Welcome Home To The Father’s Reward!
The Story of the Lost Son
Luke 15:21-22
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
What happens when you get home?
What changed this young man?
What did the Father do for Him?
Today I want to Welcome you Home to the Father’s Reward
Introduction:
Have you ever felt like you’ve been left out?
Were you ever the last one picked?
Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in?
Did you ever feel like you just weren’t good enough?
In Luke 15:19, 21 - the son says “I am no longer worthy”
But what’s interesting is though is that the Father doesn’t even acknowledge what the son has said.
It’s as if the Father has already seen into this young man’s heart and knows that he is sorry, dirty, and at his lowest point.
And the Father instantly responds to the boy with nothing but restoration and reward.
Instantly the past is forgiven and forgotten and the Father lifts up his head and restores him to a place of honor.
The Father wants to give you something today that will cause you to lift up your head instead of looking down.
He wants to clothe you with His righteousness, provide for you, grant you His authority, and make an everlasting covenant with you.
He wants you to walk out of here today in what He has for you rather than what your past, your parents, your enemies or your present circumstances have dictated to you.
Let’s talk about today The Father’s Reward!!
- Robe - Represents Righteousness
Webster’s - Robe
1a [long flowing outer garment ]esp:one used for ceremonial occasions or as a symbol of office or profession
Strong’s - Robe
4749 στολή [stole /stol·ay/] spec. a loose outer garment for men extending to the feet, worn by kings, priests, and persons of rank.
This young man had given up his identity with his home, his father, and his family. He left leaving his position of honor behind.
When this father put the robe on his son: he was saying your past no longer rules over you. I place this robe on you - the things that once kept you bound, held you back, I have now conquered. Your confession and actions in coming home today have healed you.
I’m taking you from squallier to squire, pigs to priest, corn cob to king, hired hand to honored heir, rebellion to royalty, runaway to righteousness, mud to master, slave to son
When I give him this robe it my righteousness not his
The son gave him his sin and He gave him His righteousness
2 Cor. 5:21
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin [a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Illustration: Call out Greg Brown place his Father’s coat on him.
- Ring – Provision and Authority
1234δακτύλιος (daktylios), ου (ou), ὁ (ho):.; ≡ 3192; [Str 1146—6.190 ]ring, for the finger, showing a restoration of a relationship between a father and a son (Lk 15:22)
2. 6.54-6.67 signet ring, seal-ring, i.e., a personalized ring as identification as well as a symbol of power (Ge 41:42; Est 3:10, 12; 8:2, 8,10); 3. 6.188-6.196 ornamental ring, i.e., a finger ring (Nu 31:50; Isa 3:21), note: as “signet ring.”
The Ring Represented several things – I have the Father’s Authority
- Provision
- Philippians 4:19(New International Version)
19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
- John 14:11-14
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
- Plenty
- Luke 15:17 - 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
b.Psalm 50:10(New International Version)
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills
- Power
a.Romans 8:17(New International Version)
17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Esther and Mordecai
Esther 8:2, 8-10
2The king took off his signet ring—which he had taken back from Haman—and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s property.
8Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. . . .
9So on June 25, the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated...... 10The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
Joseph
Genesis 41:39-44
41Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 42Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.
John 5:19-20
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.
Matthew 28:18-19a
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples
Illustration: I was getting picked on by two kids a school. My older brother came to my defense
Place the ring on Greg’s Finger
3. Reeboks - Sandals/Shoes – Covenant
The shoes represented:
- Comfort
- We wear shoes so that we don’t hurt our feet
- It makes us feel good when we get those new pair of shoes
- Especially when someone brags on them
- Peace
- Romans 16:20 - 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
- Psalm 119:105 - 105Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
- Covenant
- A Covenant of Possession
Boaz and Ruth
Ruth 4:7-8
7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)
8 So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
God, Moses and the Burning Bush
Exodus 3:5
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
When you put these shoes on you have the full benefit of the covenant. Eternal life
- A Covenant of Promise
Genesis 13:17
17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”
- Where ever you walk is yours
Joshua 1:3 – God says to Joshua after Moses Dies -
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
- By faith – wherever you walk God is going to give it to you
- I’m tired of walking around like I’m defeated and powerless
- I want to walk with confidence and authority
Acts 4:31
- 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Place the Shoes on Greg’s feeet
Conclusion:
Worship Song – Trading My Sorrows
We have to open ourselves up in order to receive the ring, robe, and reebok.
The son humbled himself to the lowest point and the Father restored him to the Highest place of honor.
The Father is here saying:
- I will cover you with My righteousness
- I give you the Authority to speak to those things that are not as though they are
- Today, I will make an everlasting covenant with you that you are mine. I will never leave you nor forsake you.
1st Altar Call
If you are here today and you it’s time for you to come home to the Fathers Reward
I want you to know
- Don’t sit there because you don’t feel worthy
- Don’t hold back because you think you can make it on your own
- God wants you to receive the full reward this morning
2nd Altar Call
This is for everyone else
It’s time that we remember to walk daily in the Father’s Reward
We want you to have one of these rings this morning to wear and remind you to walk in the God’s Righteousness, Authority and Promises.
We want to remind you about next week
- Huge celebration
- Invite Friends & Hand-out Flyers
[long flowing outer garment ]long longitude
[a]a Or be a sin offering
[Str 1146—6.190 ]Str Strong’s Lexicon