The Father's Love

THE FATHER’S LOVE Luke 15: 11-32 Wayne Roberson November 5, 2010

Intro:
Our behavior is directed by the attitude of our heart.
As we consider the words of Jesus in Luke Chapter 15, I would like to direct your thoughts toward the attitude of the characters of the parable in verses 11 through 32.

I would like to consider the attitude of the Father, his younger son and his older son.

As we focus our attention on the Father, we will realize:

God is Love and He loves unconditionally and He loves others through His own.
Are you one of His?

I encourage you to read along as I read or listen intently to the words of Jesus as

Text:
Luke 15:11-32
Then He said: "A certain man had two sons.

[12] And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood.

[13] And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.


[14] But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

[15] Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

[16] And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine 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 bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

[18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

[19] and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." '
[20] And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

[21] And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

[22] But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

[23] And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

[24] for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

[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] So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

[27] And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'

[28] But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

[29] So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

[30] But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'

[31] And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

[32] It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' "


I. THE FATHER RELEASED THE YOUNGER SON

As we consider the behavior of the younger son, I envision his attitude was one that said, “It is MY life.”

In verse 13 we see that he left the immediate presence of the Father and the family.

Picture with me the loss of intimacy and affection brought on by this decision.

Today, we can imagine the phone that does not ring, the messages sent that are not even acknowledged. The sleepless nights of the Father.

As the younger son wasted or squandered his possessions, undoubtedly he was drawn away from the family in pursuit of discovering “who he was”.

In the 70’s we said, “They have to go find themselves.”

The thought has occurred to me, “What do they do when they find themselves and they don’t like what they find?

Perhaps, that is where we find the younger son in verse 14:
Luke 15:14
But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

Not only had a famine affected the younger son but as we read verses 15 and 16 we realize his resources were limited.

No one gave him anything........

Today, we might say he was experiencing God’s tough love.

In verse 17 we see the results of this situation:

Luke 15:17
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Some translations say, “he came to his senses”.

As one who moved away from home, shortly after completing high school, I have had the feelings of being Homesick.


In my opinion, Homesick is not about a particular place but rather is about a sense of belonging, a certain level of sensitive interaction and intimacy with family.

This intimacy was lost when the younger son traveled to the far country.

The younger son Remembered Home
He remembered how good it was
He realized it was his decision that took him away He knew he could go home

He formed a solution to his crisis:

Luke 15:18
I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
He repented in his heart

He determined to repent to his father:

He confessed his sin to the Father:

Sin? You may ask? Yes, sin because he had failed to honor his Father and Mother. He has allowed his attitude to focus on himself and his personal gratification at the expense of his inheritance.

Luke 15:19
and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ‘


II. THE FATHER EAGERLY WAITED FOR THE WAYWARD SON'S RETURN
The Father Waits

While the younger son squandered his inheritance the father waited.

What parent has not waited?

Waited in anxious expectation to be a parent.

Waited for your teenager to come through the door.

Waited to see your young adult child realize their full potential.

Who among us has not desired more for our child than we had ourselves?

Can you imagine the feelings of the father as he waited?

The day came.......As the Father watched and waited another day......

VERSE 20 REVEALS
He saw his younger son coming from afar.......
Contrary to his culture.....he ran toward his son...............He embraced his son

I have asked myself, “Could I demonstrate the Father’s love?”

Soon, the father put the restoration process in place.

Luke 15:22
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

He orchestrated a celebration:

The younger son was given a:
Robe – symbolizing Righteousness

A ring indicating authority was placed on his finger.
I suspect the ring bore the family crest

Surely, since he had squandered his inheritance, he had many needs.
According to Holeman,
Bare feet were a sign of poverty and reproach.
Sandals demonstrated reconciliation

God’s Kingdom is referred to as a Banquet and sitting at a table has long sense communicated a celebration of victory or an event of great joy.

The father communicates his joy as the celebration begins.

In verse 24 we read:
Luke 15:24
for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
Did you notice the word, “again”?

The pain of the younger son’s absence was as if he were dead.

