Circumcision of the Heart Ministry
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit,
and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Philippians 3:3
The Prodigal Son 

 
By: Bishop J. N. Hall Jr. 
 

This has got to be one of the most amazing love stories in the entire bible or any literature printed, be it secular or sacred. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) Jesus uses an illustration of the lost son and his older brother to explain that god is inviting all people to enter the kingdom. He (Jesus) dramatically tells of God's love, patience, long-suffering and God's concern about man. First and foremost, he intended to show the danger of self-righteousness in the characterization of the son that stayed home. Although he did not engage in wild and riotous living, when his brother was redeemed and welcomed home, he was too selfish to participate in the celebration of his lost brother's return. What Jesus intends for us to learn from this, is that it is as dangerous to stay in the church and be selfish, as it is to go out and finally come back.

The parable's final section describes the attitude of the older brother, who symbolized the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They had the same attitude towards sinners as the older son had toward the younger son. The older brother, coming home from working in the field and the hearing what was happening, got angry. Similarly, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were anger with the message Jesus was proclaiming. They did not like the idea that people from outside their nation as well as outcasts and sinners in the nation were to be part of the kingdom. Like the older son who refused to go to the feast, the Pharisees refused to enter the kingdom Jesus offered to the nation.

Now the theme of this passage is loss; Jesus intended to show us that God is a God of the lost, in that the whole story is a moving portrayal of a loving God's persistence seeking out the lost…and of human perversity in resenting such grace, which exceeds our natural understanding. Now Jesus also said that God was not the God of the dead-but a God of the living. But that he did not mean that he turned his back on you when all die, but he really meant that no man is dead with God. King David had us to know that we cannot escape to any land where God is not. If he went into the heavens, if he went to the out most part of the earth, if he made his bed in hell, behold, God is there. So God is a God of the lost. If you do not believe that he's the God of the Lost, make up in your mind to come back to God. And like the father of the prodigal son his arms will be open wide and a robe will be waiting, you understand, in this wardrobe of blessing.

Now, as I said, the theme of this story is loss. Jesus in this chapter tells of three things that were lost. First, he tells of the lost sheep, secondly, he tells of the lost money. Thirdly, he tells of a lost son. In this case of the lost sheep, the shepherd went back over his steps and over his direction of travel, the day before and searched in every ravine and every mountainside and every valley until he found the lost sheep. The woman who lost one of her coins of ten, swept in every corner and under every bed and behind every door until she found her lost coin. But there's no indication of anyone ever having gone out to look for this lost son.

You see, in the case of the sheep we have the loss of property. In the case of the lost coin we have financial loss. In the case of the son we have human loss. People go out looking to find property; people work double shifts in order to re-gain lost money. But, very few people bother themselves about trying to regain lost sons, daughters, lost husbands, wives, or even lost friends.

This young man, in the case of the prodigal son, becomes restless, according to the story. He became a little impatient with the discipline, order, and regulation of his home. Possibly his brother led a life, that was too dull. Perhaps the loving rule of his father was a little irritation. You see, he was young, and the blood of youth, perhaps, sometimes become overwhelmed with anxieties and excitement in their vein. The young man's heart had grown alien to his home, alien to the traditional situation among his people, alien to the things that were native to him. The far country of excitement called to him. So, he went to his father and petitioned him. "Father, give me all of the goods that fall to me.”

His father did not hesitate; he immediately divided his living and gave the young man his share. Now, not many days hence he took his journey into that far country. He didn't go off looking for the young man, for the young man wasn't lost. Yes, he was lost. I don't mean only so far as morals, or as far ... as that which is spiritual is concerned. I mean he was lost from himself. So the record is that when he found himself in the pigpen, he came to himself, which means that he was not himself when he left home.

You see, there are situations in life… let me put it this way, I think sometimes that adversity helps us to find ourselves. Some people, even you who are reading this, have gone through experience and know that there are times in your life when you thought you knew it all, when you thought that you could impose your way and your will upon everyone else, when you thought that it was right to be selfish. For you see, the first law of nature may be self-first. It took a little adversity, it took a little sickness, or it took a little misfortune, or it took a little shake-up in your life, to help you find yourself. You see, this young man didn't find himself until he had gone all the way from a palace to a pigpen. Took his journey into a far country where he was alien: alien from God, alien from his friends, alien from his surroundings and from his native home. The wild go yonder called and there was nothing at home that could satisfy him. So he took his journey into a far country, and the record is that he wasted his living, or his substance in riotous living.

Loss is always followed by waste, if you waste your money, one day you'll want it. If you waste your influence or if you abuse your influence, one day you'll wish you had it. The record is that this young man wasted his substance in riotous living. He wasted that which had been giving to him, then a mighty famine arose and he began to be in want. For you see, famines are still rising. It might not have been an economic famine in all instances. Sometimes it is the famine of health. A famine may be going on with you in your home and in your community while not necessarily going on with anyone else.

