The Prodigal's Father

Of all the fathers in the Bible, the father in our text is probably spoken

of more than the others combined. We know very little of him or the names

of his sons. The wife and mother is not mentioned at all. It would seem that

perhaps she had passed away and the father is left alone to rear his two

sons.

All too often we gather truth from the far land and we fail to gather

treasure from the father’s lodging. We have no problem imaging what

happened in the far country.

The convictions which swayed him (12-13)

authority he was determined to discard

ability he was determined to display

The confusion which swamped him (14-16)

unexpected failure which shattered him

unexplored future which frightened him

The conversion which saved him (17–19)

truth he faced

failure he was

father he had

path he found

However, this morning I want us to contemplate the father’s house

instead of the far country. What was going on in the father’s house while

the son was in the far country?. What was the father doing while the son

was away? Encourage fathers today.

I. He continued working on the farm

You never gain ground with your prodigal if you sell the farm before

they have a chance to come home. The father did not sell out, give in, give

up – he just stayed with the farm. Children are counting on you and I to be

faithful.

A. Father did not change to accommodate the son.

He just stayed with the stuff.

Parents we need to stay with the stuff even when the kids leave

home. Don’t relax your standards them. It is always too soon to quit.

When children leave the nest to go to college or get married,

don’t you change.

Stayed with the farm

1. Labour did not change.

2. Love did not change

B. Father did care . (20)

Father saw him long before the son saw him. Father was looking

for him. He love him.

No anger was in his heart towards the son; he had nothing but

pity for his poor boy who had got into such a pitiable condition. It was true

that it was the son’s own fault, but that did not come into the father’s mind.

He cared for and loved his son deeply.

C. Father was consistent.

He stayed at the farm and kept working for the day. What day

was that? The day his son would come home.

1. Stalled calf

Was fed daily in anticipation of the son’s return

2. Special robe

Was prepared for the day of the son’s welcome

3. Signet ring

Was cleaned and made ready for the day the son would

wear it

If the father had not been faithful, there would have been no fatted

calf, nor robe, and nor ring for the days of festivity when the son came

home.

"Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding."

II. He commenced waiting at the farm

Doing all he knew to do at the farm, he waited and watched. When

the son topped the last, he father spotted him. Spotted him because he was

waiting and watching for his son.

The hardest part of the Christian life is waiting. Love suffereth long.

Love endureth all things. Love holds on and holds out. Love cannot be

conquered. Love never gives in.

Isaiah 40:31

Ps 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall

strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

La 3:25 "The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul

that seeketh him."

Mic 7:7 "Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of

my salvation: my God will hear me."

Isa 30:18 "......blessed are all they that wait for him."

A. Waiting in prayer

B. Waiting in precepts

C. Waiting in prospect

III. He concluded with weeping at the farm

Finally there came a day when all the working, watching and waiting

became rich and real.

"Saw him....and ran." May have reached his son out of breath, but he

was not out of love. Kissed him much. Oh, the tears of joy that must have

flowed from his eyes. The prodigal son may have had to limp towards his

father, but his father ran toward him.

Dad, you stay on the farm. Don’t change, give up, give in, or give

over. In due season, you shall reap if you faint not. Father wept for joy

because he stayed by the stuff.

It was not the father’s house which drew the son back; it was the

father’s heart.

Conclusion:

There would have been no celebration at the father’s house if the

father had not remained consistent , caring , and changeless . Fathers,

don’t leave the farm, don’t sell the farm, and don’t give up the ring. One day

it will be worth it if you stay with it.