Understanding the Heart of the Father: The Older Brother
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the second part of our mini-series on "The Heart of the Father," focusing on the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15. This story is not just about one son but two, each representing different aspects of our spiritual journey. The older brother, who stayed home and worked diligently, symbolizes the Pharisees and religious folks who are caught up in self-righteousness and legalism. Unlike the younger brother, who repented and was restored, the older brother was physically present but emotionally and spiritually distant from the father's heart.
The older brother's story teaches us that it's possible to be in the Father's house yet miss His heart. He was more concerned with what he could get from the Father rather than understanding the Father's love and grace. This legalistic mindset led him to feel entitled and angry when his younger brother was celebrated upon his return. The older brother's obedience was driven by a desire for reward and a sense of entitlement, rather than genuine love for the Father.
We also explored the dangers of a works-based mentality, which can lead to taking God's presence and provision for granted. True obedience should be motivated by love for God and a desire to be near Him, not by what we can get from Him. The Father's response to the older brother was a reminder that everything He has is already ours, and His presence is the most valuable gift we can receive.
In closing, we reflected on the importance of loving our brothers and sisters, regardless of their past mistakes. The Father's heart is one of grace, love, and restoration, and we are called to embody that same heart in our relationships with others.
### Key Takeaways
1. Presence Over Performance: The older brother was physically present but emotionally and spiritually distant from the Father's heart. This teaches us that being in the Father's house is not enough; we must also seek His heart. Our relationship with God should be based on love and intimacy, not just on religious duties. [10:01]
2. Legalism vs. Grace: The older brother's legalistic mindset led him to feel entitled and angry when his younger brother was celebrated. This highlights the danger of a works-based mentality, which can make us miss the grace and love of God. True obedience should flow from a heart of love and gratitude, not from a desire for reward or a sense of entitlement. [06:39]
3. The Value of God's Presence: The Father's response to the older brother was a reminder that everything He has is already ours, and His presence is the most valuable gift we can receive. We should never take God's presence and provision for granted but continually seek to be near Him. [29:43]
4. Loving Our Brothers and Sisters: The Father's final words to the older brother emphasized the importance of loving our brothers and sisters, regardless of their past mistakes. This reflects the heart of God, which is one of grace, love, and restoration. We are called to embody that same heart in our relationships with others. [48:10]
5. Obedience Motivated by Love: True obedience should be motivated by our love for God and our desire to be near Him, not by what we can get from Him. This kind of obedience is a response to God's unfailing love for us and is the proof of our love for Him. [23:11]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:36] - Introduction to the Older Brother
[03:08] - The Story of the Prodigal Son
[04:46] - The Older Brother's Anger
[06:39] - Lawlessness vs. Legalism
[08:21] - The Work-Based Mentality
[10:01] - Presence Over Performance
[11:56] - The Older Brother's Entitlement
[13:50] - Obedience and Reward
[15:37] - Making Deals with God
[17:43] - Grace vs. Works
[19:33] - Entitlement and Tradition
[21:18] - Teaching Children Relationship Over Religion
[23:11] - Obedience Motivated by Love
[25:25] - The Father's Response
[27:36] - God's Grace Abounds
[29:43] - The Value of God's Presence
[31:22] - The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
[33:18] - Taking God's Presence for Granted
[35:02] - Esau and Jacob: A Lesson in Value
[36:56] - Childlike Wonder
[38:20] - The One Thing That Matters Most
[40:35] - Pursuing God's Heart
[42:39] - The Father's Final Words
[44:51] - Closing Reflections
[46:32] - An Opportunity for Repentance
[48:10] - Loving Your Brother
[49:49] - Announcements and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 15:25-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son (focus on the older brother)
2. Ephesians 2:8-10 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith
3. Psalm 51:10-12 - David's Prayer for Restoration
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the older brother's reaction when he found out about the celebration for his younger brother's return? ([04:46])
2. How did the father respond to the older brother's anger and sense of entitlement? ([27:36])
3. According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the basis of our salvation, and how does it relate to our good works?
4. In Psalm 51:10-12, what does David ask God to restore in him, and why is this significant?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the older brother felt entitled to a reward for his obedience? How does this reflect a legalistic mindset? ([13:50])
2. How does the father's response to the older brother illustrate the value of God's presence over material blessings? ([27:36])
3. What does the story of the older brother teach us about the dangers of a works-based mentality in our relationship with God? ([06:39])
4. How does David's plea in Psalm 51:10-12 for a clean heart and the presence of the Holy Spirit relate to the older brother's situation?
