Lost & Found

Luke 15:1–13 NKJV

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

(NIV)

(NIV)

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

There was an incident in Newton Falls where a boy was left home alone.

So as Children do, he wandered off. He wandered to the front door.

Then he wandered outside in the front yard.

Then he wandered onto the sidewalk. Then he wandered down the street.

Then wandered down another street.

He did this until he realized that he didn’t know where he was and didn’t know how to get home. He was lost! Now, if you have ever been lost, then you know how scary and terrifying it can be or if you lost something that you considered valuable then that can be just as much scary and terrifying.

Now, if you have ever been lost, then you know how scary and terrifying it can be or if you lost something that you considered valuable then that can be just as much scary and terrifying.

In this chapter we have three parables, representing three conditions of the lost, and showing three persons seeking the lost. These parables were spoken to the Pharisees and Scribes, who murmured, saying, “This man hangs out with sinners.” We observe this...

Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII Three Aspects of Salvation (Luke 15)

In this chapter we have three parables, representing three conditions of the lost, and showing three persons seeking the lost. These parables were spoken to the Pharisees and Scribes, who murmured, saying, “This man receiveth sinners.” They show the kind of sinners He does receive, and how He does receive them. We observe—

I. A Threefold Aspect of the Lost. The—

1. LOST SHEEP—representing those who are lost to safety. Outside the fold means outside the count. There were ninety and nine—the lost one was not counted. The lost sheep was in danger, exposed and helpless, typical of those who are thoughtlessly lost, unconscious of their condition.

2. LOST MONEY—representing those lost to usefulness. As long as this piece of silver was lost, it was unfit to be used—good for nothing. It was not lost out in the desert, but in the house. It is possible to be in the house of God and yet lost to usefulness, like the Scribes and Pharisees, to whom these words were spoken. It is possible to have a saved soul and yet have a lost life. To be out of the hand of Him to whom we belong as redeemed ones, is to be in a condition of uselessness. When a piece of money is lost it is not only the base metal that’s lost, but all the good that money might do.

3. LOST SON—representing lost fellowship. Out of communion with the Father: a condition of degradation and dishonour brought about by a deliberate choice and wilful separation from His presence. Thus is the backslider lost to fellowship with God through his love of the world.

II. A Threefold Salvation. In these three parables we may see the desires and longings of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit toward the lost ones.

1. THE SHEPHERD SEEKS THE LOST SHEEP TO SAVE IT. Here we have the work of the Son revealed. He goes after the lost, leaving His all behind, in order that He might find it. At great sacrifice He seeks to save.

2. THE WOMAN SEEKS THE LOST SILVER TO USE IT. This suggests the mission of the Holy Spirit. The money is lost in the house. She lights a candle and sweeps the house. Dust and darkness usually are the causes why the Holy Ghost cannot get hold of our lives to use them. The light of the truth has to be brought from without, and the dust of inward corruption stirred up within, that confession and surrender may be made. The unsaved one has just to be outside the fold to be a lost soul; the saved one has just to be outside the control and touch of the Holy Spirit to be a lost life. He, like this woman, seeks to save those lost to a life of service for God.

3. THE FATHER SEEKS HIS LOST SON TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. The Father does not go forth to seek; He waits and longs for the coming prodigal. The loss of love is a great loss. He calls on the backsliding ones to return, and promises healing to such. It is sad to find Christians in this terrible plight—out of fellowship with God. For such two things are needed: (1) To come to themselves. (2) To come back to their Father.

III. A Threefold Rejoicing. There is joy in Heaven over the salvation of—

1. A LOST SOUL. The value is unspeakable, the joy is never-ending.

2. A LOST SERVANT. Grieve not the Holy Spirit. Yield yourselves unto God. Ye are bought with a price.

3. A LOST SON. Love restored, and the peace and fellowship enjoyed. In this threefold salvation—the heart of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost—one heart, is made glad.

In this chapter we have three parables, representing three conditions of the lost, and showing three persons seeking the lost. These parables were spoken to the Pharisees and Scribes, who murmured, saying, “This man receiveth sinners.” They show the kind of sinners He does receive, and how He does receive them. We observe—

I. A Threefold Aspect of the Lost.

1. LOST SHEEP—representing those who are lost to safety. Outside the fold means outside the count. There were ninety nine sheep—the lost one was not counted. The lost sheep was in danger, exposed and helpless, typical of those who are lost, and are not aware of their condition. They are not aware of the sinfulness of sin, and how utterly depraved they are. This is the fallen state of man who had broken their relationship with God and the wages of sin is death....BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus! Sin is defined as missing the mark.

It is often illustrated as when someone uses a bow and arrow but misses the center of the target. Now if you know anything about archery, you know that you need to have the right stance, the right posture, because if you don’t then there will be no way that you can hit the target. That’s the same with sin. We often miss the target of Gods will because the stance and posture of our hearts aren’t aligned with Gods!

2. LOST MONEY—representing those lost to usefulness. As long as this piece of silver was lost, it was unfit to be used—good for nothing. It was not lost out in the desert, but in the house. It is possible to be in the house of God and yet lost to usefulness, like the Scribes and Pharisees, to whom this was addressed too. To be out of the hand of Him to whom we belong as redeemed ones, is to be in a condition of uselessness. It is to be out of the will of God. When a piece of money is lost it is not only the coin or paper that is lost, but all the good and its intended purpose is also lost. In other words, it’s not doing what it was created to do! Have you lost your intended purpose, your usefulness for the kingdom of God? Most of the time that isn’t something that happens over night. It’s a slow fade. Such as a coin that slowely fades out over time until it can’t be recognized as what it once was...

3. LOST SON—representing lost fellowship and being out of communion with the Father: a condition of decline and dishonour brought about by a deliberate choice and wilful separation from His presence. This is a picture of the backslider who is lost and no longer has fellowship with the father because they are in an affair with the world. For light cannot have fellowship with darkness and darkness cannot have fellowship with the light. It always start with a choice and ends with Satan choking out the Word of God in your life. It starts with you

II. A Threefold Salvation. In these three parables we see the desires and longings of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit toward the lost.

1. THE SHEPHERD SEEKS THE LOST SHEEP TO SAVE THEM. Here we have the work of the Son revealed. He goes after the lost, leaving His all behind, in order that He might find them. In His prevenient grace he tears down all the walls and strongholds in our minds and hearts to reveal the great love He has for us. He leaves the sheep-pen of safety and enters the diabolical devices and destruction present in the world that he may save the one who strayed away.

2. THE WOMAN SEEKS THE LOST SILVER TO USE IT. This suggests the mission of the Holy Spirit. The money is lost in the house. She lights a candle and sweeps the house. Dust and darkness usually are the causes why the Holy Ghost cannot get hold of our lives to use them. The light of the truth has to be brought and revealed to us in our darkness, and the dust of inward corruption stirred up within, that confession and surrender may be made. The unsaved has to be just outside the fold to be a lost soul; the saved has just to be outside the control and touch of the Holy Spirit to be a lost life. He, like this woman, seeks to save those lost. We are to work out our own salvation from what the Holy Spirit has worked with in!

3. THE FATHER SEEKS HIS LOST SON TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. The Father is patient with us; He waits and longs for the coming prodigal. The loss of a loved one, is a great loss. The Father calls on the backsliding ones to return, and promises healing and deliverance.

It’s sad to find Christians in this terrible condition—out of fellowship with God. There isn’t a more depressing state to be in then a Christian who is out of fellowship with the father and is dinning at the table of the devil!

III. A Threefold Rejoicing. There is joy in Heaven over the salvation of—

1. A LOST SOUL. Their value is unspeakable, the joy is never-ending. We matter to God and he cares for us like no one else. People will come and go. Our family passes away, friends betray us, people leave us but, God will not forsake us. He is the one constant in our lives!

2. A LOST SERVANT. -We are told not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Every time we do, His voice just gets quieter and quieter until we are just numb to His voice and can no longer hear Him.

3. A LOST SON. We see a broken life restored. Peace and fellowship with the father enjoyed. Angels and singing because of Christs redeeming love!

IIII. APPLICATION

Do you have a desire to see the lost saved? Do you enjoy a sweet fellowship with the Lord and dine at His table daily? Maybe you are like that lost servant who has lost what was valuable to them. For the backslider, that’s A vibrant, living faith that enjoys God’s presence. God is beckoning you, to come home!

What if we remembered how valuable we are to God again and knew the depths He took to reach us. May we rejoice in Him and His salvation as we see our sinful estate and how Jesus purchased us with His own blood! May we grasp how wide, how long and deep the love of Christ is for us!