June 18, 2017 AM
relationships in marriage and family my wife and I have looked at Mom's at kids those who are not married and next Sunday. We're going to conclude the series with both Angela and I up here very relaxed. Although we're going to talk about a challenging subject. It's not always a challenge. And so that's what we're going to do next Sunday. But today I want to draw our focus on the word father. Fathers are important. Actually, they're critical to the health and vitality of Children and Families.
date heavily impact every aspect of community Let me throw at you several statistics. Now. I know nothing about statistics. You can make them be anything you want to to prove any point you want to? But are these statistics really grabbed me and my heart? Dr. Edward group in an article that he wrote in cycle Psychology today made these observations
truancy and poor academic performance 71% of high school dropouts are fatherless. Delinquency and youth crime including violent crime get this 85% of Youth in prisons have an absent father. Fatherless children are more likely to offend and go to jail as adults.
drug and alcohol abuse fatherless children are more likely to smoke drink alcohol and abused drugs in childhood and as adults. homelessness 90% of runaway children have an absent father
exploitation and abuse fatherless children are at greater risk of suffering physical emotional and sexual abuse being five times more likely to have experienced physical abuse and emotional maltreatment with 100% times greater risk of fatal abuse. A recent study reported that preschoolers not living with both of their biological parents are 40 times more likely to be sexually abused.
Dr. Kruk sums up his findings with these words. Given the fact that these and other social problems correlate more strongly with Father fatherlessness, then with any other factors are passing race social class and poverty father absence may be one of the most critical social issues of our time.
Talk with school teachers Community activist and law enforcement people and they will confirm these facts. We confirm these facts every year with Royal Family Kids Camp.
Having a good stable father benefits us all. However, a good father doesn't necessarily mean that we would be free from problems. I know of a father. Who was a good father to his kids? In fact, he was not only good father to his kids, but he brought in other kids through Foster parenting. And his oldest son. Do I knew as with the name of Paul he he was he was one of my first Royal Ranger boys in and out post that I started in, Southern, California.
and today Paul Is a professing atheist? Even though his father is a pastor.
Teacher of the word there's no guarantees. But having a dad that is there for you. That is strong and loving. This is a powerful thing. It did, you know Jesus articulated that as well. Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 15 verse 11. one of the most well-known stories in Scripture In fact, the title of this particular passage of scripture is part of the Lexicon in are very language and in our activities 15 beginning with verse number 11 these words that Jesus taught. And Jesus said there was a man who had 2 song. And the younger of them said to the father father give me the share of property that is coming to me and he divided his property between them. Not many days later the young son gathered all that he had and took a journey into a far country and there he squandered his property and Reckless living. And when he had spent everything but severe famine rose a rose in that country. And he began to be in need. So we went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into the fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with a pods that the pigs ate and no one gave him anything. But when he had came when he came to himself, he said how many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perisher with hunger and I will go to my father and I will say to him father. I have sinned against heaven and before you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants and he arose and he came to his father. But while he was still a long way off his father saw him. Can you felt compassion and he ran and he embraced him and he kissed him. And the son said to him father I have sinned against heaven. And before you I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to a servant's brain quickly the best robe and put it on him put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring the fatted calf and kill it and let us feed. and celebrate the story that Jesus told is commonly referred to as the parable of the Prodigal Son. And what this title it focuses the theme on the younger son who wasted and who squandered his inheritance in wild and loose living. Unfortunately this title focusing on the younger son causes us to miss the main point that Jesus is wanting to give as well as Luke the author of this passage.
The parable really should be called the parable of the gracious father. For he is the character who occurs in both halves of the story and is the main character of the parable. On this Father's Day. I want to draw your attention to the father. Through his abounding grace and compassion and mercy. He is able to empower us. in our relationships in our relationships with others in our marriages are family, but also in our relationship. with the father Jesus is confronting here wrong thinking of the Pharisees and religious leaders of his day. They were appalled at how Jesus acted towards sinners. This man receives Sinners and he eats with them and be found it's unacceptable. So through a series of three stories. Call Parables Jesus reveals the passion and the Heart of God for people even those people who live in.
It must have been heart-wrenching for the father of the story that Jesus tells to hear that his young son.
Wanted to receive the share of the inheritance.
The sun's intentions and actions would soon be really clear. He gathered all that. He had any took the Journey tour.
And it was there that he squandered his property. in Reckless living the son takes advantage of the father's hard work. He makes an unusual request. Give me my share. He says. The Sun comes across as arrogant and disrespectful.
Look at the father.
He's not aloof. He's not distant. He's not unapproachable. He's connected to a son. He's there for them. To listen to hear them out, even when they request something that is heart-wrenching.
And that describes our heavenly father. I see love here. Our heavenly father loves us even in our failures Even in our lack of integrity. Even in our selfishness in Arkham patients in our frustrations
Do you want sauce? See God loves people? And that's the first point. I think we see in the story that Jesus gives the father loves. No matter what, I do no matter what I say no matter what I wear I go. God loves me.
