Glen Bond
4-2-06
Picayune
Song 371 broadman I love to tell the old story
Subject: The prodigal son
         Luke 15:11-24



He took his inheritance - All that the Lord has given each of us, we have taken and went away from God.

He went to a far country - We leave God, his protection, and his comforts.

When all was spent - He didn't have to wait till all was spent. The Lord gives us space to repent now, while things are good. But we won't come while things are good.  We wait till we can do nothing else, till there is no other way to go.

He fed swine - (See Matt. Henry notes for vs 15)
No man gave him anything.

He came to himself - (See Matt. Henry notes for vs 17)
We won't come to Christ because we think that we can take care of ourselves.
We think that we can be saved some other way.
We think that we will be able to escape Hell soome way.
We are blinded by Satan.
When he came to himself, is when the Lord opened his understanding.

I will go to my father - This is where every sinner finds salvation.
Look how he approaches his father:
He says "I am not worthy"
He has been humbled, every sinner is broken and humbled before he will ever come to Christ.

Psalms 51:17 
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Contrite:
contrite See Trite.]
   1. Thoroughly bruised or broken. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Broken down with grief and penitence; deeply sorrowful for
      sin because it is displeasing to God; humbly and
      thoroughly penitent.
      [1913 Webster]

            A contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
                                                  --Ps. li. 17.
      [1913 Webster]

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Penitent \Pen"i*tent\, n.
   1. One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his
      transgressions.
      [1913 Webster]


Then look at vs. 22 and 23
The his father (the Lord) forgave him.
We see no punishment, he was restored and reconciled to his father.

...be merry.
All heaven praises the Lord when a sinner is saved.