{"id":3636,"date":"2022-02-16T21:02:51","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T21:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/?p=3636"},"modified":"2023-01-30T16:05:26","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T16:05:26","slug":"the-path-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/?p=3636","title":{"rendered":"The Path Away"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Luke 15:13 \u201cAnd not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notice the phrase \u2013 \u201cFather, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, I want you to notice the tone in which he asked, \u201cFather, give me\u2026\u201d Young people, who do we think we are demanding things of our parents? It doesn\u2019t take you very long in this story to pick up that the path away to sin is usually initiated and led by rebellion, but listen to the attitude in his voice as he says, \u201cgive me\u201d. We have a philosophy very prevalent in the world today that believes that we are entitled to things. This is contrary to the Word of God. There are some that believe if you don\u2019t work, you should still be able to eat, or if you don\u2019t put forth your maximum effort in order to achieve something, that you should still win. I HATE the concept of participation awards \u2013 whether they be ribbons, stickers, etc. This young man had that mentality that he had the right to get RIGHT NOW what his father had worked for right now<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only did this prodigal have the nerve to say, \u201cgive me\u201d but he demanded to receive the portion (his stock; inheritance) of goods that was intended to sustain him for the rest of his life. Here\u2019s another huge issue I see in today\u2019s society. It appears many want instant gratification in every are of their life in order to be happy. NEWS FLASH: Every aspect of life is NOT going to bring you happiness. God always has a purpose in leading us into and through the tough storms of life however, they are essential in developing the character of the person that we are becoming. Don\u2019t sweat the technique! Allow God to perform these life lessons in your life. Don\u2019t get bitter towards Him! Living life with the expectation that I want ALL that life has for me and I want it NOW, is unrealistic and could literally do more harm than good. There\u2019s a reason why we have an age limit on getting a driver\u2019s license in our country. Could you imagine a 6-year-old trying to drive a jacked-up Toyota truck? How do you think that would end up?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wouldn\u2019t you agree that a 6-year-old is probably not ready to handle the responsibilities that come with trying to drive a truck? Similarly, this is the reason God doesn\u2019t just simply give us everything that He has in store for our life either. Maturity comes with the experiences of life. The more God-tailored experiences we lack in life, the less mature we become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in our story, in verse 13, here goes the Prodigal. He demands his inheritance from his Father, he obviously lacks maturity, and in a fit of rebellion, packs his bags, and heads down sin\u2019s pathway into what the Bible calls, a \u201cfar\u201d country. We have an \u201cevery\u201d word Bible. There\u2019s not one word in the whole Bible that\u2019s not there for importance and for us to study and to learn by. The word \u201cfar\u201d here indicates that it was far away from where they had lived, but it was also \u201cfar\u201d away from fellowship, \u201cfar\u201d from his family, and \u201cfar\u201d away from his relationship with God. I want you to notice that these are all byproducts of rebellious and selfish living. You become SO tunnel-focused on pleasing self that everything and everyone else is neglected. That\u2019s why the alcoholic has no money left to pay the rent. That\u2019s why the dope smoker has no money left to buy the family groceries. That\u2019s why the person consumed in pornography has no love left to give to his\/her spouse<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notice where sin\u2019s pathway always leads\u2026(Look at the end of verse 13) it leads you \u201cthere\u201d and leads you \u201cwasted\u201d. For 30 years now, I have watched the effects of sin in the lives of young people, as both teenagers and college-age young adults. I am SICK and TIRED of watching how sin effects. Their mind (How it causes them to think illogically and irrationally). Their speech (I have watched teenagers that a decade ago sat in this very Sunday School class \u2013 attempt to start online petitions to shut down this church that I love). How it effects their bodies. How it effects their relationship with Mom and Dad. How it effects their relationship with their siblings. How it effects their usefulness in the ministry. All because it leads them \u201cthere\u201d and it leaves them \u201cwasted\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prodigal was led \u201cthere\u201d, and it caused him to \u201cwaste\u201d his substance with riotous (loose in morals; broken down in principles or decency) living. One of the saddest sites in the world to see is an old car that one day was in its glory, one day that had a beautiful paintjob and purred down the street like a kitten, only to see it today rusted out in a field, covered in dead grass, briars, and thorns. Sadly, it reminds me of that teenage boy that was at one time \u201ccalled to preach\u201d that if you were to see him today, you would think you\u2019re meeting Bigfoot, with his long hippie hairdo, no longer attending church any more. Sadly, it reminds me of that teenage young lady (Oh, she\u2019s a grown adult today) that had a smile that could simply light up the room. She had one of the sweetest voices in our Youth Choir. Today, you\u2019d find her living in poverty with multiple children that she had before she ever turned 18 years of age. And just like the vintage automobiles, they sit rusted out in the field, grown over by dead grass, the briars, and thorns that were caused by sin and its\u2019 wasteful effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want you to notice a couple of other words. The Bible says, \u201cAnd when he had spent (wasted or squandered) all\u2026\u201d You see teenager, when you set out on the journey down the Path Away, down the path of rebellion\/sin, it is not of matter of if, but \u201cwhen\u201d. I bet at first, sin seemed enjoyable to Adam\/Eve, but it came with some consequences. I bet at first, sin seemed enjoyable to Amnon, but it came with its\u2019 fair share of consequences and ruined