Christine Chrisrian: 03/03/18

Lent – Day 16 – Bible Study

John 10:27-29

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

One of the most important parable of the Lost Son appears in Luke 15:11–32. In the story, a father has two sons. The younger son asks for his inheritance wild living. After long suffering in other country, he repent and decided to return home and serve his father as servant; and other side the father waits and watches eagerly for his son's return. When he reached his father's home, his father run towards him with a great pleasure, he kisses him and celebrate his retuning. Let’s discus about this parable in details, but first read the parable.

Luke 15:11-32

And he said, A certain man had two sons

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

The main character in the parable, the forgiving father is a picture of our almighty God and the lost son is the people who fear to repent and fear to criticize by others, and the elder son is symbolize as self-righteous people (we’ll talk about it below). He repent and his repentance makes him able to face his father's wrath. We see in this story that it is the memory of the Father’s GOODNESS that brings the prodigal son to repentance Romans 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”. He went to his father's house, thinking to serve him lifetime as a servant but his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him John 6:37 “Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”.

We should learn many thing from this parable. It’s never too late to return to God and you are never too lost to be saved! There's no such thing as a person too far gone, too bad, too hard-hearted, too deceived, too old, or too bound, It is all modern day bondage. We became slave of this modern civilization. But we should not forget that we are here for sometimes, our real HOME is HEAVEN near to OUR LOVING FATHER John 14:2 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”,Matthew 19:14 “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”,Psalm 124:8 “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”, We deed lot of mistakes in our daily life. We are not perfect, we cannot be without the help of God. We need to ask for His guidance, ask the Lord to shepherd. How often do we ask the Lord to shepherd us? So often we get caught up in the “me” culture of the present hour that we forgot we have been called to serve someone greater. Someone who “removes guilt and pardons sin.. Who does not persist in anger forever, but delight rather in mercy” Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”. We have the God who DELIGHTS in showing MERCY. Not only does He offer us compassion when we lost, but He welcomes us without hesitation with feast of celebration. Thought we are called repent, He embraces us and kisses us upon our arrival. He sees us as His BELOVED CHILDREN returning home. And even when we doubt, even when we see life through the eyes of the son who did not stray in today’s Gospel, God still offers us everything He has. As this season of Lent continues to push forward, let us ask the Lord to shepherd us. Let us ask Him to show us where we can offer more compassion, where we can show mercy, where we can love others more fully.. Run back into His LOVING arms, repent, and accept His gifts of LOVE. He wants to LEAD you closer to the life you were created to LIVE. LET HIM.

If someone stuck in wrong thing for too long that doesn't mean he/she will never get over with it. Don’t be like modern-day Pharisees who live out loud, they always point out people's mistakes and make them feel unworthy, Instead be kind and help the people who are unable to motivate themselves. Kindness is seeing the best in others when they cannot see it in themselves. If you can help someone, do that! 1 John 4:7-10 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God..." We know that, No one and nothing can make a person in bondage if he/she has a strong will power and that strong will, that confidence comes from knowing that the maker of the Heaven and earth will be with you....forever... You will be free from all bondage things by trusting God Matthew 17:20 "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this." You are already saved John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD, He's the Savior! Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Now we talk about the elder son.

Luke 15:1-10

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

In the Gospel of 15:1-10, we found another parable of lost sheep, in telling the story, Jesus identifies Himself with God in His loving attitude to the lost. And In Luke 15:11-32 in the parable of the lost son, the older son was angry and refused to go in celebration. He said to his father “all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! ³⁰But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!” The elder son count his righteous deeds, he wanted to prove himself that he is much better than the younger son. He didn't understand his father's mercy towards repentance of his brother. That was the act of self-righteousness, the elder son is symbolize as Israel, while the younger one is like the non-Jews, who just want mercy and grace from the Almighty God n they received it. The father reminds the older son that one day he will inherit everything, and that they should still celebrate the return of the younger son because he was lost and is now found. Like the younger son we will receive God's grace, and we will be caught up in the clouds (Rapture) when Jesus come to take us with him to Heaven 1 Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.". and we know that Israel will pass through the seven years great tribulation but God never leave them or forsake them. Psalm 130:8 "And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.", Isaiah 49 "Jerusalem, I can never forget you! I have written your name on the palms of my hands.", Luke 1:68-75 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his.", Isaiah 44:21 "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. "

1 Peter 5:5-11

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion bless the LORD, O my soul.

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.

Micah 7: 18-20

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

♥

We all sinned n deserve GOD’s judgment, but our loving FATHER, GOD sent HIS only begotten SON to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in HIM. JESUS, our LORD who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that HE died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buries n rose from the dead according to the Holy Bible. If you truly believe n trust in your heart, receiving JESUS alone as your SAVIOUR, declaring (by Baptism) JESUS is The LORD n SAVIOUR, you will be SAVED from the judgment n spend ETERNITY with GOD in HEAVEN…. In The name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.. Amen