Clarity on the Father's Heart
September 19, 2021

Clarity

“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 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.’ But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving 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; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 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.” Luke 15:25-32‬‬‬‬

Lost people matter to God
• We should do everything we can to reach lost people
• We should celebrate when lost people are found

“One More” is at the core of God’s mission for his church.

If “one more” matters to God, then “the one more” should matter to us.

5 Points of Clarity about God’s heart

  1. God is chasing lost people.
    • “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”- ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:10‬* ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬
    • Proximity does not equal intimacy
      -Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”*- Revelation 3:20‬ ‭

  2. God loves you for you and not what you do

    • God’s love for you cannot be earned
    • “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”- Romans 5:8
    • Your works are an expression of your love for God.
    • “We love each other because He loved us first” 1 John 4:19

  3. God celebrates who you can become before you ever do.

    • Judges 6:11-14
    • God doesn’t judge the whole story based on a bad chapter. He just turns the page
  4. God’s table is big enough for anyone who believes.
    • You don’t ever stop being special to God
  5. God invites us to share His Heart
    • “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”- ‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:36-37‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬
    • When we have clarity on God’s heart, we can live in a way that honors it.

Practical Ways to live this out:

  1. Build relationship with Lost people
  2. Invite those close to you to church
  3. Share your faith
  4. Support those reaching lost people (Prayer and Finances)