Sermon Central
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The Prodigal Father
Contributed by Mark Opperman on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Let's look at the heart of a father. Fathers are a gift from the heavenly Father. Here is a well known story Jesus told about a special father - special because Jesus was using Him to describe what the heavenly Father is really like.
(Adapted from http://truth4freedom.wordpress.com/gods-plan-of-salvation/recommitting-your-life-to-christ/a-tale-of-two-sons-updated-and-expanded-sermon-transcript-version/)
-Total acceptance, total forgiveness, total extravagance!
VII. The Prodigal Father Restores Sonship (v.22)
“But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” (Robe, ring, sandals)
-Again, we see the Father giving what is totally undeserved. What an awesome picture of the grace of God. The best robe in the house would likely belong to the father himself. The ring was probably a family signet ring, showing that the son had been reinstated to sonship as part of the family. The sandals are significant as well. Slaves normally did not wear sandals, although they carried and tied their master’s sandals. By giving sandals to the son, the father was saying, “I refuse to receive you as a servant. You are my son and you have been fully restored.” Finally…
VIII. The Prodigal Father Celebrates (v.23-24)
“Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.”
-Scripture speaks of our heavenly Father rejoicing over us. KJV Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” He thinks you are really something! What a Father!
Conclusion: I hope that today you have seen in some new way how great our Father’s love is for us. John said it so well in 1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we should be called the children of God”! John is exclaiming as if seeing it for the first time. “Wow! Look! This is incredible! We can actually be called sons and daughters of the living God! Not slaves. Not hired help. But God is actually our Father. He claims us as His own. What a love!”
Almost every boy grows up wanting to be like his Dad in some way. Well, I want to be like my heavenly Father. I want to have a heart like He has – one that loves and gives and waits and sees and feels compassion and runs and embraces and accepts and blesses and celebrates lost people who are coming home. My prayer for each of you is that you would have that heart condition too. I want to give you opportunity to take a step in that direction. If you do not have a loving relationship with your heavenly father, you can start one today by saying a prayer from your heart. The prayer you need to pray is not much different than what the lost son told his father, “Father, I have sinned against You, please forgive me and be the leader of my life.” He wants us to be His sons and daughters. If you want to pray that prayer this morning, please lift your hand. You can know the wonderful love of your heavenly Father and be sure of spending eternity with Him.
