The One Lost
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Introduction
Introduction
Well we made it back and friends what a week we have had, it has been a full week with high and lows, energy and exhaustion. But it was a an amazing week my friends, absolutely amazing.
I never would have imagined just how international this mission would become, but it did rather quickly.
This week we gave encountered people from different states, from the Northeast to Alaska, from Portugal, Brasil, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and France.
In my wildest dreams I would have never imagined just the impact this event has had the opportunity to be my friends...
Over the week we saw_________ people come to faith in Christ, we served in different capacities and all I can say I to God be the glory.
I will say Thank you church for sending us… we are so appreciate for the opportunity to take you on mission and carry our church name to literally the world this week.
We are blessed...
This morning I want to take you to for a few moments, as I share a thought with you about this week, I think this has summoned up this week.
Luke 15:1-7
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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.’ 7 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.
It is a beautiful passage of scripture, one that we must be reminded of at times, and I hope you will look at it again with me with an open heart and mind. Are you ready…
This is a parable of Jesus, and we know a Parable is a earthy story with a heavenly meaning. It is one of those ways that Jesus taught the people in the hopes of helping them understand the ways of God.
And this day it begins with a complaint..
So lets look at the complaint....
1. Complaint....
1. Complaint....
So many people came out to hear Jesus teach, and they were amazed at just how the taught them… I love that the Scriptures tell us that the people knew Jesus taught as one having authority, not as the religious leaders of the day.
And with all this popularity came problems. What kind of problems, well namely just one… the religious establishment was jealous of Jesus. They hated what people said about him, how the people went out to him and of course that he often put them to shame during some times of conversation.
But with all of this they Bible tells us that did only what they knew how to do… complain..
Look again at verses 1-2
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Jesus did what no one had ever done… Jesus ate, fellowshipped with those who were not very religious. Those who were just the working class, and not the ruling class and the religious leaders didn’t care for them.
He received sinners and eats with them...
You know what they forgot? The religious leaders forgot that God loves the world and the world is important. The world is God’s creation, they are all his children..
In fact when you look backward, God had commanded the nation to be a light to the nations…but they refused… they loved self and self alone..
Jesus was there on mission from God, and we know that his ultimate work would be his death on the cross
9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
9 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.
They missed that God loves the world and stands ready to forgive sin…
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God has always been calling the world back to himself and He desired that His own people herald that call… but they did not...
They were exclusive, stand offish and told the world it was them and them alone,,,
Do you know we can be guilty of doing the same?
Yes, when we fail to go, when we fail to have grace and mercy with those who have failed or had hardships in life.
The church hasn't always been seasoned with grace, love and mercy.
Now lets move to our second thought for the day.. you ready?
2. The Search....
2. The Search....
The Scriptures tell us that Jesus tells those listening a parable, and remember it is a earthly story with a heavenly meaning...
Lets look back at the story and listen again to what Jesus tells us...
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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?
Luke 15:3
For the shepherds of the day, and yes even today, one is important. The Bible tells us that the shepherd has a 100 sheep, that is a good round number but suddenly one day he discoveries that one has gone missing.
I would dare say that each day the shepherd was counting his sheep, taking inventory, probably something he did every morning as he was getting ready to lead them on to the next pasture field so they could be fed and watered for the day.
But this day a problem has been identified, there is one sheep missing, the shepherd has seen the count drop by one…
Now church let me tell you there is not one shepherd in the history of the world that has said, of well, i still have 99, that one isn’t worth going in search off… not a chance.
He gets un easy, he probably counts again to make sure he was done well. But the numbers don’t lie, one is missing.
So the search is on...
Look at that passage again..
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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?
Jesus puts that to them in the form of a question, yes they should leave all for the sake of the one… on one has ever said… its not important. Listen they are all important
And to our heavenly Father, guess what… so are each of us. amen. Every person is important.
Now drop back to verse 4 just one more time, I want you to see something important here....
4 “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?
The shepherd goes after the one that is lost until he finds it… He goes and does not stop looking, searching, hunting for the one… until… and indefinite period of time, until he finds it.
I am blessed that God came in search of me, of my wife and of out kids… So thankful that he didn;t give up on us. amen.
Let me ask you a question, have you given up on that one person. have you stopped praying, have you stopped sharing the love of Jesus, have you said they will never make that decision.....
What you say is what you believe about God, I serve a God is able to save from the uttermost the gutter-most as the old preacher used to say...
Amen....
Now just one last thought, I told you this wouldn’t be a long sermon today...
3. Rejoicing in the Find....
3. Rejoicing in the Find....
When I think about the word “find” I know there has been something “lost” I am bad for losing things… The other afternoon Jeff and I were trying to change out this piece on our motorcycles and we sat our screw driver down… and we lost it… We had to go on the search for it… and guess what… we found it.
So for something to be lost, it means that there is something to be found.
We always are thankful when we find what we are looking for…
Jesus was thankful for those around him and He was compassionate toward them...
Luke 15:
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
But I want to tell you we should be thankful when we see that a person finds what they’ve been looking for… Jesus.
But I want to tell you we should be thankful when we see that a person finds what they’ve been looking for… Jesus.
Lets return to our text....
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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.’ 7 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.
I want you to see the celebration, “when he has found it.. He lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing!… “ verse 5
There is great joy when he finds the lost sheep… why? The one was important!
Let me tell you it is so awesome to see the Lord allow us to be part of the mission this week. And we rejoice in the truth that “…some who were lost …were indeed found..”
The Bible tells us there is rejoicing in heaven when
The word rejoicing means “exuberant joy” He was happy, relieved and so excited to have finally found this one sheep
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Now think of this, the shepherd has asked the neighbor if they had seen the sheep, so when he finds it… who wouldn’t tell the neighbors.
Verse 6, look at it with me...
6 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.’
He wants all to know that the one has been found, the herd is back together, they are all safe and sound.
It makes me think that when one person repents of sin and receives Jesus in their heart… i can just see an angel saying Ole thank you Lord Jesus, there is another one… and the whole of heaven rejoices, the angels sing and give glory to God.
If heaven rejoices, we should rejoice. I tell you what, I am thankful for every person who asks Jesus into their heart....
Do you rejoice when a person receives Christ?
Do you weep and pray for those who are lost....?
You know the Bible tells us that those who sow in tears will reap joy...
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
Their will be great rejoicing…
But we must go in search in order to have the joy....
lets pray together my freinds
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Outlines on the Parables of Jesus 24. The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1–7)
The shepherd of this parable is more concerned with the one lost sheep than the ninety-nine that were safe. This speaks of evangelism—reaching and winning the lost to Christ, perhaps the most needed activity in the church. Too many Christians have little concern for the unreached and unsaved. See Mark 16:15.
I. The Complaint to Christ—vv. 1–2
A. Curiosity—v. 1. All types of people came to hear Jesus teach. Many were curious, others had special needs. Christ came to seek and save the lost (Matt. 18:11); He came not to condemn, but to convert.
B. Complaint—v. 2. Self-righteous scribes and Pharisees complained that Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus cleanses from all sin. Note:
1. God loves all people—John 3:16.
2. Jesus died for all people—2 Peter 3:9.
3. God forgives all sin—1 John 1:7, 9.
II. The Comparison by Christ—vv. 3–6
A. Parable—vv. 3–4. Who, having one hundred sheep and losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine to seek the one lost sheep? “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”—John 3:17.
B. Protection—v. 5. See the compassion of Jesus (Matt. 9:36).
C. Pleasure through saving—v. 6. The shepherd rejoices when the lost sheep is found. We too rejoice as people accept Christ. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy—Ps. 126:5. (See also John 4:36.)
III. The Conversion to Christ—v. 7
There is rejoicing in heaven when a person accepts Christ. We as Christians also rejoice.
A. God’s pardon. The new birth (John 3:1–8) changes man’s life. He is a new person in Christ—2 Cor. 5:17.
B. God’s provision. Isaiah tells of Christ’s suffering for man’s sin—Isa. 53:5–6. (See also Matt. 27.)
C. God’s plan. Christ is the way to heaven—John 14:6. There is no other way—Acts 4:12.
D. God’s power. His power cleanses from all sin—Heb. 7:25.
As we draw near to God, we will have compassion for the lost. We will be more faithful in witnessing and seeking to win the lost to Christ.
John 21