A Father s Love for a Prodigal Son

Sunday August 9, 2015 Phone: 570.829.5216 Pastor David Miklas e-mail: pastormiklas@aol.com Message: Christian Life Text: Luke 15:11-24 A Father s Love for a Prodigal Son INTRODUCTION: Let me pose a thought-provoking question to you. What should your response be to a sinning Christian who comes to themselves and turns from their sins? Now, as you think about the answer to that question, turn with me to Luke 15. Here we have the familiar story we call "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." The word prodigal means "wasteful." This story could also be called 'The Parable of the Loving Father." Briefly, I want to review the EXPERIENCES of the prodigal son, before I share the EXPRESSIONS of the father towards his son. FIRST: Rebellion - He went into a far country, Luke 15:11-16. And he said, A certain man had two sons: (12) And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. (13) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. (14) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. (15) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (16) And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. It was perfectly legal for the younger son to ask for his share of the father's estate and even sell it, but it was certainly not a very loving thing on his part. It was as though he was saying to his father, "I wish you were dead." This young man was headed for trouble. We are always heading for trouble: Whenever we VALUE THINGS more than PEOPLE. Whenever we VALUE PLEASURE more than DUTY, and Whenever we VALUE DISTANT SCENES more than the BLESSINGS we have right at home. Remember this, "A covetous person can never be satisfied. A dissatisfied heart always leads to a disappointed life. The prodigal learned the hard way that you cannot enjoy the things money can buy if you ignore the things money cannot buy. This younger son dreamed of "ENJOYING" his freedom far from home and away from his father and older brother. He wanted to have his own way, so he REBELLED against his own father. But life in the far country was not what he expected. As his resources ran out, his friends left him, and a famine came. You know what? The boy was forced to DO for a stranger what he would NOT DO for his own father - GO TO WORK! This scene in the drama is our Lord's way of emphasizing what SIN really does in the lives of those who reject the Father's will. Sin promises freedom, but it only brings slavery. Sin promises success, but it brings failure. Sin promises life, but "the wages of sin is death." Page 1

The boy thought he would "FIND HIMSELF," but he only "LOST HIMSELF." When God is LEFT OUT of our lives, ENJOYMENT becomes ENSLAVEMENT! SECOND: Repentance - He came to himself: Luke 15: 17-19. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (18) I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (19) And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. To repent means to change your mind, and that is exactly what this young man did. He "CAME TO HIMSELF," because up to this point he had not really, "BEEN HIMSELF." True repentance involves the WILL as well as the MIND and the EMOTIONS. Notice verse 18 where he said: "I will arise... I will go, I will say..." Our resolutions may be noble, but unless we act upon them, they can never of themselves bring about any permanent good. If repentance is truly the work of God, then the sinner will obey God. THIRD: Rejoicing - He came to the father, Luke 15: 20-24. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (21) And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. (22) But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: (24) For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. I want you to notice as the father WELCOMES the prodigal he never permitted the son to finish his CONFESSION. He INTERRUPTED him, FORGAVE him, and ordered the celebration to begin. Here you have in part the answer to my opening question. When someone comes to themselves, our action ought to be FORGIVENESS, no longer addressing the issue, REJOICING in their repentance, and HELPING TO RESTORE them to their place in the family once again. In Eastern culture, old men do not usually run; yet this father ran to meet his son. WHY? One obvious reason was his love for him and his desire to show that love. But there is something else involved. This wayward son had brought DISGRACE to his family and village and, according to Deuteronomy 21:18-21, he should have been stoned to death. If the neighbors had started to stone him, they would have hit the father who was embracing him! Oh, what a picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross! Remember this: the compassion of God is followed by swift moments. He is slow to anger, but He is quick to bless. He does not take any time to consider how he shall show His love to repentant prodigals; that was all done long ago through eternal love at Calvary. Everything the younger son had hoped to find in the far country, he discovered back home: Clothes, Jewelry, Joyful celebration, Love, and Assurance for the future! Page 2