No, I got to say something here. I'm not preaching universalism. I'm not diminishing or changing the meaning of the cross. I'm not avoiding the truth that Christ substitutionary work for salvation is absolutely necessary. I'm not suggesting that because God loves us we can do whatever we want believe in whatever. We want ignore the need to have faith and trust in God alone for salvation that there's no consequences to our actions. I'm not suggesting that at all, but one thing that we need to understand that has been display both an Old and New Testament and is displayed in our life every single day. Is that God loves us.
And that love is powerful a displayed in the store. After the sun left, it didn't mean that the father stopped loving son. So when the sun lost everything he found himself beating pics. It's about as low as you can go.
Even long for the food that the pigs were eating. And then he came to his senses. Why is it?
The all too often we come to our Senses at the bottom of the barrel.
That we allow ourselves to go through so much pain and suffering being separated from the father being distant from God being estranged from him and we're okay with that until we have lost everything. And then we look up and we finally come to our senses off.
I need to trust him.
Do you realize that even the the Servants of his father had food to eat?
So he would go back home. He would confess his simple ways and he is willing to be the servant to be the slave to his father. It's on first number 20. It doesn't and he arose and he came to his father. But while he was still a long way off his father saw him. The father was always looking for the Sun. always not only did the father see him. He felt compassion for the Sun.
And not only did he have compassion but the father he ran to the son and he embraced the Sun. and he kissed
What I see here is this truth? father seeks not only does the father love the father seeks. When Adam and Eve sinned against God they hit themselves, but God sort them out. When King David committed the sin of adultery lying in and murder. Thought about when Peter denied Jesus three times, it was the pizza set saw him out and when we send and when we hide from the presence of God, it is God that is always seeking us out. I don't even believe that you are here by accident. I think you are here because you need to be reminded of this truth. Is seeking after you.
Clearly the father has been waiting and looking for the sun's return. It is the Father's eagerness enjoy that is displayed here. despicable This is the Magnificent attribute of God that sets him apart from all the false gods invented by men and demons. He is not indifferent or hostile but God Is A Savior by Nature?
He's wanting to see The Sinner repent and rejoice when they do. Sony pause here to remind us of a critical truth concerning what God does and what we need to do. And it's beautiful in illustrator here in the store. Ephesians 2 8 & 9
we have these words from the Apostle Paul for by Grace. You have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing it is the gift of God not a results of works so that no one may boast. It is God who seeks after us it is God who draws us to himself, but we have a part to play in this drama. And as well this drama called life. We see the sun in the story of Jesus coming to his senses and starting home. He hope that instead of judgment. He would experience grace and mercy. Two-Face is the stuff that we need to take the stuff that the sun needed to take the step that encourages us and empowers us but it's an encouraging empowerment that comes not from within us. It comes from the Holy Spirit working in US. No one can come to the father except that they are drawn.
So if you still want stirring today in your heart and you've been estranged from him, that's not because of anything I'm saying. It's the work of the Holy Spirit right now in your life where God is saying I am seeking you out.
For the Sun and our story something quite unexpected happens. the father forgives it
not only does the father love us loves us and not only does the father seeks after it is the father who forgives us instead of receiving what this son deserve judgments estrangements. The sun receive forgiveness and restored relationship. See the sun sun. Don't got to his son father. I have sinned against heaven and you
and we're reminded of an important critical truth. That I've been quoted before I even preached today. 1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Forgiveness is one of the most powerful acts of Grace one could ever experience. God's grace is greater than all our sins. Greater than every why greater than Every Act of hatred or bitterness or unforgiveness greater than Every Act of Disobedience Every Act of Pride Every Act of selfishness. His grace is greater. So am I based I have to confess. God's grace instead of the Judgment we deserve we receive Grace. Forgiving Grace, but it doesn't stop there friend. Not only does the father display left. And not only does the father seek us out.
not only Does the father pursue us and forgive us of our sins? the father blesses us the father black Jesus continue to story to describe the awesomeness of the father. He goes in a direction unexpected instead of rebuke the sun receives the best robe not just any role but an ornate garment signifying Pi honor. instead of Shame the sun receives a ring on his finger which symbolizes Authority Not only does he receive a garment and a ring. And not only does he not receive what he wasn't expecting because he was expecting rejection. humiliation
a good talking to
What we see here is that the father gives him shoes? This indicated that he is not a serpent. But he has been reconciled and welcomed back as a full member of the family. This is our heavenly father. kawaba sleep pours out to those who repent and receive His blessings.
Can we stop here and let me type this into you Dad's here today?
dads Love your kids. And let them know you love them. Locked up. Dad's seek after your kids, even if they are wanting distance. Don't stop seeking after them and dads. Forget your cats. They're going to mess up. You know for some reason.
I tell my kids my fault. I shouldn't it's not a great strategy because when they mess up then they remind me of all my mess ups Matthew came into our room this morning is Angela was getting ready. He hopped on the bed. And he said Dad. How old were you when you set the forest on fire?
