The Prodigal SONS

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

After the thread on backsliding that was started by Steadfast, this part of the bible-study at my church last night really caught my attention.

My pastor was teaching "Adjusting your Attitude", and while the whole lesson was really good, the part that grabbed me was referring to the elder son in the parable of the prodigal son. My pastor referred to him as the "eldest prodigal son" and made these statement/observations about him.

1. It's possible to assume the place and privilege of a son while refusing the obligations of a brother.

2. It's possible to serve the Father faithfully but not be in fellowship with him.

3. It's possible to be an heir of all the Father possesses yet have less joy and gratitude than those who possess nothing. (He brought in the point about the servants rejoicing at the younger sons return.)

Summation of this thought was that the wrong attitude of the older brother kept him away from his father's heart desire, the love of his brother, and the joy of his inheritance. Wrong relationship with his brother strained his relationship with his father.

This charged my spirit, and I wanted to pass it on.

Great stuff!

I preached a message called "Lost in the House". The premise was taken from the "lost" chapter, to which you referred here.........

There was a lost sheep, who was not lost of his/her own accord, just wandered off in search of food or water, and found him/herself lost, away from the flock.

In that case, the shepherd left the ninety and nine and went seeking the sheep.

Then, there was the "lost" son, who knew exactly what he was doing, he left the Father's house of his own accord and went his own way.

In this case, the Father never went after him, but kept a place prepared for him, because the Father knew that that young man must "come to himself" and make the choice to come back home.

Then, there was the "lost" coin, that was lost IN THE HOUSE!

It's possible to never leave the House, but be lost.

In this case, the owner of the house turned the house upside down, the coin was not left alone, or undisturbed, but the owner turned the house upside down to find and save the coin.