What made the difference? Instead of saying, "FATHER, GIVE ME!" he said, "FATHER, MAKE ME!" He was willing to be a servant! The father did not make him "earn" his forgiveness; He gave him forgiveness. In the far country, the prodigal learned the meaning of MISERY, but back home, he discovered the meaning of MERCY. Had the boy been dealt with according to the law, there would have been a FUNERAL, not a FEAST. What a beautiful illustration of Psalm 103:10-14 where we read, He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (13) Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. Notice the father s concluding words in verse 24, For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. This is the spiritual experience of every lost sinner who comes to God the father through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I want us to turn our attention to the EXPRESSIONS of the father. I said we could call this "The Parable of the Loving FATHER." Now notice several things from Luke 15:20: And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. FIRST: The father saw his son. There is a great deal of meaning in the word SAW: He saw from where he had come. He saw the swine herder s dress. He saw the filthy hands and feet. He saw the rags and the repentant look. He saw what he had been and what he was. God has a way of seeing us in a way you and I cannot understand. He sees right through us at a glance, as if we were made of glass. He sees all our past, present and future - and still loves us. "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him." It was not with icy eyes and a sarcastic voice that he said It's about time you have come home. Rather the father looked on his returning son and had compassion on him. SECOND: The father had compassion on him. The father felt for him. There was no anger in his heart towards his son. He had nothing but pity for the poor boy that had lived in willful sin. Oh, it was true it was the boy s fault. Oh, it was true the boy had chosen to sin. But that did not come before the father's mind, neither does our sin come before our Lord. Thank God for his mercy and his loving compassion. THIRD: The father kissed him. "He fell on his neck and kissed him." Notice the Page 3

language of the Greek indicates that he " kissed him much." There stood the son ready to confess his sin, and there was the father around his neck kissing him much. Stop for a moment and first picture this boy in the far country with all the bright lights and then picture him in the hog pen. If you have never experienced one, the hog pen was especially repulsive for a Jewish boy. Now picture the father running up to the boy, hugging and kissing him. Someone said, "The more willing thou art to own thy sin, the more willing is God to forgive thee. When thou dost make a clean break of it, God will soon make a clear record of it. He will wipe out the sin that thou dost willingly acknowledge and humbly confess before Him. He that was willing to use his lips for confession, found that his father was willing to use his lips for kissing him." What does this much kissing mean? Let me suggest SEVEN things that could be thought of as part of "the father kissed the son much." As we progress, Think of these things as ways our Heavenly Father reacts to us, as well as ways the prodigal son s father reacted to him, and Think of these as ways we are to react to sinners who come to God. Number 1: They were kisses of Love. Much kissing translated to much love felt. When the father kissed him much, the prodigal son knew that his father loved him. I suspect this is the way we feel toward God when we have come to Him, confessed our sins, and now know forgiveness and the breath of His love. Oh, the immeasurable love of God to sinners who come and cast themselves upon His mercy! Number 2: The much kissing meant much forgiveness: The prodigal had many sins to confess, but before he came to the details of them, his father had forgiven him. Notice again verse 21-22 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. (22) But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: This is marvelous, is it not? The father NEVER discussed the details of the boy s SIN. Do you know what most of us do? We dig and dig and dig at the sinner until we get the last drop of details out of them and then destroy them. NO, NO, NO, a thousand times NO! When you come into my study, I can assure you that I don't want to know details, times, places, or people. It is enough that you have confessed everything to God and are ready to be reconciled. IT'S OVER, LET'S REJOICE, AND WORK TOGETHER TO RESTORE YOU! From this point of view, those kisses meant, "Your sin is all gone and will never be mentioned anymore. As a thick cloud, you have had your transgressions blotted out. This much kissing seemed to say, "There is no soreness left: I have not only forgiven, but I have forgotten too. It is all gone, clean gone. I will NEVER love you any less. I will NEVER treat you as though you are still an unworthy and untrustworthy person." Page 4

