The Waiting Father

Yeah. driving. iron key. Oops. See where she is. Everybody's That's an impressive little impressive gadget. Intro. Two, three, five, four. Somebody walk this morning. Hallelujah. Holy. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Good morning church. >> Morning. >> How are we doing today? >> Come on, let's stand and worship together. He's a no time god. Though I cannot see, he's still working it out for me. Oh, when the night seems low and my doubts are deep, I'm reminded of all the ways, all the ways that he kept me. This is my soul. Still holding on. Cuz as long as I'm breathing, I've got a reason. Jesus, you gave me the nick of time and roll back the stones that were in my life. And all I can do is thank you. Thank you. Your love made a way. I may not be where I want to be, but I know you'll take good care of me. So all I can do is praise you. Praise you. Your love made a way. Oh, your love made a way. I had to walk through fire. I wish I knew all this back then. It was only a testimony. The value put me out again. And I was bound in shame. I couldn't break my own chain. Headed straight for the grave. God, you made a way. This is my soul. Still holding on. And as long as I'm breathing, I've got a reason. Jesus, you came in at the nick of time. Roll back the stones that were in my life. And all I can do is thank you. Thank you. Your love made a way. I may not be where I want to be, but I know you take good care of me. So all I can do is praise you. praise you. Your love made a way home. Your love will fade away. We'll testify what he's done for you. Don't do it for your neighbor, too. If all I've learned, here in this light, the sick are healed and the dead will rise. When people praise, when people shout, miracle come crashing down. Where is your hope? Where is your faith? He's more than able. I know you're safe. He'll testify what he's done for you. He'll do it for the neighbor, too. What I've learned here during this life is the sick heal and the devil rise. When people pray, when people shout, Jericho walls come crashing down. Where is your hope? Where is your faith? He's more than neighbor. I know you said oh your love made a way oh your love made a Jesus, you came in at the nick of time. Roll back the stones that were in my life. And all I can do is thank you. Thank you. Your love made a way. I may not be where I want to be, but I know you take good care of me. So all I can do is thank you. Praise you. Your love made a way. Jesus, you gave it at the nick of time. Roll back the stones that were in my life. And all I can do is thank you. Thank you. Your love made the way. I may not be where I want to be, but I know you take good care of me. So all I can do is praise you. Praise you. Your love made a way. Oh, your love made a way. Wo wo wo. Your love made a way. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way. Put food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way. Put food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way. Put food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way. Put food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Start me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. He woke me up this morning. Slide me on my way with food on my table. I reach to praise. He woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. You woke me up this morning and started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. You woke me up this morning. Started me on my way with food on my table. I got a reason to praise. Oh. Oh. Your love made a way. Wo wo wo. Your love made a way. Jesus, you came at the nick of time, broke back the stones that were in my life. >> All I can do is thank you. Thank you. You love me. This is my story. I'll testify the blessings or blessings you put on my life. When I start remembering how could you feel? >> Fear turns to worship. existence of praise. Chains of depression broken by grace. And I start remembering how good you've been. >> In other words, you've been so so so so good to me. You've been so so so so good to me. Yeah. The eny's weapons fall to the ground. Armies of heaven always surround. But when I start remember you carry my cross. You call me by name. Love you like I was. But you wouldn't leave me that way. day. Now I live. And that's what you did. You've been so so so so good to me. You've been so so so so good to me. From morning to night, the lows and the highs. I look back on my life and all that I see is you've been so so so so good to me. Yeah. When I say God is good, you say all the time. When I say all the time, you say God is good. When I say God is good, you say all the time. Say all the time. You say God is good. I say God is good. You say all the time. You say God is good. When I say God is good, you say all the time. Say all the time. You say God's been so so so so good to me. You've been so so so so so good to me. The party, the lows and the highs. I look back on my life and all that I see is so so so so good to me from morning to night. The lows and the highs. I look back on my life and all that I see is you've been so so so so good to me. You've been so so so so so good to me. You so so so so so good to me. You've been so so so so so good to me. You've been so so so so good to Yes, you are. You do everything on purpose. I can feel your spirit stiring. I've been waiting. You've been working. You've been working it all for goods. Found the flame and keep it burning. You're refining in the furnace. All the waiting will be worth it cuz you're working it all for good. Miracle after miracle, open door after open door. Here it comes. So get ready for another one. Cuz another one is on the way. Mirales after mirales, open door after open door. And here it comes. Get ready for another one. Another one is on the way. >> Rushing winds and living waterers. >> You're the God of signs and wonders. If you will walk and stop it, cuz you're working it all for good. Yes, you're working it all for good. Mirales after miracle, open door after