## The Father is Still Waiting

## Luke 15:11-24

Ask any father, a great FATHER'S DAY is to "have the kids home!" In Jesus' message in Luke 15, we find hope for those tired of running away and a picture of how the Heavenly Father welcomes sinners. Read v11-16

I. The Son Leaving

A. A Whiner (vs. 12)

1. He also had a big case of "the gimmies."

2. "Give me my inheritance now before dad is dead and cold in the grave!"

3. He was unfeeling, selfish and resisted his father's advice.

B. A Wanderer (vs. 13a)

1. He was tired of moral restraints.

2. He was ready for an exciting trip, a nice tropical setting, sunny days of recreation and late hours of entertainment.

3. He lost all worthwhile purpose for life.

C. A Waster (vs. 13b)

1. This is synonymous with the term "prodigal".

2. He wasted his fortune "with harlots" (vs. 30).

3. He ran from home to waste all he had on riotous living.

4. Have you wasted a relationship with the Heavenly Father?

D. In Want (vs. 14).

1. After the bright lights and flashy casinos, many end up financially ruined.

2. The fast lane claiming your money will one day threaten your life!

3. He never sobered up until his pouch was empty and friends said, "See ya later, Bro!"

4. In poverty, he begged for a job.

5. A spiritual "famine" comes from resisting the words, "I have sinned!"

6. Serious "want" is sure to overtake those who wander.

E. Worldly (vs. 15-16).

1. He was in a different country.

2. Now he felt hunger!

3. The father wanted to provide.

4. Foolishly, the son exchanged the fellowship with his father for the friendship of the ungodly.

5. The ungodly will never give a self- ruined, sin-wasted sinner what he really needs.

6. A starving soul will never be satisfied with the hogs and "husks" of this dirty world.

7. Even the pigs were better off having someone to care for them!

8. Jesus, the Bread of Life, is the only One to satisfy the gnawing of the heart!

9. What grief a whining, wandering, wasteful, wanting, worldly child brings to our Heavenly Father!

II. The Father's Greeting. vs 17-20

The father wouldn't force son to come home, no matter how much he wanted him back. However, he was ready to receive him as soon as he returned.

A. A person must be reasonable (vs. 17).

1. Reconciliation follows an intelligent understanding.

2. He had to mentally realize that he had a problem.

3. A person must accept responsibility (vs. 18).

4. Getting right includes the mind, the emotions, and the will.

a. His mind now becomes aware of his real need.

b. Emotionally, he cried, "I perish...!"

c. With his will, he determined, "I will arise and go to my father!"

5. A prodigal can know the truth and feel a need, but until a person responds by the act of the will there is no hope!

6. Our hope is not from our "home" or from the "estate", but from the "Father"!

B. A person must repent (vs. 19).

1. Turning around earlier would have spared him a lot of grief.

2. People can change when they say, "I can't do it alone; I need my Father!"

3. The young man's attitude changed from an arrogant "give me" (vs. 12) to a humble, "make me".

4. Repentance before God is more than to say, "I'm sorry!"

5. Genuine repentance says, "I'm through! I'm getting out of this hog-pen!"

C. A person must respond (vs. 20).

1. The pain of sin points to repentance!

(PSA 119:67) "BEFORE I WAS AFFLICTED I WENT ASTRAY: BUT NOW HAVE I KEPT THY WORD."

2. He left the world's gutters. He said, "I will arise" (vs. 18).

3. Then, " he arose" (vs. 20). He followed through!

4. It's difficult to go back to those you fail.

5. There is only one place to go to clean off the filth of sin...that is to Calvary...the Father is waiting!

a. The Heavenly Father's love never wavers, is watchful, and is like a caring parents -- sympathetic, eager, and offering total forgiveness.

b. Maybe you experienced little love from your human father or do not even have a father.

c. The Heavenly Father says, He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5b).

d. Humanly, we have nothing to offer the God who owns the universe!

e. We are not worthy to be God's children (vs. 19).

(ISA 64:6) "BUT WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS; AND WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF; AND OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, HAVE TAKEN US AWAY."

(PSA 86:5) "FOR THOU, LORD, ART GOOD, AND READY TO FORGIVE; AND PLENTEOUS IN MERCY UNTO ALL THEM THAT CALL UPON THEE."

III. The Father's Grace. Vs. 21-24

Grace gives us what we do not deserve.

A. The Father saves!

1. He saves through Jesus.

2. He came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

3. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

B. The Father satisfies!

1. He offers a "robe"!

a. He did not say, "Clean up first!"

b. The Father replaces our filthy rags with His garment of salvation.

c. Reconciliation is complete as He removes all the reminders of the past.

2. He offers a "ring"!

a. The ring identifies the son with the father once again.

b. It speaks of identity and authority.

c. God's children have authority because the Father has granted it.

3. He offers "shoes"!

a. God never disowned one of His children for disobedience.

b. In that culture, sons wore shoes, servants went without.

4. He offers the "calf"!

a. What a day when a prodigal returns!

b. The Father calls, not for a little goat, but for "the fatted calf" reserved for a celebration!

c. The prodigal's hollow parties never had the joy of this festival.

d. Now the fires of hope spring from the embers of a wasted life.

C. The Father seeks! V20

1. The Father is waiting for us to come home.

2. He is looking for us to return, will it be today?

(JOHN 14:6) "JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME."

For life, go to the One who defeated death! Jesus Christ is the only One who died for our sin. If you receive Him you will be welcomed at the Father's house.

(JOHN 1:12) "BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME:"

The lesson is clear, Heaven rejoices when the lost come to Christ and backsliders return. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

God wants to welcome you home.

(ISA 30:18A) "AND THEREFORE WILL THE LORD WAIT, THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU..."