The Father’s Love Revealed: Healing Hearts, Changing Lives

Understanding the depth of God’s unconditional love can transform our lives in profound ways. In today’s message, we delve into the concept of healing, grace, and the significance of relationships through the lens of the parable of the prodigal son. This exploration reveals the essence of the Father’s heart and how we can embody that love in our lives.

Opening Wells of Living Water

We begin by expressing gratitude for God as a wonderful father. His love is stronger than death, and through Jesus Christ, He reveals Himself to us. The title of this message, “Opening Wells of Living Water,” signifies the transformative power of God’s grace flowing through our lives. Many have envisioned a river of living water flooding our region, a symbol of radical transformation that God is orchestrating among us.

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The Gift of Grace

The scripture from John 1:16-18 speaks volumes about grace. “Of His fullness, we have all received, and grace for grace.” This passage illustrates the continuous flow of grace in our lives, encouraging us to move from faith to faith and glory to glory. It emphasizes that we become more like Jesus not through our efforts, but through experiencing His grace, love, and mercy.

Often, Christianity is perceived as a list of do’s and don’ts, leading to burnout and self-righteousness. However, the true essence of our faith is rooted in love and grace, which should naturally manifest in our lives. When we embrace this grace, we become living epistles, reflecting the love of God to those around us.

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The Law and Its Purpose

Contrary to popular belief, the law was not given to oppress but to bless. It was a means for God to guide His people toward righteousness and goodness. Many view the law negatively, but it was intended to reflect God’s character and desires for humanity. Jesus came to fulfill the law, and in doing so, He established a New Covenant through His sacrifice.

Understanding the law as a shadow of the greater reality in Christ helps us appreciate the depth of God’s love and the freedom we have in Him. The law was never meant to be a burden but rather a guide to lead us into a deeper relationship with God.

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Living in Grace and Truth

Grace and truth are not opposing forces but rather complementary aspects of God’s character. Jesus embodies both, revealing the reality of the Kingdom of God through His life. As we navigate our relationships, we must learn to balance grace with truth, ensuring that our interactions nurture life and reflect the Father’s heart.

Many Christians struggle with the challenge of standing firm in truth while extending grace. It requires discernment to know when to speak and when to listen, embodying humility and compassion in our approach. Our goal should be to bring life to others rather than condemnation.

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The Parable of the Prodigal Son

The parable of the prodigal son illustrates the heart of the Father beautifully. The younger son’s request for his inheritance was not just a financial demand; it was a declaration of separation from his father. This act of rebellion signifies a deeper relational dysfunction that often exists in our lives.

When we consider the implications of the son’s actions, we realize that they reflect a longing for fulfillment outside of the father’s love. The father, in his wisdom, allows the son to leave, knowing that true transformation often comes through personal experience and realization of one’s own brokenness.

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The Journey of Awakening

As the prodigal son squandered his inheritance, a famine arose, forcing him to confront the consequences of his choices. In this moment of desperation, he comes to his senses, recognizing the abundance he once had in his father’s house. This awakening is crucial for anyone seeking healing and restoration in their lives.

When he decides to return, he is filled with shame and guilt, believing he is no longer worthy to be called a son. Yet, the father’s response is one of compassion. He runs to his son, embraces him, and celebrates his return. This act reveals the depth of the father’s love and the joy of reconciliation.

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The Importance of Celebration

The celebration that follows the son’s return is significant. It represents the joy of restoration and the healing power of love. Guilt and shame can often keep us from experiencing the fullness of life and community. The son’s willingness to enter the celebration is an act of faith, acknowledging the grace extended to him.

When we allow guilt and shame to dictate our actions, we miss out on the joy of community and the blessings that come from being in relationship with others. Embracing forgiveness and grace allows us to fully participate in the celebration of life that God desires for us.

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The Older Brother’s Struggle

The older brother’s response to the celebration reveals another layer of the story. He is filled with anger and resentment, unable to comprehend the father’s joy over the lost son’s return. This reaction highlights the dangers of self-righteousness and judgmental attitudes that can reside within us.

The father’s plea to the older brother emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of every person and the need for compassion. Both sons, in their ways, reflect the struggle to understand the father’s heart and the depth of his love. The invitation to join the celebration is extended to everyone, regardless of their past.

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Reproducing the Father’s Heart

To truly embody the Father’s heart, we must rid ourselves of judgment and embrace grace. This transformation allows us to be vessels of love and healing in a broken world. The vision of opening wells of living water is a call to action, challenging us to reflect the Father’s heart in our interactions and relationships.

As we engage with others, let us remember that we are called to reproduce the Father’s heart. This means loving the unlovable, extending grace to those who have hurt us, and celebrating the victories of others. It is through this ministry of grace that we become conduits of God’s love, bringing healing and restoration to those around us.

