GOD'S PRESCRIPTION FOR REVIVAL: Preparing through Repentance

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Luke 15:11-24

Luke 15:11–24 NLT

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The 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. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The 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! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and 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. 21 His 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. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE PROBLEM OF SIN (Luke 15:11-16)

A- Sin begins with corrupted attitudes in the heart. (Luke 15:11-12)

Luke 15:11–12 NLT

1- Self-centeredness that seeks only to use father for personal ends.

2- Self-centeredness that seeks fulfillment of personal desires above all else.

Homes are destroyed by selfishness.

Friendships destroyed because of selfishness.

Churches become ineffective because of selfishness.

B- Corrupted attitudes leads to misguided choices in life. (Luke 15:13)

Luke 15:13 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.

1- Misguided choices are made willfully.

2- Misguided choices are wasteful.

3- Misguided choices that are wicked.

C- Sin results in devastating consequences. (Luke 15:13-16)

1- Destroyed fellowship (Luke 15:13)

Luke 15:13 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.

a. With the Father (Colossians 1:21)

Colossians 1:21 NLT

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.

b. With others. (1 John 1:5-8).

1 John 1:5–8 NLT

5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

2- Depleted resources (Luke 15:14)

Luke 15:14 NLT

14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.

a. In Christ we have all of the resources we need. (Philippians 4:19)

Philippians 4:19 NLT

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

b. Sin blocks the flow of resources. (Isa. 59:1-2)

Isaiah 59:1–2 NLT

1 Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. 2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

3- Deepened Need (Luke 15:15)

Luke 15:15 NLT

15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

a. Due to burned bridges.

b. Forsaken by worldly crowd.

c. Leaves a deep hunger inside.

4- Degraded Self-worth (Luke 15:15-16)

Luke 15:15–16 NLT

15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

II- THE PATHWAY OF REPENTANCE (Luke 15:17-24)

A- Recognize your problem. (Luke 15:17-19)

Luke 15:17–19 NLT

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

1- You must recognize that the problem is with you, not God.

a. It is you who have abandoned God. He did not abandon you!

2- You must recognize that the wise choice is to return to the father.

a. This entails confession of your sin and who that sin is against.

b. This entails humbling yourself by being willing to admit that you don’t deserve mercy.

B- Repent of your sin. (Luke 15:20)

Luke 15:20 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.

1- Repentance is more than remorse.

a. It is a choice to turn your back on your rebellion and submit to the Father’s love and authority.

b. It is a choice to agree with God about your sins. (1 John 1:9)

1 John 1:9 NLT

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

c. It is a choice to restore fellowship with the father.

C- Receive God’s forgiveness. (Luke 15:22-24)

Luke 15:22–24 NLT

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. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

1- The Father is waiting for you to return to Him.

2- The Father will restore your fellowship and your position in the family.

3- The Father will freely demonstrate His joy and love when you return.

CONCLUSION:

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