Heart Of The Ultimate Father

The Heart Of The Ultimate Father

Luke 15:11-24

Intro:

Luke 15 is a very interesting chapter. Here Jesus tells three different stories; one about a lost sheep, one about a lost coin, and one about a lost son. All too often the emphasize is placed on the missing sheep, coin, and son. But Jesus was emphasizing the seeker, not the sought item. It is the action of the seeker that is important. Jesus was pulling back the veil to let people see into the very heart of God.

With the sheep one out of 99 had gone astray. The shepherd still had 99 sheep, most guys would say oh well, why risk the 99 to save one. But not this shepherd He laid it all on the line to save one. Why? Because Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.

With the coin the stakes get higher. The shepherd had only lost 1% of his flock and he went after it. But with the coins this woman had lost 10% of her coins, this was equivalent to a whole days wages. So she cleaned the house top to bottom turning over everything in the house until she found that coin. Why? Because she valued it greatly, just as the Lord values each of us greatly.

And that brings us to the lost son, this part of parable is often refereed to as the story of the Prodigal Son. Here a father loses 50% of his family. Note the increase from 1%, to 10%, and now 50%. Jesus begins with items that mean seem of lesser value, but with the loss of a son , He knew it would drive home His point. Jesus was letting us know that we are of great value to God. Here again the emphases is all to often placed on the actions of the son, but was is really important is the attitude and actions of the father. And on this Father’s Day I want us to look at “The Heart Of The Ultimate Father.”

The point of this message is not so much to say to father’s do this or that, but to help all of us see what our Heavenly Father is really like. It is sad to say, but our Heavenly Father gets a bad rap, He is often made out to be some grumpy old man just looking to ruin our lives. A cosmic kill joy just waiting for us to screw up so He can blast us. But this isn’t the case. So let’s take look at what The Heart of the Ultimate Father.

1. The Heart of the Ultimate Father is a Lamenting Heart

Luke 15:11 13

(11)To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. (12)The younger son told his father, ’I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.(13)"A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living.

Get the picture, here is a father with two sons. And these two boys are his world, they are his heirs, they will carry on his name, everything he has worked for in life is for them. They are the apple of his eye. And then one day his younger son comes to him and says, “Dad I’m not gonna sit around waiting for you to die, I want to see the world now, I want my part of the inheritance now so I can go live my own life.”

How’s that for a slap in the face. Imagine the shock, image the hurt, imagine the pain, image the broken heart of this father. Here come his pride and joy and he says I’m leaving, give me what is coming to me.

Now here is a kid that has everything he needs, his father is a wealthy land owner with many servants this kid had it good, he lack for nothing, but he wants to through that all away.

That reminds me of Adam & Eve. Living in the most beautiful place in all of creation, able to walk with God in the cool of day, to fellowship with God in a way that we can only imagine, and they cast it aside for temporary pleasure.

Now he father’s heart is broken not just because his son wants to leave him, but because he knows what awaits his son. He knows the cruel world that will devour and destroy him. His heart is broken also because he knows that he must let his son go, he can’t force him to love him and stay with him. He knows that his son has to make his own choices, as bad as they may be. And knowing all of this the father honors the sons request and lets him go.