A Father's Joy

You are supposed to take care of me when I get old. When I am old, your income will help me to survive. Now you want me to give it up, so you can go and party?

Remember the child is rejecting everything you stand for, everything you have lived for.

He has rejected you!

Happy Father’s Day!

Let us look at what a true Father, will do.

Read; Luke 15:11-24

Prayer

1. The Father Provides

Luke 15:11-19

● What was so strange about the request for his share of the property?

This was unheard of in those times for a child to ask for their inheritance in advance. You do not even hear of that today.

Inheritance; any piece of property that passes by law to an heir on the death of the owner.

Did you hear what I said! Any piece of property that passes by law to an heir on the death of the owner.

This means the young man wanted his father dead! He did not like how things were going in life, having to work for a living with nothing to show for his efforts.

I would want to disown him.

I do not know about you, but I would tell him to get lost. If you do not like how things are going, you can take your things and go.

That is not what his father did.

a. The Father provided what the son asked for.

He did not chew him out for his actions.

This father knowing what was best for this young man gave him his inheritance before time.

God knows how to get our attention!

b. Our Father provides, letting us do our own thing.

This young man went out to do his own thing. He lived as if he had nothing to lose; I have plenty and my money will last a long time.

He is a Party animal! HE had a luxurious lifestyle. Living In the lap of luxury, he had lots of friends until the money ran out.

Now, he must go and work on a pig farm.

What is so bad about a pig farm?

Pigs are not to be eaten by the Jewish people, or even touched, this was against their law.

c. Our Father provides lessons we learn from.

Did this young man learn his lesson?

He ran out of money, then he ran out of food. With no money, food, or a place to stay, he had to go and work as a hired hand.

Now he was working on a pig farm.

My dad told me not to go, but I would not listen. My dad said it would be a hard life apart from him, but I still would not listen.

I am starving to death if I only listened to my Dad. He will take me back.

I wronged him, I shamed him, I wasted his money.

Now, I know what I must do, I must return to my father’s house and repent from all my wrong.

I must ask for forgiveness.

2. The Father watches

Luke 15:20-21

● The father was watching for His son to return.

Knowing that his son would see the errors of his ways, waited, and watched for his return.

Seeing His son, the father ran to meet His son.

He did not care what His son had done, He was only glad to see him again.

He did not care that his son wasted his life or wasted his belongings.

a. A watchful father is always looking for lost children.

Fathers are always looking for their children to come home.

When my children are gone, I am always looking forward to their return.

Our Father is always watching and waiting for us to ask for help.

When our child has been missing for a time, we do not care what they smell like.

Remember he is half-starved, been working in the hog lots.

He smelt horrible!

b. A watchful Father will meet us where we are, He will come to us.

Seeing His child, with a change of heart, ran to meet him where he was.

A Father’s love is unconditional.

You do not need to do anything to receive love, only love.

When a father loves his child, what does he do? How does he act?

3. The Father Rejoices

Luke 15:22-24

● When his son returned, the father celebrated.

Now that His son had returned, it was time to celebrate.

Why do we prepare only the best for our children when they return home?

a. A rejoicing father, clothes.

Not only did He clothe him, but He also gave him the best clothes.

These are not old hand-me-downs; they are brand new off the rack clothing.

His father bought him a new fancy watch and a ring.

b. A rejoicing father feeds.

Did his Father give him beans for supper?

NO! His Father gave him the best food available.

He slaughtered the fattened calf; this calf is reserved for royalty.

It is time for some steak!

c. A rejoicing father celebrates.

Bring on the band! Our Father knows how to celebrate.

He hired a band, invited the community, and had a party.

Conclusion;

● The Father Provided

God gives us what we ask for.

God will give us even the things that are not good for us.

● The Father watched

God watches for us to turn to Him.

God is always looking for His children to repent and come home.

● The Father Rejoiced

God rejoices at the return of His lost.

4. God restores us!

No matter where we are in our lives or what we have done in the past. God takes you just as you are.

No need to clean up your act or put things in order.

Be like this son who begged for his father’s forgiveness. He came as he was, smelly, dirty, worn-out clothes, nothing left.

All you need to do is ask, ask to come home.

Remember God loves us so much, He sent His son to die for us. Defeating death, rose on the third day, sitting at the Father's right hand.