Marcus Mecum

Marcus Mecum - Having A Spirit Of Return

March 9, 2025 | S25:E10

Leaving an eternal legacy through the wisdom and life-changing truths from God’s Word.

#Faith #Relationships #ServantofGod #Spirit #Religion #Choices #WordofGod #Sin #inActive #ReturnofChrist #Conviction #Compassion #Luke15 #MarcusMecum

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Marcus Mecum | Marcus Mecum - Having A Spirit Of Return | March 9, 2025

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>> luke 15:13.
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>> luke 15:13. this is god's lost and found
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This is god's lost and found department in the bible.
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Department in the bible. this one chapter talks about
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This one chapter talks about the lost coin, the lost sheep,
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The lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son.
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And the lost son. i've preached from this text
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I've preached from this text many times and i'm excited
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Many times and i'm excited to talk to you about it
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To talk to you about it for several reasons.
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For several reasons. one, i'm gonna talk about it
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One, i'm gonna talk about it from an angle i've never
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From an angle i've never talked about it before.
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Talked about it before. specifically, instead of letting
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Specifically, instead of letting the prodigal son be
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The prodigal son be the star of the story,
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The star of the story, which is normally
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Which is normally what we experience,
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What we experience, we're gonna push him
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We're gonna push him over to the side.
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Over to the side. he'll still find
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He'll still find his way into the story,
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His way into the story, but i want to make the emphasis
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But i want to make the emphasis on the father's house,
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On the father's house, the father's house.
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The father's house. this is the father's house.
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This is the father's house. look at your neighbor and say,
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Look at your neighbor and say, "this is god's house."
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"this is god's house." >> congregation: this is
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>> congregation: this is god's house.
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God's house. >> it's important
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>> it's important that we remember that.
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That we remember that. it's not my house.
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It's not my house. it's not your house.
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It's not your house. it's his house.
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So, let's read in luke 15:13,
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So, let's read in luke 15:13, "and not many days after,
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"and not many days after, the younger son
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The younger son gathered all together,
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Gathered all together, he journeyed
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He journeyed to a far-off country,
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To a far-off country, there he wasted his possessions
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There he wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
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With prodigal living. but when he had spent all,
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But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine
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There arose a severe famine in the land, and he began
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In the land, and he began to be in want.
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To be in want. then he went and joined himself
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Then he went and joined himself to the citizens of that country,
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To the citizens of that country, and he sent himself
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And he sent himself into the fields
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Into the fields to feed with the swine.
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To feed with the swine. and he would gladly have filled
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And he would gladly have filled his stomach with all that
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His stomach with all that the swine were eating,
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The swine were eating, but no one gave him anything.
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But no one gave him anything. but when he came
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But when he came to himself he said,
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To himself he said, 'how many of my father's
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'how many of my father's hired servants have bread
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Hired servants have bread enough to spare and i perish
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Enough to spare and i perish here in hunger!
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Here in hunger! i will arise
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I will arise and i will go to my father,
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And i will go to my father, and i will say to him,
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And i will say to him, 'father, i have sinned,'"
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'father, i have sinned,'" this is repentance,
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This is repentance, "'i have sinned against
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"'i have sinned against heaven and before you.
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Heaven and before you. i'm no longer worthy
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I'm no longer worthy to be called your son.
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To be called your son. make me a hired servant.'
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Make me a hired servant.' he arose, came to his father.
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He arose, came to his father. but when he was still
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But when he was still a great way off,
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A great way off, the father saw him,
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The father saw him, had compassion, and ran,
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Had compassion, and ran, fell on his neck
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Fell on his neck and kissed him."
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And kissed him." so, if we're going to make
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The father's house
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The father's house the focus of the story,
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The focus of the story, what i want you to notice is
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What i want you to notice is there had to be an atmosphere
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There had to be an atmosphere created that possessed a spirit
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Created that possessed a spirit of return that the father
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Of return that the father had to get the house ready.
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Had to get the house ready. he had to prepare the house
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He had to prepare the house with a spirit of return.
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With a spirit of return. and that's what i'm gonna
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And that's what i'm gonna talk to you about,
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Talk to you about, having a spirit of return.
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Having a spirit of return. if we're god's people,
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If we're god's people, and this is his house,
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And this is his house, we need to work on preparing
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We need to work on preparing the atmosphere in this place,
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The atmosphere in this place, and at every location,
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And at every location, to have a spirit of return.
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To have a spirit of return. we would know that there
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We would know that there are those who are in
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Are those who are in the pig pens right now.
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The pig pens right now. there are those who have failed.
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There are those who have failed. they are living
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They are living a miserable life.
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A miserable life. they're running from god.
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They're running from god. they're wasting their life.
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They're wasting their life. you name it.
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You name it. they're feeding
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They're feeding off of the worst things
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Off of the worst things imaginable in the world.
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Imaginable in the world. and the question is,
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And the question is, how can god send those people
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How can god send those people to a place if that place
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To a place if that place has not been prepared?
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Has not been prepared? there are many prodigals,
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There are many prodigals, we all know one.
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We all know one. we all have someone in our mind,
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We all have someone in our mind, those who have drifted away.
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Those who have drifted away. but god has to prepare us
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But god has to prepare us with a spirit of return.
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With a spirit of return. he has to do something
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He has to do something in our hearts to where
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In our hearts to where we're constantly saying,
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We're constantly saying, "i wanna be a magnet to those
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"i wanna be a magnet to those who need him the most."
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Who need him the most." well, the bible here says,
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Well, the bible here says, "he wasted."
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"he wasted." he wasted more than things.
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He wasted more than things. he wasted more than
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He wasted more than his possessions.
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His possessions. he's wasting his life.
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He's wasting his life. the bible says,
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"he wasted his substance,"
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"he wasted his substance," is what
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Is what the king james version says.
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The king james version says. substance is more than stuff.
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The bible says in hebrews 11
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The bible says in hebrews 11 that faith is the substance.
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That faith is the substance. so, substance includes
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So, substance includes more than stuff.
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More than stuff. substance actually
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Substance actually includes faith.
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Includes faith. the bible says,
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The bible says, "he wasted his substance."
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"he wasted his substance." so, he wasted his faith.
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Abraham, the bible says when he
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Abraham, the bible says when he left his country in genesis 12,
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Left his country in genesis 12, "he left with his substance."
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"he left with his substance." what was the substance
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What was the substance that abraham left with?
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That abraham left with? it wasn't a donkey,
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It wasn't a donkey, or a mule, or material things.
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Or a mule, or material things. he left with the substance.
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He left with the substance. three times the bible calls
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Three times the bible calls abraham a friend of god.
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The bible says,
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The bible says, "he's the father of our faith."
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"he's the father of our faith." so, his substance had to do
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So, his substance had to do with more than just stuff.
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With more than just stuff. his substance was his faith.
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His substance was his faith. his substance
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His substance was his friendship,
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Was his friendship, his relationship
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His relationship with the father.
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With the father. his substance was his time,
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His substance was his time, it was his energy,
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It was his energy, it was his emotion.
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It was his emotion. all of that stuff, his family.
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All of that stuff, his family. it's the substance of life.
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It's the substance of life. and the bible says this man
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And the bible says this man wasted all of that.
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Wasted all of that. he wasted his faith.
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He wasted his faith. he wasted his friendship
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He wasted his friendship with the father.
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With the father. he wasted his gifts.
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He wasted his gifts. he wasted his talents.
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He wasted his talents. he wasted his life.
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He wasted his life. he had everything going for him.
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He had everything going for him. there was no reason for him
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There was no reason for him to go the direction that he did.
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To go the direction that he did. but the bible says in verse 12
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But the bible says in verse 12 that he goes to the father
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That he goes to the father and he says,
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And he says, "give me what's mine."
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"give me what's mine." he wants something
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He wants something that actually isn't his,
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That actually isn't his, it doesn't belong to him.
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It doesn't belong to him. but he's saying in his mind,
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But he's saying in his mind, "i want what's mine."
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"i want what's mine." that was his attitude.
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That was his attitude. that was his mindset.
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That was his mindset. "this is mine."
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"this is mine." he had a, "it's mine," attitude.
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He had a, "it's mine," attitude. really, what he was saying
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Really, what he was saying to his dad is,
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To his dad is, "dad, i wish you were dead."
