The Prodigal's Father

Prodigal Father’s Love

The Father gave the son his inheritance early.

The Father let the son go. Philemon 15 “perhaps he departed from you for a season so that you might have him back for good.

The Father saw the son a long way off because he was looking for him.

The Father had compassion on the son and ran to him threw his arms around him and kissed him..

The Father put the best robe on him, ring on his finger and shoes on his feet

The Father killed the fatted calf and threw a welcome home party for the son.

Why Did The Father Let The Son Go?

Real love allows age appropriate choices.

The son needed to learn how good he had it.

The son needed to learn about what was in the world.

Letting people go.

Help can hurt. Help only when it is helping.

They may be where God wants them to be.

They may need to learn, grow, and make decisions for themselves.

We can unintentionally enable and cripple a person if we absorb all the consequences of their decisions as well as the rewards.

Rescuing them will mean having to do it again. Proverbs 19:19

Proverbs 13:11

The Prodigal’s Heart Condition

The son came to his senses. Vs. 17

He apologized (repented) vs 18, 20

Humility (willing to accept lower position) vs. 19

Fruit Of Repentance

Godly Sorrow (repentance) produces Godliness - 2 Cor. 7:11

Fruit of repentance - behavior born out of a change of mind. Matthew 3:8

Acts 26:20 You’ll know people by their fruit.

Every good tree bears good fruit - Matthew 7:17, 12:33

Jesus looked for fruit so must we - Luke 13:7-9

True repentance involves commitment to God’s word Nehemiah 10:28-29 Matthew 7:24-26 James 1:27

The Father let the prodigal go.