Come Back Now — My Weary Prodigal
Good morning.
This is a song I wished to attach here with what is on my heart today.
Lately The LORD has been bringing me back to some styles of Worship I was used to in my early and middle years.
As I said in my testimony here on HKP, several of us traveled and sang in a youth choir, from the time I was 10 until 18 years old.
We actually saw many prodigals and sinners alike, hit those old saw- dust altars!
The old songs had much ‘prayer punch’ behind them, before we even sang them. They often started bringing conviction at the start, even before the preaching.
I saw The LORD moving as we were asked to ‘sing’ at restaurants, sometimes. We would have stopped for a hamburger or a meal while traveling.
The personnel would see us dressed in our little black and white outfits and would be curious. Waitresses were sometimes crying and being touched by the songs we sang.
People’s hearts can be softened where they can then receive from The LORD.
Don’t get me wrong here though, it is not just about singing!
The Preaching of The Cross must not never be left out!!
Where you are in a Church building, home meetings or the streets, let’s use all of it for the glory of God!
Getting back, we often saw those that were saved, hitting the altars for their loved ones.
Why?
Christians prayed down ‘conviction’ on them in those days. We didn’t want our loved ones lost and going to a burning hell!
Some were coming to Jesus for the very first time. What a beautiful sight that was!
The prodigal though, is my main focus today.
I have a Word from The LORD that I am getting this morning.
As I always tell you, try the spirits not just with me, but with EVERY single one of us! That means anyone, anywhere saying a ‘thus saith The LORD’.
Don’t throw the Word away, just be careful and properly discern if it lines up with the Word of God.
“Weary prodigal Come on back I say! Don’t you know I have been waiting with open arms to receive you?
You think you have done too much, gone too far but even now I AM drawing, wooing you to myself.
Dirty, rugged, unclean with many scars (wounds) in your heart (being).
Don’t you think I can clean you up and use you for My service in these last days?
Again I say “Come on Back!”
With open Arms I will receive you and yeah, even say I will restore you.
Love you, I do. Just return!”
“And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
And 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.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man
gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven,
and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” Luke 15:11-32.
“God is Calling the Prodigal”
God is calling the prodigal, come without delay,
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee;
Tho’ you’ve wandered so far from His presence, come today,
Hear His loving voice calling still.
Refrain:
Calling now for thee, O weary prodigal, come;
Calling now for thee, O weary prodigal, come.
Patient, loving and tenderly still the Father pleads,
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee;
Oh! return while the Spirit in mercy intercedes,
Hear His loving voice calling still. [Refrain]
Come, there’s bread in the house of thy Father, and to spare,
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee;
Lo! the table is spread and the feast is waiting there,
Hear His loving voice calling still. [Refrain]
Author: Chas. H. Gabriel (1856-1932)
~ Joyce D. McGuire
My name is Joyce D. McGuire, called to work in and for the Kingdom of God! To lead we must try to follow Jesus Christ closely. That is my heart. I am a Chaplain to the prisons; prophetic intercessor by His grace; author; and a Mother in the Kingdom of God. To many I am simply Mama Joyce. Some favorite verses of mine are Matthew 11:28-30.
Even a prodigal would have to learn the Word to such an extent, and likely at a faster pace than others.
Ephesians 6:12 Amp 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Paul then gives the Ephesians the weapons necessary to fight this war, it is up to us to give ourselves over to the word of God letting it be the final authority in every situation. Nobody is exempt from listening and heeding God’s word, yes temptation comes but greater is He than any temptation you must let this be true so you don t wrestle with problems yourself. As you develop so does your understanding of God s word you will see things that others don t that is the design of the Bible it is written in a particular way that things are hidden that requires you to spend time in prayer and meditation till the revelation comes which produces spiritual strength
reply to uhhh A certain man had two sons is what this parable is about another parable with 2 sons talks about working in a vineyard Mat 21 both by the same teacher. Deciding what the word son implies in these teachings is helpful. Leaving 99 just who don t need repentance and goes after one who is lost. Think about this who does not need repentance every hour of every day. The son and the fold take on a different context than Jesus in a church house. The prodigal son is one who God has given life John 1 9 and He is spending it as he sees fit and comes to his end, Paul speaking on Mars hill Act 17 28 calls pagans the offspring of God or prodigal sons. This teaching keeps going into the unjust steward who was using his stewardship to enslave people with debt but had a change of mind when his job was going to be gone (priesthood tithe) and took hold on his master’s goods and began relieving people of there owed debts again the gospel of Jesus
Dear Mhhh and Jay: to both of you dear people.
I know you are discoursing back and forth.
Just lets don’t lose our true
focus please.
Here is a suggestion. There is someone on the thread here that is really crying out for help. “whywasiborn”
Lets try to give them a reason. God is interesting in us reaching them. God bless you both.
