The Father's Heart

By Pastor Young Joon Park

8-9-09

 

LK 15:20 "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

LK 15:21 "And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

LK 15:22 "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

LK 15:23   and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

LK 15:24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.

LK 15:25 "Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

LK 15:26 "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

LK 15:27 "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.'

LK 15:28 "But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

LK 15:29 "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you (I've been slaving for you) and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

LK 15:30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

LK 15:31 "And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

LK 15:32 "But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

 

 

Review of the last week's illustration

Parents put the white cloths on each branch of the tree instead of one handkerchief.

Parents hold the huge banner "Welcome home, Son!"

They did not want to take any chances for their son to miss a small handkerchief when he passed by, which is why they had hung many white clothes instead of one small handkerchief.

 

Our Heavenly Father

 

1. Our Heavenly Father’s Patience for you

 1) He allowed his son's request and desire.

 2) He did not look after him.

 

We could not understand in these two areas:

  1. Why father allowed his younger son to receive his inheritance even before his passing.
  2. Why he did not look after him after he left home and went his own way.

 

God leaves us alone whatever we want to do when the desire for ourselves is stronger than the one of God's Will. We cannot see things right nor can we think right, because our strong desire makes our mind and eyes blind, and refuse all the godly wisdom and counseling.

 

Galatians 5:17

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.


 

God left Adams's wife alone to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil even though it was commanded from the Lord as a forbidden fruit to eat.

 

Also they did not repent even they had clearly known the consequences of eating the forbidden fruit. Their eyes suddenly open to see their nakedness as a shameful condemnation with fear. And because of this fear they could not even stand outside, and tried to look for the place to hide, and quickly made the first garment for human being of fig tree leaves in an effort to cover their shameful condemnation sin out.

 

Whenever we do something wrong, we try to cover up the truth by making many different reasons of clothes instead of the repenting. We hide ourselves behinds these clothes not exposing the facts. Adam and His wife tried to cover up their own sin by blaming others.

Adam blamed Eve, eve blamed satan.

 

Of course satan was the cause for them to have fallen into sin. However, satan never forced them to eat, but only conned Adam's wife with deception. But the fact remains that Adam and his wife, voluntarily, chose to eat

Adam was not tempted by satan, but he chose to eat when his wife brought the fruit.

 

Adam’s wife ate because of satan's temptation, but Adam ate from his wife's hand on purpose, which was not mistake. That makes Adam more responsible of his sin. Genesis 3:17-19

After the sin Adam gave a name of Eve to his wife.

 

Adam made fig tree leaves cloths for him and his wife, but this quickly dried out. That meant that they had to make another one after the other. They could not cover themselves at all. In other words we cannot remove our sin by our own deed at all.

 

But God made animal skin clothes for them.

Genesis 3:21

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

 

This is a prophetic picture of Jesus Christ. He is the only One capable of removing our sin and shame forever.

 

God opened a door for the repentance for everyone to come in through Jesus Christ.

 

 

2. Our Heavenly Father is waiting for you

 1) While he was still a long way off,

 

We do not know how long his father waited for his younger son.

I believe that he was waiting for him continually since he had left home.

Sometimes he could not sleep because of his younger son, he might have checked the door or waited outside for a while every day just like how we check the mail box everyday.

 

Jesus is portrayed as the father waiting for his son, perhaps daily searching the distant road hoping for his appearance, in that he may be able to notice him while he was still a far distant.

 

He was thinking about his son more than ever, especially when the land was hit by the famine. He had probably gone outside of his house and watched the road very carefully which his son took and left. He watched, more than likely, with the expectation and hope that perhaps his son might come back from the same road that he had taken.

 

For every one

Matthew 11:28

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

 

For the person who wants to come

John 1:39a

He said to them, "Come, and you will see."

 

He is waiting outside until you come to open

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

 

Our Heavenly Father is waiting for you

 

3. Our Heavenly Father accepts you as who you are

 1) His father saw him and felt compassion for him,

 2) He ran to him

 3) He embraced him

 4) He kissed him.

 

One father had a missing son. He kept searching for his son, and one day he found his son, so he could not breathe when he saw the back side of him and his heart almost exploded with excitement, and he ran to him and hugged him, only to find that he was not his son.

 

It’s the same way this rich father might have been running after boys who might have the likeness of his younger son.

 

One day he stood out side of his house and watched the other side of hills because he felt that it was not a normal, but a special day, and. He saw a young poor and dirty man who was coming to his direction from the long distance.

 

I have no doubt that his son's appearance was totally different than when he has left home.

 

The young son must be excited and full of pride for his own world when he left home.

But this time he was coming back with poorest situation and disheartened.

His cloth was dirty and poor, his beard and hair like birds' nest, he smelled terrible and his sandals were torn out. He was broken totally. No one could recognize him at all, but his father did recognize him as his son.

 

There was no more of his prideful attitude, but humble way coming to him from the long distance.

 

This parable is demonstrating God’s love for each individual and His personal attentiveness towards each and every one of us.

Our Heavenly Father is the Father of us all. He is your personal Father who gives you His Attention personally 24/7.

 

Our Heavenly Father sees you as His Most Personal Precious Treasure.

What do you do when you find the most beautiful diamond under dirt?

Are you going to toss it away because of the dirt?

I do not know you, but I will pick it up right away, clean it and put it in the safest place as soon as possible.

Some people might judge you because of your outside appearance or your life style, but our Father never judges you when you come to Him with humble and repenting heart. No one can recognize you as a precious treasure, but our Father will recognize you as the most precious special treasure to Him no matter what you did, nor what you are.

