Lost and Found
Luke the man, the physician • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Luke 15
Luke 15
Turn to Luke 15 - I really enjoyed Eric’s teaching last week. Discipleship is key and we all should try to find at least one person to disciple. This is what the apologetics group is all about - learning how to communicate what we believe with confidence. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays so this coming Wednesday @ 6:30pm - come anytime.
Last week I was in Medford at the Calvary Chapel leading worship with my dearest friends, Duane and Dina Talaski. They will be here on September 6 to join us for worship as we have written music together for years. Duane and I have written many new songs and we will sing a few on Labor Day weekend. Currently we are working on a music project hopefully out by Christmas called True Legacy.
A compilation of old songs reproduced and new songs as a complete Music anthology of True Vine.
I want to thank you all for the prayers and cards regarding the passing of my brother Dave. It was unexpected but not surprising. He led a solitary lifestyle working constantly and alcohol finally ended his life.
Sadly, this was all unnecessary. He was only 65. But I’m thankful for the time I had to rebuild our relationship and share the gospel. So who knows what happened? Maybe as he passed, things became clear like the thief on the cross. That’s my hope anyway ....so thanks!
Luke 15
This chapter is a famous one. Three parables that speak on the same subject:
1] The lost sheep
2[ The lost coin
3] The lost sons
Of course, the prodigal son should be familiar but there was another son just as lost, but in a different way. So let’s read and break it down.
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
The three parables are spawned by this comment.
This was more than allowing sinners to listen to Him, Yeshua actively welcomed them into fellowship. Just as He did for you and me!
KIM: in Middle Eastern culture, sharing a meal expressed acceptance, friendship, and relationship.
Like in Capernaum, the Pharisees saw Yeshua hanging out with sinners and it was scandalous. A picture of the future church.
1] The parable of the sheep
So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has one 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? “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 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.
So a shepherd who has a hundred sheep notices one is missing so He goes after the lost sheep, finds it and puts it on his shoulders, rejoices and calls his friends and neighbors to celebrate his find! Then Yeshua likens this parable to what happens in heaven when one sinner is repents.
2] The parable of the coins
“Or what woman, if she has ten drachmas [Greek coins] and loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? “And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost!’ “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
"ten drachmas," ten days of income. So when this woman lost one coin, that was 10% of her savings! But it’s more valuable than that.
Historically, the dowry was a necklace associated with her marriage making the loss more serious This makes sense why she would sweep the house and search it for carefully.
Ladies, it was like a wedding ring with ten diamonds but one is missing. would you not search for it?
In the same way when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the lost coin!’
So too, Yeshua likened this parable to what happens in heaven when one sinner is repents.
3] parable of two lost sons.
a] the sinning Reckless son
And He said, “A man had two sons. “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate living recklessly.
“Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. “And he was desiring to be fed with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
Note he was desiring the pods but he didn’t eat any. so too, when we reach our lowest of low and pig slop looks good, we start rethinking our past freedom that we ran from.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ‘I will rise up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you. “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’
Note he was rehearsing what he was going to say to his dad not repent...at least not yet. In that culture the father would often shun you and the town would curse you. But he was desperate to simply eat! So his plan was to plead with his father to live with his servants and be trained to work off His debt or earn his restoration. “sound familiar”?
“So he rose up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
The father broke every custom in the book. Instead of shunning his boy he was hoping for his return! But instead of walking with dignity, he lifted his robe to run showing his legs which was a shame in public!
By this time, he didn’t care - his reaction caused his son's repentance to be genuine, but his understanding of grace was incomplete. He wanted to earn his restoration just as many want to earn their salvation through works but the father had other ideas!
“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet, and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let us eat and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
A beautiful picture of grace - it would have been the father’s finest robe showing undeserved favor on his son! So too, we were in that place once, starving, destitute and dirty spiritually and when we came to the Lord, He clothed us in His righteousness!
b] the self-righteous son
“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. “And summoning one of the servants, he 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.’
The older son was the firstborn who would inherit His father’s wealth. KIM: He wasn’t working hard but as the firstborn sitting under shade watching the hired slaves working! When he heard all the music and laughter and the aroma of a BBQ he wondered “what’s going on?” So when the servant answered that his brother was back and everyone celebrating, he was livid and refused to rejoice with them!
To him, his young brother was a unthankful punk who didn’t deserve it!
“But he became angry and was not wanting 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 never have I neglected a command of yours. And yet never have you given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends.
Of course, this was a description of how the self-righteous Pharisees reacted to Yeshua when he loved sinners.
‘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, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive, and was lost and has been found.’”
Note of the similarities of each parable.
Lost until found, rejoicing, invitation of friends and neighbors to celebrate - Yeshua compares it to the joy of heaven when “one “ sinner repents!
The older brother resented the father accepting his son as they resented Yeshua.
The father's gracious reception illustrates how He welcomes sinners, yet the father's appeals to the older brother which mirror God's invitation to the religious leaders to join in the celebration of repentance.
SO IN APPLICATION -These parables speak of the character of God or the three persons of the triune God
1] The shepherd represents Yeshua, our good shepherd, Peter wrote He is the “Chief Shepherd” Hebrews calls Him the “Great Shepherd of the sheep”.
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
2] The woman speaks of the Holy Spirit who instills light in the believer, He sweeps our house, dwells in us, making us into the image of God which is the true treasure!
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, also heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
This could also apply to the bride of Christ as well for those who hear the word of God and do it! To reflect the riches of His grace and try not to misplace it!
3] The Father speaks of God who seeks us when we become reckless or religious!
Yet He lets us walk away if we insist but continues to wait for us to come to ourselves or...
He corrects our self-righteous attitude when we lack compassion for our fallen brothers and sisters when we should rejoice with them knowing all that God has we will inherit.
What they all have in common - a sheep wandered off, a woman lost something valuable but found it, two sons, one rebellious, another religious needed God’s counsel and correction
The bottom line is that God searches for sinners, finds them, saves them & rejoices when they receive him - as Chuck said “you have to try hard to go to hell”! - 2 Chron 16:9
“For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is wholly devoted to Him....
Luke 15 isn’t about the lost finding God—but God finding the lost. This is our hope.
[worship team]
I’m not sure you are: Do you feel lost? Are you wandering? Are your values misplaced? are you in rebellion or lacking compassion to sinners?
Thank the Lord, be it a repentant rebel or a religious judge who forgets what they have - we can rejoice that we can have a relationship with Him!
Take it to the table this morning