open door, here it comes. So get ready for another one. Another one is on the way. Miracle after miracle, open door after open door, here it comes. So get ready for another one. Another one is on the way. If you believe it, he can do it. Nothing is impossible. And if he told the sun when to rise, and he did, he will again. And if he told the storm to be still and he did, he will again. And if he told the sea, to be split, and he did, he will again. And if he told the walls when to fall and the dead, he will again. And if he told the chase when to break, and the dead, he will again. If it's all the world come alive and we again if it's all the stars away every day again and if it's all the way where to go every day you will again and again and again and again and Again and again for all the wonders on the way after miracle open door after open door. So get ready for another one. Another one is on the way. Miracle after miracle. Open door after open door. Here it comes. So get ready for another one. Another one is on the way. And he will again. And if you will again. And if you don't again, let it go. And again, you will again and again. Another one is on the way. choices. Open the eyes of my heart. Let's sing it together. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you. Sing it again. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you. See you high to see you highly lift up. Shine in the light of your glory. Pour out, pour out your power and love as we sing. Holy, holy, holy. to see you. I love shining the light of your glory. Pour out, pour out your power and love as we sing. Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy. We sing holy, holy, holy. We sing holy, holy, holy. I want to see you. Let's sing it again, church. Holy, holy, holy, holy. Raise your hands and say, "Holy, holy." Lift your voice and say, "Holy, holy, I want to see you. Open the eyes of my heart." Sing it, church. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you. One more time. Open and open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you. See high to see you. I am lifted up. Shining in the light of your glory. Pour out. Pour out your power and love cuz we sing holy, holy, holy. We see you high and lifted up. Shining in the light of your glory. Pour out your power and love as we sing. Holy, holy, holy, >> holy, holy, holy. Raise your hands and sing. >> Holy, holy, holy, >> holy, holy, holy, I want to see you >> without the music. Now, let's just sing it together. Holy, holy, holy >> we sing. >> Holy, holy, holy, >> holy, holy, holy, holy. I want to see see you. I want to see you, Lord. I want to see you. We sing holy, holy, holy. Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy. I want to see. >> Yes, Lord. >> Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Worthy is the lamb. Seed of the fall. Crown you now with many crowns. You reign victorious. High and lifted up. >> Jesus, son of God, >> darling of heaven, crucified. Worthy, worthy is the lamb. >> Worthy is the lamb. >> Worthy is the lamb. >> Worthy is the lamb. Cuz death could not hold you. The felt all before you. You silence the b of sin and break. The heavens are roaring. The praise of your glory. For you are raised to the latter again. >> You have no rival. You have no rival, but you have no and forever. God, you reign. Yours is the kingom. Yours is the glory. Yours is the name above all name. I could not hold you but they before you silence the voice are s and the heavens are roaring. The praise of the glory for you are raised to life again. You have no life, but you have no evil now and forever. God, you re yours is the kingom. Yours is the glory. Yours is the name of all of what a beautiful name it is. What a beautiful name it is. The name of Jesus Christ my king. >> What a beautiful name it is. Nothing can stand against. What a beautiful name it is. The name of Jesus. What a beautiful name it is. >> What a beautiful name it is. The name of Jesus Christ our King. >> What a beautiful name it is. Nothing to this. What a beautiful name it is. The name of Jesus. What a beautiful name. What a glorious name is the name of Jesus. Oh, what a beautiful name. Oh, what a wonderful name. What an awesome name. The name of Jesus. Oh, the name that is above every other name. Oh, the name of Jesus. Oh, what a glorious name. The name that at the mention of the name, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. What a glorious name. What a beautiful name that at the mention of the name of Jesus there is healing. At the mention of name of Jesus, there is salvation. At the mention of the name of Jesus, there is hope. At the mention of the name of Jesus, there is light. At the mention of the name of Jesus, there is deliverance. At the mention of the name of Jesus, there is grace and there is mercy. At the mention of the name of Jesus, doors are opened. At the mention of the name of Jesus, there is life. Uh at the mention of the name of Jesus, there is healing. Uh at the mention of the name of Jesus, there is hope. Uh there is liberty. There is freedom at the mention of that name. Glory to God. The belt before you silence the B of sin and grave. The heavens are roaring. The praise of your glory. For you are raised to life again. You have no rivals. You have no reo now and forever. God you reign. Yours is the kingom. Yours is the glory. Yours is the name above all names. What a powerful name it is. What a powerful name it is. The name of Jesus Christ our King. What a powerful name it is. Nothing can stand against. What a powerful name it is. The name of Jesus. And this morning I want to remind us the efficacy in the name of Jesus. Oh this morning I want to remind us of how powerful this name is. This morning I want to remind us that we run into this name and we are safe. I want to remind us that when we call upon this name we are safe. I want to remind us that in this name carries power. In this name carries life. In this name carries glory. In this name carries healing. I don't know what you're going