Being A Man Of God

Happy Fathers Day!

Today’s message is titled: Being a man of God

Not going to address all the traits the world says a real man is, but rather what God says, in His word, what a man should be.

Three key passages today:

Luke 15:11 til I get tired of reading.

Here we’ll examine the parable of The Prodigal Son, from a little different perspective

Matthew 5:33-37 a snippet of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount

1 Timothy 6:6-12 (20-21) Paul’S advice to Timothy

Let’s begin in Luke 15:11-32 read from my bible

• In 1984, I returned home from college, after mostly wasting about six years of my life.

• Not too long after my return, I went to see my dad with the intent of borrowing $400.

• He said he would lend me the $400 but he didn’t want me to get my ear pierced.

• It struck me funny, because I already had my ear pierced, and I’m pretty sure he knew that.

• However, I understood him and that he meant he didn’t want me to wear an ear ring.

• He did loan me the $, in fact he gave it to me, knowing I would probably still wear the ear ring, just not in his presence.

Go with me to:

Luke 15:11-32 read from my bible

• I was the Prodigal son, I did all those things, with two exceptions:

• I didn’t ask for my inheritance

• I didn’t eat with pigs, although some of my friends during that time, were pig-like

In this parable, we see several characters; including the Prodigal Son, his older brother, and the father.

This story we see:

• Rebellion

• Repentance, and

• Rejoicing

It is the last of 3 parables Jesus tells back to back with a common thread of “something lost”.

Lost coin, Lost sheep, Lost son

It is interesting that

• with the lost coin, the woman actively seeks to find the coin.

• with lost sheep, the shepherd actively goes after the lost sheep.

• But with the lost son, we aren’t told the father searched for the lost son, but we get the impression the father vigilantly watched for his son’s return.

Today, I’d like to consider how the father responds to both of his sons.

• First off, the Prodigal Son deeply insults and disrespects his father by insisting on getting his inheritance NOW.

• He basically says “I don’t have time to wait for you to die, I’m ready to get on with my life and live it as I please”. (Here we see the rebellious spirit)

• The father responds by giving the younger son his inheritance.

• The son squanders his inheritance, then:

• 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!” (He is still only thinking only of himself, but at least he came out of that fog “but when he came to himself”

• NLT says “when he finally came to his senses”

So, he puts a plan together of approaching his father (probably much like I did when I approached my father)

Luke 15:18–19 “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’”

We see signs of repentance in v18-19.

Now, watch the father’s response:

Luke 15:20 ““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.”

Parents, have you ever experienced that feeling, for a brief few moments in a store, or any other situation, when you didn’t know where your child was?

-story of Bobby being lost-

That feeling of total chaos in your mind during that time, to complete relief and joy when your child was found?

Can you imagine this fathers overwhelming joy?

Luke 15:21 “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.’” (He didn’t even get the chance to finish his rehearsed speech)

Luke 15:22–24 ““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. And bring the fatted calf here 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.”

He immediately showers his son with gifts: