Prodigal Tendencies

Mike Jimenez

Warfare in the Church • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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We cannot live outside of the relationship in the Kingdom and simultaneously enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom.

Notes

Transcript

Conversation with Child

In a recent conversation with a young man, he had asked why an all loving God would place such hard restrictions on the ones He loves.

He could not understand why he couldn’t enjoy the benefits of the kingdom and not have to abide by the rules of the kingdom. “Its just not fair.”

Prodigal churches and their ministers take the same approach.

Somewhere along the way the prodigal church has fallen into the trap of believing it can have all the signs, wonders, miracles, prophecy, and revelation of word without actually serving the Kingdom and instead turning to the work of building its own empire. Its has lost its relationship and is squandering away the inheritance of the Kingdom.

We cannot live outside of the relationship in the Kingdom and simultaneously enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom.

Immature and Impatient

Story of the prodigal son… image of the prodigal church

Luke 15:11–12 ESV

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Demanding the inheritance before its time carried shame.

Notice this was the younger of the two… there is a level of immaturity the needs to be addressed

The father does not deny him...

Life and life in abundance

no pain and suffering

too blessed to be oppressed

They want it now… not when it will be made available

Want Nothing to Do with the Kingdom

Luke 15:13 (ESV)

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country...

Discomfort in the house

Interest was not in the well being of the house but in the interest of self

Places as much distance between self and the community of believers.

Reckless with the Inheritance

Luke 15:13 ESV

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

The word prodigal is not found here… instead it is best understood wasteful and reckless with the inheritance

they go from place to place showing off their inheritance… grace and favor.

it is reckless in that it does not consider the relationship they have what they want they dont believe the house is worth their inheritance so they give it to where they can find gain.

Instead of being intentional with the anointing they scatter (squander) the favor and grace given.

Famine Causes Them to Sell Themselves

Luke 15:14–15 ESV

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

In every instance there comes a time of trial…

There is a need/crisis

greatest crisis is when one is no longer operating in the grace favor and anointing

Hired to the citizens…

feel good message

prosperity gospel

extreme charismania

(buy my book… buy my skill… buy my talent.)

Do whatever it takes to fill seats… seeker friendly

Denied Access to Heavenly Provision

Luke 15:16 ESV

And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

Like Eli… the word and revelation will be scarce in this condition

Hunger for food will increase

They will long even to eat what they know is unclean so long as it is sustinance

Wake Up Call

Luke 15:17–19 ESV

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’

There is an awakening that is needed from this deluded state of being

In the awakening they once again see how the house wants them but does not need them

The hired help is fed from the fathers table

The return is found in the humility and repentance

The disposition “I will go back even if as a servant”

The Father’s Response

Luke 15:22–24 ESV

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Notice Sonship had not been lost “This my son...”

Those found in the prodigal state have used and abused the gifts for their gain yet have not lost their status of sonship (this is less about the unsaved… it has to do with the ones who have their salvation but want nothing to do with the house. )

There is a death… if the stay in this posture they will one day stand before the Lord and say “…in your name I did this, that or the other.”

The celebration is when your gifts are bak in the building up of the kingdom.

Today there are many churches who are operating in this spirit… they do not care about the relationship and instead an abuse of the favor and grace in which they want the power but not the relationship.

There is a need to be aware of this one and to stir up the ones who are in the distant country dying of hunger…