through, but in this name, you can find refuge. In the name of Jesus, you can find refuge. In the name of Jesus, you can find mercy. Oh, I I speak upon you. Let your hearts be rekindled. Oh, remember the name of Jesus. Oh, that the name of Jesus is life. Lord, we thank you. We thank you because indeed we'll have this name. Indeed, we are blessed to have this name. that at the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, every tongue would confess that indeed Jesus is Lord. So indeed, as we go into our week, let's go with that revelation. Let's go with that courage. Let's go with that boldness. Oh, let's go with that boldness that we have a name that is above every other name. A name that answers. A name that carries life. at the mention of the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. When you feel afraid, when you have fear in your heart, the name of Jesus brings boldness. Glory to God. Lord, we thank you, oh Father. As a church, we've come to say thank you. Thank you, Lord, for your presence. Thank you for your son. Thank you for for your love upon our lives. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Aba Father, we are grateful as a church. We thank you. We thank you because indeed this is a reminder of who you are. This is a reminder of the covenant that we have with you. Lord, we are grateful. Lord, we thank you. We thank you because indeed we know we know that when we call upon your name, miracles happen, lives are changed, lives are transformed, stories are changed, healing happen. Father, we thank you. We thank you for your son. We thank you for the name of Jesus that we stand to enjoy today. Lord, we are grateful. Father, we give you thanks. Lord, we give you praise. Father, we worship you. We thank you for your sweet presence. We thank you that every time we come into your presence, it is from glory to glory. Every time we come into the church, every time we come to worship, it is from glory to glory. Lord we are grateful. Aba Father we worship you. Father we thank you in Jesus mighty name we've worshiped. Amen. Amen. This morning we're going to be praying just praying. We're going to be praying and I I believe very strongly that God is asking us to pray for our men uh um the men in the church. I just want us to pray a short prayer for them. asking God for mercy, asking God for grace, asking God for strength, that as they sacrifice, as they go out day in and day out, that the Lord will strengthen them, that God will strengthen them within, God will give them boldness, God will give them strength, God will make them stand out as they go out on their daily daily daily work, whatever they do, even those that are studying, that every man in church, God will give them strength, their inner strength, inner ability to move on daily, that God will strengthen them round about in the name of Jesus. Lord, we speak upon our men. We speak the life of God upon them. We speak strength upon them. We speak that the strength of God will surround them that they would not be weak. They would not be weary in the name of Jesus. We speak upon every man, every man, every young man, every old man, every man that we have in church. We speak the strength of God. We speak the boldness of God. We speak the grace of God. We speak upon their lives that nothing missing, nothing broken upon them in the mighty name of Jesus. Daddy, we thank you for the men that you've given to us in this church. We thank you for their strength. We thank you for their wisdom. We thank you that indeed as they go out and as they come in, they are protected by God. Daddy, we thank you because we believe that they dwell in the secret place of the most high. We decree upon them the protection of God. that as they step out, as they come in, we cover them with the blood of Jesus. We decree upon their life discernment that they would know how to lead each family. They'll know how to lead each children. They'll know how to lead each each one wherever they find themselves as a unit or as a leader. That they would lead our right in the mighty name of Jesus. We speak upon them the same grace upon the sons of Issaka that the men of this church will have understanding of times and season that they will not be confused in the name of Jesus. We speak upon the men in this church. We speak upon the men in our lives. We speak upon our brothers our sons, our fathers, our uncles. Uh we decree upon their lives that they will have understanding of times and season. We speak upon them that God will give them same grace, same grace upon the sons of Issacha that they would not be confused. They would know what to do part time. They would know what to when to turn part time. They would know when to pursue a vision. They would know when to step back in the mighty name of Jesus. Father, we give you thanks. Lord, we thank you. We thank you for their lives. We are grateful in Jesus' name we have prayed. >> Amen. You can have your seats. Thank you. I'm just here to welcome you to church this morning. It's been a very warm week. I can't believe I'm complaining of the heat, but yes, it's hot. It's really been hot this week. Please, let's stay hydrated. Move around with your bottles of water, please. Yeah, it's really, really warm. I'm going to be reading some notices to us just to remind us of the things we have happening this week. And also we have it on the church app. So you could also go there for reminder. Uh so the one of the first things we have this week is the Bible study. It's on the Ten Commandments and it's on Tuesday evening. It's at 7:30 p.m. It will be happening in church. We also have the games evening that comes up on Thursdays. It's at 7:30 p.m. as well within the week. You can always check the church website and um you could the church app and this would remind you of everything uh we have um going on and of course we have the community cafe that happens on Fridays as well. Please let's give our offerings. You could also we have a QR code which will come up on the screen. You could also give