Slaving for You

Slaving for You (Lk 15:11-32)
Intro: Review
'O God, who art the author of peace & lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom...' (Book of Common Prayer)

Exposition: 'All these years I've been slaving for you' (NIV)
Primary focus: not the prodigal, but contrast between joyful father & angry elder brother at prodigal's return.

1. The spirit of slavery is naturally in the heart of everyone we speak to.
   Rom 8:15 contrasts effects of (natural) spirit of bondage & Spirit of Adoption. Whatever unconverted men may say they believe, they do not actually believe in a God of love.

2. The spirit of slavery is naturally in our hearts as well.
   This is planted in the heart of every son of Adam by nature, & is not destroyed by grace. We all tend to doubt God's goodness (Gen 3:2-6; Lk 19:22).

3. The spirit of slavery turns God's gracious commands into miserable burdens.
   All such false asceticism is of the devil, the 'doctrine of demons' (1Tim 4:1-3). The truth is, 'All that I have is yours' (Lk 15:31).

Application: We are to others what we believe God has been to us.
Contrast the result of the Pharisees' ministry (Mt 23:15) with the result of Apostle's (1Jn 3:1): a slave of God versus a child of God.

What we believe about God will be communicated to others, & as ambassadors, people will actually begin to believe that God is who we represent him to be.

Conclusion:
Hear the pleading of our father in heaven.