---'-'Liwik~e;;.i. ) 5-12,~5-;3=2 QUALITIES OF A RIGHTEOU_S_LIF E. Chickasha, Oklahoma First Baptist 2/18/68

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1 TEXT- TITLE ---'-'Liwik~e;;.i. ) 5-12,~5-;3=2 SCRIPTURE READING QUALITIES OF A RIGHTEOU_S_LIF E DELIVERIES: Date Hour Place Taber nacl e 7/27/58 Gainesville, Texas Southside 4/12/59 Palestine, Texas First Baptist 9/30/62 Chickasha, Oklahoma First Baptist 2/18/68 Ponca Ci ty, Okla, FBC p.m. San Angelo, Texas FBC p. m. San Angelo, Texas FBC p.m. Sa n Ange lo, Texas F.B. C p.m. San Angelo, TX E.F. 4~0Q..t;'/i/l/f CLASSIFICAtlON: (f)c /fa!u-ct/31~ Cf!/(.J51J,/ ;V --EXPOSITORY --BIOGRAPHICAL TEXTUAL --TOPICAL ---DEVOTIONAL Results and Comments: XXX XX** XXX* lby letter XXX+++ 2 letter & 1 Reded. XXX+++ XXX*** xxx++ l letter, (Dr. Gra nt) (XXX+++); BIBLIOGRAPHY _

2 QUALITIES OF A RIGHTEOUS LIFE (The Prodigal' s Brother) Scripture: Luke 15:25-32 {,fk.,v/ '?Oft:, Intro: OUR'S IS AN UNJUST WORLD IN MANY RESPECTS. SIN ALWAYS GETS IN THE HEADLINES AND RECEIVES THE GREATEST ATTENTION. THE PERSON WHO HAS LIVED THE MOST GODLESS LIFE, DRINKING DEEPLY AT THE WELL OF SIN, RECEIVES THE APPLAUSE OF MEN: ' WHEREAS THE.ERSON WHO HAS LIVED A NORMAL CLEAN LIFE AND HAS KEPT HIMSELF UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD IS ALMOST IGNORED. THE CONCEPT HAS DEVELOPED THAT ONE MUST FIRST HA VE BEEN A VILLIAN TO BE A GREAT SAINT. SUCH IS NOT SO! IT IS TRUE THERE HA VE BEEN PAULS, AU GUS TINES, AND PASCALS THROUGHOUT HISTORY THAT WERE VILLIANS BEFORE THEY WERE SAVED. BUT WHAT ABOUT MEN LIKE JOHN,, ANDREW I PHILIP, AND I YES I EVEN JESUS, WHOSE LIVES WERE NOT BLACKENED WITH SUCH GROSS SINS? THIS UNWISE GLORIFICATION OF THE SINFUL PAST OF REPENTANT PRODIGALS HAS HAD AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE MINDS OF OUR YOUTH. IT HAS CAUSED MANY O F THEM TO REASON THAT "OTHERS SOWED THEIR WILD OATS AND ESCAPED--THUS I CAN DO THE SAME." BECAUSE OF THIS, LET US TURN OUR MINDS FROM THE UNWORTHY PRODIGAL TO HIS MORE RIGHTEOUS BROTHER AND SEE IN HIM CERTAIN Q ALITIES THAT SHOULD BE FOUND IN OUR LIVES. ONLY AS WE HA VE THESE QUALITIES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS CAN WE ESCAPE THE PITFALLS THAT ENGULFED HIS YOU NGER FOOLISH BROTHER. I. WYALTY!):~~-...:).. ',I --vs. 29a "Lo, these many years do I serve thee" 1. When Others Are Deserting - s: When his younger brother deserted his aging father--he remained loyal

3 ,.~*f '! 'P~k'., (1) By withdrawing from active Christian service~ (2) By participating in the sins of the world 2 en The Work Gets Hard s: There were droughts, hot Palestinian Sun, --- etc. --yet the s::m was loyal (1) Because results are not immediate (2) Because others won't carry their load 3. hen The Temptations Are Strong =.::!1!11!!!:2.:: This older brother had had the same temptations that the prodigal had--yet loyal (1) To criticize (2) To desert your Heavenly Father (3) To sell. out to the devil II. -=-=-~ -IENCE --vs. 29b "neither transgressed I t any time thy commandments To The GQmmandments For~ --~~ --~~~ -==s=- Both brothers were t ments--one was disobe nt, the other remained obedient. (1) Which demands a clean break from the world (2) Which indicat s a deep respect for the Father 2. To The Commandments for Hard Work ;==sa..:i; Many times the commands of the father were for difficult work--yet he was obedient (1) Which calls for Christian witnessing (2) Which calls for church responsibilities III. SERVICE WITHOUT REWARD - vs. 29c "and yet tho.u never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends lnce you are unworthy of anything God gives us: All that either of these sons received was but a gift from their father. He had earned it all- not they (1) We all deserve Hell ("The wages of sin 11 ) (2) Salvation is gift enough 2. Since You Serve God Because of Love--No Rewards : This son loved his father and reward was nc his motive ' 7 4 J...""'~ "' t J,r,..., t Ut.. e

