:57:26.960 --> 00:57:28.699 Otherwise, as it says, 00:57:28.779 --> 00:57:29.759 with others lost, 00:57:30.259 --> 00:57:31.500 then you will say, 00:57:31.500 --> 00:57:34.739 O Lord, those wasted years. 00:57:35.699 --> 00:57:37.559 The parable here reminds us 00:57:37.559 --> 00:57:39.420 of a son who went away 00:57:39.420 --> 00:57:41.260 and squandered his life, 00:57:41.940 --> 00:57:44.139 who wasted those years. 00:57:45.380 --> 00:57:47.260 But the last verse of the poem 00:57:47.260 --> 00:57:48.239 says this. 00:57:49.460 --> 00:57:51.559 But now let's think of promises 00:57:51.559 --> 00:57:54.099 and trust them more and more. 00:57:54.739 --> 00:57:57.440 The Lord has told us in his word, 00:57:58.099 --> 00:58:00.659 those years I can restore. 00:58:00.659 --> 00:58:04.480 The wonder of his amazing grace. 00:58:05.379 --> 00:58:06.980 That as we come back to him, 00:58:07.500 --> 00:58:09.099 he is able to restore. 00:58:09.779 --> 00:58:12.940 To restore those wasted years. 00:58:13.739 --> 00:58:15.339 So whatever stage we're at, 00:58:15.399 --> 00:58:17.899 how many years we've wasted, 00:58:18.679 --> 00:58:21.739 the Lord is able to restore. 00:58:22.639 --> 00:58:23.920 That's what this parable 00:58:23.920 --> 00:58:25.579 reminds us of. 00:58:26.219 --> 00:58:28.460 The prodigal son went away 00:58:28.460 --> 00:58:29.639 looking for freedom. 00:58:29.639 --> 00:58:31.920 found there was none there, 00:58:32.679 --> 00:58:35.420 returned undeserving of any mercy, 00:58:36.019 --> 00:58:37.559 but found a father 00:58:37.559 --> 00:58:40.019 who showed extravagant love 00:58:40.019 --> 00:58:42.859 through his love and grace. 00:58:43.960 --> 00:58:47.019 It's a time we came to our senses. 00:58:47.859 --> 00:58:49.879 It's a time for us 00:58:49.879 --> 00:58:52.299 to return to the father, 00:58:52.960 --> 00:58:53.639 that he may restore 00:58:53.639 --> 00:58:55.639 those wasted years. 00:58:55.639 --> 00:58:59.599 May God bless his word to us. 00:59:02.019 --> 00:59:03.460 We're going to conclude 00:59:03.460 --> 00:59:05.699 by singing to God's praise 00:59:05.699 --> 00:59:08.179 in Psalm 103, 00:59:09.279 --> 00:59:10.500 the Scottish Psalter. 00:59:11.219 --> 00:59:12.400 Psalm 103, 00:59:13.739 --> 00:59:15.579 page 370. 00:59:15.579 --> 00:59:21.400 We're going to sing from verse 11 00:59:21.400 --> 00:59:22.819 to verse 13. 00:59:23.960 --> 00:59:25.880 For as the heaven in its height, 00:59:26.000 --> 00:59:27.460 the earth surmounted far, 00:59:27.880 --> 00:59:29.900 so great to those that do him fear 00:59:29.900 --> 00:59:31.559 his tender mercies are. 00:59:32.139 --> 00:59:34.539 As far as east is distant from the west, 00:59:34.699 --> 00:59:35.639 so far hath he. 00:59:36.059 --> 00:59:37.679 From us removed in his love 00:59:37.679 --> 00:59:38.759 all our iniquity. 00:59:39.400 --> 00:59:41.400 Such pity as a father hath, 00:59:41.400 --> 00:59:42.840 and to his children dear. 00:59:43.420 --> 00:59:44.500 Like pity shows, 00:59:44.579 --> 00:59:45.740 the Lord to such 00:59:45.740 --> 00:59:48.019 as worship him in fear. 00:59:48.400 --> 00:59:49.559 We'll sing these three verses. 00:59:49.740 --> 00:59:50.660 Psalm 103, 00:59:50.880 --> 00:59:52.200 verse 11 to 13, 00:59:52.720 --> 00:59:53.500 to God's praise, 00:59:53.559 --> 00:59:55.079 and the tune is Kilmarnock. 00:59:55.079 --> 00:59:55.799 Psalm 103, 00:59:55.799 --> 00:59:59.599 and the tune is Kilmarnock. 00:59:59.599 --> 01:00:07.440 For as the heaven in its height, 01:00:07.739 --> 01:00:13.719 the earth surmounted far, 01:00:15.360 --> 01:00:23.480 so great to those that do him fear, 01:00:23.480 --> 01:00:30.480 his tender mercies are. 01:00:30.480 --> 01:00:42.820 As far as east is distant from the west, 01:00:42.820 --> 01:00:47.039 so far hath he. 01:00:47.039 --> 01:00:57.199 From us recovered in his love 01:00:57.199 --> 01:01:03.279 all our iniquity. 01:01:03.279 --> 01:01:14.259 Such pity as the father hath, 01:01:14.260 --> 01:01:22.260 unto his children dear. 01:01:22.260 --> 01:01:31.260 Like pity shows the Lord to such 01:01:31.260 --> 01:01:38.260 as worship him in fear. 01:01:40.260 --> 01:01:41.600 After the benediction, 01:01:41.740 --> 01:01:43.320 I'll go to the door to my left. 01:01:43.320 --> 01:01:44.760 We'll close with the benediction. 01:01:45.740 --> 01:01:46.680 Now may grace, 01:01:47.019 --> 01:01:47.320 mercy, 01:01:47.500 --> 01:01:48.720 and peace from God, 01:01:49.160 --> 01:01:49.539 Father, 01:01:49.780 --> 01:01:49.980 Son, 01:01:50.059 --> 01:01:50.940 and Holy Spirit 01:01:50.940 --> 01:01:51.960 rest upon 01:01:51.960 --> 01:01:53.700 and abide with you all 01:01:53.700 --> 01:01:54.320 now and forevermore. 01:01:55.320 --> 01:01:55.700 Amen.