The Heart of the Father     Luke 15:11-32

 

The word prodigal means wasted, and to be a prodigal is to be one who has wasted what God has given them!

 

5 Observations about the Father’s heart:

 

1. The father did not try to keep the prodigal where he didn’t want to be                                 v.12

 

1. The father had earned ______________ capital during earlier years that were part of drawing the prodigal back                                 v. 17-19

 

1. The father had been ____________ the light on for the son v. 20

 

1. The father fully _________________ his son                 v. 22

 

1. The father was an advocate for the prodigal with those who would _________________ him                                                                 v. 31

 

7 Keys To Loving Your Prodigal:

 

1. STOP using ________________ actions and statements to get them to change

 

1. PRAY for your prodigal _______________ someone who is also struggling to love their prodigal

 

1. SHOWER your prodigal with love Romans 5:8

 

1. DON’T Keep Blaming yourself; DO ___________ forgiveness if you need to

Ezekiel 18                              I John 1:9

 

1. ______________________ to your prodigal if you need to

 

1. LET ________________ run its course

 

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God ‘Thy will be done’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right then, have it your way.’       -C.S Lewis

 

“So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels”.                                                             -Ps. 81:12                See also Romans 1

 

1. _______________________ someone else 2 Timothy 2:2