Go After The one

Luke 15:1–7 (ESV)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And 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 that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Introduction

I want us to spend some time in this passage of scripture this morning.

I believe God wants to use this passage to grip our hearts as a body and shift the way we live our lives.

and I believe he has already been speaking to us through the past few weeks about this same topic..

the topic of “Being a bold witness” to those we encounter in this life.

Of reaching people, not just pastor reaching people, not just church leaders reaching people, but each and every one of us reaching people..

The eminant Return

The last couple of months..

with everything going on in the world..

I personally have become increasingly aware of the words of scripture that talk about the second coming of christ and the last days of human history..

And you can make a pretty good case right now that, with all of the things that are happening..

and the potential prophetic events that are unfoldeding in the middle east

that Jesus return is extremely iminant..

And with this awareness has come the understanding that time is short..

Not just for you and I..

but for those we know and love

who have yet to come into a relationship with Jesus..

Too Late..

We know the bible teaches that there will come a day ..

where the trumpet will sound..

and the dead in christ will rise..

and we who are alive will be caught up to meet those who have died in the air..

and forever be with the lord..

We know this as the rapture of the church..

as pre-tribulation theologians would place before the great tribulation..

and if that moment comes..

and we do not know the lord..

it will already be too late..

and we will have missed it..

Died..

Even more so..

each and everyday we lose loved ones..

friends and family..

many of which who leave this world before we think they should..

and if they close their eyes here..

and they dont know the lord..

when they open them on the other side..

it will be too late to change…

There eternity.. in heaven or hell.. will be determined...

urgent..

I say all of this to say that time is urgent..

we must be about the fathers business..

what is the fathers business?

Making sure that all we can reach, know him..

going into the highways and the headges..

into all of the world..

and making sure people know Jesus..

thats our primary job in the kingdom..

so were going to talk about that today in this passage..

Twice

Im actually going to preach on this passage twice during this month.

From two different perspective.

Today, I want us to look at this passage from the perspective of a believer..

A disicple..

from hopefully our perspective…

and I want us to look at the example Jesus is giving to us to follow in the way we live our kingdom lives.

and how we should be living each day..

reaching the lost..

Unbeliever

Then, the week of thanksgiving, the 24th.

Were going to give you an oppurtunity to practice what is preached..

and were asking you to invite your friends and family to come to church with you..

people you intentionally want to see know Jesus..

To practice what were going to talk about today..

And that sunday were going to look at the passage from the perspective of someone who does not yet have a relationship with christ..

and see how God, Through Jesus seeks us out and saves us.

Dinner

then afterwards we will have our annual thanksgiving dinner

so you can invite those you bring to stay and eat a great meal with us all..

so lets dig into this passage today..

Context of Scripture

I want you to notice who jesus is talking too in the passage here in luke 15..

He is talking to tax collectors and sinners..

people who do not have relationship with god..

and society has deemed worthless and hopeless..

disgust

in fact we find another group here as well

the pharisees and scribes..

and in this moment they are in great disgust because Jesus is even talking to these people..

and on the 24th we going to look at this perspective of this passage..

Today

but today I want to shift our view point from Jesus talking to sinners..

To jesus talking to us.. his followers..

because if we go back to Matthew 18:10 we find that Jesus is doing just that..

He is talking to the disciples..

telling them about the way they should live out this kingdom life..

and he tells this almost this exzact same parable..

Matthew 18:10–14 ESV

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Jesus in the matthew account..

instead of reffering to lost tax collectors and sinners..

is refering to those of this little ones..

his disciples.. his followers..

being lost..

impling that its not gods desires to lose anyone to eternal seperation..

Implications

but more so what I want you to see here..

is that Jesus is instructing this followers..

that we are to be like the shepherd in his parable..

seeking out the ones..

the ones who are distant from him..

who need restored relationship with them..

and helping them to come home..

that this is context of this passage in matthew 10 AND in matthew 15..

Not the savior

Jesus is not implying that we are the ones who save them..

we cannot save them..

in fact.. if youll notice..

some of your translations have a verse 11 and some do not.

because some of the early manuscripts have a verse 11 that reads like a scribes not..

and it says “because the son of man came to save the lost..”

and i dont want to argue whether verse 11 should or should not be there..

regardless its a true statement..

and what I want you to understand is that its OUR JOB TO FIND THEM AND HELP THEM COME TO JESUS..

