Sunday, November 21, 1999
The prodigal returns

By DR. KNOX HERNDON
Pastor

There is not a finer redemptive story in the scriptures than the son who, after requesting and then ultimately squandering his father's inheritance, finally “comes to himself,” and returns home to the father.

If you are not familiar with this glorious typical “teenager” or “adult” prodigal story in Luke 15:11- 32 you need to go read it. There is not a more appropriate time in history for this story than 1999 and into the new millennium.

One of the sweetest fellowships I have been involved with since I left the Army chaplaincy is our interdenominational and interracial pastor's fellowship group that meets every Tuesday morning for breakfast at 8 a.m. at the IHOP in Fayetteville. This group is the outgrowth of a man with a vision. His name is Gray Harwell.

Gray has a vision of a fellowship where pastors can meet together on a weekly basis and uplift one another in prayer and friendship realizing that, although we are interdenominational and interracial, we need each other and we have much more in common that binds us together than that which separates us. His vision has become a dynamic reality. This prodigal emphasis is an outgrowth of this ministry.

During one of our breakfasts on Tuesday mornings, we had a Christian group from England that met with us that had conducted Christian meetings on the subject of the prodigal and realized that many, many families are dealing with these hurting issues on a grueling daily basis. I don't believe that there are many families of the '90s that don't have a “prodigal” situation where a son or daughter or a husband or a wife has just had their head “turned” away from all that is right and sacred.

The divorce records alone indicate that this has happened in marriages in over 50 percent of the families across America.

Well it's time for the prodigal to return!

In the story as you read it, in Luke chapter 15:17, it states, “And when he came to himself,” this is where the “turning his heart toward home” became a total reality to this young man. We then read how the father saw him at a distance and ran toward him and accepted him home and fell on his neck and kissed him and put his robe about him and put the ring of inheritance on his finger and killed the fatted calf in honor of his return.

Maybe you have a “prodigal” situation in your family over which you are kicking sheets out each night and can't seem to resolve. These situations seem to tear families apart at the seams. You must realize that there is hope and a future. Be of good cheer — Jesus has overcome the world!

Our Tuesday pastor's group here on the south side of Atlanta have mostly agreed that on Sunday the 28th of November we will preach on the “prodigal” and his return and restoration to the family. It is our prayer that you will attend one of our churches on this particular Sunday and claim the promises of God for you and your family.

Don't let this opportunity pass for restoration for you and your family. Stay in the spiritual battle and do the right thing.

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC), a substitute school teacher in the Fayette County school system, and a former Army chaplain. The church is currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville. Prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail Khern2365@aol.com


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