The Joy of Finding What is Lost

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Luke 15:1–7 NASB95

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Pray

Lost and Found illustration.

1. The Reception of the Sinners

Luke 15:1–2 NASB95

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

a. We see that sinners are welcome at Jesus’ table.

In Luke 7, Jesus is eating with the Pharisees and a sinful woman enters pouring perfume on Him and weeping. The Pharisees condemned Jesus for allowing this woman to touch Him or come near Him, but Jesus explained that God was more pleased with the humility and worship of the sinner than the righteousness of the Pharisees.

If you are here today and you think that you can’t come to Jesus until you get your life together, you don’t know Jesus and you don’t understand the Gospel.

God didn’t send His Son to live the life we couldn’t live and pay the penalty we couldn’t pay to give us a shot at a relationship with Him, He came so that broken sinners could have a guarantee of salvation based on Jesus’ righteousness and not their own.

b. We see that saints are welcome at Jesus’ table.

Revelation 19:9 NASB95

Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God.”

If you are here today and you are trusting in Christ alone for your salvation, the Bible says that you are a saint - one of God’s set apart people. Remember that He has adopted you into His family and has a seat at the table with your name on it!

(10m)

2. The Recovery of the Sheep

Luke 15:3–6 NASB95

So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

a. This shows us that we have a Shepherd who cares.

If a billionaire leaves his wallet at a restaurant in another country he might not bother to have it shipped home because it contains an insignificant amount of money to him.

God owns everything and everyone. He doesn’t pursue sinners because He needs them or because they are extremely valuable; He pursues them because He cares for them. If you are separated from God and living in darkness today, you need to know that He will not stop until every one of His lost sheep are found. You may not think anyone cares about you, but the Good News is that God exchanged His Son Jesus on the cross for people just like you.

b. This shows us that we have a Shepherd who carries.

Notice what the Shepherd does when He finds the sheep. He doesn’t just lead it home, He carries it.

Friends, the Good News is not only that God knows where we are and that He loves us enough to come after us, but that He ensures that we get home safely because He carries us on His shoulders.

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

(5m)

3. The Rejoicing of the Saints

Luke 15:7 NASB95

“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

a. God is joyful when we repent.

Doesn’t it feel good when a plan comes together?

God has made the best plan of all, and it has cost Him His own Son to pull it off. Every time a sinner turns to Him in faith, it brings God the joy and satisfaction of knowing that all of His effort has not been in vain.

b. God is glorified when we repent.

Think of the word “glory” as the “weightiness” of something. When a sinner repents, it shows all of creation that God deserves all the credit and gets all of the respect He deserves for what He has done in Christ.

CONCLUSION

One day, the last lost sheep will be found. The last of God’s people will repent and turn to Him in faith. When that happens, Jesus Himself will come for His flock, carry them on His shoulders, and bring them home to His Father. Will you be on His shoulders when He returns?