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Conclusion: A Call to Action

The message today reminds us of the power of God’s love to heal our hearts and transform our lives. As we reflect on the parable of the prodigal son, let us embrace the truth that we are all invited to the celebration. Whether we identify with the younger son or the older brother, God’s grace is available to us all.

Let us seek to embody the Father’s heart, allowing His love to flow through us and impact the world around us. Together, we can open wells of living water, bringing hope and healing to a world in need.

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Opening Wells of Living Water

(Sermon Outline)

1. God wants to reveal Himself in a manner that will open up rivers of living water from this region.
   1. John 1:16–18 (NKJV) — 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for (instead of) grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
      1. Grace & truth (reality)
      1. Fullness, received, grace instead of grace.
      1. Jesus declared/revealed.
      1. Living epistles – read by all men.
   1. It is like opening a heavenly scroll and now there is revelation and transformation on earth.
   1. I am convinced that the ministry of grace is what will open up wells of living water that flow forth like a river of life.
   1. The ministry of grace develops as we see and reflect our Father in Heaven.
      1. There is no simple principle – it is about the heart of God.
      1. I challenge you to seek God in prayer and in the word, asking Him to reveal the ministry of grace to you.
      1. We are going look at a scripture that develops an aspect of the ministry of Grace
2. The parable of a Father’s Heart Revealed.
   1. Pharisees complaining about Jesus fellowshipping with sinners.
   1. Luke 15:11–13 (NKJV) — 11 Then 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 falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
      1. “You are dead to me”
      1. Inheritances rarely divided before death, and never at the son’s request.
      1. Not just divided but liquidated.
      1. The insult, the shame, the hurt, the anger, the humiliation.
      1. The waste
      1. asōtia, literally “lost life,” …the word prodigal refers to the one who has only the sole vicious tendency to destroy his means of subsistence.” Asōtia, dissipation of wealth and debauchery, is very often associated with drinking binges during festivals: “the temple was filled with debaucheries and orgies by dissolute Gentiles and prostitutes” (2 Macc 6:4);^[1]
      1. Why would the prodigal son leave?  We do not know for sure, but we can speculate.
         1. The lures of the world
         1. The attitude of his older brother.
         1. Maybe the father?  This would be a transformation story as well.  In our lives, this is more likely the case.
      1. THE FATHER LET HIM GO!!!
   1. Luke 15:14–16 (NKJV) — 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then 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 gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
      1. The brokenness of a life away from the Father’s house.
      1. The mercy, grace and sovereignty of God in the famine and effects of sin.
   1. Luke 15:17–19 (NKJV) — 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
      1. I believe this proves he knew his father to some extent.
      1. What had to be operating for the “repentance we see here?”
      1. Can you see the depth of the guilt and shame?
   1. Luke 15:20–24 (NKJV) — 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here 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.
      1. The father runs – no fear of man!!!  No unforgiveness, or resentment!!!
      1. His heart is totally unexpected in the world – it is practically unknown!
      1. The world motivates and controls people through guilt, shame and humiliation.  THEY CAN NEVER GROW TO MATURITY UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION!!!
      1. A resurrection story
      1. The celebration – what if the son would not go in because of guilt and shame??
         1. Would that have pleased the Father’s heart?
         1. The difficulty of receiving forgiveness
         1. If Jesus took our guilt and shame, why are we often still carrying it?
      1. The resurrection was not complete until the son embraced the Father’s heart by entering the celebration!!!
      1. THE FATHER SOUGHT RECONCILIATION AND THE REVELATION/REPRODUCTION OF HIS HEART!!!
   1. Luke 15:25–32 (NKJV) — 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
      1. How his attitude kills fellowship and community – he was on the outside of the celebration
      1. He missed the Father’s heart – a whitewashed sepulcher
      1. Easily offended and holds resentment.
      1. Very challenging people to live with and to love and appreciate.
      1. THE FATHER SOUGHT RECONCILIATION AND THE REVELATION/REPRODUCTION OF HIS HEART!!!
      1. The key to being a son was not working in the business but experiencing and reproducing the heart of the Father!
      1. That was the true inheritance that neither of the sons had at the beginning. 
3. The journey of transformation is Jesus saving us from our sinner and pharisee.
   1. Sinners often turn into Pharisees
   1. They both create worlds that are different from our Father’s house.
   1. The sinner’s world was clearly on the outside.
   1. The pharisees world was farther from the father’s true house even though it was in the house.
   1. The church majors in challenging the world of the sinner, but the Pharisee, in fact, it is often just the house of the pharisee.
   1. God is calling us to rid ourselves of the leaven of pharisees to embrace the new wine of His ministry of grace.
4. Opening up wells of living water

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^[1] Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 220.