GET TOGETHER- HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (THE FAR COUNTRY SURE DOES STINK)
Lu 15:13-19 “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
“But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. “Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. “And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, “and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”‘
I will never forget the first time that the Holy Spirit spoke to me through this passage. I was on a Christian Retreat. When the Preacher that was reading this passage as a meditation was reading it I could truly hear the voice of God saying come back home boy. That day I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. That day I knew that I was no longer in the far country, but was welcomed into the Father’s House.
Some of you reading this can remember when Jesus Christ changed your life. You remember what it was like to know that your sins were washed away and that you would no longer be living a sinful lifestyle. You were welcomed into the Kingdom of God by a Heavenly Father who loves you.
Some of you reading this are still in the far country. I have been there. It sounds good at first. Sexual relationships with no commitment. Partying several nights, a week. Drugs that make you feel good for a little while, before they begin to grab a hold of you. The far country sounded like the cool place to be for the prodigal son in the Parable in Luke 15. It wouldn’t turn out to be quite as grand as he thought that it would be.
The far country began to stink for the prodigal son. Actually it was the pig pen that began to stink. His money had run out. The people that he thought were his friends weren’t his friends anymore. That is the way that it goes in the far country. The devil may offer you a penthouse in the far country. He may even let you live in it and enjoy it for a little while. We know that there is pleasure in sin for a season. But then comes eviction from the penthouse and wallowing in the pig-pen. There is always a consequence to those sexual relationships outside of marriage between a man and a woman. You can see the consequences all over our nation. The drug use begins to take more and more of your money. Then you begin to feel less and less like working. When you go to the night clubs suddenly that person you thought was crazy about you is crazy about someone else.
Christmas can be a real lonely time when you are in the far country. It seems like everyone else has someone that loves them. I remember the Christmas nights when either the nightclubs were closed or they had only a few other lonely patrons.
Thank the Lord Jesus for deliverance from those lonely nights in the pig pen.
The Bible tells us that this young man came to Himself. Here at Christ Community Fellowship we are praying for prodigals to come home for Christmas. If you are a prodigal the Lord Jesus wants you to know that He loves you and that He desires you to come out of the pig pen and return to the Father’s House. If you have a prodigal that you would like for us to pray for PM me or some of our people on Facebook and we will pray for them. You can also email me at pastorccf60@gmail.com .
We are believing that God is going to bring the prodigals home. Not only did the Prodigal Son come to himself, but he also came to a place of repentance. He repented of his sin and he also made a decision to return to his Father’s house willing to take the lowest place.
If you are a prodigal ready to repent of your sin the Father stands ready to welcome you home. God loves you! If you my good friend are already at the Father’s house will you join us in praying for the prodigals to come home for Christmas. It will be the best party that they have ever attended. We will look at that next week as we pray for and expect the prodigals to be home for Christmas.
Let Us Pray
Father there are some of us reading this that only by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ were we delivered from the pig pen. Thank You so much! There are others who are still out there today. Lord we believe that time is short. We ask You today to bring them home by Christmas. Lord may they tire of smelling the pig pen. Give each a heart of repentance and help us to lovingly welcome them back in to your House.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Even a tough day at Daddy’s House is better than the best day in the big pen.
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