BUT ITS ONLY HIM WHO CAN SAVE THEM..

remember john 14:6?

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

OUR JOB IS TO PURSUE THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD..

HELP THEM COME TO JESUS..

AND REJOICE WHEN THEY DO..

this is the very heart of god...

God’s primary objective

I want us to understand something important this morning..

something that might disrupt church culture..

or even the way we veiw god

and its this..

God’s primary objective is in his relationship with humanity is salvation and restored relationship

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

If god cared more about aspec of our relationship than any other..

it would be this..

salvation..

church

we make our relationship with god about a lot of things..

and we make church about a lot of things..

but their is one thing that is more important than all the rest..

salvation..

not blessing..

not favor..

not material goods..

not health..

those are all benifets of knowning god..

but the most important is salvation..

Contrary..

you can be poor and still expereince the riches of heaven when you die..

you can be hated and stilll receive eternal love and acceptance when you die..

you can be sick and still receive a glorified body when you die..

BUT YOU CANNOT GO TO HEAVEN WITHOUT HAVING A RESTORED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD..

Jesus..

Christs death brought a lot of benifet to our lives..

BUT THE BIGGEST AND MORE IMPORTANT THING IT DID WAS BRING US INTO RESTORED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Us

we make church about blessing..

we make church about healing..

we make church about favor in this life..

AND THOSE ARE FINE

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE BETTER MAKE CHURCH ABOUT IT SEEING THE LOST COME TO JESUS..

BECAUSE IT IS THE VERY REASON GOD SENT CHRIST..

AND IT IS THE VERY HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO..

Matthew 18:14 ESV

So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

2 Peter 3:8–10 (ESV)

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

GODS HEART IS RESTORED RELATIONSHIP ABOVE ALL ELSE..

AND BECAUSE OF THIS..

OURS SHOULD BE AS WELL..

Gods main purpose for us

I want to propose to you this morning..

that:

Gods main purpose, asside from loving and worshiping god, is helping others come into the kingdom..

witnessing..

the final words Jesus gave to his followers were a comissions to witness..

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

as we learned last week the primary reason jesus empowered us through the holy spirit was to witness..

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

our job as followers of Jesus

Its not just to be people who get everything they can from go..

and be content to be saved and wait till the end..

not..

God didnt save us to make an impression in our church chair seat..

He saved us and told us to go and make an impression in the lifes of those who surround us..

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Go and shine the light of Jesus in the world..

so those in the dark can see the light..

and be pointed to God

THAT IS OUR PRIMARY MISSION!

TO GO...

Our Job is to help others find Jesus

Jesus gives and example here in luke of what we should be doing..

1. We have to be intentional about seeking the lost

Luke 15:4 (ESV)

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

If he lost one..

Gods not looking for us to win crowds..

Hes looking for you to influence one..

to seek out one..

Leave

notice he says leaves the 99.. and go after the one that is lost until he finds it..

thats intentional..

its not coinsidental..

its not a happen stance run in..

its action..

intention..

Who

who do we seek out?

anyone who doesnt know Jesus..

odds are gods already put someone in your path who you know doesnt know the lord..

family..

freinds.

Co workers..

are you intentionally shining the light of Jesus so you can reach them?

or are you hiding you light under the bushel basket

afriad of what they may think if they see it..

God is calling us to be intentional..

to go after the one..

what do we do after we seek them out?

2. We must help them get to Jesus

we help them get to jesus..

look what Jesus says..

Luke 15:5 (ESV)

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Jesus says..

when he finds the sheep..

he picks it up and carrys it back home..

he helps it get back home..

and thats our job…

to help people get home to christ.

how?

how do we do that?

we shine the light so they can see in the dark..

were bold enough to give them real anwsers when they start asking quiestions..

we let the holy spirit lead the conversation and share when encouraged..

you might need to anwser questions..

you might need to invite them to church..

YOU MIGHT EVEN NEED TO PRAY THE SINNERS PRAYER WITH THEM..

AND LEAD THEM HOME YOURSELF!