I wish you would have stopped there. But then he said that how old were you when you almost burned down the garage?
You know, I did some crazy stupid things when I was a kid. But I was I was so blessed to have a dad who is very forgiving. You're very kind. And not harsh at all.
See the odds. We need to be forgiven.
and then dads we need to be a blessing kind of Dad. Or we bless her cats. We bless them with our time. We bless them with our prayers. We bless them with wisdom and guidance.
So we can learn a lot from the Father in heaven. perfect father
not for some with you when you hear the term father or dad. There's not a lot of warm fuzzies that come into your mind because you have experience some very difficult painful offense. to maybe an absent father for an abusive father
But I want you to understand what the song misunderstood.
He is the father to the fatherless.
and the protector of the Widow
he is God in his holy habitation. . Settles the solitary in the hole And he leaves out the prisoner to prosperity. That's the father who was perfect and wants to remind you. He loves you and values you. You never have to be alone. And you don't want Wonder have to be a strange from you helmet. Would you come to the piano player?
I know I'm not perfect at
There are times when I come home that I want to hide.
But I'm glad that I have a loving wife. That doesn't let me do that.
I don't have perfect kids, but I have five kids. Do you love God? And I probably the greatest Legacy I could ever imagine.
But maybe you're here this morning.
And you may be more like the sun in Jesus's story.
you may feel this morning and estrangement from God. a distance from you
You've not been trusting in Him living for him.
But if there's anything you can get out of this message, it's this God loves you. He seeks after you he forgives you and he wants to bless you. And all you need to do is do what the sun in the story. Did. He took that step of faith?
Any yielded his heart to the father. instead of judgement instead of rebuke instead of Shame He got a garment. For you and I were going to receive a Garment of Praise.
garment washed white snow no longer filthy of all the stuff that we put on and he gives us something fresh and new for a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come.
That symbolizes his unending love for us.
And he gives us shoes.
That prepares us for his purpose of peace and victory flowing in our life. Whatever we go.
It may be this morning. You've been a strange but you don't have to be a strange any longer. You can trust in him. Father I pray in the name of Jesus for every person in this room.
God we need you.
Not just so that we can have life a little bit easier, but we need you because you created us for relationship with you and will never have peace and we'll never have joy and we'll never have hope and what's that relationship with you is restored and I pray right now that if there be anyone in this room.
That you are tugging at their Harden. And you're saying come to me. Trust me. I forgive you of your sins off. I'll welcome you into my presence Lord. I pray if there's be any person in this room that this applies Lord that right now they would put their faith and trust in you alone.
That right now they would confess with their own mouth.
They fall short of your glory. But today Lord that they would ask that you would forgive them of all their sins. and that you would give the new life today. I asked in Jesus name I ask it one. Trust you all the days of their life.
With every head bowed every eye closed if you prayed that prayer. By the way, I'm not going to Beres you in anyway, but if you prayed that Prayer in C Pastor, I prayed that prayer I invited Jesus. I asked Jesus to be the Lord and Savior my life, but I want his grace. I want his forgiveness. I want the yield my life to him. I want to surrender my life to him. I want him to be my savior and my god did I want to live for him and Pastor? I prayed that prayer this morning. The Jesus would be my Lord and Savior if that's you I want you to just raise your hand long enough for me to see it and then put it down.
What Stand Together? I want to invite the prayer teams forward if you can make your way forward here very quickly.
You may have come to this place with an e and end in just a few minutes. We're going to dismiss but I I I know sometime when I come to church I I need prayer. And you may need prayers this morning. You may need feeling you may need God's direction God's comfort. You you may there may be something that you need God to work in your life. You may need to pray for a family member of friend that's going through a difficult time. Whatever. Those needs are. I don't want you to leave this place. Without being sprayed with see the Bible says where two or three are gathered in his name. He is in our midst the Bible says if we ask if two or three ask He is there to answer there is power when people come together in prayer. And so if you need prayer, don't leave this place, but get prayed for. ask God to minister to
Father in heaven People are being prayed for I pray that you will minister to them in a mighty way.
Lord I pray that your healing virtual flow in their life Lord your guidance your direction. You're hoping your peace Lord would be the answer to their hearts cry. And Lord God I pray for those that are going through difficult times. I pray for the slivinski family Lord that you will undergird them with your power and might in the days and weeks and months. They had Lord. We thank you for Lee and his confession of Faith with you his trust in you and so are our grief is not like the world Grieves Lord because we know that lives with you and I pray that you woke you will watch over this family minister to this family. I pray And God, I pray that in the week to come that we is a Congregation of Believers will be light in the dark world. Lord that we will be living testimonies of your goodness and grace and mercy and Lord may you be glorified I pray in Jesus name amen, and amen You may be dismissed. If you can take your Congress of your conversations in the lobby, so we won't disturb those being prayed for God bless you.