This young man had gone to this far country and no doubt had received a warm reception; when he came in as a prince of an eastern rich man, with his diamond necklace, with his golden bracelets, with his servants, with his camels and with all of his flock, no doubt the far country of his desire received him with open arms. For when you don't need anything you always can get anything you want. If you have a car… anyone will let you ride. If you have money. But if gets around that you are broke, the story is different.

This young man dissipated not only his body, but everything else he had. And, you know, there are a lot of people who think and talk about how expensive it is to be a member of the church. I want to serve notice on you, my readers it’s far more expensive to follow after the ways of the world… than it is to be a child of God. For when you get in with the “in-crowd”, you're all right as long as you can contribute to the pot. You're all right as long you can order everyone to sit up. But when it gets to the place where you can't do that, the world is through with you.

Many of us here in federal prison are "prodigal sons". It's sad and it has been a very painful experience to have plummeted so low in life before finding myself, but thank God I did. I thank God for Jesus!

Even after making up my mind to return, I've been called everything from a "fake Christian", to being mocked, ridiculed, and accused of having "jail house religion". Although it was meant as an insult, I've used it as a stepping stone and as a testimony of my faith. It is easy to know of God and worship God as all powerful and mighty… but it is another thing to know Christ Jesus as the friend who lifted you up. People who have never been broken do not know what it is to be healed.

I was raised as a Christian, but I have hurt a lot of people, and I've been hurt so many times. I tried to get as far away from God as, I could. I ran away from God rig
This has got to be one of the most amazing love stories in the entire bible or any literature printed, be it secular or sacred. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) Jesus uses an illustration of the lost son and his older brother to explain that god is inviting all people to enter the kingdom. He (Jesus) dramatically tells of God's love, patience, long-suffering and God's concern about man. First and foremost, he intended to show the danger of self-righteousness in the characterization of the son that stayed home. Although he did not engage in wild and riotous living, when his brother was redeemed and welcomed home, he was too selfish to participate in the celebration of his lost brother's return. What Jesus intends for us to learn from this, is that it is as dangerous to stay in the church and be selfish, as it is to go out and finally come back.

The parable's final section describes the attitude of the older brother, who symbolized the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They had the same attitude towards sinners as the older son had toward the younger son. The older brother, coming home from working in the field and the hearing what was happening, got angry. Similarly, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were anger with the message Jesus was proclaiming. They did not like the idea that people from outside their nation as well as outcasts and sinners in the nation were to be part of the kingdom. Like the older son who refused to go to the feast, the Pharisees refused to enter the kingdom Jesus offered to the nation.

Now the theme of this passage is loss; Jesus intended to show us that God is a God of the lost, in that the whole story is a moving portrayal of a loving God's persistence seeking out the lost…and of human perversity in resenting such grace, which exceeds our natural understanding. Now Jesus also said that God was not the God of the dead-but a God of the living. But that he did not mean that he turned his back on you when all die, but he really meant that no man is dead with God. King David had us to know that we cannot escape to any land where God is not. If he went into the heavens, if he went to the out most part of the earth, if he made his bed in hell, behold, God is there. So God is a God of the lost. If you do not believe that he's the God of the Lost, make up in your mind to come back to God. And like the father of the prodigal son his arms will be open wide and a robe will be waiting, you understand, in this wardrobe of blessing.

Now, as I said, the theme of this story is loss. Jesus in this chapter tells of three things that were lost. First, he tells of the lost sheep, secondly, he tells of the lost money. Thirdly, he tells of a lost son. In this case of the lost sheep, the shepherd went back over his steps and over his direction of travel, the day before and searched in every ravine and every mountainside and every valley until he found the lost sheep. The woman who lost one of her coins of ten, swept in every corner and under every bed and behind every door until she found her lost coin. But there's no indication of anyone ever having gone out to look for this lost son.

You see, in the case of the sheep we have the loss of property. In the case of the lost coin we have financial loss. In the case of the son we have human loss. People go out looking to find property; people work double shifts in order to re-gain lost money. But, very few people bother themselves about trying to regain lost sons, daughters, lost husbands, wives, or even lost friends.

This young man, in the case of the prodigal son, becomes restless, according to the story. He became a little impatient with the discipline, order, and regulation of his home. Possibly his brother led a life, that was too dull. Perhaps the loving rule of his father was a little irritation. You see, he was young, and the blood of youth, perhaps, sometimes become overwhelmed with anxieties and excitement in their vein. The young man's heart had grown alien to his home, alien to the traditional situation among his people, alien to the things that were native to him. The far country of excitement called to him. So, he went to his father and petitioned him. "Father, give me all of the goods that fall to me.”

His father did not hesitate; he immediately divided his living and gave the young man his share. Now, not many days hence he took his journey into that far country. He didn't go off looking for the young man, for the young man wasn't lost. Yes, he was lost. I don't mean only so far as morals, or as far ... as that which is spiritual is concerned. I mean he was lost from himself. So the record is that when he found himself in the pigpen, he came to himself, which means that he was not himself when he left home.

