I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found!

I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found!

Down through the years, the Lord’s been good to me. Because of His goodness, God is to be celebrated; God is to be honored; God is to be glorified; God is to be praised by every entity, object, or individual that exists. Because of God’s existence, in fact, the very reason why we’re on this planet is to glorify God. If you visited Sunday School, Bible Class, and the Scriptures enough, you find that God is awesome, God is wonderful, God is good, God is loving, God is worthy, God is protector, God is provider, God is shelter, God is giver, God is faithful, God is truth, God is with us, God is helper, God is doctor, God is medicine, God is food, God is water, God is strength, God is lifter, God is miracle-worker. And if you are not moved by any of those; it might mean that you have not had that God-type experience.

I can say these things about my God because of what He has done in my life. Yes, if you have had that experience, if you have had that encounter, if you have been touched by the divine hand of God, if you have been delivered from the grasp of Satan, if you have been saved by the Savior, if you have been sealed by the Holy Ghost, if you are saved and you know; you ought to proclaim with a triumphant victorious voice; I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found!

We find before us the three parables of Luke 15, that must be understood in the context or life setting given in verses 1–2. Jesus was showing the “sinners” that salvation was available to even them (15:7, 10, 32), while also answering the murmurings of the Pharisees about Him spending time with sinners (15:2). Note the statements in the parables (15:7, 10, 32). Jesus was here giving hope to the “sinners,” while also calling the “righteous” Pharisees to rejoice with the hosts of heaven over the fact that someone who had been lost was found.

There are in these passages two parts to consider. There is God’s part: the shepherd seeks the lost sheep, and the woman searches for the lost coin. Aren’t you glad God sought for you? And that’s just the way God is. God sought Adam hiding in the garden. God sought Abram at the great trees of Mamre. God sought Moses on Horeb, the mountain of God in flames of fire. God sought the disciples mending nets, in tax offices and in unknown places. God sought Paul on the road to Damascus to kill Christians. God sought me in the fourth pew of Gospel Tabernacle Community Church of God in Christ in Minot, ND on October 18, 1998. I wonder can you thank God for seeking you.

But there is also man’s part: for the wayward son willingly repented and returned home. To emphasize but one aspect is to give a false view of salvation, for both the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man must be considered. While it was God who from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth (2 Thess. 2:13), it is each of us who confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believes in Him for salvation (Rom. 10:9).

And when salvation comes. When that which was lost is found, there is rejoicing.

The Person Found Rejoices… surly when the Lord saves you, there is great rejoicing in you heart.

The Person Finding Rejoice… surly the one who was searching for that which was lost and upon finding it rejoices.

The People Rejoice … the people ought to rejoice after that which was lost is found.

The Angels Rejoice … and for sure the Angels is heaven lift up their voices in rejoicing for the sinner who was lost but now found.

Don’t miss this right here. Rejoicing is a necessity. Rejoicing is medicine. Rejoicing is therapeutic. Rejoicing is healing. Rejoicing is deliverance. Rejoicing is also contagious. If there is going to be rejoicing, two things must happen suggested in the text.

Get Back In Place:

· Lost sheep belong in the flock; lost coins belong with the other.

· We belong in fellowship with God and His people. Too many of us are neglecting our duty. We want to be used of God, but don’t want to do what we know we should do. I know, you feel comfortable sitting at home watching a screen. I know you feel like you can get all you need by reading your Bible by yourself. I know you think you are strong enough to come and go as you wish. But I wish, some of you would be like the son in the story. “Come to yourself,” and return to the Father and His church. declare, against heaven and against my brothers and sisters I’ve done this thing. Receive me now Lord back into your service. Somebody say “Get Back In Place!”

Get Back In Service:

· Lost sheep and coins are of no value to anyone. When you are not present, you can’t be used. Don’t sit there and wait for somebody to call you. Get up out of your selfish pride and make your way back to the service of the Lord.

· We can’t experience the deepening fulfillment of God and all He has for us if we are not in service to God and each other.

· Somebody is AWOL … absent without official leave … from their assignment. Half-hearted service will soon turn to no service at all. That’s why it’s important to “Get Back In Service!”

There are few joys that match the joy of finding the lost and bringing them to the Saviour. “The church has nothing to do but to save souls,”

When you make that declaration to God, you got a testimony, thank God: I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found!

I want to tell somebody today that I know where the poor can be made rich.

Where the sick can be made well.

Where the ignorant can become intelligent.

A the flawed can be made flawless.

A the weak can be made strong

And even a dead man can be made alive. It's in Jesus Christ.

If your lost today, Jesus says “I am the way…”

It your confused today, Jesus says “I am the truth…”

If your dead in trespasses and sins, Jesus says, I am the life…”

“…no man gets to the Father except though me.”

Jesus is our Saviour because he came down the stairway of heaven. He was Born in Bethlehem. He hid in Egypt. He was brought up in Nazareth. Baptized in Jordan. He was tempted in the wilderness. He performed miracles by the roadside. He healed multitudes without medicine and made no charges for his service. He defeated everything that came up against him. He took your sins and mine and went out on Calvary and there died.

He died while the curtain in the temple torn in two from top to bottom.

He died while the earth shook, the rocks split, the graves broke open, God's people were raised to life.

He died while the Roman Centurion beat his chest and said “this must be the Son of God.”

He died while the sun refused to shine.

He died and everyone began to know who he was.

Then He was buried in a borrowed tomb. The Son of God didn’t have a life insurance policy, the Son of God didn’t pre-pay for a burial plot. The Son of God didn’t need a funeral service. He was laid in a borrowed tomb. To fulfill what He said before, destroy the temple and it will rise in three days. He didn’t plan on staying there long. Just long enough to disarm Satan. Just long enough to set the captives free. Just long enough cancel our sins. Just long enough so everybody would know that He really died. Just long enough to clean it out, to make it a pleasant place while waiting to get up. And on schedule, He resourced His power and showed the world He is Lord!

He came up out that grave in three days later, I said three days the tomb is empty. The Angels told the women, why are looking for the living amongst the dead, He is not here, for He is risen as He said. He got up with all power in His hands. And that’s why I can say, I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found. I don’t say that just because He died. I don’t say that just because He was buried. I don’t say that just because He got up. But I can say I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found because I confessed the Lord Jesus with my mouth, and I believed in my heart that he died, was buried and rose again. That gives me the right to testify of His saving power. Yes, I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found. I was in darkness but he brought me to His marvelous light.

The Lord is my shepherd, He’s all I want. I have no shortage of rest, because He makes me to lie down in green pastures. I have no shortage refreshment, because He leads me beside the still waters. I have no shortage of forgiveness, because He restores my soul. I have no shortage of guidance, because He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. I have no shortage of company, because though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for He is with me. I have no shortage of comfort, because Thy rod and staff comfort me. I have no shortage of provision, because You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. I have no shortage of joy, because You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. I have no shortage of anything in this life, because goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. I have no shortage in the life to come, because I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever and ever.

I’ll dwell in a land where we’ll never grow old. I’ll dwell in a city founded and made by God. I’ll dwell in the eternity of love. I’ll dwell in a sun-kissed region of an unclouded day. Where everyday will be Sunday. I’ll dwell in the house of the LORD forever and ever. Surely, I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found!

Let our witness this week flood heaven with joy.