using that our tithes and offerings. Today is the 21st of June and we are celebrating fathers. We're celebrating men all over the world. As All Life Church, we're celebrating our men. We're celebrating your uniqueness. We're celebrating your strength. Every father in the house, every man in the house, fathers to be, every man in the house, brothers, our uncles, our fathers, our sons. It's it's a great opportunity to serve alongside with you in church. We're grateful for your strength. We're grateful for your resilience. We're grateful for for showing up all the time. Showing up all the time. So, it's a special day for our men. We celebrate you. And I take this opportunity to also celebrate Pastor Phil. Thank you for your leadership in church. It's it's a it's a great privilege to have Pastor Phil as our father as our father in church leading us each time. And he's not just leading by by just talking. He's leading by example. You see him at the forefront of everything all the time. Sacrificing his time every day. Every day. So we pray that the grace of God will continue to abound upon you. that God will continue to give you strength, strength and from glory to glory in the name of Jesus. This morning we have the privilege to also hear from this great man. So yes, we are blessed today. Please join me as I welcome Pastor Phil. Just before the children go out. Just a moment everybody. We want to pray for Alice this morning. We don't know quite what's happened. She's had an accident. I think she's in A&E at the moment as we as we stand here or sit here today. And let's pray that I think she may have done some damage to her ankle. We're not sure what yet. But uh let's pray that God will go before her in that. >> Definitely broken. >> Definitely broken ankle then. >> Okay. So, Father, we we pray for Alice today. God, we pray in the name of Jesus for a speedy recovery in Jesus name. God, we pray Lord that you will mend together those bones, Lord, in a miraculous speed in the name of Jesus. God, you are all powerful and we speak to that ankle by faith today in the name of Jesus. And we say be made whole, be mended in the name of Jesus. God, we ask Lord right now that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ would be over her, over Matthew, Emily as she looks after Harry. Lord, we pray for them all in the name of Jesus today. God, that you would be with them. Father, we ask God for a miracle from heaven. We've sung it this morning, miracle after miracle for Alice today in the name of Jesus. May she be seen rapidly, Lord. May she uh Lord, the doctors be astounded at what's happened. uh Lord in a positive way. Uh Father, because they don't understand it, they can't explain it. God, we pray for that kind of a miracle today, right now. In Jesus name we ask. Amen. Okay, children, off you go uh to children's church this morning. Have a wonderful time and we pray that God will bless you mightily in Jesus name. Let's turn, can we, to Luke chapter 15. in Luke chapter 15 in the New Testament the third gospel by Dr. Luke chapter 15 and we're going to read from verse 11 if you want to read along with me on in your Bibles or smart devices. Luke 15 starting at verse 11. Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to him. That's Jesus. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured saying this man receives sinners and eats with them. So he spoke this parable to them, saying, "What man among you having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?" And when he has found it, he lays it upon his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say to you that likewise there will be no more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents rather than over 99 just persons who need no repentance. Or what woman having 10 silver coins if she loses one coin does not light a lamp, sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her neighbors and friends together, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I found the peace which I lost. Likewise, I say to you, there will be joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Then he said, "A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me." So he divided to them his likely divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after the youngest son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country and there wasted his possessions with prodal or wasteful living. And when he had found it all, there was rose a severe salmon in the land, and he began to be in want. And when he went to join himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent into the field to feed swine, he gladly would have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate. No one gave him anything. When he had come to himself, he said, "How many of my friends and my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger? I will arise and go to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." And he arose and came to his father. And when we when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son." But his father said to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sand it on his feet and bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found," and they began to be merry. Now his older son was in the field, and he came and drew near to the house. He heard music and dancing. So he called one of the sermons and asked them what these things meant. And he said to him, "Your brother has come and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf." But he was angry and would not go out go in. Therefore, his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, "Lo, these many years I have served you. I have never transgressed your commandment at any time, and you you never gave me a young goat that I make merry with my friends." But as soon as this son of yours come, you have devoured your livelihood with harlots. You have killed the fatty calf with him. And he said to him, "Son, you are always with me. And all that I have have is yours." It was right that we should