KEEPING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD :

2. KEEPING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD : Text: LUKE 15:25-32 Intro: Despite the fact that the Father and angels rejoices when one sinner repents, lots of Christians got attitude problem. Instead of rejoicing with the Father, they got an ill feeling towards those sinners who repented, and The worst of it, is they willingly choose not to get in the kingdom because of that ill feeling.

3. One way to know who your real friends is to know how they feel with what you feel. Supposedly, when you’re happy they should be happy. When you’re sad they should be sad. AIM: FOR US TO KEEP THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. I. THE REASON THESE 3 PARABLE WAS GIVEN The lost sheep (mgatanga) The Lost coin (hindisinadsadya) The prodigal son (Nananadya) The tax collectors and sinners drew near to Him to hear Him-v 1

4. The Pharisees and Scribes complained, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Verse 3- So He spoke this parable to them The purpose of these parables was to correct their attitude towards Jesus’ attitude in dealing with sinners, Their attitude towards themselves, and Their attitude towards sinners It so happened that they appraised themselves to be righteous because of what they are doing. They forgot or they are not in line with God’s purpose to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

5. Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard [it], He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call [the] righteous, but sinners, to repentance." II. THE FIRST ONE WHO REJOICES WHEN ONE SINNER REPENTS IS GOD THE FATHER HIMSELF-V 10 There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents He wants us to picture out how happy He is with the parable of the woman who lost one of her coins and with the story of the prodigal son Ezekiel 18:23 "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "[and] not that he should turn from his ways and live? As illustrated with the prodigal Son Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'? III. A SPIRIT COULD BE KNOWN BY ACTIONS AS A TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUIT They accused Jesus of having an evil spirit for a work an evil spirit wouldn’t do and never will John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly. To heal a person is not the work of the devil and never will. The Pharisees’ sons cast out demons as well but they didn’t say anything about it. II. CHRIST ANSWERED HIM WITH A QUESTION -V 26 “What is written in the law?” In order to obtain eternal life, we need to read, we need to know, we need to understand, and we need to live the law. It is our duty to read and be equipped with it There is so called BEMA and GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT BEMA-judgment to separate the righteous from the wicked-Matthew 25 GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT- Rev 2012-13 “What is your reading of it?” What is your understanding?

6. It wasn’t the servants idea nor prodigal son’s brother to be merry and be glad but the Father When the Father is rejoicing and you’re not happy, you’re not in line with Him You got a BAD ATTITUDE III. THE REASON FOR REJOICING-V 24, 32 His son was dead and is alive again He was lost and is found Every sinner is lost and dead Ephesians 2:1 And you [He made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins, Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

7. IV. HIS OLDER SON’S ATTITUDE He came from the field-v 25 He could be there supervising the servants He came and drew near to the house He heard music and dancing He called one of the servants and asked what those things meant He was told that his brother came and his Father received him and killed the fatted calf for he was safe and sound. Sometimes it is not our perfect will to see our children suffer but we might prefer it just for them to come to their senses. The prodigal son’s circumstances was meant for him to be brought back home

8. But he was angry-v 28 Would not go in How many of the Christians are behaving like him these days? Because of their bad attitude they are outside the kingdom of God V. HIS FATHER CAME OUT AND PLEADED WITH HIM-V 29 Did He pleaded with the prodigal son when he asked for his inheritance? Did He try to stop him from leaving? How come he pleaded with the older son? Pro 9:7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked [man only] harms himself.

9. Pro 9:8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you. VI. THE OLDER SON’S PLEA-V 29-30 These many years I have been serving you By serving Him we sometimes fret of the blessings sinners get or receive from Him We sometimes asked why do they have it and not us? We forgot that it is God’s discretion for them to repent. Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? He never transgressed his father’s commandment at any time

10. “And yet you never gave me a young goat” How many times do we feel the same? We forgot the rest of His blessings by looking what others got. Gal 6:4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. Besides if we are willing to serve the Lord, it’s not our business to mind what is He doing on other people. John 21:22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what [is that] to you? You follow Me." Does God’s blessings to others affect you, makes you jealous, makes you envious , makes you upset, stop you from serving?

11. If He wanted to bless John, its none of your business, follow Him if you want to no matter what, regardless of the blessings others get. No matter what mistakes they have made. That I might make merry with my friends. God didn’t stop you from rejoicing, right? But as soon as this son of yours who devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him? Our problems are: We become self-righteous. We compare ourselves to others. We mind their mistakes not ours.

12. VII. REASON TO BE IN THE RIGHT ATTITUDE-V 31-32 We are always with Him All that belongs to Him is ours Luke 12:32 "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. It is right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again. WE SHOULD BE HAPPY WHEN OTHER CHURCHES GROW, HAS NEW ATTENDEES, GOT A CONVERT, BECAUSE THEY BELONG TO GOD. A LOST HAS BEEN FOUND. If you fret on other churches’ growth, YOU GOT A BAD ATTITUDE!

13. You are insecured, you should even pray for them. CHALLENGE: How do you feel when others are blessed? How do you feel when other churches grow? How do you behave towards sinners? CONCLUSION: Luke 15:32 'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' "