Larry Siegle · Luke 15:11-32
Link to sermon video: A Tale of Three Hearts – L Siegle
The Heart Posture
“A TALE of Three Hearts”
(Luke 15:11-32)
Series: The Healing Heart Posture
Thesis: There is a “sickness” in the human heart that only God can heal.
INTRODUCTION
1. We continue the special series to identify and explore the depths our “heart posture” and why our hearts need God’s touch to heal and to restore us in every area of our lives.
2. The title of the series is The Heart Posture
3. The title of our message today is: “A TALE of Three Hearts”
PARABLES ABOUT THE HEART OF GOD
1. When we examine our heart posture we soon realize how very much it is like walking through a mine field, no matter where we step, there is always something that arises within us and causes painful memories (Psa. 51:17).
a. After David had been confronted by Nathan the prophet regarding his sin with Bathsheba, the memory of this transgression remains (II Sam. 12:1, 9, 13-15; Psa. 51).
1) Even when we realize that God has forgiven us for some foolish transgression, the feelings of sorrow, guilt, and regret remain long afterward.
2) A “broken spirit” is pictured in the Hebrew language as “broken into pieces, crushed beyond repair”—no amount of Elmers Glue, or Duct Tape is ever enough to fix the damage once it is done.
3) Only God can (over time) take our past experiences, things that have damaged the very core of our being, and begin the process of healing that can ONLY come from Him (Acts 28:27).
2. The Bible teaches that the very nature of God is love (I John 4:7-11).
a. More than any other book of the NT, the word “love” is found 36x in the letter of I John.
b. What is in the deepest regions of our heart is revealed in the demonstration of “love” for other people (I John 3:18)—It is our actions not simply what we “say” that reveals what is really in our hearts.
c. In this parable that Jesus tells about two sons and the father, we are going to see that their attitude and actions are an accurate reflection of where their hearts are.
1) We will examine the heart condition of the one identified as the “younger son”
2) We will take a close look into the “older son” of the story.
3) We will look at the heart of the father who loves both of his sons and expresses the depth of it.
THE KINGDOM/HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE PARABLE
1. A “parable” is ‘an earthly story with a heavenly meaning’ and Jesus uses this method of teaching not to just teach moral lessons or platitudes—the focus and emphasis is always on the nature of the Kingdom of God and its nearness.
a. Before we get to the “heart condition” described in this parable, we need to identify who Jesus is talking about, and why.
1) The “younger son” of the parable is the “northern 10 tribes” of Israel who had abandoned God and went out on their own after the death of Solomon in the OT.
2) The “older son” of the parable is the “southern 2 tribes” who had remained faithful to God but whose attitude was completely wrong toward the “younger brother”
3) The “father” of the parable represents God as the “patient and loving” one whose desire is to see both of these sons come together and do what is right.
2. The attitude of the religious leaders during this time (Luke 12:-3; 13:31-35; 15:1, 2).
a. They were negative and critical toward Jesus and His disciples and their willingness to minister to the needs of the people without speaking down to them or being judgmental.
b. Luke 15 has three parables about the meaning of “lostness” and the extent to which God is willing to go to recover that which has become “lost”
1) The “lost” sheep (15:3-7)
2) The “lost” coin (15:8-8)
3) The “lost” son (15:11-32).
c. In each instance, the heart of God is revealed…
1) God wants to find every “sheep” that wanders aways (15:7).
2) God understands human value and how the clutter of life can cause a “coin” to be misplaced and His willingness to keep sweeping until it is found (15:9, 10).
3) God’s patience, love and desire for the “lost” son to return home to Him (15:32).
THE “HEART” OF THE YOUNGER SON (15:12-15).
1. The “younger son” wanted the father to divide the portion of the inheritance that was coming to him (15:12).
a. The heart of the “younger son” is to become a “party animal” and to be “wasteful” with the provision and goodness of his father (15:13).
1) What is the condition of our hearts relative to what God has given to us?
2) It is easy to become reckless and wasteful and to “squander” the opportunities God places before us.
b. Attitudes and actions have consequences (15:14-16).
2. The “northern 10 tribes” wasted God goodness and went after “other gods” and “squandered” their relationship with God—their hearts we distracted and they wasted God’s goodness.
a. In 722 BC, God sent the Assyrians into the land and they conquered the “northern 10 tribes” and carried them away into the “pigs pen” of “captivity” (I Chron. 5:26; II Kings 17:5, 6).
b. Long ago, Moses had warned them of what would happen if they forsook their relationship with God (Deut. 28:62-65).
c. God had sent the prophets into the land (in advance) to warn them of what was coming (II Kings 17:13).
3. The “younger son” saw his condition and knew that he had gotten himself into deep trouble (15:17-19).
a. The change of heart of the “younger son” brought “repentance” and actions that were consistent with his heart condition (15:20).
THE “HEART” OF THE FATHER (15:20-24)
1. The “heart” of the father was that of watching for his son to return and then, without any hesitation, running out to receive his fallen son.
a. This father did not put the “younger son” on ‘super-secret probation’ and make him to suffer further to somehow “teach him a lesson” but rather called for celebration (15:20-24).
1) When someone sins and falls away from the Lord, it is always God’s desire for their return and to celebrate their return.
2) Forgiveness of whatever was done in the pasts opens the door to receive the “younger son” back into the house of the father.
3) When someone returns to the Lord, there should be both acceptance and the celebration that follows.
b. In our own “heart posture” it sometimes takes time for us to learn how to be like God in this area.
1) Yes, God expects the actions of repentance to follow (Matt. 3:8).
2) But we have to be careful that we are not expecting perfection from the person who returns to the Lord.
2. It always God’s desire for the “gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16) to reach those of the “northern 10 tribes” so that they could return to the Father and be saved.
THE HEART OF THE “OLDER SON”
1. The “heart” condition of the “older son” was one of judgment and resentment toward the actions of his father and of the return of the “younger son” (15:25-30)
a. The “older son” calls attention to all of the things HE has done (“look at me, how good I am and have been”).
b. The “older son” does not even refer to the “younger son” as his own brother (“this son of YOURS”).
2. What is our “heart posture” toward those who repent and return to the Lord?
a. Do we somehow expect God to give us more than the one who repents and returns?
b. Do we not understand the central focus of our own relationship with God?
3. The religious leaders of the “southern kingdom” (Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees) had a contemptable attitude toward those from the “northern tribes” (John 4:1ff).
a. When the Samaritan woman understood who Jesus is, her “testimony” brought others into the kingdom (4:39).
4. The “younger son” had experienced “resurrection-life” but the “older son” missed the point completely (15:32).
a. The loving Father (God) pleads with the “older son” to see what has happened to his brother and to rejoice.
CONCLUSION
1. We are examining our own “heart posture” to see where we are in our attitudes and actions toward others.
2. If we have fallen away, our hearts need to be like the “younger son” who repented and returned.
3. If our “hearts” are negative and resentful toward others whose lives have been distant from God, like the “older son” we need to repent and appreciate the depth of God’s “heart” toward the “lost”
4. God wants to implant within us His own heart of love and acceptance toward others in reaching out to the community here, the state, the nation, and the world.
5. People all around us are “lost” and looking for answers to life’s most challenging problems. Jesus IS the answer!
Outline (Word document): The_Healing_Heart_Posture_IIIa.docx