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt entitled to something from God because of your obedience. How did that affect your relationship with Him? ([13:50])
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of seeking God's heart over His hand. What practical steps can you take this week to focus more on God's presence rather than what He can give you? ([29:43])
3. How can you guard against developing a legalistic mindset in your spiritual walk? What are some signs that you might be falling into this trap? ([06:39])
4. Think of a relationship in your life where you might be holding onto past mistakes of others. How can you show grace and love, reflecting the heart of the Father? ([49:49])
5. In what ways can you cultivate a childlike wonder and appreciation for God's presence in your daily life? ([36:56])
6. How can you teach or encourage others, especially children, to pursue a relationship with God rather than just following religious traditions? ([21:18])
7. Identify one specific area in your life where you need to shift from a works-based mentality to one motivated by love for God. What changes will you make to address this? ([23:11])
Devotional
Day 1: Presence Over Performance
The older brother was physically present but emotionally and spiritually distant from the Father's heart. This teaches us that being in the Father's house is not enough; we must also seek His heart. Our relationship with God should be based on love and intimacy, not just on religious duties. The older brother's story is a reminder that we can be involved in church activities, follow religious rituals, and still miss the essence of a true relationship with God. It's not about what we do for God, but about being with Him and understanding His heart.
The older brother's focus on performance led him to miss the joy of his brother's return and the celebration that followed. He was more concerned with his own sense of justice and entitlement than with the love and grace his father showed. This is a caution for us to examine our own hearts and ensure that our actions are motivated by a genuine desire to know and love God, rather than a checklist of religious duties. [10:01]
Luke 10:41-42 (ESV): "But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are more focused on religious duties than on seeking a deeper relationship with God? How can you shift your focus to prioritize His presence over performance today?
Day 2: Legalism vs. Grace
The older brother's legalistic mindset led him to feel entitled and angry when his younger brother was celebrated. This highlights the danger of a works-based mentality, which can make us miss the grace and love of God. True obedience should flow from a heart of love and gratitude, not from a desire for reward or a sense of entitlement. Legalism can create a barrier between us and the true understanding of God's grace, making us believe that we can earn His favor through our actions.
The older brother's reaction to his father's grace towards the younger brother reveals a heart that is more concerned with fairness and reward than with love and forgiveness. This mindset can lead to bitterness and resentment, as it did for the older brother. We are called to embrace God's grace, understanding that it is a gift freely given, not something we can earn. This perspective allows us to extend grace to others and live in the freedom of God's love. [06:39]
Galatians 5:4 (ESV): "You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace."
Reflection: Do you find yourself feeling entitled to God's blessings because of your good works? How can you embrace the grace of God more fully in your life today?
Day 3: The Value of God's Presence
The Father's response to the older brother was a reminder that everything He has is already ours, and His presence is the most valuable gift we can receive. We should never take God's presence and provision for granted but continually seek to be near Him. The older brother's focus on material rewards and recognition caused him to overlook the incredible privilege of being in his father's presence and enjoying his father's love.
God's presence is the ultimate gift, far surpassing any material blessings or achievements. When we prioritize His presence, we find true fulfillment and joy. The older brother's story challenges us to evaluate what we truly value and to seek a deeper relationship with God, recognizing that His presence is the greatest treasure we can possess. [29:43]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: How often do you take time to simply be in God's presence? What steps can you take today to prioritize spending time with Him and valuing His presence above all else?
Day 4: Loving Our Brothers and Sisters
The Father's final words to the older brother emphasized the importance of loving our brothers and sisters, regardless of their past mistakes. This reflects the heart of God, which is one of grace, love, and restoration. We are called to embody that same heart in our relationships with others. The older brother's inability to rejoice in his brother's return reveals a lack of love and compassion, which is contrary to the Father's heart.
God's love is unconditional and extends to all, regardless of their past. As followers of Christ, we are called to love others with the same grace and forgiveness that we have received. This means letting go of judgment and embracing a heart of restoration and reconciliation. The older brother's story challenges us to examine our own attitudes towards others and to strive to love as God loves. [48:10]
1 John 4:20 (ESV): "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."
Reflection: Is there someone in your life whom you find difficult to love or forgive? How can you extend God's grace and love to them today?
