Be Present

Introduction

This morning we study a parable that is considered the most loved parable of all the parables. We all are pricked to our heart’s core when we look at the parable of the prodigal son because we relate to a time of our own waywardness and homecoming to the Lord. We relate to the freedom and liberality we enjoyed from the Heavenly Father when He forgave us our sins and restored us into right relationship with Him. The parable is personal as we fathom that deep abiding love in our own spiritual pilgrimage as a loving Father draws us back into His loving arms and is not satisfied until we have come back into His fold. Nor is your life fulfilled until you surrender and allow Him to draw you back.

As you find your way this morning in your Bibles to Luke 15:11-32, we will be studying the parable of the Prodigal son.

Luke 15:11–32 NKJV

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

Prayer

Message

Most times when we study this heart rendering story our attention draws to those words uttered by the prodigal, “he came to himself”, those words of reflection, repentance and restoration. There is no greater freedom than the freedom from the bondage of sin and to be restored in right relationship with our Heavenly Father.

We confess our sins to the Father and the glorious promise stated in His word is this:

1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The same holds true with our earthly parents. The greatest pain we suffer is to know we disappointed those that love us most.

Every sin we ever commit affects others, sure, but ultimately every sin we commit is against the Father.

King David said these words in the 51st Psalm written after the sin of adultery and murder.

Psalms 51:4 “4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.”

Luke 15:21 “21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

The prodigal’s sin was against his father and every sin we ever commit is ultimately against our Heavenly Father as well.

The prodigal stated “I am not worthy to be called your son” and none of us are worthy to be called His son. God in His great mercy for us loved us and provided a way to be called His son and that was through a relationship with His Son, His only begotten Son. Amen.

On this Father’s Day weekend, let’s look and see what we might learn from a patient father who waits for his son.

A Father is a Provider VV. 11-12

Luke 15:11-12 “11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.”

The Father had two boys and those boys were very different. For those of us that have children, you quickly realize that no two children are the same. They are all different. One of the great aspects of difference in these two boys were there hearts toward their dad. One son was broken and contrite over his failure and the other son had a works type of love towards his father. The son felt his father owed him something. We see today a generation of people that feel entitled. People act today as if this world owes them something. Listen closely, all any of us are owed is eternal death, hell, separated from our Heavenly Father for our sins. But God in His great mercy offered us an escape. Say amen this morning.

The parable holds a close comparison to the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector:

Luke 18:9–14 NKJV

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 15:29 “29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.”

We see a picture of a son with a works type of spirituality with the Father. He believes His Father owes him something. He has earned the love of his father.

Let’s address this next teaching lesson from the parable and we will move on to our main emphasis today.

James 2:10 “10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Romans 3:12 “12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.””

Ephesians 2:8-9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Isaiah 64:6 “6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.”

I share these verses for a few reasons. Firstly, we see by these two diverse attitudes that our children are different. They think differently, they act differently, they behave differently, their values may be different, their temperaments and the list goes on. About the time you believe you have parenting figured out, the next child comes along and you receive a whole new set of lessons.

Secondly, as we read of the second son, let’s realize that our goodness, our works will not gain us approval with our Heavenly Father. Yes, post salvation, we all want Him to say to us the day we reach heaven, “well done thy good and faithful servant”, but our goodness in and of itself will not earn us a place in heaven.

There is only one way into a right relationship with the Father.

John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Lastly, as I shared several verses regarding our sin nature, I do not want to rain on your parade, but you will not be a perfect dad. We all make mistakes.

So, the younger son when he came to the age of accountability made a request of his dad to share his inheritance with him.

In the Palestinian culture, two thirds of the inheritance went to the first son and one third to the second son or proportional to the number of sons a man has.

Deuteronomy 21:17 “17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.”

If a dad chose before death, he could take voluntary actions of blessings and grace and goodness.

The father chose to be a blessing to his son.

He wanted to go about life and making his own decisions and find his own way. This parable reminds us as parents that there comes a day every child we have becomes an adult and they are responsible for their own actions. Why is that important to you today?

Our children reach the age of accountability and there is a time we let them go.

Romans 14:12 “12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

There comes a time we have no more control over their actions no more than God has had control of our actions. In His great love for us He wanted us to love Him freely and so He offers us free will. Most here have grown children and they have entered that time and place I refer to.

The Bible teaches that every one will come to an age and give an account of their own actions. I mention that because if we are not careful, we can begin to blame ourselves for every sin our kids commit. Listen to me dear Dad. You are not perfect and there was only one that was perfect and His name is Jesus.

Dad, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. If you have asked Him to come into your life and save you. He saved you from sins past, present, and future. Trust the Lord to provide. You can not change yesterday. All you can do is be that provider right now and from this day forward.

Why do I say that to you? I heard Dr. Billy Graham in a message just a few days ago being grateful to Mrs. Ruth Graham, his wife. Dr. Graham stated that Mrs. Ruth was Father and Mother. He stated he could not take any credit for how his kids turned out because Mrs. Ruth was father and mother while he was traveling in the ministry. I traveled a great deal when my two oldest were growing up. Oh did I drive great distances and jump through all types of hoops to make their activities? I did. But I can not tell you how many times I wished I could get that time back. But Dad listen, good news.

Ephesians 5:15-16 “15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Dads listen, buy back that time by being all the dad you can be right now. If you have no children, be a dad to others. Mentor, encourage, uplift those about you that need a dad.

Luke 15:12 “12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.”

1 Timothy 5:8 “8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Listen to two things Dads that we are to provide for our children.

Sustenance

“portion of goods” Should we bless as we have been blessed? Sure, but we are to meet their needs, not their wants. I am fearful that my generation attempted to provide those things we did not have and we provided things the next generation really did not need.

Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 6:8 “8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Jesus models the Lord’s prayer for us.

Matthew 6:11 “11 Give us this day our daily bread.”

Goods-οὐσία ousía, oo-see'-ah; from the feminine of G5607; substance, i.e. property (possessions):—goods, substance.

Livelihood-βίος bíos, bee'-os; a primary word; life, i.e. (literally) the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood:—good, life, living.

How can you be a Dad as a provider today? “the present state of existence.”

Ronald Reagan said these words, “all great change in America begins at the dinner table.”

Strength and Solidarity

Oh dear church family, there is enough flightiness, inconsistency, lies, deceit, being mislead and shiftiness in this world. The one thing I kids need to know is that we can be counted on. They need to know that regardless what befalls them, they can count on their parents love, support and encouragement.

Proverbs 24:10 “10 If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.”

Proverbs 8:14 “14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.”

There was something my uncle told me in business when it was one of those difficult days.

“If it were easy, everyone would be in business.”

Parenting is not parenting until you walk through the storms together.

Be present offering what you can with what you have totally engaged when the opportunity presents itself.

Be Patient VV. 13-16

The first time this young man left home from his parents he made poor choices. Oh listen to me everyone this morning. Your life today is the product of the choices you have made up to this point. We must never water down that fact. This parable affirms that life does reward when we make good choices and punishes when we make poor choices. This parable affirms the doctrine of sowing.

Galatians 6:7-8 “7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

And so dads, many of us today go running because we can be the helicopter parents of today and we attempt to quickly intervene and cover over and attempt to fix matters. And I simply ask you this. Has the Heavenly Father fixed everything about you?

Ed Cole, preacher’s quote:

A father’s responsibility is not to make the child’s decisions, but to let the child watch him make his.

We as parents must exercise loving, gracious patience when our children choose paths we know are heading in the wrong direction.

When we arrived at the SBC 23 in New Orleans, the Pastor’s Conference began Sunday night and extended into all day Monday as far as that portion of the convention. Each preacher that spoke was assigned to preach on a portion of the Beatitudes followed by the different natures of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Patience is a part of the single fruit of the Spirit found in :

Galatians 5:22-23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Long-suffering is our equivalent English word of the word Patience. I want you to listen closely to what I am going to say. Parents yes, but spouses as well. Have you ever received this medicine before from your spouse? “Why are you acting like this? Why are you so aggravated with our children?” “Why are you not more loving and supporting in this matter?” And then she hits me below the belt. “You would not say this to a church member? You would not act this way as a pastor.” You would exercise more patience.

