Luke 15:1-7, 8-10, 11-24 (New Living Translation)
Parable of the Lost Sheep
Parable of the Lost Coin
Parable of the Lost Son
Key Take Away!!
The son humiliated/dishonored his father.
He had a bad opinion of his father's love for him.
The son did not really repent of his ways and of how he treated his father
The son only returned home when he remembered that even his father’s hired servants had more food than he did.
He also felt that his father would never forgive him for what he did and was content if he could be accepted back into his father's house as a hired servant
It wasn’t his love for his Dad that brought the Son home.
Rather it was his father’s love for him that brought him home.
UNVEILING THE HEART OF THE FATHER
Luke 15:11- 24 NLT
The Prodigal Son father did five gracious actions:“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20 WEB)
His father saw him,
His father had compassion on him,
His father ran towards him,
His father fell on his neck,
His father kissed him.
God shows us Grace even when we have failed Him!
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.- Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
GLORIOUS FUTURE - HAPPY ENDING
The father gave 5 commands to his servants (represents the Grace of God again):
a) Bring out the best robe and put it on him: Represents clothing us with robes of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). We have received Jesus’ own righteousness as a gift.
b) Put a ring on his hand: Represents giving us authority in Jesus’ name. The ring could be a family signet ring which functioned like a credit card during that time. By punching a seal into a clay tablet, it’s as good as a promise of payment (Esther 8:8). We have received a blank cheque to ask for whatever we need through praying in Jesus’ name.
c) Put shoes on his feet: Represents Jesus, our Kinsman-Redeemer, redeeming us, as well as confirming the New Covenant of Grace that we have with our Heavenly Father (Ruth 4:7).
d) Bring the fatted calf and kill it: Represents God's provision and supply for us. Also represents that our sin debt has been paid — by the shedding of Jesus, the Lamb of God’s blood, we are forgiven (Hebrews 10:14)
e) Let us eat and celebrate: Represents the supernatural joy, peace and righteousness in the Holy Spirit that God has given to us..
“KNOW YOUR FATHER’S HEART”
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his fee – (Luke 15:22 NLT)
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 KJV)
Do we see GOD as an all-powerful, distant, and unfeeling judge who is angry whenever we fail and who constantly has to be appeased?
OR
Do we know GOD as our Father, our Abba Father whom we can run to anytime , even when we have fallen short? Do we see HIM as patiently waiting for us to return to HIM?.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)