make Mary and be glad for your your brother was dead and is alive again, was lost, and is found. Amazing passage of scripture from Luke there. No matter how far you run, God's grace runs farther. No matter how far you run, God's grace runs faster. You know, it's amazing in that scripture that we just read that we see in there that there was a sheep that was lost outside of the fold. The coin was lost into the house and the wandering son who leaves the fold is found and the wounded brother is lost in the house. See the prodal may not have gone that far but he was able to reach home half starved in time of famine. See a far country is not necessarily a long way away geographically but it was a long way because he was alienated. He was separated in his heart and mind. And even the older brother was separated in his heart and mind. Even the older brother was alienated in the household. What the older brother did was actually put into actuality the attitude he had. He was angry that his brother returned home. So in one sense this parable could be better titled this the parable of the wounded father. Firstly see there's a breakdown of of son and father relationship. In Jewish wisdom it countered the father's it canceled them against the premature releasing of their property. And so you wouldn't normally give your children what would come to them early. And of course for many of us, we don't receive an inheritance until a father or a or a father and mother have died. Often the inheritance has to wait in law until that's happened. Although you can give it early under certain circumstances, decisions that you make in terms of how soon you give it away and how many years you've got left to live. But it wasn't normal. We find that in in Ecclesiastes 2. And yet this father here in the passage releases the youngest son's third to him. You understand in some respects why the older brother's angry. He's the firstborn. He's the one that would have the majority of the narratans. And here his younger brother is insisting on his third. How many of you know it isn't easy fathering the next generation? And this parable actually shows us the human fallibility of the father. He didn't get it all right, did he? He made some obvious mistakes. You can see in in the attitude of the older brother as well as the the waywardness of the younger son. But the good news is that our earthly fathers want to do us good. If our earthly fathers, I know some have had bad experiences of fatherhood and our heart goes out to you today and the father in heaven's heart goes out to you today because it was never what God intended. But he's a father to the fatherless. He draws close to those that need him. But the earthly fathers that do us good, those that want to do good, the passage is really saying to us, how much more would your father in heaven do good for you? If earthly fathers want to do good, how much more will our father in heaven want to do good to you? So this parable tells father-son relationships are important. In fact, the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi. Where is Malachi today? Enipe. Malachi. Where are you? Wave. There you are. What a wonderful middle name you've got. Malachi. This prophecy in the Old Testament, the last book of the Old Testament, is an appeal to backsliders, those that have wandered away from God. It says in chapter 4 6, he the father will turn the hearts of fathers to the children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Those of you that know a lot about history remember President Abraham Lincoln, very famous in America. Uh Donald Trump thinks he's the greatest president ever was. Many others think Abraham Lincoln was the greatest president. Abraham Lincoln once asked how he was going to treat the rebellious Southerners when they finally were defeated and returned to the Union of the United States. The interviewer expected that Lincoln would want to take real vengeance, but this is what he said. He said, "I will treat them as if they'd never been away." What an amazing presidential statement from the heart of God. Just the way that God treats us when we've wandered like we've never been away. This younger son asked for his inheritance early. In that culture, he was basically saying this in that culture at the time. He was basically saying, "Dad, I wish you were dead. Just give me my cash." He packs his bag. He hits the road. He goes completely ghost mode on his family. Ghosting is a big thing today, isn't it? You can be ghosted in all sorts of ways. Social we media, young people understand this perhaps better than some of us older ones. The ghosting that takes place. The complete ignoring of you like you never existed. What a horrible evil practice it is. Ghosting. suddenly cutting off communication without any explanation. It's highly prevalent prevalent today. Do you know approximately 74 to 76% of people have either ghosted or been ghosted while they've dated? Studies show that 50% of adults admit to ghosting themselves. These are statistics. I know they can read any way you want, but but it tells us something. is particularly common among Gen Z and millennials to 84% have experienced or been involved in ghosting. This prodal ghosts his father, his family. Instead, he takes on fake friends. Boy, is that a big subject today. Fake friends. You know, people that you think are friends because they're on your social media, but they don't know you. They don't like you particularly, and they're ready to turn on you at a moment's notice and ghost to you. Fake friends. The prodal has fake friends. He's in a distant country. He's living the high life. He's in wild parties. But guess what? The money ran out. Do you know money does run out if you don't handle it wisely? Money management is a very biblical concept. We were doing a study on on Tuesday night. By the way, you're missing out if you're not coming to the Tuesday night Bible study 7:30 here where we're looking at the Ten Commandments. It's amazing first session we had this week. One of the