TITLE: THE PRESENCE OF MY FATHER
TEXT : LUKE 15:11-24
intro: waivering child of a mother or father. prodigal,,,
PROP : GOD'S IS ALWAYS READY TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS CHILDREN.
Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the‑portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and‑took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with‑riotous living.
Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land;‑and he began to be in want.
Luke 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he‑sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the‑swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my‑father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I‑have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy‑hired servants.
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great‑way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck,‑and kissed him.
Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and‑in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and‑put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luke 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and‑be merry:
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.
EXCLAM: THIS STORY IS A BEAUTIFUL PARABLE OF JESUS CORRELATING THE‑RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A LOVING FATHER AND SON TO THAT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH‑THE HEAVENLY FATHER AS HIS CHILDREN.
INTER: WHAT DOES THIS TEXT SAY ABOUT FATHER?
I. A FATHER LOVES HIS CHILDREN
A. The Father loved His two children even though they were different!
1. No favoritism was mentioned.
2. His oldest son was very responsible, grave, and well disciplined.
However,‑he was not at all good humored to those around him.
He always did what his father asked.
3. His younger son was mercurial, spontaneous, irresponsible, impatient of restraint and somewhat arrogant.
B. God loves all of His children even though we are different!
1. He has no favorites.
Rom 2:11(NIV), “For God does not show favoritism.”
Rom 2:11(TLB), “ For God treats everyone the same.”
Rom 2:11(KJV), “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
C. He was a covering for His two children
1. The father provided a banner of love, protection, provision,
And nurture.
2. He enjoyed spending time w/ His children working and playing.
3. He did not want His younger child to leave HOME away from His covering of love. He realized that kids get into trouble when they are away from Mom and Dad!
D. Our Heavenly Father is a covering of love and protection for us!
1, He covers us with His presence so that we are mindful of His
love.
Ps 91:4-14(KJV)
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
2. He spends time with us.
3. He feeds us at His Heavenly Table
Song 2:4(KJV)
4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
4. Our Heavenly Father hates it when we get away from His House.
He realizes that we get into trouble when we get outside of His house
Eccl 5:1(KJV)
1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
5. In His House ….
There is safety
There is fellowship
There is joy
There is friendship
There is training / development
There is assurance (self worth)
There is others who love me (besides God, brothers & sisters)
Many times in life, we leave God’s covering over our life and become independent in our spirit and thinking. We become INDEPENDENT & SELF-RELIANT CHILDREN instead of staying DEPENDENT upon our Father God!
II. INDEPENDENT & SELF-RELIANT CHILDREN
A. Independent children are rebellious
1. Leave the covering of the Father & Family. He left His daddy/ went as far away as he could to assert his freedom & independence. He was claiming that He was His own man. He claimed that he didn’t need the help of anyone.
However, a real man is never truly His own. He is …
dependent upon God.
Interdependent upon his family and community of faith
Responsible for others
B. Rebellious children are selfish
1. He asked for his final portion and left. "Give me the portion..,"
2. He was focused upon his rights, but not interested in anyone else
or their rights. (Many people leave a church because they are motivated by selfishness rather than care for others)
The son thus came the son of prodigality or "the prodigal" living out his‑life in the flesh depending upon himself and trying to make his own way.
C. The Faithful Father loved his selfish child
1. He gave him what he asked of Him. The Heavenly Father
blesses us even when we are being selfish or not doing what we should.
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his‑own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
TRANS: AS WE WATCH THE STORY CONTINUE WE FIND OUT THAT REBELLION & SELFISHNESS DOESN’T LEAD TO FULFILLMENT AS MUCH AS IT LEADS TO LONLINESS & EMPTINESS
III. THE LONELY & EMPTY SON
Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land and he began to be in want.
A. Missing the depth and wonders of a loving and giving
God
1. He no more money he had spent it all.
2. He had no more friends, and he had no family. He was alone.
3. He was hungry. He had no food.
4. He was completely physically/ morally destitute. All was lost.
5. This is what happens to us when we leave the loving banner of
God fellowship during our lives.
6. We have no portion, WE FORFEIT SO MANY BLESSINGS
7. We have no one around us that can really comfort us.
WE ARE OUTSIDE OF GOD’S FAMILY!
8. We begin to starve spiritually. WE FAIL TO EAT AT THE TABLE OF GOD!
9. WE LOSE GOD’S ANOINTING AND SPECIAL TOUCH UPON OUR LIVES ALL BECAUSE we decided to take on the world alone w/out God’s help!
TRANS: AFTER REACHING THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE BARRELL. THE SON BECAME HUMILIATED AND FULL OF DESPAIR.
IV. THE HUMILIATED SON
A. He had declined to a place he would have never imagined
himself.
Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the‑swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
1. As God’s children, if we stop spending time with God we will do
things you never would‑have imagined doing before.
2. He who had been wealthy by all means was reduced to a mere
beggar. Just as Christians live below the level of privilege that God has afforded to them. As we forsake fellowship with God, we forsake all the blessings that go along with being close to Him.
TRANS: AS BELIEVERS, IF WE ARE LIVING BELOW THE LEVEL OF PRIVELAGE THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR US AS A SON, WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” JUST LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON.
V. AN AWAKENED SON
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my‑father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I‑have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
1. He realized even the least in his father's house were blessed beyond‑measure. [satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint on their knees in‑prayer.
2. He realized the life he was living was not as satisfying as the servants of‑his father's house.
3. Out of the depths of His misery he made a decision. He said "I will arise!" ‑He made a decision to get out of the mess he was in. How?
1) I will go back to my father.
[I will go back to stand in
his presence]
2) I will repent
3) I will serve my father
TRANS: SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT DAY AS THIS SON WENT BACK HOME TO FATHER. HE‑BECAME THE RESTORED SON.
VI. THE RESTORED SON
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great‑way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck,‑and kissed him.
Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and‑in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and‑put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luke 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and‑be merry:
A. Came back to covering of God’s blessing and love
SEVERAL OBSERVATIONS
1. The father was waiting to spend time w/ His son.
2. The son walked slowly to his father under the load of guilt / shame. ‑However, the father ran to meet him with encouragements / support.
3. The son did what he said he was going to do, he repented.
4. The father completely restored him.
5. - He called for a robe to the son who had been wearing rags. He went from‑spir. rags to spir. riches of righteousness.
6. - He called for an expensive ring so that all may know he was part of the‑family [the emblem of change].
7. - He placed shoes upon his feet that had traveled so far from home.
[peace and rest for the weary traveler]
8. - He made a great feast for the son that would have eaten with the animals.‑[differance between worldly pleasures and heavenly blessings.
CONCL:
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.
HIS MERCIES ARE GREAT:
How great is His mercy! There is nothing little about God. He forgives great‑sins to great sinners after great lengths of time; gives great favors and great‑privileges and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the‑Great God.
The son had left his family and home. He had become dead to them, because he‑had destroyed the emotional bond / relationship. However, he received‑restoration by returning to the love and presence of the father.
Today, if you know that your spending time with the Father like you should, why‑don't you make a decision to spend time in the presence of the Father in 1998. ‑Arise, return, repent, and worship.
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of‑joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