Can you imagine how you would feel if a loved one who has died suddenly walked into this room?

Jesus used the word again indicating he had been alive before.

Life and death have always illustrated the sharp contrast between sin and obedience in scripture.

III. THE FATHER LOVED THE OLDER SON IN SPITE OF HIS ATTITUDE

Perhaps no more appreciative,
THAN HIS YOUNGE BROTHER,
the older son was obedient in his choices and behavior.

Nevertheless, the older son demonstrated the attitude of his heart in his reaction to the younger brother’s homecoming.

Imagine with me
how the resentment had accumulated over time concerning the younger brother.
Perhaps:
He saw the pain inflicted on his father when the younger brother left.

He stayed and worked while hearing reports of his brother’s loose living.

Just like the younger son, the older son demonstrated the attitude of his heart
as he pouted and would not go into the feast and celebration.

Again, we see the humility of the Father as he pleaded with his older son.

Luke 15:28
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

The condition of his heart is further demonstrated as he challenges the Father’s actions.

Luke 15:29
So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

No doubt the older son feels justified in his feelings of anger.


IV. THE FATHER REWARDS BOTH SONS
The Father Responds
The father validates the older son’s feelings in verse 31 Luke 15:31
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

He reminds the son, “all that I have is yours”.

I don’t know about you but where I come from, ALL means ALL.

It is my understanding, the custom was for the older son to receive 2/3rds of the inheritance.

The absence of the younger son and his portion left all of the inheritance to the older son.
We see the gentleness of The Father as he justifies his response
in verse 32.
Luke 15:32
It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ “

He says, “It was right.”

It is right to celebrate and rejoice.

He reminds the older son, “your brother was dead and is alive AGAIN”.

He further exclaims, “was lost and is found.”

CONCLUSION:
Who among us can not relate to the attitude of one of the sons?

Insert: Both son’s had the wrong attitude. But, the younger son’s behavior cost him his inheritance.
The younger son’s behavior affected his fellowship with The Father but it did not change his relationship.
He was still a son even when he was in a far country living in rebellion.

Some among us can relate to the feelings of the Father.

Whether it is the younger son or the older son, we see the Father’s Love, He waited for the return of the younger son and received him warmly, without condemnation.

He rewarded the older son for “doing the right thing” as he faithfully served and managed the family affairs.

Please note:
Both sons remained sons throughout the process.

However, the child’s inheritance was affected by his choices.

God receives the sinner and the wayward child alike.

He welcomes the repentant sinner into His family.

He restores the repentant wayward child to a position of honor and intimate fellowship.

APPLICATION

Knowing these truths, what benefit is it if we fail to make application to our lives, today.

I have asked myself, “In a similar situation, could I mirror the Father’s Love?”

I quickly concluded, “Probably not.”

Thanks be to God, it is not about my ability any more than it is ever about my ability.

We are saved by faith through grace and beloved we live by faith through grace.


By this I mean to say, IT IS ONLY BY ALLOWING GOD TO LOVE THROUGH ME that I could ever mirror the Father’s Love.

How can this be accomplished?

Only by intimate fellowship, COMMUNING, with the Father on a constant bases.

Only then am I able to stay so close to Him that I am able to discern His will and or be used by Him.

I have experienced enough of His purpose to know there is no greater blessing than to know you have been used by Him.

You see, that is what obedience is all about.

Our Christian walk and life is somewhat of a paradox to human reasoning.
We are saved by faith through grace.
Our relationship as children is then established.
Nothing can change that.

When we put our faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit of God comes to indwell us.

We then walk or live the same way, by faith through grace.
The degree to which we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit determines our level of intimacy with God the Father.


INVITATION
Do you have the assurance that you are one of God’s children.

If not: Please Listen
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:8
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
Romans 10:9
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Assurance of our salvation is the glue that holds us together because it is then that we realize we were hopeless and undone and God made provision for our salvation.

Today, when life’s troubles come, I remember,

“He was faithful before I knew Him, and He is faithful, today.”

Thanks be to God,

Won’t you receive Him, Now