And the truth is Jane is always right when she says those words to me. Why is it that those we love the most can get under our skin the most when they make poor choices? Obviously, we love them so deeply. Secondly,

Luke 12:48 “48 .......For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

We expect more out of our kids.

We know our kids know better and yet they make choices we know will not be favorable in their lives. Again, do you know better? Were you given much? Should much be expected of you? And, yet you have made poor choices at times. Obviously, in our journey of sanctification, our prayer is that we make better choices as we grow in the Lord and that is our hope in prayer for our children and our grandchildren.

Ephesians 6:4 “4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Colossians 3:21 “21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

What I want you to home in on learning patience is if you can be brutally honest this morning and say within your being that when you children and your grandchildren or your family at large falters that it hurts to your being because you love them so deeply. As yourself this question. How much deeper does it hurt our heavenly Father when we falter? That should motivate us to be patient when our family is off kilter.

How can my patience be manifested as they journey?

Read this aloud with me.

Galatians 5:22-23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Be Positive VV. 17-23.

Oh listen this morning dear dad or dear mom. Stay positive. Keep your mind in high places. Find the good in your children. Accentuate their good. See the cup half full.

Paul writes these words. And we make a choice. We can see the good or we can filter for the bad.

Philippians 4:8 “8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

The church was gracious in giving me some Polarized Costa sunglasses that I enjoy when I am fishing. I love them for several reasons. Polarize means that they help me to see what I want to see. I see the fish, I see the structure where the fish live. The glasses filter out the glare.

Dearly beloved, put on your spiritual polarized glasses that filters to see the good in your children. Build up your children. Brag on your kids. Lift them up. Encourage them.

Praise

Proverbs 15:30 “30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, And a good report makes the bones healthy.”

This young man as the Scripture states, “came to himself or came to his senses.” Those words should give us a hope dear parent today. There is hope.

Proverbs 22:6 “6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Verse 17 is that glorious promise that our Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. The son “came to himself.” Oh dear church, stay positive. When we all realize that we are finite and mortal and there are matters in our families lives that are above our pay grade, hold to the great truth that God is still in control. On that day, when that young man was so anguished over the state of his affairs, he was in great despair over poor choices, may we be as our heavenly Father is to us and be there when those times are called for. May we respond positively in love, forgiveness, and with arms opened wide to their return from wrong choices.

In verse 20 the Scripture states:

Luke 15:20 “20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

What are positive postures of wait?

Prayer

Pray for your children and grandchildren. Let them hear you pray for them. Oh, I want to think as that dad went out to the road each day looking down the drive to see if his son was coming, I believe he prayed at night to offer him His peace as he waited. Oh dear church family, how we must trust God with our families.

James 5:16 “16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Passion

Another posture in wait is show passion for your kids.

“His father saw him and had compassion, ran and fell on his neck and kissed them.”

I know there is this macho thing today to not show affection to men and this idea of mental fortitude and toughness. Do you want your grown men sons to feel good about who they are in Christ Jesus? Show love. Demonstrate love.

Genesis 33:4 “4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”

Genesis 46:29 “29 So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.”

2 Samuel 14:33 “33 So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.”

The greatest posture you have to offer today to your children is love.

Proverbs 17:9 “9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.”

Proverbs 10:12 “12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”

1 Peter 4:8 “8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

Our Heavenly Father demonstrated the greatest love of all. Listen to Romans 5:8.

Romans 5:8 “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Have you received that love before?

Do you want to be the type Father the Lord would have you be? Be a provider. Be Patient and be positive. God is still in control and He loves your family more than you ever will. Demonstrate love as your Heavenly Father demonstrated the greatest love ever known to man, the giving of His Son Jesus that we can be joined to our children for eternity for the asking.

Let’s pray.