Day 5: Obedience Motivated by Love
True obedience should be motivated by our love for God and our desire to be near Him, not by what we can get from Him. This kind of obedience is a response to God's unfailing love for us and is the proof of our love for Him. The older brother's obedience was driven by a desire for reward and recognition, rather than a genuine love for his father. This led to feelings of entitlement and resentment.
When our obedience is motivated by love, it transforms our relationship with God and aligns our hearts with His. We obey not out of obligation or a desire for reward, but because we love Him and want to please Him. This kind of obedience brings joy and fulfillment, as it is rooted in a deep and intimate relationship with God. The older brother's story reminds us to examine our motives and to seek a heart of genuine love and devotion. [23:11]
John 14:15 (ESV): "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Reflection: What motivates your obedience to God? How can you cultivate a heart of love and devotion that drives your actions and decisions today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Let me share the heart of God with you. Let me share that it's not about religion. It's about relationship. That's what he's desiring from you." (6 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You could be physically present and completely out of tune with God's heart. So let's look now at verse 27 and 28. Your brother is back, he was told, and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return. The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him." (-365 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God's love is not merit based and sin doesn't diminish God's grace. Look what Romans 5:20 says where sin increased grace abounded all the more. Sin doesn't diminish God's grace. Grace abounds all the more where sin increases." (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The more that you know God truly know him the more you realize that his heart is to be near. That's the heart of the father he wants to be near you near you God is omnipresent we know that but what I'm talking about is he wants us to invite him close he wants us to come to him and spend time with him." (28 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Older brothers, they obey to get things from God. And if they don't get those things, they become real angry. But true lovers of God obey him just to get him, to know him, to delight in him. The blesser, not the blessings. The giver, not the gifts. We have to say this, God, it's not your hand that I'm after. It's your heart that I'm after." (41 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So really in this story of the prodigal son and the older brother, we can really see two extreme ends of the spectrum, right? On one end, we see lawlessness. And on the other end, we see legalism, right? Lawlessness. The younger brother, dad, I wish you were dead and I want what's mine now. Give it to me. And he goes and he just blows it all on what's the Bible says, reckless living, sin, just whatever his flesh desire. That's lawlessness, right? But then on the other end of the spectrum, what we're seeing today, is there's this older brother that just has this legalistic, self-righteous, works-based type of mentality, and that is legalism." (52 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So our obedience, it shouldn't be compelled by reward or entitlement. Our obedience should be compelled first by the love of God. Okay? The love of God. 1 John 4. We love because he first loved us. God, in light of your amazing, unfailing love for me, how can I not obey you? In light of that unfailing love, that amazing love. Oh, the depths and the widths and the heights of your love, oh God. In light of that love, in light of the fact that you first loved me, how can I not obey you?" (52 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So the father tells the oldest son but but you're with me you have me isn't that enough so here's what i see when i see this older brother syndrome let's call it that this is older brother syndrome it's entitlement it's self-righteousness it's this workspace mentality that really creates this religious or legalistic type of mindset but also what i believe this older brother syndrome creates is this is that you begin to take things for granted you begin to take things for granted what you have the presence and the provision of god you'll take it for granted the access that you have do you guys know how amazing it is that we have access to the father because of what jesus did remember we talked about the veil tearing in the temple the curtain that that represented the separation is torn and now we have access all day long yes the presence of god do we take that for granted because that's part of what older brother syndrome does." (90 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So with the younger brother, we saw this beautiful picture of repentance and restoration. But if you notice here, with the older brother, there's no closure. The story, it seems like it should still have at least three or four more verses, but it doesn't. And then right in chapter 16, he just goes on to a different story. There's no closure to this part of the story. Why? Well, because contextually, it's the very people that he's speaking to that represent the older brother. And it's like he's giving them the same opportunity that is showed with the younger brother. This beautiful opportunity of repentance and restoration." (56 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Remember what the father says here. He says, we had to celebrate this happy day for your brother was dead and has come back to life. He was lost, but now he was found. Remember what the older brother said to the father? This son of yours. And really how the father closes this whole thing out. He says, he brings it back around. He says, no. This is your brother. Your brother. Having the heart of the father, it means loving your brother. No matter what they've done or haven't done. No matter what sin they've entangled themselves with. No matter what sin they've even sinned against you with." (51 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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