The Journey Of Faith

Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 15:11-32. Last Wednesday we started studying Jesus’ Parable of Two Sons:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And JESUS said, A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS

The younger son goes to his father and demands his inheritance. This son then begins to wander, gets in a bad situation because he has departed from his father, and begins to suffer and starve. I believe the younger son is a picture of a young Christian. And if I were to summarize this whole parable, I believe …

The Parable shows the faithfulness of God as well as the journey of faith that each believer must go through.

Salvation is not a “one and done”. I often hear of places in America where there are “great revivals”. In California’s 7,750 people were baptized in one day at Huntington Beach May 3, 2025. Called “The Largest Water Baptism In U.S. History”, the reporter wrote:

“The first person baptized Saturday was a 71-year-old woman, Joanne, who told organizers she had considered baptism for 40 years but kept procrastinating. “We now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Francey said as the woman entered the ocean. “We pray that you would rise up out of these waters with a new nature and a new life.”

In another place in California called Pirates Cove some 2100 were baptized in one day at the “Third Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism” on August 17, 2025. The article said:

“Harvest Christian Fellowship’s Senior Pastor Greg Laurie reports, “We had an incredible day yesterday at the 3rd Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism. We baptized 2,100 people in a single day! Can you believe that? Add that number to the last two years, and in just three years we’ve baptized 8,600 people!”

That’s really good news. But baptism is not the destination of the Christian walk.

The destination of Christianity is a walk, a changed life, a believer who follows Jesus one step at a time one day at a time. Baptisms are wonderful – but is the person baptized changed from light to darkness? Are these people who live to honor their Father?

If someone is saved by grace, they are made a child of God by the Holy Spirit. From that point on the believer “Walks BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Every Christian must learn to “Walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). We must learn to listen to Jesus, to the Father Who loves us, and learn to do as He says. The younger son (and he was a SON) goes to his Father and demands:

(Luke 15:12 KJV) And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, GIVE ME THE PORTION OF GOODS THAT FALLETH TO ME. And THE FATHER DIVIDED UNTO THEM HIS LIVING.

Someone gives their life to Jesus. “Jesus, I want to be saved. I want to go to Heaven. I want you to heal me. I want you to bless me.” And what does the Father do? “THE FATHER DIVIDED UNTO THEM HIS LIVING”. He gives the blessings. But we have a bad problem. We wander. I got to thinking about those whom God called to salvation.

* Abraham followed God – but lied about his wife (Genesis 12:11-13) and had a child by Hagar.

* Moses strikes the rock rather than speaking to it (Numbers 10:11-12).

* David kills a man and takes his wife (2 Samuel 11:2-4, 12:13). He commands a census of Israel (2 Samuel 24:1-2), following Satan instead of God (1 Chronicles 21:1-2).

* Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1:1-3), refusing to serve Him.

* Peter denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75). He also played the hypocrite with the Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11).

* And how many times did Israel disobey God? Yet God never disowned His people!

God never calls perfect people to salvation. He calls broken, imperfect people to His side. He tells us to stay by His side. God sums up the Christian way of life this way:

(1 John 1:7-10 ESV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The Younger Believer Learned That Genuine Salvation
Is Accompanied With A Close Walk With The Father

I am proud of all these people I hear of getting baptized. I am proud that there is a resurgence among Generation Z, people who want to publicly profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are saved, you are a broken person God saved. And one of the problems we have to deal with in our journey of faith is to understand

The only safe place for a Christian to be is in the Presence of the Father!

The younger son battles with PRIDE, just like we ALL battle with PRIDE. “Give me what I demand, Father, so I can go my own way”. No, it doesn’t work that way. Jesus is BOTH Lord and Savior. God is God, and I am not. But we can’t be told this. We have to learn it the hard way. So we wander from the Father’s presence – and find nothing but misery.

(Luke 15:17-19 KJV) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my Father’s HAVE BREAD ENOUGH AND TO SPARE, and I PERISH WITH HUNGER! [18] I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER, and will say unto him, FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN, AND BEFORE THEE, [19] And am NO MORE WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON: make me as one of thy HIRED SERVANT.

