Remembering Fathers
Introduction-
Good Morning…welcome. If you have your bibles either your bible or phone app would you turn to Luke chapter 15
It is tough preaching Father Day message because there is a mixed crowd of people with mixed emotions.
Some who’s father have died and they miss them greatly.
Some who have fathers who are very much alive and yet they are not active in their lives.
Each comes this morning and wants to hear a word from the Lord- I believe He has one if you have a heart that is centered on our heavenly Father.
Prayer
For me, I had no father at home, I was 1 ½ years old and had a pregnant mom with my brother when they split up. I had no father to watch any of my sports accomplishments and had no father to teach me what life was all about or what I could expect. It did not happen because I only met my father one time in my life for about one hour with my brother when I was 19 years old. It was a once and done moment for my brother and I to see what He looked like and who we came from. We both knew that it was not going anywhere because if he wasn’t in our life when we were young, we didn’t need him as an adult. He has since died with his other family. Anyone relate to that?
It is hard times for anyone- I did have someone to step up and be that part in my grandfather and my uncle- the two closest men in my life till after I graduated high school. So for me dad was only a word- a person who didn’t exist so when I got married and became a father I was going to learn things the hard way- because no one gave me a blueprint with all the answers.
Why am I telling you this? Because some of you know painfully well what I am talking about. You have walked that road. For others, you say I cannot imagine, my father has played a big part of my life and has always been there- thank God- no really, you should thank God for that!
If your earthly father did not measure up to what he was suppose too, I want you to know that it was not suppose to be that way but your heavenly father is not that way- He is not like your earthly father, your earthly father was suppose to be like him.
This morning no matter what road you have journeyed… blessed or challenged I want us to center in on our heavenly Father and what He desires for each of us.
I have five grown children and three of those children have children and I now have five grandchildren. Was I the perfect father? Of course not! Would I change a few decisions raising them? Of course I would. But we do our best and leave the rest to the Lord to help us every step of the way.
Before we go to the text, let me read you some words of encouragement from His word.
Titus 1:9
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Who must hold firm?
You must hold firm to the word of God that was taught to you or learned.
So that it will give you instructions and you will have a defense against those that try to sway you away from his word.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Again, so you will not grow weary because the road is long and hard and if you do not give up you will see victory.
Anyone tired and weary?
Anyone thinking about giving up?
Matthew 7:9-11
which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
For those who have kids- those of us who have made an impact on someone else kids- if you know how to give good gifts to those you love, how much more will your heavenly ‘Father know how to give you His child good things to those that ask!
Listen, we cannot change the past but we can change the future.
We can do something about what is ahead of us and use the past to encourage us either to do the same or completely change it.
Let me set the text- Luke 15, We have a father, who has two sons who have made different decisions, we have a journey, and we see a glimpse of our heavenly Father and the means He will go to restore us back in a right relationship with Him. I think there is a word for all of us today.
Luke 15:11-32 read from Bible
Relationships are messy, they are complicated and you throw in today’s challenges with step children, adopted children, foster children, and the liberty of having children out of wedlock and not knowing sometimes who the father is and it can get even more messy.
You can only model what you know- I didn’t know what a good father was, I didn’t have one-I only know now from scripture what a good father should look like-
Text-
A father has a rebellious son that wants out and he wants his inheritance now – acting the only way he knew which was the custom of the day was that that the wayward son would get 1/3 because he had two sons, land kept in the family was important in those days and the older son was tasked with the responsibility of operating the family farm even though now 1/3 of the income and property was gone. He was a faithful son to stay and keep it going and what was left would be the oldest sons portion of the estate when the father died. You have two scenarios going- one maintaining the land and one rebellious son who has lost everything and realized that even his father servants had it better than him in a strange land feeding pigs which was the lowest of jobs that a Jew could have and that the food that they were eating was appetizing to him and he was starving and not even allowed to eat what the pigs ate.
He had a realization moment- that what he gave up was not as bad as he thought it was and that he would go back to his father and plead with him to only give him back what he was giving to his servants, he had realized he lost his family status at the table and was willing because it was better than what he had and he was okay with that, God has a way to work in our lives in mysterious way and at mysterious times- he was working on the wayward son, he had always been working encouragement with the father who was waiting for his son to return and even with push and shove, he even in time was working on the older son who had done everything right but had to deal with pride in his life,
What we learn quickly here- we all need Jesus! We are all at different spots going through different things and we all need Jesus.
Ever been the wayward son/daughter?
To leave everything because you thought it better to go to a strange land, a strange person, do what you know was not right and find out in time that it was not all that it was cracked up to be, you have that realization moment and you understand to go back and even have what the lowest of others have would be better than what you have now! You find out that there is nothing better than a God who will willingly and enthusiastically not only take you back but restore you back as a child of God.
Ever been the prideful brother/sister?
Have you been the person who has stuck it out, did what was tight, made great sacrifices to keep things going and lost a promotion, been pasted up for something that you deserve? You feel like why did I do it? I should have acted like everyone else and our Heavenly Father has to explain to you that you will be rewarded and that He sees all and nothing escapes his eyesight. You want to be compensated now and He reminds you that everything He has promised will be yours. You who has never left will be rewarded. But He gently looks at us and reminds us that his heart is toward to wayward and will give them opportunities to come back inot the family of God. That we have to lay down the pride and make sure our heart is right. To not forget where we came from and the mistakes that we made and how the Father has opened His arms for us at our times of need,
Ever been the waiting dad/mom?
You watched a love one head down the destructive path and you have had to get on your knees and ask the Lord to do whatever He needs to do to being them back in a right relationship- that they would have that realization moment. That they realize and are reminded that what the Lord has offered is better than what the world has offered and that you will come back and repent. You stand ready to receive your child, your friend, your spouse.
Some of us who had no roll model or a poor one have ro rely on the Lord to teach us and we do the best we can and hope and pray that the Lord would help us every step of the way.
Illustration-
During Abraham Lincoln presidency there was a man who wanted to see the president and was not allowed in to see him. After numerous attempts he was asked to leave. He sat outside of the white house on a bench and was so upset. A little boy walked by and asked the man what was the matter and he said that it was important that he see President Lincoln, the little boy took the man past the body guard s and employees and walked him into the oval office- Father, said the little boy… this man needs to speak to you.
That is the relationship we have with Jesus! He walks us into the heavenly Father’s presence and says.. Father this person needs to speak to you. Hallejujah!
Our Father which art in heaven… there is Sonship that allows us access into his presence because of what Jesus has done.
listen closely for a minute
As a child of God… one who has had a born again experience and has asked the Lord to be Lord of their lives you have been adopted into the family of God. Heavenly Father is your Father.
There is something for us all this morning-
You are the waiting parent- wait in the hope of the Lord that they will come home.
You are the wayward child, know that you can do about face and come back to open arms ready to restore you.
Maybe you are the older son- you watch this world being rewarded and you have done everything you know to do. This is not all there is…your reward is coming. You will be rewarded for your faithfulness. Do not let this world rob you of a blessing because you lose hope of the promises the Lord has given.
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Prayer-
