Not willing that any should perish!'

Brethren,

I don't know about you, but out of all the stories in The BIBLE," the most memorable to me, is; "The Prodigal Son story."

Why do you suppose?"

Well, it's because I can fully identify with the prodigal son."

The story begins with a rebellious son. A son, that, against the will of his father, asks for his inheritance, so he can leave his Father's house, to go into the world. 🌎

The Father didn't need to ask, but he simply knew, that his son no longer wanted to be under his authority.

The son, wanted to do his own will."

So he leaves his father's house."

After quite some time of riotous living and bad investments; he wastes away, all his inheritance!"

He becomes so broke, that he goes to work for a pig herder.

Far from doing the will of his father, he continues his fast lifestyle, making bad investments, and bad choices."

Eventually, he becomes so broke and hungry, that he would've eaten the pigs food, but nobody offered him any.

So he finally humbles himself, and comes to his senses. He decides to return to his Father's house.

No longer feeling worthy of being called his Father's, son; Luke 15:18-20 tells us what the prodigal son, resolves to do.":

I will arise and go to my Father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against HEAVEN and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." '

[With his mind fully made up, the prodigal son decides to go meet with his Father.

And so, the story continues by saying.] But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

[And because the GOODNESS of GOD, leads to repentance;

Luke 15:21 reveals the repentance of the son, by saying: And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against HEAVEN and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.

[And because GOD is well pleased with such humility, and the sacrifice of repentance; The Father forgives his son, who once was dead, but now lives!'

And Brethren,

The story ends with a banquet scene, because wisely,

the son repents of doings things, he did not mean."

And Luke 15:22-24 reveals that scene, by saying:

"But the Father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this My son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." And they began to be merry.

[Brethren,

Like the prodigal son, to his father; our soul, is infinitely precious to GOD. Why? Because we are Son's of GOD, and possess The Promise of HIS coming!"

We possess The "SPIRIT of The LIVING GOD," that teaches us to walk in obedience to HIS WORD."

Yes, and to walk worthy of our calling, by proclaiming the finished work of The Cross of CHRIST,

for the remission of sins.

That we would do this, knowing the time. As Romans 13:11 tells us: That now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our SALVATION is nearer than when we first Believed.

[Yes, Beloved, our LORD assures us, saying: The night is far spent, The Day is at hand.

Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of LIGHT.

Yes, put on The LORD JESUS CHRIST!" And know that HE has entrusted us with The GOSPEL to speak, not as pleasing men, but GOD Who tests our hearts.

Right!"

Tests our hearts for FAITH!"

Because it's only FAITH in The WORD of The LIVING GOD;

That moves us to obey HIM, without finding it odd!'

Right!"

By our obedience to CHRIST,

The LORD, "we turn from obedience to the powers of darkness, to take up our Cross, and brandish

The SWORD!"

We commit our lives to CHRIST, because we are persuaded that HE is able to keep what we have entrusted to HIM.

"Our very lives!"

And because we have committed our lives to HIM, we commit our time and efforts, to serve HIS cause!"

And HIS cause, "is SALVATION."

And because GOD'S plan, and our purpose, is SALVATION."

1st Corrinthians 1:21 reveals the Wisdom of GOD, and HIS plan to reconcile the lost. It reads:

For since, in the WISDOM of GOD, the world through wisdom did not know GOD, it pleased GOD through the foolishness of the message preached to SAVE those who Believe.

[And because we Believe, We speak!"

And our LORD, assures us, that there is more joy in HEAVEN over one repented sinner, "than over ninety nine just men who have no need of repentance."

Luke 15:7 assures us."

[Yes, Brethren,

We are the "repented sinner" who were once dead; "But now,

live for The GLORY of our great GOD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!"

And because we do,

Ephesians 2:1-10 speaks to us, saying:

And you HE made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But GOD, Who is rich in MERCY, because of HIS GREAT LOVE with which HE LOVED us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with CHRIST (by GRACE you have been SAVED,) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the Heavenly places in CHRIST JESUS, that in the ages to come HE might show the exceeding riches of HIS GRACE in HIS KINDNESS toward us in CHRIST JESUS.

For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

For we are HIS workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

["Brethren,

We were each, once dead!"

"Dead?"

Yes, "Dead in our trespasses and sins!" But in CHRIST; "We have been made alive!" And now to live for HIS GLORY, we thrive!"

"For our LIFE," is hidden in CHRIST

JESUS

OK