The Restoring Power of a Father's Love

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Introduction

Text -
Luke 15:20–23 NKJV
“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. 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.’ “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. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
Title - The Restoring Power of a Father’s Love
Main Point
A father’s love can help restore a fallen child. There is no sin or mistake that a child will do that a father’s love cannot forgive.
Arguments
Fathers play an important role in the society, not only in shaping the lives of their children. They also play a critical role in restoring the fallen.
In today’s society so many men and women have fallen into the trap of sin, but there is no one to help them rise up.
It takes a father’s love to restore a fallen child.
The Story
The story is about the prodigal son who…
asked for his share of the goods
went away and wasted all his possessions with prodigal living
became a swine feeder when everything was gone
when he came to himself, decided to come back home with a repentant heart
But this story would not have had a happy ending if there was not a father who loved his son unconditionally.
My Main Points
This loving father demonstrated his unconditional love in three ways:
he allowed his son to go on his own way
he received his son back with compassion
he celebrated the return of his son that was lost
My Main Points
A loving father allows his children to go on their own ways
A loving father will receive his prodigal son unconditionally
A loving father will celebrate the restoration of his lost son

Main Points

A loving father allows his children to go on their own ways

This father...
he allowed his son to get a hold of his part and to do with it whatever he wanted
this son asked for his part of the goods then went away
Today’s fathers…
many fathers force their children to become what they wanted their children to be. there is no room for exploration.
God the Father…
He allowed Adam and Eve to encounter the tree of knowledge by themselves, but not without a warning.
Controlling the freedom of the children is not real love, but fear.
fear
Giving children their freedom to explore entails “risks”
hence, the importance of teaching and training
Controlling the freedom of the children is not real love, but fear.
fear for themselves - because a child’s failure may prove his own failure
love and fear cannot co-exist

A loving father will receive his prodigal son unconditionally

This father…
seeing his son from afar, he had compassion and ran to him, embracing and kissing his son
then he called on his servant to bring out the best robe, a ring and sandals for him
the best robe - prepared for special guests, welcoming the son as an honorable man
ring - a symbol of authority, given by parents
sandals - a symbol of nobility, only the slaves walked barefooted; freemen walk with sandals
Today’s fathers…
we chastise our children when they come home
we put them to shame
we express our displeasure, despite their confession of sins
essentially, we are driving them away with their guilt
God the Father…
He receives us in Christ
He no longer imputes our own sins upon us, but to Christ
He restores us with the best robe
the righteous of Christ through faith
He restores us with a ring
- the authority of a son
He restores us with sandals for our feet
Note - when Moses stood before God, he was commanded to remove his sandals
God’s unconditional love provided a way for our restoration - Jesus Christ

A loving father will celebrate the restoration of his lost son

This father…
he celebrates the return of his soon by killing the fatted calf.
God the Father...
He celebrates the return of His children
- there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

Conclusion

Are you struggling with your sins, failures, and shortcomings?
Know this - there is always a place in the arms of God for a repentant child of God.
It takes the Father’s Love to restore a fallen son of God.
RUN TO GOD!
LET THE FATHER’S LOVE RESTORE YOU TO YOUR SONSHIP!
Song - Think About His Love
This about His love
Think about His good
Think about His grace
that brought us through
For as high as the heavens above
so great is the measure of our Father’s love
Great is the measure of our Father’s love
How can I forget His love
How can I forget His mercy
He satisfies, He satisfies
He satisfies my desire
Great is the measure of our Father’s love
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