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"dad, i wish you were dead." because we know that
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Because we know that an inheritance is not given
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An inheritance is not given until someone passes.
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Until someone passes. so, what he's saying is,
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So, what he's saying is, "dad, you're not
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"dad, you're not important to me.
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Important to me. stuff is important.
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Stuff is important. living a life where i'm just
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Living a life where i'm just getting what's mine
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Getting what's mine is what's important."
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Is what's important." and so, he leaves,
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And so, he leaves, the bible says, and he goes
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The bible says, and he goes to a far off country.
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To a far off country. this is not a story
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This is not a story on geography.
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On geography. this is a story that teaches us
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This is a story that teaches us the power of direction,
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The power of direction, that all of us have to be
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That all of us have to be concerned with.
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Concerned with. that you can be close
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That you can be close at one moment,
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At one moment, close in one season
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Close in one season of your life,
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Of your life, and before you know it,
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And before you know it, you can end up far away.
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You can end up far away. and it begins with my mindset,
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And it begins with my mindset, it begins with my attitude.
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It begins with my attitude. if i have a mindset,
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If i have a mindset, "it's mine,"
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"it's mine," if i have a mindset that
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If i have a mindset that is pointing the direction
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Is pointing the direction of my life to self,
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Of my life to self, then eventually i make choices,
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Then eventually i make choices, and before i know it,
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And before i know it, it's my -- it's not just
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It's my -- it's not just my choice for a little while.
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My choice for a little while. it starts to lead to my life,
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It starts to lead to my life, my substance, my time,
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My substance, my time, my talent, my energy, my life,
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My talent, my energy, my life, my family, my relationships,
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My family, my relationships, all of that stuff.
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All of that stuff. if i'm not careful,
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If i'm not careful, i start giving the substance
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I start giving the substance of my life to things
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Of my life to things that are meaningless.
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That are meaningless. his mindset was,
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His mindset was, "the father's house
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"the father's house is a waste of my time.
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Is a waste of my time. the father's house
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The father's house is a waste of my talent."
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Is a waste of my talent." and he ends up
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And he ends up in a far off country,
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In a far off country, far off from his convictions,
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Far off from his convictions, far off from his
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Far off from his relationship with the father,
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Relationship with the father, far off from his standards,
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Far off from his standards, far off from where
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Far off from where his heart once was.
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His heart once was. sin simply means
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Sin simply means missing the mark.
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Missing the mark. we think sin, we immediately
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We think sin, we immediately go to the worst-case scenario,
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Go to the worst-case scenario, but sin is a directional word.
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But sin is a directional word. it's just speaking about,
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It's just speaking about, how does someone end up so
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How does someone end up so far off from where they started?
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Far off from where they started? how does someone end up so
00:08:06.125 --> 00:08:07.260
How does someone end up so far off from where they began?
00:08:07.327 --> 00:08:08.862
Far off from where they began? and it just begins with
00:08:08.928 --> 00:08:10.230
And it just begins with they started to feel wrong,
00:08:10.296 --> 00:08:13.099
They started to feel wrong, just started to feel wrong
00:08:13.166 --> 00:08:13.967
Just started to feel wrong about the father's house,
00:08:14.033 --> 00:08:15.668
About the father's house, started to feel wrong about
00:08:15.735 --> 00:08:17.871
Started to feel wrong about what was going on in the --
00:08:17.937 --> 00:08:19.839
What was going on in the -- and then, they start
00:08:19.906 --> 00:08:20.607
And then, they start thinking wrong,
00:08:20.673 --> 00:08:21.207
Thinking wrong, "it's mine.
00:08:21.274 --> 00:08:22.242
"it's mine. what about me?
00:08:22.308 --> 00:08:23.510
What about me? why isn't the focus on me?
00:08:23.576 --> 00:08:25.512
Why isn't the focus on me? why -- this is mine."
00:08:25.578 --> 00:08:27.547
Why -- this is mine." and then, before you know it,
00:08:27.614 --> 00:08:28.648
And then, before you know it, he chooses wrong
00:08:28.715 --> 00:08:30.016
He chooses wrong and ends up far away.
00:08:30.083 --> 00:08:34.220
And ends up far away. that's what sin does,
00:08:34.287 --> 00:08:35.088
That's what sin does, it takes you further
00:08:35.154 --> 00:08:36.556
It takes you further than you intended to go,
00:08:36.623 --> 00:08:38.291
Than you intended to go, and it makes you stay longer
00:08:38.358 --> 00:08:39.859
And it makes you stay longer than you intended to stay.
00:08:39.926 --> 00:08:42.395
Than you intended to stay. you end up wasted.
00:08:42.462 --> 00:08:44.564
You end up wasted. we know in the story
00:08:44.631 --> 00:08:45.431
We know in the story that he did not get along
00:08:45.498 --> 00:08:47.200
That he did not get along with his older brother.
00:08:47.267 --> 00:08:50.370
With his older brother. so, there's an issue
00:08:50.436 --> 00:08:51.104
So, there's an issue between him and his brother.
00:08:51.170 --> 00:08:53.206
Between him and his brother. it seems that his mother
00:08:53.273 --> 00:08:54.440
It seems that his mother was not in the picture.
00:08:54.507 --> 00:08:56.509
Was not in the picture. we don't have the details
00:08:56.576 --> 00:08:57.810
We don't have the details of what happened,
00:08:57.877 --> 00:08:59.479
Of what happened, but we know that
00:08:59.546 --> 00:09:00.246
But we know that he's disappointed.
00:09:00.313 --> 00:09:01.981
He's disappointed. we know he's discouraged.
00:09:02.048 --> 00:09:04.250
We know he's discouraged. it seems like there's something
00:09:04.317 --> 00:09:05.485
It seems like there's something that has hurt him.
00:09:05.552 --> 00:09:06.819
That has hurt him. he's bitter.
00:09:06.886 --> 00:09:08.121
He's bitter. he has a broken heart.
00:09:08.187 --> 00:09:09.455
He has a broken heart. all we know is that he says,
00:09:09.522 --> 00:09:11.758
All we know is that he says, "i'm giving up on
00:09:11.824 --> 00:09:12.525
"i'm giving up on the father's house.
00:09:12.592 --> 00:09:13.927
The father's house. i'm giving up.
00:09:13.993 --> 00:09:15.061
I'm giving up. this is a waste of my substance.
00:09:15.128 --> 00:09:17.263
This is a waste of my substance. this is a waste of my care.
00:09:17.330 --> 00:09:18.798
This is a waste of my care. this is a waste of my time.
00:09:18.865 --> 00:09:20.967
This is a waste of my time. this is a waste of my gifts.
00:09:21.034 --> 00:09:22.402
This is a waste of my gifts. this is a waste of my treasure."
00:09:22.468 --> 00:09:24.804
This is a waste of my treasure." and he ends up turning his back
00:09:24.871 --> 00:09:27.941
And he ends up turning his back on the father's house.
00:09:28.007 --> 00:09:29.943
On the father's house. that's what happens when
00:09:30.009 --> 00:09:31.110
That's what happens when faith is perverted,
00:09:31.177 --> 00:09:32.145
Faith is perverted, it goes the other way.
00:09:32.211 --> 00:09:34.914
It goes the other way. because the truth is,
00:09:34.981 --> 00:09:35.682
Because the truth is, there was no substance in his
00:09:35.748 --> 00:09:37.317
There was no substance in his life apart from the father.
00:09:37.383 --> 00:09:39.152
Life apart from the father. the truth is all the substance
00:09:39.218 --> 00:09:41.187
The truth is all the substance that he had, you name it,
00:09:41.254 --> 00:09:42.388
That he had, you name it, it was a result
00:09:42.455 --> 00:09:43.556
It was a result of the father's house.
00:09:43.623 --> 00:09:44.991
Of the father's house. yet, in his mind,
00:09:45.058 --> 00:09:46.225
Yet, in his mind, the father's house was a waste.
00:09:46.292 --> 00:09:51.030
The father's house was a waste. so, he gets the mindset,
00:09:51.097 --> 00:09:52.832
So, he gets the mindset, "it's mine."
00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:53.766
"it's mine." again, it's direction.
