The Place of Celebration

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Text: Romans 12:9-16

Last night we looked very briefly at the story of the Prodigal son and saw how when the son comes home the Father says we have to celebrate!
I don't know about you but I need to celebrate more in my life. Life is too hard, too long, too tiring that I need moments to let go of negative thoughts and feelings and just engage myself in the celebration that involves both heaven and men!

This morning we just want to note where we cannot celebrate and the only source that will give us the joy that is lasting!
Let's read some passages before we get into this:
Romans 6:1-7, 1 John 4:7-11, Romans 12:9-16

Now, turn in your Bibles to Luke 15 again. All of us who are here this morning want to somehow be involved in this great thing that Jesus spoke about in this story. We want the unsearchable riches of Christ, we want the joy that is unspeakable, and the idea that despite all of my past mistakes I can be right with God!
That's indescribable!
There are however, certain places that this celebration cannot take place from and I want to share two of them with you!
Now, we said last night that all of us at one time or another have been prodigal sons and daughters of God!
We have wandered from the Father's house and wasted our living.
  1. The Far Country! Luke 15:13-16!
    One of the things we need to understand that many people fall prey to is this: sin does not and will not allow the children of God to celebrate in God!
    As long as the boy was in the state of being a prodigal, he was in want, he was desperate and he wanted to live like the pigs!
    Someone says, I thought you said we could be secure in the fact that Jesus died for us. There is no question we have a sure defense (1 John 2:1,2), but sin cannot be taken lightly! Titus 2:11-14.
    Notice, Jesus will not defend those who defend themselves!
    We must never graduate to the point that we excuse, hide or try to justify our sins!
    That boy was not on the road to celebrating until he got to the point that he came to his senses!
    Don't come to the conclusion that since Jesus was a friend to sinners he must really like me! 1 John 1:5,6
  2. Outside the House! Luke 15:25-32!
    Now, I mentioned if you are someone who comes to the conclusion that you are not a prodigal and in fact "have never transgressed your Father's commands" we'll talk about you.
    Well, guess who you are in the story!
    This is a very crucial aspect of the story: You can never join the celebration of God if you are constantly believing that your brethren do not deserve to be welcomed home!
    What kept him from celebrating?
    1. He did not love his brother enough!
      (vs.28), this guy was so self-centered that he couldn't rejoice with the fact that his brother was alive!
      Could you imagine being like that?
      Listen, if we truly would rather have people lost, than people who were bad saved, we'll never celebrate with the Father because He is in the business of saving sinners.
    2. He was jealous of his brother's celebration.
      You've never given me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends!
      "Son, there's a celebration going on right now"!
    3. He was very hypocritical and unforgiving!
      (vs.30) "This son of yours"!
      He couldn't forgive his brother's sins, but he obviously forgot his own!
      He has no right here, but I do!
      Listen, to the father's reply, to all of us who might ever begin to feel that God is being too generous with people- vs.31,32!
Where can celebration take place?
Only in the Father's house!
What do we make of this?
Only when we truly understand the great love of God can we begin and maintain that spirit of celebration that Jesus says happens!
What drew that son home?
It could only be the memories of his father. May I always leave memories for my girls that if they ever do wander away, home is a desired return. May the church offer those same memories.
What drew the father out to plead with the elder brother?
It could only have been the father's great love for him that wanted him to leave his anger and join the celebration of life over death!
A Father has a choice of 3 options to take with his children ->
  1. everything goes kind of guy!
    Friend not Father type. Many want God to be like this- the kind of Father that says don't worry about the wasteful living, enjoy yourself and have a good time.
  2. The man of punishment!
    This is the Father that is not looked up to with adoration and respect, but fear. The day Sydney comes home and calls me "sir" I'll have some big changes to make.
  3. The Daddy!
    The Father who accepts, forgives, redeems, guides and embraces.
We can only learn to celebrate when we recognize God's great love covered our sins (sins which cost him quite a bit) And when God's love for others is as important as God's love for us!

Have you ever found yourself saying "what is the world coming to"? that's not our motto, the world has always been a place of hatred, violence and evil, our motto is "look who has come into the world".
Can we love God enough to allow Him to hate sin, but love those who do sin?

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