things that that came out of that was this. He says, you know, we looked at coveting, which is actually the tenth commandment. We're going from 10 to one. Anyway, the the coveting. He says, you know, how do we deal with coveting? He said, there's three things we do with our money. He says, we have a part called give. We have a part called save. And we have a part called live. Give is really important. We put money into the giving. Giving to God, giving to worthwhile things, giving to people in need, whatever it may be. We have a pot called give. We have a pot called save. Saving, by the way, is so essential for people that want to money manage. Well, saving is important. We put money aside each month. Even when you can't afford to put money in giving, even when you can't afford to put money in saving, you might need it. And then live. The rest you've got to live on. Yeah. I thought the principles were great, but we won't go into further that today. But think on it. Think on it. Give, save, live. His money rang out. The the son packed his bag. He thought, "My friends have deserted me." Fake friends. People wanting to be with him because he was popular. Wanting to be with him because he had money. But when all of that ran out, where did they go? They ran out, too. The son had packed his bags. He'd run away from home as far as he could. But no matter how far you run, God's grace runs faster. This massive famine hit the land. He loses everything. He He ends up working in a pig pen of a gentile master. He's so hungry that he wanted to eat the pig the pig food. To the Jews, this was like saying, "Babakama, cursed is the man who keeps swine." God's son, the father's son, Jesus, is sent. He leaves for the world, a far away place to become sin for us to die on a cross that the same might be fulfilled in Deuteronomy 21. Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. And one Peter T who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree. He's a wonderful father. But this could also be called number two, the parable of the waiting father. The son is half starved. He's envying the swine, their their food. But then it says in verse 17, he came to his senses. It's that moment when the Holy Spirit convicts your heart. It's when you realize that you've been wrong. The Holy Spirit shines a light into your soul. You cannot hide. God's light exposes the darkness. It dawns on you that you've got to do something. the prodigal son. It dawned on him that even his his dad's servants eat better than he did. What does he do? He decides to go home. To turn around and go in the other direction, to repent of his ways and turn around and go back home again. He's thinking about a speech on the way. Dad, I've messed up. I'm not worthy to be your son. Just make me a hired servant. By the way, a hired servant was less than a slave. A slave at least was part of the family. A hired servant was literally hired in to do a job and could be got rid of at a moment's notice. Just make me a hired servant. He was reser reverse rehearsing his apology all that long way back. But while he was still a long way away, the father ran. Because no matter how far you run, God's grace runs faster. His motive to return home. It may have been because of the misery he was in. Probably because his conscience is alive and and he knows he has sinned and forfeited his right as a son. Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Thank you. I'm no longer worthy, God. I'm no longer worthy, father. In rebenic thought that this is like the father is saying this, "Father, I have not the means or strength to come home. Will you help me?" The father writes back, "Come as far as you can, my son, and I will come the rest of the way." That's rabbitic thought. That's exactly what the father did. He saw him a long way off and he ran to meet him. The father never stopped looking on the horizon. He never gave up on his son. And while the son was still a far away, the father sees him. What does he do? He runs. Do you know in Jewish culture older men did not run? It would be completely considered completely undignified to run. But here we see the father doesn't care about his dignity. He gets up his skirts and he runs as fast as he can to meet his son. He didn't care about his reputation. He cared more about his son. Fathers today. What a a great thought for us to consider as we as we're sport today on Father's Day that it's so important that we care more about our sons and daughters than we do about our reputation. Think on it. The son starts his rehearsal. Maybe a religious apology. Dad, I'm not worthy. But here is a wonderful divine interruption. God doesn't want us to act like a slave. He wants us to live like a child of the king. And the moment we turn towards God, the moment we step forward, God runs to meet us. It's a wonderful thought today that no matter where we are, see we can be in the house like the older brother and still way way off in our heart. But the moment we turn toward the Lord, turn toward the father in heaven, he runs to meet us. The son returned expecting to be treated as a hired servant. But the father calls for three things straight away. He he gives him the best robe around his shoulders. The garment of salvation if you like or the robe of righteousness. This son knew he had made he'd made a mess of things. What does God do? He covers him with his righteousness. The father covers him with a garment of salvation to cover his shame, to cover his dirt, to cover his past. The son returned wearing filthy tattered rags after living in squalor. But the robe here is a physical covering of his past mistakes. Completely hiding his shame. He gives him the ring. The ring is such an important thing. It proved that he was reestablished. He was reestablished as a beloved member of the family. It was the family seal that he was given. It was the the wearer had the power of etern attorney. He was able to sign documents. He was able to have authority to make decisions. In other words, the father trusted him again