00:09:53.833 --> 00:09:55.835
Again, it's direction. and before you know it,
00:09:55.902 --> 00:09:56.603
And before you know it, he's a far off.
00:09:56.669 --> 00:09:58.771
He's a far off. but notice what the father
00:09:58.838 --> 00:09:59.806
But notice what the father does immediately.
00:09:59.872 --> 00:10:01.207
Does immediately. he immediately starts
00:10:01.274 --> 00:10:02.442
He immediately starts to prepare and get ready for
00:10:02.508 --> 00:10:05.478
To prepare and get ready for the incredible return
00:10:05.545 --> 00:10:07.180
The incredible return of his son.
00:10:07.246 --> 00:10:08.414
Of his son. so, a spirit of return
00:10:08.481 --> 00:10:11.050
So, a spirit of return begins with expectation.
00:10:11.117 --> 00:10:13.720
Begins with expectation. the father was expecting
00:10:13.786 --> 00:10:15.388
The father was expecting the prodigal to return.
00:10:15.455 --> 00:10:17.724
The prodigal to return. we know this because
00:10:17.790 --> 00:10:18.725
We know this because the moment that the son
00:10:18.791 --> 00:10:20.393
The moment that the son started to return,
00:10:20.460 --> 00:10:21.694
Started to return, the bible says,
00:10:21.761 --> 00:10:22.395
The bible says, "the father saw him
00:10:22.462 --> 00:10:23.630
"the father saw him and started running."
00:10:23.696 --> 00:10:25.732
And started running." the only mention
00:10:25.798 --> 00:10:26.599
The only mention we have of god running
00:10:26.666 --> 00:10:27.900
We have of god running is right here in this story.
00:10:27.967 --> 00:10:29.836
Is right here in this story. this is the only metaphor
00:10:29.902 --> 00:10:31.237
This is the only metaphor the bible gives us
00:10:31.304 --> 00:10:32.405
The bible gives us of a god who runs.
00:10:32.472 --> 00:10:34.474
Of a god who runs. why would the father run?
00:10:34.540 --> 00:10:36.309
Why would the father run? it's because he was the only one
00:10:36.376 --> 00:10:38.211
It's because he was the only one in the house that was
00:10:38.277 --> 00:10:39.746
In the house that was expecting the return.
00:10:39.812 --> 00:10:41.914
Expecting the return. he had his eyes
00:10:41.981 --> 00:10:42.882
He had his eyes looking down the road.
00:10:42.949 --> 00:10:44.317
Looking down the road. the elder brother is
00:10:44.384 --> 00:10:45.418
The elder brother is over here shining his halo,
00:10:45.485 --> 00:10:47.220
Over here shining his halo, but the father is
00:10:47.286 --> 00:10:48.621
But the father is expecting his return.
00:10:48.688 --> 00:10:50.423
Expecting his return. every single day he gets up,
00:10:50.490 --> 00:10:52.392
Every single day he gets up, every morning he's there
00:10:52.458 --> 00:10:53.993
Every morning he's there looking down the road saying,
00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:55.428
Looking down the road saying, "today he's coming back.
00:10:55.495 --> 00:10:56.696
"today he's coming back. today he's going
00:10:56.763 --> 00:10:57.730
Today he's going to make it back."
00:10:57.797 --> 00:10:58.731
To make it back." that's what every sunday
00:10:58.798 --> 00:11:00.033
That's what every sunday should be in the house of god.
00:11:00.099 --> 00:11:02.201
Should be in the house of god. we should show up
00:11:02.268 --> 00:11:03.369
We should show up expecting today a prodigal
00:11:03.436 --> 00:11:06.239
Expecting today a prodigal is going to return.
00:11:06.305 --> 00:11:07.674
Is going to return. someone's prodigal son
00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:09.509
Someone's prodigal son is coming home.
00:11:09.575 --> 00:11:10.443
Is coming home. someone's daughter
00:11:10.510 --> 00:11:11.344
Someone's daughter is coming home.
00:11:11.411 --> 00:11:12.311
Is coming home. someone's husband,
00:11:12.378 --> 00:11:13.379
Someone's husband, someone's wife, someone's mom,
00:11:13.446 --> 00:11:15.048
Someone's wife, someone's mom, someone's dad, some sister,
00:11:15.114 --> 00:11:16.616
Someone's dad, some sister, some brother, some friend,
00:11:16.683 --> 00:11:18.151
Some brother, some friend, some colleague,
00:11:18.217 --> 00:11:19.686
Some colleague, somebody is returning
00:11:19.752 --> 00:11:21.521
Somebody is returning and our job as a church
00:11:21.587 --> 00:11:23.489
And our job as a church is to show up excited saying,
00:11:23.556 --> 00:11:25.391
Is to show up excited saying, "what might god do today?
00:11:25.458 --> 00:11:27.293
"what might god do today? whose prodigal is coming home?
00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.761
Whose prodigal is coming home? and if it's not mine,
00:11:28.828 --> 00:11:30.129
And if it's not mine, my job is to create
00:11:30.196 --> 00:11:31.364
My job is to create an atmosphere that is
00:11:31.431 --> 00:11:32.899
An atmosphere that is full of a spirit of return."
00:11:32.965 --> 00:11:39.572
Full of a spirit of return." he had to know concerning
00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:42.475
He had to know concerning the prodigal that he was
00:11:42.542 --> 00:11:43.476
The prodigal that he was ready to return.
00:11:43.543 --> 00:11:45.178
Ready to return. that's their part.
00:11:45.244 --> 00:11:46.512
That's their part. that's their job.
00:11:46.579 --> 00:11:47.747
That's their job. we cannot do that.
00:11:47.814 --> 00:11:48.481
We cannot do that. he had wasted everything he had,
00:11:48.548 --> 00:11:51.117
He had wasted everything he had, but he said, watch this,
00:11:51.184 --> 00:11:53.019
But he said, watch this, "i'm going to return
00:11:53.086 --> 00:11:55.354
"i'm going to return to my father."
00:11:55.421 --> 00:11:58.124
To my father." he didn't say,
00:11:58.191 --> 00:11:58.891
He didn't say, "i'm going to return
00:11:58.958 --> 00:11:59.992
"i'm going to return to my father's house."
00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:02.228
To my father's house." he said, "i'm going to return
00:12:02.295 --> 00:12:03.696
He said, "i'm going to return to my father."
00:12:03.763 --> 00:12:05.531
To my father." so, he was thinking,
00:12:05.598 --> 00:12:09.068
So, he was thinking, "the house will reject me,
00:12:09.135 --> 00:12:11.304
"the house will reject me, but the father will accept me.
00:12:11.370 --> 00:12:15.608
But the father will accept me. i love the father, but i'm not
00:12:15.675 --> 00:12:17.143
I love the father, but i'm not so sure that the house,
00:12:17.210 --> 00:12:19.212
So sure that the house, the atmosphere,
00:12:19.278 --> 00:12:20.146
The atmosphere, those brothers
00:12:20.213 --> 00:12:20.913
Those brothers and sisters there,
00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:22.014
And sisters there, i'm not so sure
00:12:22.081 --> 00:12:22.749
I'm not so sure they'll accept me."
00:12:22.815 --> 00:12:24.217
They'll accept me." and that's where a lot
00:12:24.283 --> 00:12:24.851
And that's where a lot of people find themselves.
00:12:24.917 --> 00:12:26.119
Of people find themselves. they find themselves with
00:12:26.185 --> 00:12:28.254
They find themselves with the wrong mindset.
00:12:28.321 --> 00:12:30.123
The wrong mindset. they start moving
00:12:30.189 --> 00:12:30.923
They start moving in a wrong direction.
00:12:30.990 --> 00:12:32.592
In a wrong direction. who knows what it is?
00:12:32.658 --> 00:12:33.326
Who knows what it is? a loss in life,
00:12:33.392 --> 00:12:34.227
A loss in life, a disappointment,
00:12:34.293 --> 00:12:35.061
A disappointment, something they do,
00:12:35.128 --> 00:12:36.095
Something they do, something that
00:12:36.162 --> 00:12:36.662
Something that somebody's done to them,
00:12:36.729 --> 00:12:37.630
Somebody's done to them, and they move in a direction.