 

I have one daughter and one son. Both have their own family, and now we have two grandsons.

Each of them is the most precious treasure to me and my wife, without an exception.

I treat my children and grand children in this matter, then how much more our Heavenly Father will treat us as His most precious personal treasure?

 

You are His Treasure.

Let's shout to the Lord.

"I am His Treasure!"

The Lord says, "You are My Treasure!"

 

Each of My children is My Life and My Blood.

God created you as His image, so you are His life and His Blood, also you are His representative to the world.

 

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

 

Romans 5:9

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

 

So our Heavenly Father keeps you individually and protects you individually as the apple of His Eyes.

Psalm 17:8

Keep me as the apple of Your Eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings

 

You are the most precious men and women to our Heavenly Father, also to me, too.

 

 

This younger son's father was so excited to see him again and his love was gushing out from deep down in his heart. He could not help himself to wait to see him, so he ran to him right away, hugging him and kissing him all over.

 

Father did not have any issues about what he did before and how much he hurt his feeling. His heart melted down as soon as he saw his son coming back to him with humble and broken heart.

 

This father is representing our Heavenly Father.

No matter what you have done before, our Heavenly Father loves you, and His Love is gushing out towards you at all times. Some times we could not understand our Heavenly Father's Heart because of our negative experiences from our earthly father.

 

Right now, we need to be healed of our father's and mother's wound inside of us.

 

Lord, I choose to forgive my father and my mother because of their negative influences in my life. The negative influences that wounded my heart are...

Lord, I now repent my sin against my father and my mother because of the negative matter.

Thank You for Your Forgiveness by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Lord, remove all the wrong concepts of father that it hinders my relationship with You now. Also restore my relationship with You with a right heart.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

 4. Our Heavenly Father forgives you always

 1) Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight;

 2) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

 

This son finally confessed directly to him of his sin. It is very important we have to confess directly to the Lord and even our relationship with parents, leaders, families, brothers and sisters, as well.

It is very important to express the repentance verbally through your heart.

God does not just forgive us automatically, but He only forgives the ones who come to the Lord with a true repentance of his/her sin and commits his/her life to the Lord.

 

For non-Christians

Acts 10:43

Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.

 

For Christians

I John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

When we confess to the Lord and to the person of our sin, the relationship will be restored and even physical sickness will be healed.

 

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

 

All sins except only one sin will be forgiven, one that Jesus mentioned to Pharisees.

 

Matthew 12:31-32

31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

32 “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

 

 

5. Our Heavenly Father restores your position completely

  1) Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him,

  2) put a ring on his hand

  3) put sandals on his feet;

    4) and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

 

  1) Best robe --promotion to authority (Genesis 41:42).

    2) Ring -- the ring was a signet ring, indicating authority.

    3) Sandals -- Servants did not wear sandals; only family members did.

    4) Fattened calf -- for the celebration together with joy

 

 

 6. Our Heavenly Father Restores you sonship

   a) this son of mine was dead and has come to life again;

   b) he was lost and has been found.'

   c) And they began to celebrate.

 

Ephesians 2:1-9

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ ( by grace you have been saved),

6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

God restores us as His sonship through Jesus Christ.

 

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children (sons and daughters) of God, even to those who believe in His name,

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

7. Our Heavenly Father does not see your past,

   but your new life

 

from Older son

LK 15:28 "But he became angry and was not willing to go in;

LK 15:30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

 

He was angry, because his father treated his younger brother as his son even he devoured his father's wealth.

He did not want to accept him because of his past life.

He accused him about his past life.

 

A man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out.
A Christian Scientist came along and said, "You only think that you are in a pit."
A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into a pit."
A Fundamentalist said, "You deserve your pit."
A Charismatic said, "Just confess that you're not in a pit."
A Methodist came by and said, "We brought you some food and clothing while you're in the pit."
A Presbyterian said, "This was no accident, you know." An Optimist said, "Things could be worse."
A pessimist said, "Things will get worse!"

Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.

 

This man does not need ay opinions, but needs to be helped out from the pit.

His older brother did not help him but he was very opinionated about his younger brother,

But his father took his hand and pulled him out from the pit.

 

There are two important things to father.

1)     His younger son was no longer living the past life, but came out from it.

2)     His younger son just started new life.

 

Father sees his new life, and no longer of his past life, and it is time to build up his new life.

We usually accuse or judge the people who are not in right situation.

 

Example)

Todd Bentley -- It is a sad news, but he could be an example of this prodigal son.

Instead of the anger or accusation, we need to pray for him to come back.

 

Samson -- he followed his flesh desire -- he repented -- the result of his last breath

 

When we see the true repentance, then we have to accept them just as our Heavenly Father accepts them.

 

God does no longer deal with your past because of your repentance.

 

Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 

Also

Romans 8:1

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

God does not want us see the past, but the new life, so we can help to build up others' new life.

 

LK 15:32 'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

 

Conclusion

 

Luke 3:22

and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven:" You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased."

 

This word --

after the baptism,

during the ministry time (Matthew 12:18),

after the transfiguration (Matthew 17:5),

 

God spoke to Jesus

"You are My Son." -- Jesus has an identity from Father

"Whom I love -- the affirmation from Father

"With You I am well pleased. -- Father's acceptance

 

Father God confirmed who Jesus is to Him.

 

Even Jesus needs these kinds of word from Father, then how much more do we need this kind of word in our life from the Lord?

 

Our God is our real Father who loves us dearly daily.