SALVATION DOESNT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE IN A CHURCH ALTAR..

IT CAN HAPPEN IN WALMART..

OF THE GM PLANT FLOOR..

OR A CAR..

OR a PARK..

ANYwhere

OUR JOB IS TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT WE CAN.. THAT PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING TO JESUS..

The four

remember the lame man with the four friends..

they made a physical way at all cost to get him to Jesus..

we need to do the same with those in our lives who have go astray..

… and finally

when they get home..

we celebrate..

3. We must celebrate thier return

Luke 15:6–7 ESV

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 that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

you might be saying … pastor that seems easy to do..

but its been my experience as a pastor that its not..

and Jesus saw that it wasnt either..

the pharisees thought they were better than new converts because they had been serving god and these others had gone astray..

Jesus tells the story of the man with the vineyard who plants and pays all the workers the same..

even though they all came a different hours..

and then later in luke he tells a story..

of the two brothers..

The other brother

In verse 11-32 of this same chapter Jesus tells a story of the prodigal son..

And the first half of the story we know well..

Where the prodigal comes home..

and we resognate with that because we were all prodigals at one time..

Far from god and brought back into the family through Jesus..

But

but we dont talk about the other brother much..

though we acts like the other brother many times..

You see th eother brother never left..

he was faithful..

He was their..

He was present.

He didnt disrespect his father..

and so when the prodigal came home..

and they threw a feast..

He got bitter..

because no one celebrated him..

And we do the same..

Bitter

when people come to christ.

and the pastor gets up and makes a big deal about them…

sometimes we get a little jealous..

“Well.. ive served god forever.. and no one said a thing!”

“ive done this and this in the church, but no one threw me a party.”

“Dont they know who this other person was?

we can end up getting jealous because the one who returned is getting the attention..

BUT JESUS SAYS..

WHEN ONE COMES HOME..

HEAVEN GOES CRAZY..

why?

BECAUSE THEY HAVE FINALLY FOUND LIFE..

THEY HAVE MADE AN ENTERNAL DESCISION..

ITS NOT ABOUT YOU..

ITS ABOUT THE KINGDOM!

WE HAVE TO CHECK OURSELVES!

WE ARE CALLED TO CELEBRATE SOULS WHO HAVE FOUND ETERNAL LIFE..

Practical ways we can reach others

so how can we reach people..

how can we help people find JEsus..

let me give you some quick practical steps..

Build Intentional Relationships

Jesus chose to build relationships HE chose the disicples..

pinpoint who you want to reach..

Pray about it..

and start building a relationship with them..

not a religous one.. just a relationship..

Voice

People wont hear you until you earn a voice in their life..

this is done through relationship..

Show genuine love and care

Jesus showed genuine love

have compassion for them..

truely care for them expecting nothing in return..

be genuinly kind..

people dont care what you know until they know how much you care..

Be sincere authentic/ not religous

Jesus was real, not religous but the pharisees were religour and not sincere

Be sincere… dont say a bunch of religous junk..

just love them..

talk to them..

people value authenticity over perfection now..

Pray and Wait for Gods timing

Jesus didnt just stumble into anything.. it was all about timing..

as you get to know them..

pray..

ask god to give you the right time to share..

and wait for that time..

whent he oppurtunity arises..

tell them your story…

Know your testimony

The disciples just told what really happened.

Keep it short..

dont go back to your birth unless its seriously relavant..

I was this..

God did this..

Now im this..

Keep it short and focused on what GOD did..

its amazing how many people dont know their own testimony enough to say it..

but

but i was raised in church..

You still have a testimony..

Act

when the holy spirit prompts you

be bold.. be spirit led..

and take action..

invite them to church..

or pray the sinners prayer with them..

take action to help them move towards God..

Recap

God has comissioned us to go out and find the one..

to help them get to jesus..

and to rejoice when they come home..

Are you the one

I know were gonna preach the other side of this on the 24th..

but I wanna end with this..

Maybe your here today and your are the one..

you’re not walking right with god.

maybe you had a relationship and let it slip..

or maybe you’ve never had a realtionship.

I want you to know this morning if it was just for you..

Jesus would have gave his life..

He cares for you..

He has given everything for you..

and you can be saved today..