00:12:37.697 --> 00:12:39.799
And they move in a direction. they start finding themselves
00:12:39.866 --> 00:12:41.367
They start finding themselves a far off, and they failed,
00:12:41.434 --> 00:12:43.436
A far off, and they failed, and they're living
00:12:43.503 --> 00:12:44.537
And they're living in all kinds of places.
00:12:44.604 --> 00:12:46.439
In all kinds of places. and it's not that
00:12:46.506 --> 00:12:47.273
And it's not that they don't love god,
00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:48.908
They don't love god, it's that they struggle
00:12:48.975 --> 00:12:49.976
It's that they struggle with god's people.
00:12:50.042 --> 00:12:52.311
With god's people. you ha -- if you
00:12:52.378 --> 00:12:53.079
You ha -- if you serve god anytime at all,
00:12:53.146 --> 00:12:55.014
Serve god anytime at all, you have felt that stone cold,
00:12:55.081 --> 00:12:58.651
You have felt that stone cold, icy judgement of someone
00:12:58.718 --> 00:13:00.653
Icy judgement of someone who says they love him.
00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:02.822
Who says they love him. nothing's worse than that.
00:13:02.889 --> 00:13:04.824
Nothing's worse than that. just judgmental, mean spirited.
00:13:04.891 --> 00:13:08.694
Just judgmental, mean spirited. uh-oh.
00:13:08.761 --> 00:13:09.662
[laughter]
00:13:09.962 --> 00:13:10.763
I got the microphone now.
00:13:11.130 --> 00:13:12.732
I got the microphone now. you get on your keyboard.
00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:13.699
You get on your keyboard. i got the microphone.
00:13:13.766 --> 00:13:14.934
[applause and laughter]
00:13:15.234 --> 00:13:16.068
And i'm not mad,
00:13:16.602 --> 00:13:17.136
And i'm not mad, i'm excited because i'm here
00:13:17.203 --> 00:13:19.739
I'm excited because i'm here to protect the atmosphere
00:13:19.806 --> 00:13:21.474
To protect the atmosphere of the father's house
00:13:21.541 --> 00:13:22.708
Of the father's house and say we must always
00:13:22.775 --> 00:13:24.310
And say we must always have a spirit of return
00:13:24.377 --> 00:13:27.613
Have a spirit of return presenting the heart
00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:28.881
Presenting the heart of the father
00:13:28.948 --> 00:13:30.583
Of the father to the prodigals out there.
00:13:30.650 --> 00:13:31.918
[applause]
00:13:32.218 --> 00:13:36.455
Some of you today have
00:13:36.956 --> 00:13:38.224
Some of you today have a prodigal into your life.
00:13:38.291 --> 00:13:39.992
A prodigal into your life. it's your son,
00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:40.693
It's your son, it's your daughter,
00:13:40.760 --> 00:13:41.894
It's your daughter, it's someone that you love,
00:13:41.961 --> 00:13:43.663
It's someone that you love, but know that they have
00:13:43.729 --> 00:13:44.430
But know that they have an advantage.
00:13:44.497 --> 00:13:45.898
An advantage. the bible, here,
00:13:45.965 --> 00:13:46.699
The bible, here, says that he was not
00:13:46.766 --> 00:13:47.633
Says that he was not the only one in the pig pen.
00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:49.135
The only one in the pig pen. he was attached to the other
00:13:49.202 --> 00:13:51.003
He was attached to the other citizens of that country that
00:13:51.070 --> 00:13:53.039
Citizens of that country that were also there because there
00:13:53.105 --> 00:13:54.407
Were also there because there was a famine in the land.
00:13:54.473 --> 00:13:56.008
Was a famine in the land. so, there's a bunch of people
00:13:56.075 --> 00:13:57.343
So, there's a bunch of people in the pig pen,
00:13:57.410 --> 00:13:59.011
In the pig pen, but the prodigal
00:13:59.078 --> 00:14:00.413
But the prodigal had the advantage,
00:14:00.479 --> 00:14:02.582
Had the advantage, he knew how to find
00:14:02.648 --> 00:14:03.816
He knew how to find the road home.
00:14:03.883 --> 00:14:07.053
The road home. so, they've got
00:14:07.119 --> 00:14:07.720
So, they've got an advantage today.
00:14:07.787 --> 00:14:11.824
An advantage today. our job is to say,
00:14:11.891 --> 00:14:12.725
Our job is to say, "by faith, i'm gonna keep
00:14:12.792 --> 00:14:14.961
"by faith, i'm gonna keep looking down that road.
00:14:15.027 --> 00:14:17.063
Looking down that road. they know the road.
00:14:17.129 --> 00:14:18.598
They know the road. i don't know when they're
00:14:18.664 --> 00:14:19.398
I don't know when they're going to access the road."
00:14:19.465 --> 00:14:21.534
Going to access the road." but my job is to say,
00:14:21.601 --> 00:14:22.869
But my job is to say, "i'm expecting.
00:14:22.935 --> 00:14:25.171
"i'm expecting. i'm expecting
00:14:25.238 --> 00:14:26.305
I'm expecting they're coming home.
00:14:26.372 --> 00:14:27.540
They're coming home. i'm expecting
00:14:27.607 --> 00:14:28.941
I'm expecting they're coming back.
00:14:29.008 --> 00:14:30.276
They're coming back. i'm expecting today,
00:14:30.343 --> 00:14:32.078
I'm expecting today, i don't know when,
00:14:32.144 --> 00:14:32.745
I don't know when, i don't know how,
00:14:32.812 --> 00:14:33.279
I don't know how, but i know at some point
00:14:33.346 --> 00:14:34.614
But i know at some point i'm gonna lift up my eyes
00:14:34.680 --> 00:14:36.315
I'm gonna lift up my eyes and they're going to be
00:14:36.382 --> 00:14:37.683
And they're going to be coming home."
00:14:37.750 --> 00:14:38.885
Coming home." that daughter, that son,
00:14:38.951 --> 00:14:40.953
That daughter, that son, that loved one in your life,
00:14:41.020 --> 00:14:42.355
That loved one in your life, they are coming home
00:14:42.421 --> 00:14:44.357
They are coming home in jesus' name.
00:14:44.423 --> 00:14:45.558
In jesus' name. my job is to feed my faith,
00:14:45.625 --> 00:14:47.894
My job is to feed my faith, starve my fears,
00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:49.161
Starve my fears, and see them with
00:14:49.228 --> 00:14:50.329
And see them with the eyes of faith coming.
00:14:50.396 --> 00:14:54.634
The eyes of faith coming. so, that's our job
00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:56.335
So, that's our job to have a spirit of return,
00:14:56.402 --> 00:14:58.771
To have a spirit of return, that means we clear
00:14:58.838 --> 00:14:59.538
That means we clear the road on the way
00:14:59.605 --> 00:15:01.507
The road on the way to the father's house.
00:15:01.574 --> 00:15:03.676
To the father's house. there was only one road
00:15:03.743 --> 00:15:04.744
There was only one road in israel that god demanded
00:15:04.810 --> 00:15:07.413
In israel that god demanded no matter what happens
00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:09.081
No matter what happens they keep it open,
00:15:09.148 --> 00:15:11.284
They keep it open, one road that god
00:15:11.350 --> 00:15:12.251
One road that god would command,
00:15:12.318 --> 00:15:12.852
Would command, "you keep this road
00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:13.753
"you keep this road in good repair.
00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:15.054
In good repair. you make sure
00:15:15.121 --> 00:15:15.621
You make sure the potholes are filled.
00:15:15.688 --> 00:15:17.223
The potholes are filled. you make sure if it's snowing
00:15:17.290 --> 00:15:18.491
You make sure if it's snowing out that there's all kinds
00:15:18.557 --> 00:15:19.792
Out that there's all kinds of salt out on the road.
00:15:19.859 --> 00:15:21.394
Of salt out on the road. you make sure that
00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:22.495
You make sure that there's boulders and debris
00:15:22.561 --> 00:15:23.763
There's boulders and debris moved off the road."
00:15:23.829 --> 00:15:25.298
Moved off the road." and it was the road
00:15:25.364 --> 00:15:26.532
And it was the road to the city of refuge.
00:15:26.599 --> 00:15:29.268
To the city of refuge. and what god was saying is,
00:15:29.335 --> 00:15:30.136
And what god was saying is, "no matter what you do,
00:15:30.202 --> 00:15:31.203
"no matter what you do, keep the road to mercy open.
