971003 To Believe or not to Believe? Luke 15:11-32

by Ronald George Jr.

These are God’s Measurements of the Church.

1 Cor 13:13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

A revival of Faith. Will you pray for a Revival of Faith?

Scripture Text: Luke 15:11-24

Luke 15:11 (NIV) Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 "When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.{[21] Some early manuscripts son. Make me like one of your hired men.}' 22 "But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

2Cor 5:6 (KJS) Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Hebr 11:6 (KJS) But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

In Paduka, Kentucky at Mt. Piska Church, the preacher's daughter is age 6. The other day she was admonished by her mother not to stick her finger in the lamp socket, electricity could hurt her. She dropped a cookie on the floor and was admonished by her mother to put it in the garbage can because there were now germs on it. This time the little preacher's daughter stomped her foot and said, "Electricity, germs, Jesus and Santa Claus, that's all I hear about and I haven't seen any of them!"

I've always been amazed by what people will believe. In recent grocery store tabloids, the following headlines were observed:

* Dinosaurs Honked Like Buicks

* Cow Mattresses Help Cows Produce More Milk

* Mom To Be On Diet Of Only Chicken, Lays Huge Egg

* WWII Bomber Found On The Moon

* Woman Gives Birth To 2 Year Old Baby: Child Walks & Talks In 3 Days

* Adam & Eve's Bones Found In Asia: Eve Was A Space Alien

I. The Meaning of Faith:

What is the definition of faith? It's in the Bible, Hebrews 11:1, TLB. "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead." God is the motivator of all that we are in the church. The vehicle He uses is the Faith that He gives us.

Paul Harvey has rightly said, "If you don't live it, you don't believe it."

Its like going to the Doctor and believing what he says. Take the Meds.

II. The Faith of the Son…

A. Misplaced Faith: Faith placed in someone or something not God!

The Son began to be in want. His faith left him empty.

He began to feed the swine. His faith took him down from his father.

No man gave unto him. His faith left him without any friends or food.

Are we continuing to the Lord in all our life? Even when it is not convenient

Are we willingly giving to the Lord our time talent and treasurers?

Have we been praying for God to change our lives and others?

What is the evidence of Faith in our lives? How would you describe yours?

B. REVIVED Faith: Faith placed in God . Is right faith. He came to.

He arose and came to the Father.

Father had compassion on him, when no one else cared.

He confessed his sin to the Father.

He Humbled himself before the Father.

III. The Faithfulness of the Father.

Do you believe that the Father knows best?

Do you trust the Father to give you the best?

Do you have Faith in the Father to listen and do what the Father Says is the Best?

Faith in God the Father to love and accept you and forgive you and take you back. See the Faithfulness of the Father as he waits for you to come home,

If the son is alive then are we ready to live unto God an uncompromising life? My Son is Alive.