Dear Joyce – thank you. You are right and I apologise. I was going to say we seem to have distracted away from the focus on the prodigals. That was not my intention. I too am really struggling, having just lost an elderly friend who I was unable to visit during lockdown and later was afraid because of ‘injection mandates’. I have been almost totally isolated since lockdown in March 2020 after a bereavement of someone I cared for a number of years. I too remember days when the true gospel was preached and true fellowship. Now the church doesn’t want to meet to pray together, and I am treated as odd because I believe that we should. I have a funeral next week. Last time I visited that church, the people I used to pray with physically recoiled from me because I can’t have ‘the intervention’. Is 50:10
Mhhh thank you for your reply. I receive and my deepest condolences in the loss of your friend.
It seems you take a stand in what you believe at a great cost to you.
I lift your hands up in prayer right now!
You said an awful lot and it so sad! Churches being afraid to meet! It breaks our heart I know.
Still I pray for you fellowship with some like minded Christians. Thank you sweet lady and God bless you.
By the way, I didn’t take the intervention shot either. God is keeping me.
reply to mhhh The good news of the gospel is that all have been called to be reconciled to God, not all elect to accept this call because of the rock of stumbling. The king that the law-abiding Jewish people were looking for was not Jesus so they cling to Moses and the law. The book of Hebrews to Hebrews goes to great lengths to prove who Jesus is and how His priesthood works even though He is not a Levite. Jesus is the eldest Son of God the firstborn through faith from the dead and the inheritance all goes to Him, just like Abrahams’s firstborn through faith Isaac. The elder son in the prodigal teaching could inherit all if he would walk through the door of repentance and accept the one who has inherited everything
I am obviously too simplistic in my reading. The parable is called the prodigal son. It follows on from the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin. These parables all show the heart and grace of God toward the lost – the prodigals. Despite the fact that the son wished his father dead and squandered his inheritance, the father still loved him and welcomed him back as a son.
I have noticed a tendency to interpret the parable to say that the older son is cut off in favour of the younger son, when this is not what the parable says. In my understanding of the law and customs, the elder son in the parable WILL inherit everything, after the father dies. Although, the younger is greeted back as a son, he has already spent his inheritance has he not? After the celebration is over, he will have to get stuck in and work in the ‘family business’.
There is a tendency for people in ‘charismatic circles’ to say that people in more ‘traditional’ churches are like the elder brother, calling them ‘legalistic’ and not true believers. We should be very careful in judging the faith of others. We also have to be careful that we do not give the impression that grace is an excuse for continuing in sin (Rom 6:1).
Thank you both Mhhh and Jay for coming by and commenting.
There is so much more depth on the Prodigal Son and his brother.
It maybe I write a 2nd article soon so we can delve in scriptures more. God bless you both
I’ve had a really hard day. Many important documents lost in the mail. I will likely never see them again. So much trouble to replace. Trouble with husband and kids. I have cried so much. Thank you for reminders to keep my eyes on the Lord and trust He will help me through all struggles. I am SO WEARY. I wish my time on this planet was ended already.
Your post really touched my heart. You are sure welcome.
At the risk of sounding cliche, there is an old song “I was Born to Serve the Lord”
There is a reason for you to be on earth and Jesus loves you very much!
Praying right now for a turnaround that the lost documents will be found!
Also as you turn to the Lord, you will find much needed atrength. Just place all situations in the hands of the Lord.
My prayers are with you. God bless you.
Lovely comforting words Joyce , it is a great blessing, x
I would like to say I have been where you are I have lost documents I’ve had fights with my wife now ex-wife I have problems with my kids at times. But it’s in those times that I have found that God is a great big loving God! He’s the God on the mountains and he’s the God in the valleys. And whenever we’re riding high and everything is going good we feel great. But down in the valleys when everything is going wrong I promise you it only strengthens you. I’ve asked the question many a time why was I born and the answer to this question is it so that I can reach out to other people that are going through similar situation. I have been through a lot of frustration I’ve been through a lot of hurt but all of that just strengthened me. So let me be an encouragement to you today Jesus said the road that we walk on is rough but it’s worth it. Fight the good faith keep your eyes on Jesus and let the world just do what it’s going to do.
Amen, Jon what a powerful response. You were born for such a time as this to help many.
So glad to call you my spiritual son in the Lord. Keep growing in the Lord.
Much love and prayers, Mama Joyce
And yet the father in the parable says to the elder son, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’
The elder son, is a beloved son too and is affirmed. I don’t think it is right to say otherwise.
The prodigal Son repents I have sinned against Heaven and you Father I am not worthy to be called your son! The only way you repent in the New testament is to accept the sacrifice offered which is Jesus Christ. When this repentance takes place notice the Fathers response you are brought back into the family, however the elder son the old testament law and all the people who think they need no repentance the Father goes out personally to try to convince them to come into His presence through the open door which again is Jesus Christ which seems to create a rebellious attitude where the son says that He never transgressed any of the Fathers commands yet we know by the parable this is not true because he was bid to come in and would not (serving the Law not the Love of God)