00:15:31.270 --> 00:15:33.873
Keep the road to mercy open. always give access
00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:35.741
Always give access to the city of refuge.
00:15:35.808 --> 00:15:37.677
To the city of refuge. it don't matter
00:15:37.743 --> 00:15:38.377
It don't matter what you have to do,
00:15:38.444 --> 00:15:39.512
What you have to do, how many crews
00:15:39.578 --> 00:15:40.746
How many crews you have to send out,
00:15:40.813 --> 00:15:41.914
You have to send out, make sure that road
00:15:41.981 --> 00:15:44.150
Make sure that road is prepared and open.
00:15:44.216 --> 00:15:46.319
Is prepared and open. because at some point,
00:15:46.385 --> 00:15:47.520
Because at some point, they're gonna come looking
00:15:47.586 --> 00:15:48.888
They're gonna come looking and they need to see
00:15:48.955 --> 00:15:50.556
And they need to see the road to mercy is open."
00:15:50.623 --> 00:15:52.458
The road to mercy is open." that's why we say,
00:15:52.525 --> 00:15:53.192
That's why we say, "god, give us
00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.393
"god, give us a spirit of return.
00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:57.163
A spirit of return. give me a spirit of return.
00:15:57.229 --> 00:15:59.432
Give me a spirit of return. give our church
00:15:59.498 --> 00:16:00.366
Give our church a spirit of concern."
00:16:00.433 --> 00:16:02.068
A spirit of concern." one of our values
00:16:02.134 --> 00:16:02.601
One of our values is kindness.
00:16:02.668 --> 00:16:03.636
Is kindness. why?
00:16:03.703 --> 00:16:04.236
Why? because it's the kindness of god
00:16:04.303 --> 00:16:06.272
Because it's the kindness of god that leads men to repentance.
00:16:06.339 --> 00:16:08.374
That leads men to repentance. that's what it is,
00:16:08.441 --> 00:16:09.108
That's what it is, it's his kindness.
00:16:09.175 --> 00:16:10.009
It's his kindness. and you know what
00:16:10.076 --> 00:16:10.576
And you know what kindness is to us?
00:16:10.643 --> 00:16:11.644
Kindness is to us? it's unreasonable compassion.
00:16:11.711 --> 00:16:14.180
It's unreasonable compassion. that's what the father doing --
00:16:14.246 --> 00:16:15.381
That's what the father doing -- is here.
00:16:15.448 --> 00:16:15.982
Is here. he's unreasonable.
00:16:16.048 --> 00:16:17.383
He's unreasonable. "what are you doing running?
00:16:17.450 --> 00:16:18.918
"what are you doing running? what do you do out there
00:16:18.985 --> 00:16:20.453
What do you do out there running at --
00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.187
Running at -- shouldn't you make him
00:16:21.253 --> 00:16:22.188
Shouldn't you make him clean everything up,
00:16:22.254 --> 00:16:23.289
Clean everything up, get everything right,
00:16:23.356 --> 00:16:24.357
Get everything right, prove himself for a little bit,
00:16:24.423 --> 00:16:25.925
Prove himself for a little bit, and then maybe he could
00:16:25.992 --> 00:16:26.892
And then maybe he could come home?"
00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:27.426
Come home?" no, that's not what --
00:16:27.493 --> 00:16:28.294
No, that's not what -- he's unreasonable
00:16:28.361 --> 00:16:29.428
He's unreasonable in his compassion.
00:16:29.495 --> 00:16:33.232
In his compassion. so, here he comes,
00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:35.468
So, here he comes, no shoes, no robe, starving,
00:16:35.534 --> 00:16:44.110
No shoes, no robe, starving, covered in the mess,
00:16:44.176 --> 00:16:47.046
Covered in the mess, in the nastiness of where
00:16:47.113 --> 00:16:49.382
In the nastiness of where he had just come from,
00:16:49.448 --> 00:16:51.951
He had just come from, and the father comes
00:16:52.018 --> 00:16:52.852
And the father comes running to him.
00:16:52.918 --> 00:16:53.986
Running to him. look at him how weak he is.
00:16:54.053 --> 00:16:56.889
Look at him how weak he is. look at him bent over.
00:16:56.956 --> 00:17:00.092
Look at him bent over. not much to get excited about,
00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:04.030
Not much to get excited about, but the father goes running.
00:17:04.096 --> 00:17:05.965
But the father goes running. do you see how excited
00:17:06.032 --> 00:17:06.966
Do you see how excited the father is?
00:17:07.033 --> 00:17:09.201
The father is? he's not fully developed yet.
00:17:09.268 --> 00:17:10.536
He's not fully developed yet. he hadn't got everything quite
00:17:10.603 --> 00:17:12.271
He hadn't got everything quite the way it needs to be,
00:17:12.338 --> 00:17:14.006
The way it needs to be, still looks a lot like
00:17:14.073 --> 00:17:15.007
Still looks a lot like the life he came from.
00:17:15.074 --> 00:17:17.710
The life he came from. uh-oh.
00:17:17.777 --> 00:17:20.579
Uh-oh. but the father gets excited.
00:17:20.646 --> 00:17:21.914
But the father gets excited. why does it take us,
00:17:21.981 --> 00:17:23.582
Why does it take us, as god's people
00:17:23.649 --> 00:17:24.517
As god's people so much to get excited?
00:17:24.583 --> 00:17:28.687
So much to get excited? why does god get excited about
00:17:28.754 --> 00:17:31.357
Why does god get excited about something and we don't?
00:17:31.424 --> 00:17:34.093
Something and we don't? the bible says that,
00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:34.927
The bible says that, "a smoking flax
00:17:34.994 --> 00:17:36.662
"a smoking flax he will not quench."
00:17:36.729 --> 00:17:38.531
He will not quench." in other words,
00:17:38.597 --> 00:17:39.932
In other words, god doesn't need a fire.
00:17:39.999 --> 00:17:42.068
God doesn't need a fire. he doesn't even need
00:17:42.134 --> 00:17:42.902
He doesn't even need a bic lighter, just some smoke.
00:17:42.968 --> 00:17:47.206
A bic lighter, just some smoke. if god sees a little bit
00:17:47.273 --> 00:17:48.140
If god sees a little bit of smoke --
00:17:48.207 --> 00:17:49.008
Of smoke -- we don't get excited
00:17:49.075 --> 00:17:49.809
We don't get excited unless there's some big bonfire.
00:17:49.875 --> 00:17:52.078
Unless there's some big bonfire. it's gotta be really impressive.
00:17:52.144 --> 00:17:53.846
It's gotta be really impressive. it's gotta be a really big deal.
00:17:53.913 --> 00:17:55.815
It's gotta be a really big deal. but not god, just a little smoke
00:17:55.881 --> 00:17:58.184
But not god, just a little smoke he doesn't quench.
00:17:58.250 --> 00:18:00.352
He doesn't quench. and the question is if it got --
00:18:00.419 --> 00:18:01.554
And the question is if it got -- gets god excited, and the same
00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:04.590
Gets god excited, and the same spirit that raised jesus
00:18:04.657 --> 00:18:07.560
Spirit that raised jesus from the dead lives
00:18:07.626 --> 00:18:08.394
From the dead lives on the inside of us,
00:18:08.461 --> 00:18:09.762
On the inside of us, why are we struggling
00:18:09.829 --> 00:18:11.697
Why are we struggling to get excited?
00:18:11.764 --> 00:18:14.400
To get excited? or, is it possible that
00:18:14.467 --> 00:18:16.302
Or, is it possible that we've lost the spirit of return?
00:18:16.368 --> 00:18:19.505
We've lost the spirit of return? is it possible we've lost
00:18:19.572 --> 00:18:20.973
Is it possible we've lost the spirit of the father?
00:18:21.040 --> 00:18:23.275
The spirit of the father? because remember,
00:18:23.342 --> 00:18:24.610
Because remember, there wasn't just one lost son,
00:18:24.677 --> 00:18:26.245
There wasn't just one lost son, there were two.
00:18:26.312 --> 00:18:28.447
There were two. the elder brother
00:18:28.514 --> 00:18:29.348
The elder brother was equally lost,
00:18:29.415 --> 00:18:31.183
Was equally lost, maybe more so lost.
