A homespun legend of how greed and selfishness deprive blessing.


1. The father and his second son
   1) The second son's rebellion
      - Dissatisfaction toward the authority of the father who was the head of the
         household, and the demand for freedom
   2) Receiving his inheritance, he left for a faraway land feeling like his own master
      - Went to a place far from his father's influence
   3) May have had the identity of being his own master, but lacked the ability to be one
       (Luke 15:13-15)
      (1) Enslaved to sinful desires
      (2) Unexpected famine and poverty
      (3) Could not solve his problems of food, clothing, and shelter
   4) The story is a metaphor illustrating Adam's fall
      (1) Adam's rebellion toward God's authority
      (2) Adam departed to a faraway land, the world (John 3:19,20)
      (3) He was his own master but lacked ability
           ① Became enslaved to sin, worldliness, Satan, disease, the curse, poverty, and
              death (John 8:34; Ephesians 2:3)
           ② Famine - of righteousness, cleanliness, health, material blessing, joy, peace,
              happiness, and life

2. Repentance
   1) The right understanding about life (Luke 15:17)
      (1) Even the hired hand lived well without famine in his father's house
      (2) The tragic reality of his life away from his father
   2) Repentance - 'Make me like one of your hired men' - a fundamental change in attitude
                               to ward life (Luke 15:18,19; John 10:10; Matthew 7:9-11)
   3) Lessons we must learn
      (1) Life in Eden with God - the life God provided (1 Corinthians 2:9)
      (2) Life in the world without God - a life full of famine: life without hope
****************************** (Ephesians 2:12)
   4) What is repentance? (Matthew 4:17)
      (1) Is it remorse?
      (2) Is it self-punishment?
      (3) Is it confession of sin?
      (4) Metanoia

3. The return of the prodigal son
   1) Changing direction in life is more important than contrition or confession
      (Luke 15:20; John 14:6)
   2) The father's welcome (Luke 15:20,21)
   3) Life looked after by the father
      (1) The best robe
      (2) Ring (Ephesians 1:13)
      (3) Sandals (Amos 2:6; 8:6)
      (4) A fattened calf and a feast and celebration
      (5) The righteousness of the father toward the return of his son
         - He was dead and then alive, lost and found (Luke 19:10; 15:7)

4. If we come back to God
   1) The best robe - made from the blood of Jesus: a robe of forgiveness, righteousness,
**************** and the glory of God (Isaiah 55:7; 30:26; Revelation 19:13; John
**************** 3:16; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:23,24)
   2) Ring - sealed by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22; Romans 8:16)
   3) Sandals - the Fivefold Gospel: prepared with the peace of the Gospel (John 14:27)
   4) Feast - feast of holistic salvation (3 John 1:2; Romans 8:32)
      (1) The soul is getting along well - with the Word and the fullness of the Holy Spirit
           (John 5:24)
      (2) All may go well with you - life under the rule of God (Psalm 30:11; 128:1,2)
      (3) Good health - healing and resurrection (Psalm 16:11; 1 Corinthians 15:55)


People cannot be the masters of their own existence. Only God is the Master of existence and the absolute authority. Whoever attempts to become the master of his or her own being will only find hopeless famine and suffering. Christ proclaimed, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." When there is sincere repentance, a true turning from the old ways, the kingdom of heaven where God and Christ preside becomes manifest.