Come Home - 06-25-2017

Refuge Church of Walterboro, SC

Series: LOST

Message: COME HOME

Never Changing Truth:

We all SIN.

(Rom. 3:23)(NLT) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

We all BATTLE WITHIN.

(James 4:1)(NLT) What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

We all keep FALLING OFF TRACK.

(Romans 7:15)(NLT) I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

Life Falls Apart When:

We think we’ve FIGURED IT OUT.

(Proverbs 14:12) (NLT) There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

We create our OWN AGENDA.

(Ephesians 5:17) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

We ride the SPIRITUAL FENCE.

(Revelation 3:15-16) (NLT) 15“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!16But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

We attempt anything WITHOUT JESUS.

(John 15:5) (NIV) Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
III. The Journey Home Requires:

(Luke 15:11-32) (NLT) 11To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

13“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

20“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

22“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

25“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

28“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

31“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

True BROKENESS.

(Luke 15:13-16) (NLT) 13“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

We often must become totally broken before we realize our brokenness.

(Psalm 51:17) (NLT) The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Spiritual AWAKENING.

(Luke 15:17)(NLT) “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!

(Eph. 5:14)(NLT) This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Until your spiritual eyes are wide open you will continue to sleep walk through life.

Total SURRENDER.

(Luke 15:18-19) (NLT) 18I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

Many people are spiritually stuck because they won’t get over their pride and surrender all to Jesus!

(James 4:7-10) (NLT) As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” 7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Closing Truth:

Coming home is just ONE STEP AWAY.

(Luke 15:20-32)(NLT)

20“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

22“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

25“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

28“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

31“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”