Reversing Spiritual Consequences

Dr. Tony Evans says it's easy to be distant from the Lord without actually running away. Take advantage of what celebrating. This is the alternative Dr. Tony Evans, author, speaker, senior pastor of Oakland Bible Fellowship in Dallas Texas and president of the Trinity. We all know actions have consequences today.

Dr. Evans uses a familiar story to show us why in the spiritual arena. Some of the worst of them can be reversed. Let's join God's family reunion. He wants to read with members of his family who have drifted from him. He has term reconnection. That term is repentance to bring you back into fellowship, which will based on God's sovereign prerogative to address the consequences that chair created from him. Luke chapter 15. We are told that the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to Jesus, to hear him teach that when listening to his message, but the religious leaders according to verse two describes the Pharisees saying this man Jesus received any actually with all that Jesus Christ was facing, and even low shipping with folks mind to have been avoided.

This leaves Jesus to tell a couple stories he tells about a shepherd when one sheep goes and gets lost the Sheppard leave the 99 goes up one brings one back been saved as a woman with 10 points she loses one. She turned on the light she just she sweeps in order to find one point in the shepherd celebrates to bring back a shepherd. The woman celebrates when she finds the coin he makes the point that heaven rejoices when one repents that all the righteous who do not need to repent. Heaven has parties. When a sinner comes along that is actually upon the glory when someone who is lost returns to the full, having stated his two illustrations he comes with, you know it as the prodigal son.

Let's revisit this story today to see how it affects your fellowship with God and the possible reversals of consequences. You may be experiencing because of sin or those you know what may be experiencing because of sin, I think you'll find some very interesting things in the story Amanda has two sons, verse 11, six young son comes to the father and said give me the share of the estate that falls to me, so he divided his wealth between them. The younger son, daddy says that I want my inheritance because I want to leave now may not seem like a big deal to you and me with a big deal back then because the Jewish world. You only saw your inheritance when it was time for your father to die. What this Bob is very much alive and the son says I like my inheritance now translation. I wish you would be. I wish you would be living too long. I don't like to die. I want to get on him now you have any teenagers like that. Perhaps you would like that with your parents. I gotta get out. He can't wait to go to Do my thing is to be ruled. You tell me when I go to commune you tell me who my friends are telling me all that give me my inheritance so I can leave I want to be free and we gather those things together.

After many days he goes on a journey to a distant country where he squandered his estate would lose living spin everything he had. There was a severe famine that occurred in the country and he began to be impoverished.

That's what happens when we wonder far from God. We take the time he's given us, and use it for sin or evil or rebellion. We take the resources he is given us and we spend it responsibly or illegitimately, he squandered the state with loosely.

That was his control, but it got worse because in the far country. Something happened that was out of his control. You can control the famine you can control the change in the economy. You can control when the downsize happens in the company you can control all of that, so he was messing up stuff he could control this stop you didn't tell him what happened.

Well, promises, feasting good thing about a famine promises you riches while leading you to poverty and shouts of joy and good luck you to run in the pain and enjoyment until it turns into enslavement or drug addict will feel good until the drugstore telling them what to do. That's what the far country is a very entertaining location with a price tag you not informed of anything so it is in a far country.

When you have wondered from God long enough, we wind up with regrets that we things we wish were different decisions that we would redo if we could so things don't look good for our young man here but they get worse.

Verse 15 himself out to one of the citizens of that country and he sent them into the field to feed swine and he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine's were eating and no one was giving him anything bad to worse that can run out of stuff is greenbacks have gone back comes a day work feeding pigs may Understand the Jewish boy feeding pics. That was an unclean animal. He had went to the garbage as a worker feeding pigs desires to aid the pods that the pigs were eating, which means our friend can't even afford McDonald because it got started late for our need is the food of the pics that pigs eat because in the far country. If you been long wind up in the garbage got worse since no friends gave him anything because when things go left her friends discipline, friends, a hideout which is long and I can help you spend your money or piggyback on the coattails different is that what you would long as you got a name and a reputation but not a famine hitch on that sin take its toll and reduce you when all of a sudden your homeboys in the home girls are on locatable on social media. You have been on friend so friend is broke, destitute, famine, everything is just world has right beneath his feet.

Verse 17 offers us a transition, but when it came to his senses when he came to his senses.

Translation was not a it was on his word.

