Intro:

In some way this passage must picture every child of God when he hits the golden shore, for there seems to be varying degrees of the prodigal in all of us.

The Hymn Writers Sensed It:

• "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love."
• "Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing."
• "When life seems worse than useless, and I were better dead."
• "The hours that I have wasted are so many, the hours I've spent for Christ so few; Because of all my lack of love for Jesus, I wonder if his heart is breaking too."
• "My weakened will, Lord, thou canst renew; my sinful nature thou canst subdue…"
• "With forbidden pleasures would this vain world charm, or its sordid treasures spread to work me harm."
• "Lord, I'm coming home."

The human writers of Scripture:

(Rom. 7:18-20,24; Ps. 38:1-4)

 

I. The Best Robe -

Is the servant a picture of an angel? "Know ye not that we shall judge angels." (1 Cor. 6:3)

God has never clothed us with anything but the best robes!

A. Robe of Righteousness - (Isa. 61:10) as opposed to (Isa. 64:6).

B. Robe of Acceptance - (Rev. 7:9,14) Nations, kindreds, people and tongues, is made possible by the blood in (vs. 14; Eph. 2:11-14).

Strange Phenomena:

Acceptance is one of the primary reasons that people leave home, and yet there is more acceptance at home than anywhere else. Our acceptance is far more Conditional, away from home. No one loves you like a parent.

The young man sinned against his father and mother, for he sinned against Heaven (Gal. 4:26).

 

II. The Ring -

Symbol of authority - (Gen. 41:42)

Joseph receives authority over the kings possessions and business. Joseph had suffered first (2 Tim. 2:12).

All real authority has to come from a greater authority, or it is imagined (Matt. 8:5-10). The centurion understood Jesus' authority.

"What a word' - (Lk. 4:36) A prodigal loses his authority when he departs from the WORD! Look at our authority (Tit. 2:11-15).

 

III. The Shoes -

Slaves went barefoot!

(Song of Sol. 6:10-7:1) - When the Shulamite returns as an army, she has shoes on - given at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

 

IV. Lost Inheritance -

The eldest son owns it all (vs. 31)

(Col. 1:12; 3:24,25; Lk. 19:24; 2 Jn. 8)

 

Intro:

Review - Robe, Ring, Shoes, after a receiving father ran to meet him.

 

I. Fatted Calf -

A. A fatted calf is a finished one that has been prepared in anticipation of the event.

• The father expected the sons return!

The Laodicean Church is the most prodigal of all churches (Rev. 3:14-22).

Notice (Rev. 3:11) "I come quickly" to the Philadelpian Church - but did he come to that church - NO! He has to come to the next one.

B. The calf is a picture of fellowship with the Lord (Gen. 18:1-8).

C. Fat is a picture of a delightful soul (Isa. 55:1-3; Ps. 63:5; Isa. 25:6).

 

II. Other Parables -

A. Lost Sheep (15:4-7) The application is in (vs. 7) - Heaven.

B. lost Coin - (15:8-10) - Angels of God.

C. Lost Son - Sin against Heaven.

 

III. The Sequence of Events -

A. A rich you man wastes all his money and ends up with nothing - Laodicean.

B. He came to himself - (Rom. 7:9-25). When you are changed to that which is incorruptible, you will "come to yourself."

C. Rapture - ARISE (vs. 18), AROSE (vs. 20)

D. Confession - (vs. 21) Judgment Seat of Christ!

E. Robe, Ring, Shoes - (Rev. 19:8-9).

F. Feast - Marriage Supper

G. Friends - O.T. Saints from Moses to John The Baptist (Jn. 3:29).

Neighbors - Tribulation Gentiles who get saved (Ps. 45:12).

H. Jealous brother - (Rom. 11:11).