Here’s the beginning of Christian growth. Yes, you should be baptized. But the beginning of Christian growth is when you realize how worthless YOU are, and how good GOD IS. You stop worrying about what other people think, and humble yourself before the Father. This young Christian said “FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN, AND BEFORE THEE”. He was saying “I have violated the Laws of the Kingdom of God”. But he is also saying, “I have spat on Your love, Father. I’m not worthy – just let me SERVE you!”

Christians, you are saved to serve, not be served. The wandering young son realized this. There is no joy in being waited on. The joy is in serving the Father. When God came to the little virgin called Mary and told her she was going to have the Messiah, hear her words:

(Luke 1:38 NASB20) … Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s BOND-SERVANT; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Paul loved to use that phrase “BOND-SERVANT” for himself.

(Romans 1:1 NASB20) Paul, a BOND-SERVANT OF CHRIST JESUS, called [as] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God

and again,

(Galatians 1:10 NASB20) For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I WOULD NOT BE A BOND-SERVANT OF CHRIST.

Where that young wander son’s mind is, where Mary’s mind is, where Paul’s mind is, is where OUR MINDS ought to be. “Lord, I’m not worthy – just let me serve You!”

God became a “BOND-SERVANT” in order to save us. The Scripture says:

(Philippians 2:5-7 NASB20) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, as He [already] existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, [7] but EMPTIED HIMSELF BY TAKING THE FORM OF A BOND-SERVANT, [and] being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, He HUMBLED HIMSELF by becoming obedient to the point of death: DEATH ON A CROSS.

Like the wandering younger son, the Father – in love – will allow us to wander away so we can learn. The young man learned. He turned back to the Father, What did he find? We read:

(Luke 15:21-24 KJV) And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON. [22] But the Father said to his servants, BRING FORTH THE BEST ROBE, and PUT IT ON HIM; and PUT A RING ON HIS HAND, and SHOES ON HIS FEET: [23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and LET US EAT, AND BE MERRY: [24] For THIS MY SON WAS DEAD, and is alive again; HE WAS LOST, and IS FOUND. And they began to be merry.

As Christians, when we walk in darkness, we walk alone. God will not walk with us. You cannot be a Christian homosexual, a Christian transgender, a Christian racist, a Christian hater, a Christian murderer, a Christian thief, a Christian slanderer, a Christian womanizer, a Christian liar, a Christian gossip, or a Christian _______. You fill in the blank. The Bible says:

1 John 1:5 God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

When the younger son began to do the wrong things he did, he walked away from the presence of the Father. Now listen – He didn’t cease to be a Son. The Father said, “THIS MY SON WAS DEAD, and is alive again”. The Father never disowned him – but also the Father will not walk with him. Again, “If we say we have FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE, and do NOT THE TRUTH” (1 John 1:6). The Bible says to CHRISTIANS:

(James 4:1-7 NKJV) Where do wars and fights [come] FROM AMONG YOU? Do [they] not [come] from your [desires for] pleasure that war in your members? [2] You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend [it] on your pleasures. [4] Adulterers and adulteresses! DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD? WHOEVER THEREFORE WANTS TO BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD MAKES HIMSELF AN ENEMY OF GOD. [5] Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? [6] But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” [7] Therefore SUBMIT TO GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. [8] DRAW NEAR TO GOD and HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. Cleanse [your] hands, [you] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [you] double-minded.

Those are verses written to – not the lost – but to saved people. When the young wandering son drew near to God – God the Father drew near to him.

What About The Second Son?

We’ve spent a lot of time on the first son, the young son. But what about the elder son? What did he do?

(Luke 15:25-28 KJV) Now HIS ELDER SON WAS IN THE FIELD: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. [27] And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. [28] And HE WAS ANGRY, and WOULD NOT GO IN: therefore CAME HIS FATHER OUT, and ENTREATED {parakaleō} HIM

The older son – the more mature believer – is out in the field working. He stayed with the Father. If you remember, when the younger son went to the Father demanding his inheritance, we read:

(Luke 15:12 KJV) … the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, GIVE ME THE PORTION of goods that falleth [to me]. And HE DIVIDED UNTO THEM HIS LIVING.