He looked at himself and said self was wrong which they look at himself and said you some crazy, man you are.

Feeding pigs watch this come to his senses until things got as long as you think in the far country you will work it out on your own to get to the bottom of the pit and he says you are crazy. Look at what you doing here, the Council goal how your lifestyle has become. Now I'm here in this country so we said how many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread but I am dying here with home I will get up and go to my father and all salient, I have sinned against heaven and in your site.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

Make me as one of your hired men.

He says I will go back home to daddy, daddy. I have seen I am no longer worthy. He was brought to a place of brokenness, God will let sin do you win until you crack till we get to the point where we recognize him to low and to file all look at my watch this my circumstances. Think it was his consequences that will come up until God will allow us to have consequences until we get tired of life. I'm going home. I'm going to confess my sin and my unworthiness to my father, Dr. Evans will come back in a moment with more on the difference between regret and repentance for so Tony is written a brand-new book called U-turns goes hand-in-hand with today's lesson. There are ways to reverse the consequences of spiritual failures you may have experienced in your life in areas like addiction, sexuality, financial responsibility and more including problems you may have heard were irreversible. U-turns will show you how to get your life headed in a new and healthy direction toward offering both the book and all 12 lessons in the U-turns series on both CD and digital download is her way of saying thanks when you come alongside Tony's ministry and make a donation to help keep these broadcasts coming your way. Each day we depend completely on your support to keep the alternative on the station and this is one way we can show our appreciation. And if you want to learn even more about how God can work to redeem the negative consequences of decisions you made, or if you want to help others in this area you want to look into the companion U-turns Bible study kit and DVD. Dr. Evans is prepared to complement the material in the book and audio series.

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That's 1-800-800-3222. Here's Dr. Evans with more of today's lesson then shows the fruits of repentance. Verse 26 so we got up and came to his father just have a discussion with himself about going back because that's what we do a lot of time. I should go back I should return.

I should get out of the pit. No, he got out fruit of repentance. On his internal decision validating that is internal decision was real while he was still a long way off.

Verse 20, his father saw him, felt compassion for him, ran and embraced and kissed him.

The father did not run to him until he saw him on the way back. That must be movement toward God, demonstrating their insincerity about repentance and the father will meet you before you ever arrive because it was sure to come home for you to come home as of June the come home but you gotta become 141.4 country really can do that.

The Bible says is because the world far country in the P against God. James 446, first John chapter 2 verses 15 to 17 the love the world or the things in the world for any man love the world, the love of the father is not any you lose the love of God, you are at enmity with God to leave Michael hang out with you in the far country, but he will meet you if you decide to live the far country, and help you want, leave the far country. He will wait till you hit rock and trust me sooner or later you will because that's what sin does. It takes you down in one form or another. Here's a picture like a soldier returning home is seen on television in the family is waiting for them and they want and embrace each other. The father runs and embraces his son because notice it's his son and he met alongside the fact my father's son or that this is my father so this easily relates to a Christian who needs to come back to daddy because they wandered away in a far country wandered away from God and one form of here's something interesting. She comes back to his father's father's kissing and loving on them.

The sunset of the father is 21 father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Because of what I did your name become what I did the resources I don't deserve the carrier may, but the father said to his slaves quickly bring out the best robe and put it on. Put a ring on his and sandals on his feet and bring the fatted calf kill it and let us eat and celebrate who you consult right the sunset. Father, I have sin. I'm not worthy to be called your son. The father said quickly, quickly bring out the role bring out the rain bring out the sandals I am the father said the sunset sin no longer worthy to be son. The father says bring up the rope bring out the ring sandals embryo quickly minutes something is missing something. When I go back I'm going to tell. I thought I've seen. I'm going to tell my father I'm not worthy also going to tell my father make me one of your hired, but the father never lets him get out the last line. The father does not let him reduce himself to be less than a son save all will let you go down to phone you look at what you did look out on you. Look how much you failed miserable you are you you you you know this is no good but the father said I know I'm not going let you live in your regret iMac and keep your desk to every day you wake up, serving the should be a son messed up and I would be asserted I would be assigned to be reminded all day everyday that your servant no not by you been a bad boy.

