Scripture
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some men consider slowness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Luke 15:11-24 11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his [a]wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and [b]hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the [c]pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to [d]his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and [e]in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to [f]his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and [g]embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Prayer Points
Lord God, our loving Heavenly Father, we ask for our prodigals sons and daughters to come home. Let them know Father that though they are distant from us, we forgive them, love them, and want to embrace them with open arms, a warm welcome, giving them the finest clothing, fit for royalty, a ring; the family signet ring, our seal of approval, and the best shoes to confirm they are our child, not a slave! We dream daily of the finest foods we will serve for this glorious day. We ask for your Holy Spirit to pour out your oil of gladness upon them, causing them to come to their senses, realizing they have sold themselves out to mob for the food that fattens pigs while they are barely surviving themselves. In this moment of your Grace generously lifting up the lost, let their hunger lead them back home. As they are on their way home, may Your kindness be upon them, dealing with the shame, embarrassment, sin, leading them to repentance. WE are ready Father God, ready to shout from the mountain tops, “My son/daughter was lost but now they are found! They are home!”
Worship
Action Points
- Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind the names of those you need to forgive. As He brings them to your mind, say the name and I forgive them.
- Write their names down, hyphen, CASE CLOSED! Forgiven! Free!
- Write out these verses – Mark 12:28 – 29
- 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
- 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”