There stood the prodigal, overwhelmed by his father's goodness, yet remembering his past life. As he looked on himself and thought, 'I have these old rags on still, and I have just come from feeding the swine,' I can imagine that his father would give him another kiss, as much as to say, "My boy, I do NOT RECOLLECT the past; I am so glad to see you that I do not see any filth on you, or any rags on you either. I am so delighted to have you with me once again; you are so precious to me. This is the gracious and glorious way in which God treats those who return to Him. As for their sin, He has put it away so that He will not remember it ever again. Number 3: These were the kisses of full restoration. Notice again what the son was going to say to the father in verse 19, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. But with a kiss, his father stopped him. Do we really understand what it means to feel the love and the warmth of one who loves you and has a desire to return you to your rightful place? Many a parent understands this when they greet a wayward child. Many a husband and many a wife understands this when they greet a wayward spouse. It was like the father saying, "My boy, you are my son, no matter how far you have gone into sin you belong to me. You are bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh." You will notice the father restored him to his place in the family. He didn't say son you must prove yourself. He didn't say son you must do this and this. He didn't say son you must put yourself on the shelf first and become a servant. NO, NO, NO, a thousand times No! In verse 20 he said. "For this my son... He was a son before he sinned, he is a son after he sinned. God forgives and restores. Let me repeat that, God forgives and restores. Number 4: These were kisses of exceeding joy. Notice please v.22 "... and let us eat and be merry." Let s go back to the other two parables of this chapter. In the parable of the lost sheep, what is the response when the lost sheep was found? Notice from verses 5-6 the results in heaven when a sinner is saved, And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6) And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. What was the response when the lost coin was found verses 9-10? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. (10) Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Oh, when the sinner comes back, I believe that God delights in the very sight of him. Folks, when a sinner comes to Jesus there is REJOICING IN HEAVEN. For us, there ought to be much shouting of AMEN, PRAISE THE LORD, and GLORY TO GOD! The father's kisses were kisses of exceeding joy. Number 5: These were kisses of overflowing comfort. I can only guess this from the context. This poor young man was so conscious of his guilt that he hardly had the courage to face his father. So his father gives him a kiss, as much as to say, "Come, boy, don't be cast down; I love you." Page 5

"Oh, the past, the past, my father!" he might moan, as he thought of his wasted years; but he had no sooner said that than he received another kiss, as if his father said, "Never mind the past; I have forgotten all about that." Is this not the Lord's way with His saved ones? Their past lies hidden under the blood of the atonement. The Lord said in Jeremiah 50:20, "The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found, for I will pardon them..." But then, the young man looked down on his foul garments and said, "The present my father, the present, what a dreadful state I am in!" And with another kiss comes the answer, "Never mind the present, my boy. I am content to have thee as thou art. I love thee." Oh, but as the boy looked at his rags, smelt the smell of the hogs, he might have said, "the future, my father, the future! What would you think if I should ever go astray again?" Then no doubt came another kiss and the father would have said, "I will see to the future, my boy; I will make home so bright for you that you will never want to go away again." Number 6: These were kisses of strong assurance. The father kissed his son much to make him quite certain that it was ALL REAL. The prodigal son, in receiving these many kisses, might have said to himself, "All this love must be true, for a little while ago I heard the grunts of the hogs. Now I have the kisses of my father! The father put the assurance of this poor returning prodigal beyond all doubt. If the first kisses were given privately, when only the father and the son were present, it is quite certain that afterwards he kisses him before men, where others could see him. Number 7: These were kisses of fellowship. We now come to the final kiss: WELCOME HOME SON, WELCOME HOME SON. Remember my opening question? Here it is again, What should your response be to a sinning Christian who comes to themselves and turns from their sins? I believe in this parable we have the answer. There ought to be: The kisses of Love, The kisses of Forgiveness, The kisses of Restoration, The kisses of Joy, The kisses of Comfort, The kisses of Strong Assurance, and The kisses of Fellowship: WELCOME HOME! Would you please turn with me to Galatians 6:1 and let us read this together, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Just remember TODAY you may be the father who kisses much the returning prodigal. But TOMORROW you may have need of the fathers kissing you much because you have become the returning prodigal. *********************************************************************** If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon, A Father s Love for a Prodigal Son, right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you. Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in Page 6

Acts 16:31,...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved... Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation. If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please let me know. Please send an e-mail to pdmikbbm@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life. The Weekly SERMON was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party. Copy write permission: Because the Weekly SERMONS will be reproduced into other formats, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: The Weekly SERMON in its original form, without any changes, may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and copies may be printed for individual or ministry purposes, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of the Weekly SERMON must set forth in full the heading that is given before each Weekly SERMON. Any other request for use, please contact Bible Baptist Ministries at pdmikbbm@aol.com or by phone at 570.829.5216. Page 7