The Love of The Father

Jun 19

DEEPLY ROOTED FAMILIES |

THE LOVE OF THE FATHER

Luke 15:11-32

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

15 So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[b]

22 But the father said to his servants,[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

31 And he said to him, ‘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.’”

I. The HAPPINESS Of The Father

It is the father’s happiness to LOVE his children, his son’s and daughter. This parable is about a father’s love for his children.
Every father must strive to EXEMPLIFY the love of God in everything he does.

In this parable, you see a picture of our Father in heaven.

To know one’s child implies that a close relationship exists between a father and his child.

This parable clearly speaks of the tremendous love that a good father has for his child, and of the unconditional love that our heavenly Father has for us.

It is the father’s happiness to PROVIDE for his children out of his generous heart.

In verse 13, The term “prodigal” means, “recklessly extravagant, characterized by wasteful expenditure.”

Godly parents do not always produce godly children.

II. The HEART Of The Father

Luke 15:17-20

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

A. The FORBEARING Heart Of The Father

“Forbearance” means to practice patience; self-control; restraint and tolerance.

John 8:44 - “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

1 Peter 5:8 - “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 - “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Ezekiel 18:20 - “The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”

Your child’s failures are not your failures. Every child is made in the image of God and each child is responsible before God.

B. The FORGIVING Heart Of The Father

Charles Wadsworth said, “By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.”

III. The HERITAGE Of The Father

Heritage means:

property that descends to an heir; something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor; legacy or inheritance.
something possessed as a result of one's natural situation or birth
something that has been or may be inherited by legal descent or succession.

Luke 15:22-32