00:18:31.250 --> 00:18:34.487
Maybe more so lost. he's keeping score.
00:18:34.553 --> 00:18:37.156
He's keeping score. grace doesn't keep score,
00:18:37.223 --> 00:18:38.424
Grace doesn't keep score, by the way.
00:18:38.491 --> 00:18:40.726
By the way. we have too many scorekeepers
00:18:40.793 --> 00:18:41.994
We have too many scorekeepers in the father's house.
00:18:42.061 --> 00:18:44.096
In the father's house. what's he say?
00:18:44.163 --> 00:18:44.563
What's he say? "you never made me a goat."
00:18:44.630 --> 00:18:50.803
"you never made me a goat." what's the father say?
00:18:50.870 --> 00:18:52.071
What's the father say? "everything in my house
00:18:52.138 --> 00:18:52.905
"everything in my house is yours.
00:18:52.972 --> 00:18:54.440
Is yours. what are you talking about?"
00:18:54.507 --> 00:18:56.642
What are you talking about?" and what the father is saying
00:18:56.709 --> 00:18:57.543
And what the father is saying is if you're healthy,
00:18:57.610 --> 00:18:58.811
Is if you're healthy, and you're mature,
00:18:58.878 --> 00:19:01.046
And you're mature, you get off of your
00:19:01.113 --> 00:19:02.047
You get off of your blessed assurance and you
00:19:02.114 --> 00:19:04.150
Blessed assurance and you stir up a spirit of return.
00:19:04.216 --> 00:19:09.054
Stir up a spirit of return. you say,
00:19:09.121 --> 00:19:09.455
You say, "god, if you're running,
00:19:09.522 --> 00:19:10.990
"god, if you're running, i'm running with you.
00:19:11.056 --> 00:19:12.825
I'm running with you. if you're going,
00:19:12.892 --> 00:19:14.193
If you're going, i'm going with you."
00:19:14.260 --> 00:19:16.662
I'm going with you." we wanna see
00:19:16.729 --> 00:19:17.129
We wanna see the prodigals return.
00:19:17.196 --> 00:19:18.731
The prodigals return. we don't care what
00:19:18.797 --> 00:19:19.532
We don't care what they look like.
00:19:19.598 --> 00:19:20.132
They look like. we don't care
00:19:20.199 --> 00:19:20.900
We don't care where they come from.
00:19:20.966 --> 00:19:22.034
Where they come from. this should be a church
00:19:22.101 --> 00:19:24.003
This should be a church that has a spirit of return.
00:19:24.069 --> 00:19:28.674
That has a spirit of return. when he came back, he said,
00:19:28.741 --> 00:19:29.542
When he came back, he said, "i'm going to tell my father,
00:19:29.608 --> 00:19:31.210
"i'm going to tell my father, i'm gonna repent before him.
00:19:31.277 --> 00:19:33.979
I'm gonna repent before him. i'm gonna tell him that
00:19:34.046 --> 00:19:35.147
I'm gonna tell him that if he'll just make me
00:19:35.214 --> 00:19:35.981
If he'll just make me a hired servant," --
00:19:36.048 --> 00:19:38.284
A hired servant," -- and he gets the repentance part
00:19:38.350 --> 00:19:39.285
And he gets the repentance part out which is important,
00:19:39.351 --> 00:19:41.954
Out which is important, but he stopped.
00:19:42.021 --> 00:19:43.155
But he stopped. before he could say,
00:19:43.222 --> 00:19:43.989
Before he could say, "make me your hired servant."
00:19:44.056 --> 00:19:45.658
"make me your hired servant." the father stopped him.
00:19:45.724 --> 00:19:46.392
The father stopped him. why did the father stop him?
00:19:46.458 --> 00:19:48.394
Why did the father stop him? because he's letting him know,
00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:51.197
Because he's letting him know, "you left as a son and you're
00:19:51.263 --> 00:19:53.299
"you left as a son and you're returning as a son.
00:19:53.365 --> 00:19:55.935
Returning as a son. you've got lost,
00:19:56.001 --> 00:19:57.002
You've got lost, you've got regret,
00:19:57.069 --> 00:19:59.004
You've got regret, but you're still my son."
00:19:59.071 --> 00:20:01.473
But you're still my son." that's what preparing
00:20:01.540 --> 00:20:03.342
That's what preparing the house with a
00:20:03.409 --> 00:20:04.843
The house with a spirit of return looks like.
00:20:04.910 --> 00:20:07.146
Spirit of return looks like. it says, "i'm getting ready."
00:20:07.213 --> 00:20:09.148
It says, "i'm getting ready." every time the doors are opened,
00:20:09.215 --> 00:20:11.617
Every time the doors are opened, if this is the father's house
00:20:11.684 --> 00:20:14.386
If this is the father's house and i'm part
00:20:14.453 --> 00:20:15.020
And i'm part of the family of god,
00:20:15.087 --> 00:20:17.156
Of the family of god, i need to be clear
00:20:17.223 --> 00:20:18.057
I need to be clear every single week.
00:20:18.123 --> 00:20:19.892
Every single week. number one,
00:20:19.959 --> 00:20:21.160
Number one, the spirit of return
00:20:21.227 --> 00:20:21.927
The spirit of return means you're accepted
00:20:21.994 --> 00:20:23.095
Means you're accepted when you show up.
00:20:23.162 --> 00:20:24.530
When you show up. that doesn't mean that
00:20:24.597 --> 00:20:25.464
That doesn't mean that the father approved of
00:20:25.531 --> 00:20:26.599
The father approved of the things his son had done,
00:20:26.665 --> 00:20:28.767
The things his son had done, but he was still his son,
00:20:28.834 --> 00:20:29.735
But he was still his son, and he made it clear to him.
00:20:29.802 --> 00:20:31.870
And he made it clear to him. secondly, a spirit of return
00:20:31.937 --> 00:20:33.105
Secondly, a spirit of return means that those who return
00:20:33.172 --> 00:20:36.008
Means that those who return are going to find the love,
00:20:36.075 --> 00:20:37.676
Are going to find the love, not only the love of the father,
00:20:37.743 --> 00:20:40.379
Not only the love of the father, on the road,
00:20:40.446 --> 00:20:41.981
On the road, but they're gonna find
00:20:42.047 --> 00:20:42.615
But they're gonna find the love of the father
00:20:42.681 --> 00:20:43.949
The love of the father in the house as well.
00:20:44.016 --> 00:20:46.452
In the house as well. and number three,
00:20:46.518 --> 00:20:47.987
And number three, a spirit of return celebrates.
00:20:48.053 --> 00:20:50.623
A spirit of return celebrates. it throws a party.
00:20:50.689 --> 00:20:51.757
It throws a party. that's what church
00:20:51.824 --> 00:20:52.691
That's what church is supposed to be.
00:20:52.758 --> 00:20:54.860
Is supposed to be. it's supposed to be
00:20:54.927 --> 00:20:55.494
It's supposed to be a celebration.
00:20:55.561 --> 00:20:56.362
A celebration. read the rest of the story.
00:20:56.428 --> 00:20:58.264
Read the rest of the story. it's supposed to be
00:20:58.330 --> 00:20:59.298
It's supposed to be a celebration that removed
00:20:59.365 --> 00:21:02.268
A celebration that removed the bitter aftertaste from
00:21:02.334 --> 00:21:03.669
The bitter aftertaste from people's mouths and says,
00:21:03.736 --> 00:21:06.171
People's mouths and says, "this house is a place
00:21:06.238 --> 00:21:07.906
"this house is a place we celebrate the people
00:21:07.973 --> 00:21:10.142
We celebrate the people that returned."
00:21:10.209 --> 00:21:11.944
That returned." because why would god
00:21:12.011 --> 00:21:12.778
Because why would god send anybody anywhere
00:21:12.845 --> 00:21:15.414
Send anybody anywhere if they're not ready to receive
00:21:15.481 --> 00:21:17.216
If they're not ready to receive those he sends them?
00:21:17.283 --> 00:21:19.618
Those he sends them? the bible says,
00:21:19.685 --> 00:21:20.252
The bible says, "whoever will, let him come."
