The Amazing Father
Apologies for the inconsistent audio - the preacher was moving around/away from the microphone at times
Introduction
- How many times have we read this story?
- Is the focus in the right place?
- It is a story of 2 sons
- What is the shock in the story?
- Not just the younger son's behaviour
- It is the behaviour of the Father
- The Amazing Father
- Quote from AW Tozer
- Jesus told this story to the authorities - to explain the heart and the character of the Father
- Five things about the Father
The generosity of the father (v11-12)
- The son wanted his inheritance early
- A deeply offensive request
- Yet He goes further and gives both sons their inheritance
- God's generosity - He has created our world
- The father lets his son go (v13)
- For a relationship to be genuine - there must be choice
The character of the father (v17-20)
- Why did he go home and not to other places?
- He knew his father's character
- He now remembers his father's character
- What is the impact of our lives?
- What is our character?
- Example
- This should encourage us
The love of the father (v20)
- The father was waiting and looking for his son
- He was filled with compassion
- He ran to his son - a disgrace
- This parable was primarily aimed at tax collectors and sinners, but secondarily to the pharisees and scribes
- He is straight back in as not a servant but a son
The joy of the father (v22-24)
- v7, 10, rejoice and celebrate the son was dead but is now alive
- God welcomes sinners home
- In God's presence is fullness of joy
- The best party is back at home
- This is where the real joy and celebration is found
The heart of the father (v25-32)
- The pharisees are the older brother
- The father had already given the older brother half the inheritance
- Yet there was no compassion from the older brother
- The attitude of his heart and the words of his mouth were a disgrace
- The father twice pleads with the older son
- There is righteous anger - judgment for the pharisees
- There is an invitation to true relationship
Closing Remarks
- Are there 'brothers' on our heart?
- We know the heart of the Father
- This in an encouragement to us - God longs for them to come home