You see, there are situations in life… let me put it this way, I think sometimes that adversity helps us to find ourselves. Some people, even you who are reading this, have gone through experience and know that there are times in your life when you thought you knew it all, when you thought that you could impose your way and your will upon everyone else, when you thought that it was right to be selfish. For you see, the first law of nature may be self-first. It took a little adversity, it took a little sickness, or it took a little misfortune, or it took a little shake-up in your life, to help you find yourself. You see, this young man didn't find himself until he had gone all the way from a palace to a pigpen. Took his journey into a far country where he was alien: alien from God, alien from his friends, alien from his surroundings and from his native home. The wild go yonder called and there was nothing at home that could satisfy him. So he took his journey into a far country, and the record is that he wasted his living, or his substance in riotous living.

Loss is always followed by waste, if you waste your money, one day you'll want it. If you waste your influence or if you abuse your influence, one day you'll wish you had it. The record is that this young man wasted his substance in riotous living. He wasted that which had been giving to him, then a mighty famine arose and he began to be in want. For you see, famines are still rising. It might not have been an economic famine in all instances. Sometimes it is the famine of health. A famine may be going on with you in your home and in your community while not necessarily going on with anyone else.

This young man had gone to this far country and no doubt had received a warm reception; when he came in as a prince of an eastern rich man, with his diamond necklace, with his golden bracelets, with his servants, with his camels and with all of his flock, no doubt the far country of his desire received him with open arms. For when you don't need anything you always can get anything you want. If you have a car… anyone will let you ride. If you have money. But if gets around that you are broke, the story is different.

This young man dissipated not only his body, but everything else he had. And, you know, there are a lot of people who think and talk about how expensive it is to be a member of the church. I want to serve notice on you, my readers it’s far more expensive to follow after the ways of the world… than it is to be a child of God. For when you get in with the “in-crowd”, you're all right as long as you can contribute to the pot. You're all right as long you can order everyone to sit up. But when it gets to the place where you can't do that, the world is through with you.

Many of us here in federal prison are "prodigal sons". It's sad and it has been a very painful experience to have plummeted so low in life before finding myself, but thank God I did. I thank God for Jesus!

Even after making up my mind to return, I've been called everything from a "fake Christian", to being mocked, ridiculed, and accused of having "jail house religion". Although it was meant as an insult, I've used it as a stepping stone and as a testimony of my faith. It is easy to know of God and worship God as all powerful and mighty… but it is another thing to know Christ Jesus as the friend who lifted you up. People who have never been broken do not know what it is to be healed.

I was raised as a Christian, but I have hurt a lot of people, and I've been hurt so many times. I tried to get as far away from God as, I could. I ran away from God right into the arms of despair, brokenness, alcoholism, drug addiction, and subsequently, federal prison. I became angry with God; pride together with ignorance caused me to refuse to ask for God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Sin caused me to deceive myself into believing I wasn't afraid to die. Thank God for Jesus His grace and His mercy. Finally, the day came when I was locked away in the solitary confinement known as the hole where an inmate is locked in an 8 x 12 ft. cell for twenty four hours a day, completely isolated from other inmates. Prison within prison; I was there for two years, being shipped every six months to a different institution, only to be placed in isolation once I arrived. It was there that I found out, in the worst way that my arms were too short to box with God. Completely broken with nowhere to go, I cried out to Jesus and I found a God not just of power and might, but also immeasurable love and mercy.

In the book of Matthew 12:20 it says: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out......" Simply put, "Jesus mends broken lives." I know he does, because he mended my life.

With Arms out stretched he welcomed me back, and it never mattered that I cried out to him from an 8 x 12 ft. cell in federal prison - my Messiah, mighty God, majesty and power.
ht into the arms of despair, brokenness, alcoholism, drug addiction, and subsequently, federal prison. I became angry with God; pride together with ignorance caused me to refuse to ask for God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Sin caused me to deceive myself into believing I wasn't afraid to die. Thank God for Jesus His grace and His mercy. Finally, the day came when I was locked away in the solitary confinement known as the hole where an inmate is locked in an 8 x 12 ft. cell for twenty four hours a day, completely isolated from other inmates. Prison within prison; I was there for two years, being shipped every six months to a different institution, only to be placed in isolation once I arrived. It was there that I found out, in the worst way that my arms were too short to box with God. Completely broken with nowhere to go, I cried out to Jesus and I found a God not just of power and might, but also immeasurable love and mercy.

In the book of Matthew 12:20 it says: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out......" Simply put, "Jesus mends broken lives." I know he does, because he mended my life.

With Arms out stretched he welcomed me back, and it never mattered that I cried out to him from an 8 x 12 ft. cell in federal prison - my Messiah, mighty God, majesty and power.
Bishop J. N. Hall Jr.