with the ring and he put sanders on his feet. Servants walked barefoot. Sons wore shoes. What a an amazing thing there that God doesn't just say, "Okay, come and you let's say how you get on. All right, so you've come back again. Let's say you get on for a while." No, he comes and he the robe of righteousness. He comes with the ring of authority. He comes with the sandals of sunship. Listen, today that's the way that father god thinks about us. He's a waiting father. If our earthly father knows how to love children, how much more will our father in heaven treat the pastor as though it had never been to those that come to him? Number three, the parable of the wounded brother, it could be called. See, this is a prodal too. Only this prodal never left home. He claimed perfect obedience. He felt he'd earned much from the father. It was service rendered with little understanding of the heart of the father. He saw his duty as a legal requirement to get what was coming to him. In verse 29 of of of Luke 15, we see the brother's resentment of being of being forgotten. His complaint the years of upright service had been unrecognized. his impatience at the younger brother being made the hero of the hour. All of these things are features of human situation in which the father was not altogether fle of blame. Remember this is this father in the picture isn't the father in heaven. He's a good father in many ways but he had flaws. He says in verse 31-32, "Son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make Mary and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found." See, if an earthly father expects his eldest son to forget all the other feelings in the joy of his brother's return, how much more God I guess all of us have been around people in church at times where somebody comes to to the Lord. They've had an awful situation happen in their life. Perhaps they've been away from God or maybe they've never known God. They come and they sit and they make a commitment to Christ and people are glad and the people are rejoicing over this one that was lost but is now found. Was blind but is but now sees. There's always an elder brother somewhere that looks on with judgment and thinks, well, you know, let let him prove himself. The heavenly father isn't like that. He throws a party for every single one that gives their life to Christ, repents of their sins, turns around and says, "God, I want to live for you." He holds a party in heaven. All of the angels of heaven join in the party for that one which was lost but is now found. The one that was blind but now sees. There are two things here. Firstly, Jesus' message was to the scribes and Pharisees as much because they were the elder brothers for them to have a gracious attitude toward repentant sinners, but also to see their own unforgiving attitude and to deal with Amen. The older brother needed to kneel and say, "Father, I've sinned against heaven and against thee. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son." He'd become cynical. He had no real sense of his sin. No realization of his merciless heart, no conviction of his bitter jealousy. He says, "This son of yours, not my brother, this son of yours." He abandons all senses of of relationship. But the father says to him, he says, "This your brother," reminding him that he was his brother. How we need father's heart of welcome, forgiveness, acceptance and love for everyone that comes to repentance, gives their life to Christ to love them in on the journey of following Jesus. As we come to a close this morning, we see in this whole parable that there are three lost things there. Sheep, lost sheep, lost coin, and a lost son. Maybe two lost sons. Jesus said of the sheep that was found, "Likewise, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 just persons who need no repentance." Of the lost coin, Jesus said, "Likewise, I say to you, there will be joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner who repents." Jesus says over the lost son, "It was right that we should make merry and be glad for your brother was dead and is alive again was lost and is in as and is found." See, the Pharisees of the day, the older brothers of the day, they never they didn't understand what Jesus was saying. They'd never heard a parable like this before. This was a new concept to them that God would search for people. See, for the Jew, they might believe that that a man could come crawling back to God in self-abasement and pray for pity and he might find it. But they never had conceived that God the Father might be one that searched out for sinners. He loved them. He He wanted to receive them and welcome them and and and throw a party because they returned in relationship to him. You see, he's a wonderful father. He's a waiting father. Let's stand today. We don't do this very often, but I thought today in preparation and prayer that we might have an altar call. We don't designate parts of the building as more sacred than others, but just for the sake of focus, let's call this down the front here the altar. And it's a time really for people that don't know the Lord Jesus Christ to come and say, "God, I want to come home to the father." And in that moment for you to feel free just to come. The family here will rejoice not less than or not much less than the father in heaven and all the angels will. If you know you need to come to the father, come this morning. Let's bow our heads and close our eyes because I want to speak to those here who feel like they have been sitting in the pig pen of life. You've run hard. You've spent everything. You are spiritually starved. You think you've gone too far or that you're too dirty to come to the father. The truth is it doesn't matter what your past looks like, how dirty or addicted, how broken, how anxious, or how bad you've been. Just like the son in the parable here, the prodical son was at the lowest point in his life in that pig pen. It doesn't matter if you've been sitting in church either, your whole life. And you find today