But you might look like it's a party. Father after he's convinced that he sent and returned home to Lackawanna party without a confession and that's a great end of the story except it's not the end of the story. There is a second brother now verse 25. The older son was in the field and when he came and approached the house music and paint any summer. One of the servants verse 26 and began inquiring what these things quickly went liquid with his party on his damn your brother has come in. Your father has killed the fatted calf, because he received him back St. Vincent but he became angry with this now and was not willing to go when I'm going to that party and his father came out and began pleading with him, but he answered and said to his father for so many years I have been serving you. I never neglected the command of yours and yet you have never given me a jungle gate in the family Never even gave me a go so that I might celebrate with friends never did that for me video which is what my brother did you know starting when it's not my brother's well messed up your inheritance with a hotel of Catholic, no man right you can soon feel the brunt, no one but boy got a point.

Boy got up and what you could use this see the father's response to the son, and he said verse 31 son son to. You have always been with me and all that is mine is yours.

But we had to celebrate and rejoice for this brother of yours was dead, and has become alive was lost and is now found. Do you remember what we just defined it to be for everyone physically.

He was separated so's death in the Bible mean separation.

This brother was dead into the fabric separated from the Babbitt is a life that is has been a reunion and is yours.

Translation you could have had a party anytime you want one.

In other words, brothers and sisters. There are two kinds of particles that is a goal that's a: secular private. This is the one of these church is the one that goes out into the world. This is the one that leaves God is the one I don't want have anything to do with faith is the one is thrown the Bible way has no time for prayer and is out there just living it up and it the reputation is evidence that this is a silly product all but you can have a religious product.

the religious prodigal is staying in the vicinity of the now in the father's field still comes to church every sunday. she still sings in the choir. he still serves on the usher board still around. they give the picture of fellowship with the father, never taking it back page of the relationship religious prodigal sleep. we have a hard time to the secular prodigal, like wickedness, but god has allowed the children got children, boys and girls who stay in the vicinity of the father never take advantage of what the father has charge, but they are disconnected from the question is what kind of prodigal are you in my younger son. prodigal well just loose living or maybe a religious prodigal why go to church but there's no relationship with because the father says i do soon. dr. evans will come back in a moment with a touching story about 1 Man Who Made His Way back to God. Stay with us church white church Hispanic church.

These describe the division among God's people failed to restrict the beautiful diversity supernatural unity of his kingdom.

That's a challenging and home-field message Dr. Tony Evans brings in his timely book oneness embraced this powerful book reflects on matters of history, culture, theology and social justice.

From a biblical perspective in finding a church to lead the charge towards true racial reconciliation and put the gospel on display for all the world to see.

Get your copy oneness embraced today. You can request your copy@tonyevans.org and wander there.

Don't forget to make the arrangements to receive those powerful resources I mentioned earlier Tony's brand-new book U-turns reversing the consequences in your life. The companion study guide and resource DVD along with all 12 messages from his current series on CD and digital download. The entire U-turns package can be yours when you make a contribution to help keep this broadcast coming your way each day of this is a limited time offer so don't put it off as it is today@20of.org to get all the details you can make your contribution and your request online@tonyevans.org or call our 24 hour resource request line at 1-800-800-3222 let one of our resource team members assist you again that's 1-800-800-3222 many Christians live their life like spiritual POWs, unable to break free from the sins that hold them hostage, but next time Dr. Evans will tell us about an escape route that's already in place and come straight from Scripture right now though he's back with the final story about a man you may or may not of heard of his name was Robert Robbins. He lived in the mid-1700s evoked claims consultants is a Christian and he love the Lord, but he went into a far country. He went into a dark place. Many of you know what it is to have been close to the Lord and then go into a dark place.

One day Robert Robinson was in a carriage young lady got in the carriage to go to Germany where they were going and she was reading points.

She came across a point that she did not understand, she turned to the stranger sitting next to her was Robert Robinson and said you understand this point the first line of the point and said come by fount of every blessing to my heart to sing thy grace streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. If you were raised in church with a hymnbook you know that some come from every blessing to my heart to sing became a one broke out in tears as he told the woman many years ago I was close to God, but I no longer walk with young lady looked at him as tears flowed down Robert Robinson face. She said have you forgotten another part of your point that you wrote prone to wonder Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I here's my heart old taken Sealift seal it for thy courts above prone to wonder Lord I feel prone to believe God I we are all prone to go into a dark place when he heard his own words, come back right there in the carriage. He recommitted himself to the alternative with Tony celebrating 40 years of faith, generous contributions listeners like you