00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:22.755
"whoever will, let him come." imagine if it would have
00:21:22.821 --> 00:21:23.756
Imagine if it would have been the elder brother
00:21:23.822 --> 00:21:25.291
Been the elder brother that met the prodigal
00:21:25.357 --> 00:21:27.226
That met the prodigal on the road,
00:21:27.293 --> 00:21:28.694
On the road, he would have never even
00:21:28.761 --> 00:21:29.361
He would have never even let him in.
00:21:29.428 --> 00:21:30.863
Let him in. i don't want
00:21:30.929 --> 00:21:31.697
I don't want my attitude to be that.
00:21:31.764 --> 00:21:33.966
My attitude to be that. i don't want my attitude when
00:21:34.033 --> 00:21:35.167
I don't want my attitude when i come to god's house to be
00:21:35.234 --> 00:21:36.235
I come to god's house to be an attitude that keeps people
00:21:36.302 --> 00:21:37.903
An attitude that keeps people out of his presence.
00:21:37.970 --> 00:21:40.906
Out of his presence. did you know it's a fact that
00:21:40.973 --> 00:21:43.575
Did you know it's a fact that people can feel your spirit
00:21:43.642 --> 00:21:45.444
People can feel your spirit when they walk in?
00:21:45.511 --> 00:21:46.845
When they walk in? they can feel
00:21:46.912 --> 00:21:47.713
They can feel a spirit of rejection.
00:21:47.780 --> 00:21:52.117
A spirit of rejection. they can see it on your face.
00:21:52.184 --> 00:21:56.255
They can see it on your face. they can feel,
00:21:56.322 --> 00:21:57.823
They can feel, "ah, i'm not really sure
00:21:57.890 --> 00:21:59.224
"ah, i'm not really sure they look the part."
00:21:59.291 --> 00:22:02.294
They look the part." but they can also feel
00:22:02.361 --> 00:22:03.595
But they can also feel a spirit of return.
00:22:03.662 --> 00:22:06.899
A spirit of return. let's create
00:22:06.965 --> 00:22:07.566
Let's create a spirit of return
00:22:07.633 --> 00:22:10.302
A spirit of return in this church.
00:22:10.369 --> 00:22:11.537
In this church. this is the father's house
00:22:11.603 --> 00:22:13.706
This is the father's house and let's remember --
00:22:13.772 --> 00:22:15.307
And let's remember -- get over whatever things
00:22:15.374 --> 00:22:16.141
Get over whatever things you have to get over,
00:22:16.208 --> 00:22:17.910
You have to get over, but let's always keep this
00:22:17.976 --> 00:22:19.078
But let's always keep this a place that people when
00:22:19.144 --> 00:22:20.579
A place that people when they show up it's truly,
00:22:20.646 --> 00:22:22.548
They show up it's truly, "welcome home.
00:22:22.614 --> 00:22:24.917
"welcome home. welcome home.
00:22:24.983 --> 00:22:26.118
Welcome home. we celebrate that you're here."
00:22:26.185 --> 00:22:27.653
[applause]
00:22:27.953 --> 00:22:32.257
So, this is a story
00:22:33.092 --> 00:22:36.562
So, this is a story of two brothers,
00:22:36.628 --> 00:22:39.398
Of two brothers, a story of two brothers.
00:22:39.465 --> 00:22:42.034
A story of two brothers. it's the story
00:22:42.101 --> 00:22:42.868
It's the story of the father's heart
00:22:42.935 --> 00:22:46.238
Of the father's heart and the story of two brothers.
00:22:46.305 --> 00:22:49.675
And the story of two brothers. there's another story
00:22:49.742 --> 00:22:50.442
There's another story of two brothers that you can
00:22:50.509 --> 00:22:53.645
Of two brothers that you can look into that happened
00:22:53.712 --> 00:22:56.081
Look into that happened in the mid-1800's.
00:22:56.148 --> 00:22:58.217
In the mid-1800's. a man by the name
00:22:58.283 --> 00:22:59.151
A man by the name of edwin thomas was
00:22:59.218 --> 00:23:00.419
Of edwin thomas was one of the greatest actors
00:23:00.486 --> 00:23:01.587
One of the greatest actors of his time.
00:23:01.653 --> 00:23:03.422
Of his time. in new york city
00:23:03.489 --> 00:23:04.256
In new york city he had performed hamlet
00:23:04.323 --> 00:23:06.058
He had performed hamlet on over a hundred consecutive
00:23:06.125 --> 00:23:07.860
On over a hundred consecutive nights in a row.
00:23:07.926 --> 00:23:09.862
Nights in a row. edwin had two brothers
00:23:09.928 --> 00:23:11.130
Edwin had two brothers who were also successful
00:23:11.196 --> 00:23:12.765
Who were also successful actors though not
00:23:12.831 --> 00:23:13.699
Actors though not as successful as he was.
00:23:13.766 --> 00:23:16.568
As successful as he was. and one of his brothers
00:23:16.635 --> 00:23:17.569
And one of his brothers would make a decision that
00:23:17.636 --> 00:23:19.004
Would make a decision that would not only change his life
00:23:19.071 --> 00:23:20.739
Would not only change his life but would change the course
00:23:20.806 --> 00:23:21.840
But would change the course of an entire nation.
00:23:21.907 --> 00:23:24.276
Of an entire nation. his brother, john, would walk
00:23:24.343 --> 00:23:25.444
His brother, john, would walk into a theater on a cold night
00:23:25.511 --> 00:23:26.845
Into a theater on a cold night in 1865 and fire a shot at
00:23:26.912 --> 00:23:30.249
In 1865 and fire a shot at the head of abraham lincoln.
00:23:30.315 --> 00:23:33.185
The head of abraham lincoln. the last name of these
00:23:33.252 --> 00:23:34.119
The last name of these two brothers was booth,
00:23:34.186 --> 00:23:35.821
Two brothers was booth, edwin thomas booth
00:23:35.888 --> 00:23:37.523
Edwin thomas booth and john wilkes booth.
00:23:37.589 --> 00:23:40.692
And john wilkes booth. that night would mark our nation
00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:42.428
That night would mark our nation forever and would force edwin
00:23:42.494 --> 00:23:44.863
Forever and would force edwin into an early retirement.
00:23:44.930 --> 00:23:47.032
Into an early retirement. he might have never returned
00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:48.267
He might have never returned to the stage if it was not for
00:23:48.333 --> 00:23:50.669
To the stage if it was not for an almost unbelievable
00:23:50.736 --> 00:23:52.838
An almost unbelievable turn of events.
00:23:52.905 --> 00:23:55.374
Turn of events. he was in a train station
00:23:55.441 --> 00:23:59.278
He was in a train station in new jersey, was a cold night.
00:23:59.344 --> 00:24:02.981
In new jersey, was a cold night. a well-dressed man is pushing
00:24:03.048 --> 00:24:04.450
A well-dressed man is pushing through the crowd to get
00:24:04.516 --> 00:24:05.784
Through the crowd to get to the train.
00:24:05.851 --> 00:24:07.386
To the train. he loses his footing and falls
00:24:07.453 --> 00:24:08.887
He loses his footing and falls in between the platform
00:24:08.954 --> 00:24:10.889
In between the platform and the moving train.
00:24:10.956 --> 00:24:13.025
And the moving train. without hesitation,
00:24:13.091 --> 00:24:14.193
Without hesitation, edwin sees this happens,
00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:16.094
Edwin sees this happens, he locks his legs
00:24:16.161 --> 00:24:17.996
He locks his legs around the railing,
00:24:18.063 --> 00:24:21.333
Around the railing, pulls that young man out
00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:23.268
Pulls that young man out just in the nick of time
00:24:23.335 --> 00:24:24.703
Just in the nick of time away from that train,
00:24:24.770 --> 00:24:26.638
Away from that train, pulls him to safety.
00:24:26.705 --> 00:24:28.807
Pulls him to safety. the famous edwin booth did not
00:24:28.874 --> 00:24:30.108
The famous edwin booth did not recognize who the young man was,
00:24:30.175 --> 00:24:31.944
Recognize who the young man was, but the young man seeing him in
00:24:32.010 --> 00:24:33.712
But the young man seeing him in shock knew exactly who he was.
