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Keys to Effective Intercessory Prayer for the Prodigals in Your Life
Luke 15:11-32 (NIV) "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them."Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate."Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. Your brother has come,' he replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, `Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'"`My son,' the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)
"There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'So he got up and went to his father. "
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. Your brother has come,' he replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, `Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'"`
My son,' the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

Keys to Effective Intercessory Prayer for the Prodigals in Your Life

Luke 15:11-32 (New International Version - UK)

The Parable of the Lost Son

Jesus continued: There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.  Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him anything.  When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.  So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.  'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'  'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'

 

 

And when HE WAS A LONG WAY OFF his father saw him and HAD COMPASSION ON HIM
LUKE 15:11-32

This simple parable has been called the greatest short story in the world. It is the tale of the boy who broke his father's heart and yet could not destroy the love the father had for him. And although it's over 2,000 years old, it speaks to us today with the promise of new beginnings, the triumph of love and forgiveness, the joy of reconciliation, and the call to the church to be ready when our prodigals return.

Whether your prodigal is a son or daughter, sister or brother, husband or wife, friend, or even a parent, bringing Home the Prodigals will give you a fresh sense of hope and encouragement. Take the opportunity, during this time, to discover:

Why some of our prodigals are not as far away as we think they are.

A release from guilt - God has trouble with his children too.

The power of praying for your children early - life can become complicated for them, and us, as they grow up.

The need for prodigal friendly churches - and a call for us to get ready for our prodigals’ return.

A prayer for our prodigals

Lord, only you know where our prodigals are - not just the physical place but in their hearts, their minds, their spirits. None of us can hide from you, and who is lost that you cannot find?

We pray for them. Lord, bring them home - not just to us, not even first to us, but to you. Forgive us if as parents, friends, or churches we have made it easier for them to leave or harder to come back.

Wherever they are and whatever they are doing, touch their lives. And when they come home give us the spirit of the father and not the elder brother.

And, Lord, there are some of us who to the outside world seem never to have left the father's house, but we ourselves know how far we have wandered. Bring us back also.

And when they come back, those who have gone far away and those who have wandered near: then teach us all that sometimes in your kingdom it's not another meeting we need - but a party.

 

The empty cross is a reminder to us of what it cost Jesus to provide a way home to the Father.

It is empty because HE IS ALIVE and has conquered all that could prevent prodigals coming home.

Using the post it notes place your PRODIGAL on the Cross.

 

Cymraeg (Welsh)English (United Kingdom)