that your heart is cold and and bitterness has taken hold. Today we can look to the father. He's not waiting to lecture you. He's just standing. He's watching. He's waiting for you to run toward him. And he will run and embrace you. He's waiting to throw his arms around you today to give you the garment of salvation, the robe of righteousness. He's waiting today to snip that ring on your finger of authority as a son of the king. He's waiting to put sanders on your feet to declare that you are now a son of God. If you're ready to stop running today, if you're ready to leave your past in the dirt, if you're ready to come home to the father's house, I invite you today to step out from where you're standing right now and come down to this altar. Let the father restore you today. If you've been living in the pig pen, come home. If you've been bitter and judgmental, it's time to step out into the party of his presence. Come home. If you feel you've outrun God's love, I'm here to tell you, God's grace runs farther. Come home. We're going to sing a song and I want to leave the altar open for a minute. I'll come back to it when we've sung this song and we've got a final song to sing after that. So listen to these words and come on, let's come down to the front this morning. I've carried a burden too long on my own. I wasn't creative to bear it alone. I hear your invitation to let it all go. I see it now. I'm laying it down and I know that I need you. I run to the father to grace. I'm done with the hiding. No reason to wait. My heart needs a search. My soul needs a friend. So I run to the father again and again and again and again. Wo wo again and again. Saw my You saw my condition. Had a plan from the stars. your son for eternal sure the price for my heart. I don't have a context for that kind of love. I don't understand. I can't comprehend. All I know is I need you. I've burned to the father full of grace. I'm done with the hiding. No reason to wait. My heart needs a surgeon. My soul needs a friend. So I run to the father again and again and again and again. Woah. Woah. Again and again and again and again. Wo wo and again. My heart has been in your sight long before my first breath. burning into your arms. Is running to life from death. Here I feel this rush deep in my chest. Your mercy is calling out just as I am. You pull me in and I know I need you now. I' burn to the father. Fall into grace. I'm done with the hiding. No reason to wait. My heart needs a searching. My soul needs a friend. So I run to the father again and again. It burn to the fire. I'm moving to grace. I'm done with the hiding. No reason to wait. My heart needs a searching. My soul needs a friend. So I run to the father again and again and again and again. Woah. Woah. Again and again and again and again. Woah. Oh. Again and again and again and again. Let's say a prayer. Heavenly Father, I am coming home. I confess I have run away from you. I have tried to live life on my own terms. I have ended up broken, empty, and lost. I have sinned against heaven and against you. I'm not worthy to be called your child. But today, I stop running. I turn away from my past, away from the dirt, away from my mistakes. I ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for Jesus who paid the price when you died for me on the cross so that I could be welcomed back into your house. Today I choose to receive your grace. I accept the robe of righteousness and the garment of salvation, the ring of authority and the sandals of freedom. I am no longer a slave to my past. I am a child of God. Take my life and direct my steps from this day forward in Jesus name. Amen. Folk, just while heads are bowed and eyes are closed and just before we sing our final song today, is anybody coming home? Just where you are, just raise a hand if that's you. You're coming home. Thank you. Thank you. Just a minute longer. Anybody else coming home today? One last call. Father, we are so grateful for your amazing love, for your welcome, for your acceptance. God, for your treating us as sons of God, daughters of the living God. Father, we give you thanks today in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. Before I spoke words, you were singing over me. You have been so so good to me for I took a breath. You breathed your life in me. You have been so so kind to me. Know the overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. No, it chases me down. Fight till I found leaves the 99. I couldn't I don't deserve it. Still you gave yourself away. Holy overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. Yeah. I was your foe. Still your love fought for me. You have been so so good to me. When I felt no worth, you paid it all for me. >> You have been so so kind to me. Know the overwhelming everending reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down. I still laugh. Please the 99 I couldn't learn. I don't deserve it if still you gave yourself away. Oh, overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. No shadow you won't light up. Mountain you won't climb up. Coming after me. >> There's no wall you won't kick down. Lie you won't tear it up. coming after me. There's no shadow you won't light up. Mountain you won't climb up. Coming after me. There's no wall you won't kick down. Lie you won't tear down. Coming after me. No shadow you won't light up. Mountain you won't climb up. Coming after me. There's no wall you weren't kicked out. Lie you won't take out coming after me. There's no shadow you won't light up. L you won't clap up. Coming after me. There's no world you won't kick down. Lie you won't tear up. coming after me. Holy, overwhelming, neverending, reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down, but still I found the night and night. I could I don't deserve it. Till you gave yourself away, overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God. Hey church, thanks for joining us today. It's been great to worship with you. We'll see you next week. Oh yeah. You naughty boy. >> The little ones.