March 18, 2007--THE FATHER'S LOVE--Part 1

SYNOPSIS

To understand and experience the Father's love...through the eyes of the younger son in Jesus' famous parable of the man who had two sons (commonly known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son)

TEXT
Luke 15:1-3, 11-24

An AUDIO FILE OF THE MESSAGE is available at http://www.mediafire.com/?7enmwyddwtg for streaming or downloading.

RESTORING THE BALANCE--Father/Son/Holy Spirit

The Father's love gets short shrift in the church today...we tend to focus more on Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

"Jesus loves me, Jesus is nice...but I'm not so sure about the Father."

"Jesus walks with me, the Holy Spirit is at work in me while I'm here on earth...I guess I'll see and experience the Father when I get to heaven."

The Father wants us to experience his love right now, just as we experience the presence of the Risen Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Audience
Before we get into the story, let us look at the audience for whom it is intended...from Luke 15:1-3, it is clear that this story is not for the general public, but for "the Pharisees and the scribes"--the good, upright, God-fearing, law-abiding, religious leaders of the Jewish faith.

We in the church are the modern equivalent of the Pharisees and the scribes. This story is not for our "pagan" neighbours out there, but FOR US, THE INSIDERS.

The Focus
Even though we have traditionally tended to focus on the younger son, the focus of this story is in Jesus' opening words: "A Man had two sons." THE FOCUS IS ON THE FATHER.

The Father grants his son's request for his share of the inheritance, even though it was a slap in the face...as though the son were saying..."Drop dead, Dad." The Father had every right to refuse the request, but he grants it without any conditions, without a lecture or warning.

The Father's Love allows us to have our own way, to make poor choices, to live in rebellion. He could stop us, but chooses not to.

The Son wastes his inheritance in a distant land, in "dissolute (reckless, wild) living." Most likely, this refers to seeking sexual pleasure (as implied by the older brother later on in the story) and drunkenness...both of which can be a drain on a fortune. He seeks to replace the intimacy he had with his Father with a counterfeit that gives the illusion of intimacy.

Highly publicized "falls from grace" of Christian leaders who were leading others to the Lord and operating in the anointing of the Holy Spirit also seeking counterfeits to the Father's love.

Then a famine hits the land, he goes from living high on the hog to looking after pigs...only a desperate Jewish young man would stoop to such a low position. He hits rock bottom.

The Father's Love does not want to interfere with the gift of free will, so He allows us to go our way, get lost, and get to the place where we can sink no lower.

The young man comes to himself and remembers his Father's house...starts heading back with a rehearsed speech...note part of the speech... "I am no longer worthy to be called your son." Guilt says: "I did something unworthy." Shame says: "I am unworthy."

The Father, in the meantime, does the only thing he can do...wait and watch for the Son's return.

When the Son is still far off, the Father runs to him, hugs him and kisses him...no speech, no reprimand, no "told you so"...just welcome. The Son goes into his rehearsed speech, but the Father does not respond to him. Instead he tells the servants to get him a robe, a ring and sandals. These actions speak more loudly than words ever could: "You are still my son."

The Father is so glad to see us "come home" again. As far as he is concerned, "You were my son, you are my son, you will always be my son."

AN INVITATION
To all the "younger sons"...come home. Whatever counterfeits you have chosen, whether you've hit rock bottom or not...Father Loves You and wants you in his house. As we listen to Jeremy * Connie Sinnott's "Don't you know the Father loves you?", repent and receive a (deeper) revelation of the Father's Love by the laying on of hands.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUPS

1. The sermon begins by saying that the Father's Love has received short shrift in the church. In your experience of the church, is this true or false? Why?

2. Can you identify with the younger son in the story? Why? Why not?

3. Can you relate to the (earthly) Father in the story? Why? Why not?

4. Has the Father dealt with you the way he dealt with the younger son

a. in his rebellion

b. when he returns

5. If you would like a (greater) revelation of the Father's love, lay hands on one another and ask the Holy Spirit to impart the Father's love to your friend.