00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:37.182
Shock knew exactly who he was. edwin would not discover
00:24:37.249 --> 00:24:39.551
Edwin would not discover who this young man was until
00:24:39.618 --> 00:24:41.653
Who this young man was until three weeks later when he would
00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.855
Three weeks later when he would receive a letter that
00:24:42.921 --> 00:24:44.089
Receive a letter that he would carry to his grave.
00:24:44.156 --> 00:24:46.425
He would carry to his grave. he would get a letter
00:24:46.492 --> 00:24:48.060
He would get a letter from the chief secretary
00:24:48.126 --> 00:24:49.895
From the chief secretary of ulysses s. grant.
00:24:49.962 --> 00:24:52.297
Of ulysses s. grant. and in that letter,
00:24:52.364 --> 00:24:53.365
And in that letter, he would thank edwin booth
00:24:53.432 --> 00:24:55.067
He would thank edwin booth for saving the son
00:24:55.133 --> 00:24:56.802
For saving the son of the american hero,
00:24:56.869 --> 00:24:58.203
Of the american hero, president abraham lincoln.
00:24:58.270 --> 00:25:01.240
President abraham lincoln. the boy he yanked to safety
00:25:01.306 --> 00:25:04.109
The boy he yanked to safety was robert todd lincoln.
00:25:04.176 --> 00:25:07.613
Was robert todd lincoln. one brother killed
00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:08.580
One brother killed the president,
00:25:08.647 --> 00:25:10.015
The president, another saved the life
00:25:10.082 --> 00:25:11.316
Another saved the life of the president's son.
00:25:11.383 --> 00:25:14.052
Of the president's son. the question is always the same,
00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:16.255
The question is always the same, which brother are you?
00:25:16.321 --> 00:25:18.857
Which brother are you? which brother are you?
00:25:18.924 --> 00:25:21.126
Which brother are you? when god looks at a church,
00:25:21.193 --> 00:25:23.495
When god looks at a church, what's the spirit in this place?
00:25:23.562 --> 00:25:27.699
What's the spirit in this place? what's the spirit of this house?
00:25:27.766 --> 00:25:31.036
What's the spirit of this house? what kind of bro --
00:25:31.103 --> 00:25:31.637
What kind of bro -- are we the kind of brother
00:25:31.703 --> 00:25:33.505
Are we the kind of brother that walks around just
00:25:33.572 --> 00:25:34.773
That walks around just shooting bullets at everybody
00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:37.409
Shooting bullets at everybody that's not quite the way
00:25:37.476 --> 00:25:38.377
That's not quite the way we think they need to be,
00:25:38.443 --> 00:25:40.145
We think they need to be, just harsh judgments
00:25:40.212 --> 00:25:41.380
Just harsh judgments all the way,
00:25:41.446 --> 00:25:43.081
All the way, unrealistic expectations?
00:25:43.148 --> 00:25:44.783
Unrealistic expectations? just, "me, it's mine,
00:25:44.850 --> 00:25:46.485
Just, "me, it's mine, it's mine,"
00:25:46.552 --> 00:25:47.419
It's mine," just setting the direction
00:25:47.486 --> 00:25:48.287
Just setting the direction of our life in a way where
00:25:48.353 --> 00:25:50.389
Of our life in a way where no matter how hard we try,
00:25:50.455 --> 00:25:51.857
No matter how hard we try, can't nobody please us
00:25:51.924 --> 00:25:53.258
Can't nobody please us and we end up further,
00:25:53.325 --> 00:25:54.026
And we end up further, and further,
00:25:54.092 --> 00:25:54.960
And further, and further away
00:25:55.027 --> 00:25:56.261
And further away from where we start.
00:25:56.328 --> 00:25:58.263
From where we start. who made you judge and jury?
00:25:58.330 --> 00:26:01.600
Who made you judge and jury? who made you the executioner?
00:26:01.667 --> 00:26:04.836
Who made you the executioner? who made you to be the one
00:26:04.903 --> 00:26:06.605
Who made you to be the one that you're the know-it-all
00:26:06.672 --> 00:26:08.440
That you're the know-it-all of all know-it-alls?
00:26:08.507 --> 00:26:11.543
Of all know-it-alls? let me help you.
00:26:11.610 --> 00:26:13.011
Let me help you. this story was not a sermon
00:26:13.078 --> 00:26:15.280
This story was not a sermon about the prodigal that went
00:26:15.347 --> 00:26:16.815
About the prodigal that went and wasted his life.
00:26:16.882 --> 00:26:18.450
And wasted his life. it was ultimately a story about
00:26:18.517 --> 00:26:20.185
It was ultimately a story about the brother who sat there
00:26:20.252 --> 00:26:21.753
The brother who sat there in a seat and missed the point.
00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:25.824
In a seat and missed the point. our job is to say, "god,
00:26:25.891 --> 00:26:27.292
Our job is to say, "god, don't let us miss the point.
00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:29.561
Don't let us miss the point. i wanna be the kind of brother
00:26:29.628 --> 00:26:31.530
I wanna be the kind of brother that wraps my legs around
00:26:31.597 --> 00:26:32.764
That wraps my legs around the railing and reaches down
00:26:32.831 --> 00:26:34.533
The railing and reaches down to a lost generation
00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:36.168
To a lost generation with a moving train
00:26:36.234 --> 00:26:37.002
With a moving train headed right at him,
00:26:37.069 --> 00:26:38.103
Headed right at him, and i wanna pull him out."
00:26:38.170 --> 00:26:39.171
[applause]
00:26:39.538 --> 00:26:40.706
And you don't have to like it.
00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.441
And you don't have to like it. you don't have to think anything
00:26:42.507 --> 00:26:44.676
You don't have to think anything about it other than,
00:26:44.743 --> 00:26:45.877
About it other than, "my job is to say,
00:26:45.944 --> 00:26:47.112
"my job is to say, 'i want to have a spirit
00:26:47.179 --> 00:26:49.281
'i want to have a spirit of return.'"
00:26:49.348 --> 00:26:49.681
>> thank you so much
00:26:50.582 --> 00:26:51.350
>> thank you so much for spending some time
00:26:51.416 --> 00:26:52.317
For spending some time with us today.
00:26:52.384 --> 00:26:53.518
With us today. we're trusting that
00:26:53.585 --> 00:26:54.252
We're trusting that god's word, as it does,
00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.520
God's word, as it does, made a difference
00:26:55.587 --> 00:26:56.555
Made a difference in your life today.
00:26:56.622 --> 00:26:58.557
In your life today. and we're just here
00:26:58.624 --> 00:26:59.324
And we're just here to be a blessing to you.
00:26:59.391 --> 00:27:00.492
To be a blessing to you. we're here to serve
00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.126
We're here to serve however we can.
00:27:01.193 --> 00:27:02.628
However we can. if we can pray with you,
00:27:02.694 --> 00:27:03.595
If we can pray with you, they'll communicate that.
00:27:03.662 --> 00:27:04.830
They'll communicate that. if you wanna share with us
00:27:04.896 --> 00:27:05.731
If you wanna share with us your story.
00:27:05.797 --> 00:27:08.100
Your story. it always means so much
00:27:08.166 --> 00:27:09.368
It always means so much when we get the letters,
00:27:09.434 --> 00:27:10.569
When we get the letters, when we hear about what
00:27:10.636 --> 00:27:12.104
When we hear about what god's doing in your life
00:27:12.170 --> 00:27:13.538
God's doing in your life so we can begin to think about
00:27:13.605 --> 00:27:14.873
So we can begin to think about you and pray with you,
00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.907
You and pray with you, more specifically.
00:27:15.974 --> 00:27:17.542
More specifically. and so, please, call us
00:27:17.609 --> 00:27:18.810
And so, please, call us if you need prayer today,
00:27:18.877 --> 00:27:20.045
If you need prayer today, and know that you are
00:27:20.112 --> 00:27:21.780
And know that you are very important to us.
00:27:21.847 --> 00:27:22.981
Very important to us. more importantly,
00:27:23.048 --> 00:27:24.016
More importantly, you matter to god.
00:27:24.082 --> 00:27:25.183
You matter to god. we'll see you next time.
00:27:25.250 --> 00:27:26.084
♪ ♪
00:27:26.485 --> 00:27:29.010

Marcus Mecum - Having A Spirit Of Return

March 9, 2025 | S25:E10

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