The Father gave the inheritance to BOTH the younger son and the elder son. One took his inheritance and went out into the world, far away from the Father. But the other stayed home, but also distanced himself from the Father. Why did he do this? I’ve seen it before.

Preachers preach, and God gives them a following. Then the preacher decides that he’s really that good – and stops doing what he does for the Lord. He’s in the field, blessed of God, but doing it for the head count.

Singers sing, and God gives them a following. Then they begin to forget that their talents, their blessings came to them by the Grace of God. They get a following, a platinum album, and exalt themselves in the worship of their followers.

The elder son, an older Christian, begins to forget that what we do, we do for the glory of God. We become judgmental. We see someone – like the younger son – walk away from the Father. Rather than pray for their return, we make judgments. “Well, they were really never Christians in the first place”. How do YOU know? Can you read the heart? Can you see inside the mind of people. The Apostle Paul wrote:

(1 Corinthians 4:1-5 NKJV) Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2] Moreover it is REQUIRED IN STEWARDS THAT ONE BE FOUND FAITHFUL. [3] But with me it is a VERY SMALL THING THAT I SHOULD BE JUDGED BY YOU or by a human court. In fact, I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF. [4] For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but HE WHO JUDGES ME IS THE LORD. [5] Therefore JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

When the elder son heard the rejoicing inside, he did not seek out the Father. Instead, he sought out a servant. And when he found that his brother had returned home, he was angry.

How dare they have a party WITHOUT ME? I stayed with Father. I worked the fields. That bum of a brother went off and had a good time. But I SERVED. I’m better than he is. Why does he deserve the fatted calf? Why does he deserve the best robe? Do you see what’s going on here? The elder son has forgotten that he was saved by Grace as well. The elder sons feels that his staying in Church, doing the Law, has made him better than that shiftless brother of his.

Word Study: The Bible says that Father comes out and “ENTREATS HIM”. The word parakaleō means “to call alongside so as to embrace”. When the Father embraces this older son, he says:

(Luke 15:29-30 KJV) {The older son} said to [his] father, Lo, these MANY YEARS DO I SERVE THEE, NEITHER TRANSGRESSED IN AT ANY TIME THY COMMANDMENT: and yet THOU NEVER GAVEST ME A KID, that I might make merry with my friends: [30] But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath DEVOURED THY LIVING WITH HARLOTS, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

The older son is upset. He’s mad at the younger son, and mad at the Father. He wants the fatted calf. He wants the best robe. He even makes up something about his brother. He says, “he DEVOURED THY LIVING WITH HARLOTS”. There’s no indication earlier in the text that he had anything to do with sexual sin. He just wasted his life in the darkness. The Father simply replies:

(Luke 15:31-32 KJV) And {The Father} said unto him, Son, THOU ART EVER WITH ME, and ALL I HAVE IS THINE. [32] It was {correct} that we should make merry, and be glad: for THIS THY BROTHER WAS DEAD, and IS ALIVE AGAIN; and was lost, and is found.

Jesus never finishes this parable. Does the older son repent? Does he go in, and celebrate that the younger believer has learned from his journey of faith? Or does he stay outside. I’d like you to notice two things. God told His elder son “THOU ART EVER WITH ME”. That’s better than a fatted calf. That’s better than the best robe. To be with God. To know that God is with you where ever you are. That’s the gift of salvation. Not that we’re going to Heaven one day. Not that we’re saved from hell. To just know that …

God is our Father Who loves us though we are broken and oft times petty. To know that, because of Jesus, we “ART EVER WITH HIM”.

The mature believer knows, like David, that:

(Psalm 84:10-11 NKJV) For a day in Your courts [is] better than a thousand. I WOULD RATHER BE A DOOR KEEPER IN THE HOUSE OF MY GOD THAN TO DWELL IN THE TENTS OF WICKEDNESS. [11] For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good [thing] will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

The second thing the Father told him was “ALL I HAVE IS THINE”. We who are saved are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). God never robs us. His grace is amazing! As we take our journey of faith, let us focus on staying in the presence of the Father. And if we get off base, dearly Beloved, let us repent as fast as we can and get home where we belong.