lives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notice here, that \u201cwhen\u201d he had spent (wasted) all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. You see, he wasn\u2019t in want (he didn\u2019t have need of anything, or so he thought\u2026) while he was living life the way that HE wanted, with no rules, no restrictions, and no revenue limits. But when the money ran out, and the entertainment\/fun times were over, even this Playboy Prodigal found out that he STILL had needs that money, alcohol, sex, and all of the rest of the vices of this world could not provide him. And \u201cwhen\u201d the Path Away, the journey of rebellion\/sin are done with you, it too will leave you \u201cthere\u201d \u201cwasted\u201d with nothing left, but unfulfilled desires and a want for something more that will really sustain the needs of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That \u201cwant\u201d for something more, that desire for something that can really sustain the needs of your life can only be found in JESUS! They can\u2019t be found in a drink from a bottle; they can only be found in a drink of living water! They can\u2019t be found in a pill; they can only be found in the Person of Jesus Christ. They can\u2019t be found in a line of drugs; they can only be found in a life of depriving of one\u2019s self and living for others. They can\u2019t be found in images of immorality; they can ONLY be found in catching a glimpse of the Image of the Immortal One. His name is JESUS! Jesus has always been the only One that can guarantee to sustain\/satisfy the desires of our every need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to list for you 4 ways to stay off the Path Away, the pathway of Rebellion\/Sin:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love, Honor, and Obey Your Parents (vs. 12)
<\/strong>Live your life in such a way that anyone that\u2019s watching you would want to ask questions of your parents on how they turned out such good kids. This is how you can honor them with your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask God to Keep You Humble (vs. 12 \u2013 Give Me Attitude)
<\/strong>The best way to do this, is to remember the only thing that we are truly deserving of is Hell. It\u2019s hard to be proud when we consider where we should be headed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make the Choice Now Never to Pack Your Bags (vs. 13)
<\/strong>Notice the Prodigal had to \u201cgather all together\u201d, the Father never helped him. God will never assist you in the decision to leave and to sin. God would rather that you stay safe in the Kingdom, than to wonder down the Path Away<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make the Choice Now to Take God\u2019s Journey, Not Your Own (vs. 13)  
<\/strong>Notice the phrase, \u201c\u2026and took HIS journey\u2026\u201d Would you trust the Word of God and Bro. Danny this morning that God\u2019s way is the best way? He has a much better life planned for you than you could ever dream up for yourself, but it\u2019s only guaranteed to those that live in the center of His will, not your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope and trust that the message blessed your heart this morning. My prayer is that you learned something that will keep you faithful to God for the rest of your days, because I can do ALL things \u201cthrough Christ\u201d which strengtheneth me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Youth Pastor Danny Reynolds
Woodland Hills Baptist Church | Tyler, TX<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luke 15:13 \u201cAnd not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.\u201d Notice the phrase \u2013 \u201cFather, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.\u201d First, I want you to notice the tone in which he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"subtitle":"","format":"standard","video":"","gallery":"","source_name":"","source_url":"","via_name":"","via_url":"","override_template":"0","override":[{"template":"1","single_blog_custom":"","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"0","layout":"no-sidebar-narrow","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"float","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"0","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_post_related":"0","show_inline_post_related":"0"}],"override_image_size":"0","image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post":"0","trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post":"0","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","sponsored_post_name":"","sponsored_post_url":"","sponsored_post_logo_enable":"0","sponsored_post_logo":"","sponsored_post_desc":"","disable_ad":"0"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"","hide":""},"jnews_food_recipe":[],"enable_food_recipe":"0","food_recipe_title":"","food_recipe_description":"","food_recipe_serve":"","food_recipe_time":"","food_recipe_prep":"","food_recipe_level":"","food_recipe_keywords":"","food_recipe_category":"","food_recipe_cuisine":"","food_recipe_yield":"","food_recipe_calories":"","enable_print_recipe":"0","ingredient":[{"item":""}],"instruction":"","jnews_social_meta":{"fb_title":"","fb_description":"","fb_image":"","twitter_title":"","twitter_description":"","twitter_image":""},"jnews_override_counter":{"override_view_counter":"0","view_counter_number":"0","override_share_counter":"0","share_counter_number":"0","override_like_counter":"0","like_counter_number":"0","override_dislike_counter":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"jnews_podcast_option":{"enable_podcast":"0","podcast_duration":"","upload":""},"jnews_podcast_series":null,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"jnews-series":[],"class_list":["post-3636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youth-truth"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/strawless-relay-3.5-\u00d7-3.5-in-3.5-\u00d7-3.5-in-1024x1024.png","blog_images":{"medium":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/strawless-relay-3.5-\u00d7-3.5-in-3.5-\u00d7-3.5-in-300x300.png","large":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/strawless-relay-3.5-\u00d7-3.5-in-3.5-\u00d7-3.5-in-1024x1024.png"},"ams_acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3636"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3683,"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3636\/revisions\/3683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3636"},{"taxonomy":"jnews-series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yplife.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fjnews-series&post=3636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}