Luke 15:11-20 “…When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants 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 servants.’ So he got up and went to his father…”

The very first step in the healing process is to know where you are currently. Whenever we are giving someone directions to a specific place, the first question—we ask them—usually is: where are you?  The Bible doesn’t tell us why the prodigal son asked for his inheritance. But we know that he messed up.

The scripture portion above shows that when he came to senses, in other words, when he got to a place where the lights were turned off and all had gone, he saw who he actually was.

He wasn’t living in denial; he had zero excuses.

The healing process starts when the curtains go down, the lights turned off and the theatre closes. After all that you are in public, who are you when all is done? Where are you standing?  It takes a lot of maturity and courage to get to that place.

You can easily get to the next step, once you arrive at that place.  Quit the blame game.

A certain lady had resolved to do prostitution and her argument was ‘if my grandfather raped me for free, why can’t I give myself away for money?’ She said she was what she was because of what her grandfather had done to her. But unlike her, you need to stop looking at those who hurt you as the reasons for the way you’re living.  You need to stop whining about your past—your past can’t change!  

Has your mood ever changed because a certain person you didn’t like has entered a room?

Some people may never even remember that they hurt you because that’s what they do every day and to everybody. The only gift you can give yourself and those around you is to stop living like a hurt person. The cycle of hurt ought to stop with you!

The prodigal son didn’t blame those that ate his money with him or those that made him stay at the pig sty. He knew it was his mess and he had to return to his father to fix it.  Our freedom is in letting go.

The man at the pool in John 5 was asked by Christ, “Do you want to get well?” However, his response had a lot to do with what people had not done for him. I have a feeling this is what he kept on saying for the 38 yrs. He was there until Christ told him to carry his mat and walk!

The second step is to face the fear. See, Fear to the devil is what faith is to God.  We fear what people are going to say or think. The prodigal son had to face the fear of shamefully returning home and we must say not everyone was happy about his return. 

It wasn’t easy for him but it was the only option. Larry Crabb says something profound: When you go to the hospital and you have a private issue, the gender of the doctor is the last thing to consider and losing dignity for that matter is the least price to pay.

As long as you know what you are dealing with, facing fear is the least price you can pay. The bible says Christ despised shame for a greater purpose (Hebrews 12:2). We ought to pray for boldness.

At times we are very gifted and people get to see the gift more than the individual. I know of a friend who was a worship leader struggling with pornography. As people praised him for leading them so well in worship, he confessed that he was worshipping while seeing naked people.

People are in the church struggling with lots of vices, some are aborting one baby after another…but we are more concerned about their gift and forget to look out for the person.

The other step is letting go of pride. Some people are at a place where their titles are more important than the offense they have committed to a loving God. The first thing on their mind is their position and not how they have affected those around them. Their fear of men is greater than their fear of God. Nobody has a right to correct them because they are wiser in their own eyes. But the question is: if you are intelligent why are you there? Why are you fighting vices in your life?

The last and most important step is: being intentional. Blind Bartimaeus knew what he wanted. The people shutting him up were not blind. They would gladly go back to their homes after shutting him up. Yet, if he kept silent he would go back blind.

We talk about this because we have been there too. I remember being like blind Bartimaeus. I was struggling with masturbation and a lot of other vices and it was eating me up. I came to church messed up. After seeking all attention in vain, some elders chased me away from church saying I would spoil their children. (I was advised to stay though)

I was desperate for change; I wanted God to help me. I started screaming out loud to Him in prayer. Those who chased me saw it and called me a reed which would burn out in no time. Some men asked me to stop praying or else they won’t have anyone to sleep with. Their noises were more like those that the blind Bartimaeus must have faced. But I shouted louder and today I am totally free. People have given us weeks to stand in salvation and it’s now years. You too can make it. Don’t be silenced. Shout louder to your God. He is able to heal you completely.