4 {l) (2) We are eternally indebted to God A constant need of reward is a sign of weak faith 3. Since Jesus Promised No Rewards --JQJin 15:20 "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you " His rewards--s_lap, wj ip, thorns, cross spear. W~ ov1/i i- riv edify.. - s: The fatha- had not promised the older brother any special blessings--thus he served without reward or promise of reward IV. RIGHTFDUS INDIGNATION --vs. 30 (READ) 1. Because Of Ingratitude ---==:u=s.: The younger brother wa s not grateful for all his father had done for hi IT'.. This aroused righteous indignation in older brother (1) For what God has done (2) For the sacrifice of God I s Son 2. Because of Pollution of Holy Things -!llus: The father had worked hard and honestly for his wealth, and the younger son took part of it and polluted it with sinful living (1) Which would reflect on God I s Word --Illus: Movies, T.V. etc. (2) Which would pollute God's house --Illus: Jesus in Temple; Dances in churches (3) Which would ruin men I s lives --Illus: Whiskey, Beer, etc. 3. Because Of Adultry he hath devoured thy living with harlots. 11 us: We tend to be too compromising on matters of sins of the flesh today--and it is, showing up in the lives of future generations. ) \. il /1~"~ J(,llt ~.S-Oil,, '. '1 V. THE REWARD FOR THESE QUALITIES --vs. 31 (READ) 1. F IIowship With The Father --"Son, thou art ever with me"

5 2. --Illus: He had had the continuous fellowship of his father throughout all the years his younger brother was far from home (1) Since the se qualities are condusive to such fellowship (2) Since these qualities are indica;~t such fellowship ' 1 ~~"W~ ~ ;:t&,,'i Sharing In The Abundance Of God,, --"all that I have is thine" ',,,.1,,.1 _..,Illus: Because he has all these qualities, his father gave him his all (1) Which is shared in this life --"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow " (2) Which is shared_ in_} he life to come - "6A¼/ 61- UJ ~ c:c.,,v.,..d.l I I VI. TH DANGER OP THES QUALITIES (SELP-RIGHTEOUSNES~ --vs. 32 (READ) 1. Which Pails To Forgive - :=U::.::s:. ~ This story 2. Which Pails to See The Value Of A Lost Soul 3. Which Pails To See What Joy A Penitent Prodigal Brings To A Loving Father 4. Which Is Basicly Selfish --Illus: This brother was really afraid that his father would give the prodigal a "cut" into his own part of the farm. CON: Just who is the real prodigal? We have called one of these sons, "The prodigal son," and the other, "The prodigal 1 s bnther." But are we fair in s o labeling them? I think not! Rather than this story of Christ s being called the "Parable of the prodigal son" I am persuaded that a more proper title should be "The parable of the prodigal son_ _. " BOTH sons were rodigal and both were separated from the father. one by his selfish wilfulness which took him to the far country of personal license and moral looseness The other by: his self-pity and letter-of-the-law piety. BOTH were "prodigal II until they entered into fellowship with each other and with

6 their loving father. Re araless of wliich of these men may symbolize the outward moral appearance of your life you too are called to"tfellowship with the Father which comes through faith in His Son.

7 (., QUALITIES OF A RIGHTEOUS LIFE ("THE PRODIGAL'S BROTHER") USED: Tabernacle, Gainesville, 7/27/58; XXX Southside, Palestine 4/12/59 XX++ FBC, Chickasha 9/30/62 XXX+ l letter; FBC, Ponca City, Okla. 2/18/68(.XXX~ ~khmfl~ 1 1«15 c../ 5"1-/t/ A-i,,telo/ Jo -3. It- 7/(~ J (V..'-Py.+-fj) / /\ It I( 8 - ) '-( - 7 J-//I () :J,' FBC, San Angelo, P.M. (X'>l'i 79 I Jib, l)._a.f-,, (( I / 1/d- 'f-f J. JI I( r ~'l(.'"1!]) Jerold R. McBride, Th.D.