Lessons From A Good Father
Notes
Transcript
I was reading a book of old sermons and it had a description about manhood that I found very interesting. It talked about a man of letters- we don’t use that so much today- but it means a learned man. “We speak of a man-of-the-world, a man-of-wealth, a man-of-letters, a man-of-learning, a man-of-books, a military man, a man-of-business. All of us know quite well what is meant by each of these terms. We mean, for instance, that the outstanding influence of a man's life is business, or learning, or society, or something else. His whole life is governed and controlled by his peculiar relationship to these influences.”* Special Day Sermons by Henry Parker.
We could add others- a man’s man, a man about town, a man of the cloth, or even a real man.He then moves on to one that we often reserve for a select few- a man of God.
The man of God is where I would like to draw our attention this is as often overlooked quality, that can be a little hard to define. What does it mean to be a man of God?- All of us know quite well what is meant by each of these terms. We mean, for instance, that the outstanding influence of a man's life is business, or learning, or society, or something else. His whole life is governed and controlled by his peculiar relationship to these influences.”* Special Day Sermons by Henry Parker.
There are some key terms there-
Outstanding- who or what is the dominant character point in our life? What are we known for?
influences- who or what influences us?
Governed- this speaks to rule- who or what rules us?
A man of God- that is a bigger subject than I think we can do in one week, but never the less. It is a call to each of us as men to consider today.
Are you a man of God that models grace truth and compassion?
Where do we learn to be men of God? The Scripture
I believe we can get a good understanding this idea when we consider the lesson in the parable known as the prodigal son. This parable is really not simply about the son. It truly should lead us to the greatness and grace of our God, the Great Father. That is my heart today that we take the lessons from our Great God and become Father’s known to be God’s men.
11 And 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 falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
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.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And 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 fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
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.
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.
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:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, 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 elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
What lessons can we learn?
Textually this passage’s primary application is directed toward the religious elite who did not understand compassion and forgiveness. It also speaks to the way in which God shows His children mercy. Today I want us not to only see the sons in context but the way the Father relates to those sons. After all, this is speaking to the big picture of how God the Father works, the purpose of Jesus’ ministry- “to seek and to save the lost”, and how we can relate to Him. So what can we see about being a God’y man or father?
A lesson in Patience.
A lesson in Patience.
Luke 15:12 “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.”
When the younger son asked for his inheritance.
Let us put ourselves there- what would our typical reaction be? - Boy I brought you into this world, and I will take you out.
This in and of itself reveals our desire to be God.
That thinking is out of our purview.
But even deeper think about what the boy is asking- I want you dead, give me my stuff, and get out of my life.
The Gospel according to Luke How Great the Father’s Love for Us (15:11–32)
The younger son’s request shames both his father and his family. It is a certified public statement that he no longer wishes to live within or be identified by the family. In requesting what should become available only at his father’s death, the son is, in effect, writing his father’s death certificate. In ancient Jewish society, that was a virtually unforgivable offense
We do not see the Father blow up, go crazy, fly off the handle.
We see him respond with grace in the middle of the horrible situation.
A lesson in Planning.
A lesson in Planning.
He carefully divided out the inheritance.
Luke Comments
The older son would receive two thirds of the estate and the younger son one third.
He did not just give the young man stuff- He gave him His life.
The Gospel according to Luke How Great the Father’s Love for Us (15:11–32)
The son asks for ousia, an objective word for financial wealth. The father shares with him bios, one of several Greek words for “life.” Luke uses bios to describe both the woman who “exhausted her (life’s) earnings [bios] on doctors” (8:43) and the widow in the temple who, “out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on [bios]” (21:4). The father does not simply divide his assets; his skin is in the bequest.
This wouldn’t have been easy, but yet it was done to the satisfaction of the sons.
How do difficult situations cause us to react?
Again we never see the father lose control. He graciously responds.
A lesson in discipline.
A lesson in discipline.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And 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 fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
The younger son remembered the example of his father.
He went to work and knew the better conditions of his dad’s workers.
The example was dedication and hard work.
What kind of example here do we set?
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
The example is also in how the prodigal new his father’s employees were treated.
14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
He learned to treat people well.
He watched his dad treat people well.
Godly men treat others well.
Remember, this lesson about the father is one we learn from the Prodigal. The son though rebelious knew the character of his father.
A lesson in prayerfulness.
A lesson in prayerfulness.
Luke 15:20 He saw his son coming. He was looking and expecting.
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.
We do not know how long this took, though the Father is still looking for the lost one.
17 Pray without ceasing.
Praying for the prodigal is never easy, but it is always worth it.
My Great-Grandfather’s pray for his younger son. Never saw it in life, but was restored in heaven.
A lesson in mercy.
A lesson in mercy.
He ran out to meat him He had compassion.
His son started to speak.
And the father just hugged him and welcomed him with a kiss.
The kid hadn’t cleaned up from the road, clothes smelling like pig, lost some weight. The last words were I want you dead give me my money.
But the Father just shows mercy.
He gave the boy what he didn’t deserve.
May we be men of mercy.
We like mercy shown to us, but it is necessary for us to show mercy ourselves.
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
A lesson in forgiveness.
A lesson in forgiveness.
Luke 15:22–24 “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: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, 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.”
He restored his son.
Gave him a the best robe
Gabe him a ring- this marked his familial authority.
He wasn’t just a hired worker, but a full member of the family.
This forgiveness was unconditional.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In our relationships may we not only be merciful in our actions but genuine in our forgiveness.
A lesson in celebration.
A lesson in celebration.
Kill the fatted calf.
It wasn’t just a grunt and go about business as usual. It was time to celebrate.
God’s men celebrate.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
16 Rejoice evermore.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
A lesson in understanding.
A lesson in understanding.
Luke 15:25–32 “25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”
The older brother didn’t get it, but the dad took time from the celebration to seek the reconciliation of the other son.
He gently instructed the older brother in the truth and reality of what it meant that the prodigal had returned.
He listened to the hurt, but taught the appropriate response to the situation.
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
We have a good father, may we take the Father’s example and learn these lessons from Him.
