Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, May 18, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-32

Text: Luke 15:20

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Introduction: Welcome to Homecoming Day at Gospel Light Baptist Church! God has been very good to us over these years, since we began as a church fellowship in 1986.

There are some blessed “Homecomings” in the word of God. One of my favorites is that of the Lord, when He went home in Acts 1. Probably the most famous is that of our scripture reading today, that of the man known as the Prodigal (wasteful) Son.

This chapter shows God’s great desire for people to come to Him, especially for the fallen to come BACK to Him. This can have application to:

The nation of Israel
A local church
A lost man
A backslidden, wayward Christian

I am most often impressed, when I read this portion of God’s word, about people who are out of the will of the Lord, saved or unsaved, and how SOME of them realize, after making a mess of their lives, that GOD’S will is the BEST will, that GOD’S way is the best way, that GOD’S time is the BEST time, and that GOD’S place is the BEST place! I want to point out some general truths about the passage this morning. May the Lord bless His word to our hearts, making application by His Spirit as we need it.

FOUR DESIRES ABOUT THE FATHER’S HOUSE:

I. A MAN HAD A DESIRE TO RUN FROM THE FATHER’S HOUSE

Luke 15:11-13 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Why would a man leave the Father’s House?
Why would some people leave the will of God?
Why do Christians leave their church?
Why do people waste their lives?

Some of the reasons:

A. The prodigal may be without satisfaction

B. The prodigal may be without sense

C. The prodigal may be without salvation

II. A MAN HAD A DESIRE TO REMAIN IN THE FATHER’S HOUSE

Luke 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

I LOVE the Father’s House! At the Father’s house is

- SUPPER

SWEETNESS

SHELTER

The elder son was sinful in his selfishness and envy of his brother upon his return, but his sin was in his ATTITUDE, not in his ACTION of staying with his father. By staying with his father, think of what he DIDN’T lose that his brother DID:

A. He didn’t lose intimacy with the Father

B. He didn’t lose his influence on his fellows

C. He didn’t lose his inheritance for the FUTURE

Although there is more REJOICING when someone GETS right than when someone STAYS right, there is also more REGRET when someone GETS right than when someone STAYS right. I believe it is BETTER to STAY right than to GET right!

III. A MAN HAD A DESIRE TO RETURN TO THE FATHER’S HOUSE

Luke 15:18-19 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

The Prodigal son had a similar experience to that of Jonah, who discovered preaching to the wicked in Nineveh was better than prison in a whale!

After he had been worked over by his own foolishness and sin, by the world, and by the devil,

He changed his thinking;
He changed his tune;
He changed his tone;
He changed his talking; and
He changed his territory!

A. He realized where he was

B. He remembered where he came from

C. He repented of his attitude

He was willing to exchange the RIGHTS of a SON for the ROLE of a SERVANT!

D. He returned to his father

E. He was received with joy

F. He was restored fully

G. He rejoiced greatly

IV. A MAN HAD A DESIRE TO RECEIVE INTO THE FATHER’S HOUSE

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

The FATHER wants people in His house! Look what He has done to make it a pleasant place! At the Father’s house there are

A. Prepared mansions

B. Plenteous meals

C. A pure mantle (the BEST robe)

D. Precious metals (a ring on his hand)

E. Perpetual merriment

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

STAY in the Father’s house!
Stay in the will of God!
If you have left, come back! Get back in the will of God!