Lost And Found
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Intro
Intro
Text - Luke 15
Title - Lost and Found
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
4 “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?
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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 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.
8 “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?
9 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!’
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
Background
Background
why the 3 parables in Luke 15 are important
why the 3 parables in Luke 15 are important
it speaks of the value of the soul in the eyes of God
it shows the joy of heaven - not material things, but people
it tells us that the primary work in the kingdom of God in the present time can be summed up in these words - to find or save that which was lost
11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Jesus also spoke of “other sheep” of His
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Paul speaks of the gathering together of all things in Christ
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
Finding the Lost Sheep
Finding the Lost Sheep
4 “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?
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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 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.
The Shepherd - Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
The Sheep - Us, the sinners
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The primary work of Christ is “saving the lost”
The primary work of Christ is “saving the lost”
saving - that’s He is “Savior”, and His name means “Jahweh is Salvation”
the lost -
the sinners that need saving
especifically, the people of God that need saving
The “saving work” of Christ is limited to the “lost people” of God
The “saving work” of Christ is limited to the “lost people” of God
not every sheep in the wilderness belong to Christ
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
Evangelism is Christ reaching out to the world to save God’s people
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Jesus sent His disciples to preach and save
Evangelism is Christ saving the lost through His church
The Church must continue - even intensify - evangelism
The Church must continue - even intensify - evangelism
this is the work that is closest to the heart of God
when the church is evangelizing, Christ is most active
every time we save a lost sheep, we bring rejoicing to heaven!
7 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.
Finding the Lost Coin
Finding the Lost Coin
8 “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?
9 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!’
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
the woman - the church
the silver coins
drachma, usually arranged lke a garland and worn by married women
silver - redemption money
God’s redeemed people
The lost coin symbolize the redeemed people of God who are NOT in their proper place
The lost coin symbolize the redeemed people of God who are NOT in their proper place
they are already “redeemed”
they are not lost in the world, only in the house
Example - the Corinthian church
there is no other in their meetings
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
they do not discern the Lord’s body
29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
The Church must put her house in order!
The Church must put her house in order!
when a house is cluttered many things are missing!
the things that often lost are the least, but important items in the house
Paul set the churches in order
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—
The Church must keep/continue cleaning the house
The Church must keep/continue cleaning the house
house cleaning is a never ending job
UNTIL the lost is found!
A swept house finds the lost in the right place
When the people are in the right place - the church rejoices and the heaven rejoices with her!
Finding the Lost Son
Finding the Lost Son
11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
12 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.
13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
the father - our loving God
the lost son - the backsliding child of God
The Backslider
The Backslider
used most often in O.T. for Israel
it means to fall away; to be faithless; to be rebellious; to disloyal; to turn away or turn back;
a backslider is a person whose passion and desire for spiritual things is waning (humuhupa) and finds excitement in earthly or worldly activities.
a backslider is one who becomes unfaithful to His relationship or covenant with God
Why the prodigal son is lost
Why the prodigal son is lost
he claims his blessings from God and uses wastes them in wordly living
he goes away from the presence of the Father
13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
he finds enjoyment in worldly activities
he fills his for God, but fills it with bad company and sinful pleasure
14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
How the lost son is found -
How the lost son is found -
the Father does nothing but wait
the lost son must come to himself
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
come to oneself - is to realize what is truly happening in one’s life
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
The backsliding Christian must “find” himself
The backsliding Christian must “find” himself
that he is living outside of God’s presence and will
that is famishing from lack of God’s word
that he must humble himself before God and His people - unworthy of sonship and yet desires to remain in the presence of God
The arms of God are wide open to the backslider who comes to himself!
The arms of God are wide open to the backslider who comes to himself!
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
God’s words to backsliding Israel
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not remain angry forever.
13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the Lord your God, And have scattered your charms To alien deities under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord.
14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
22 “Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.” “Indeed we do come to You, For You are the Lord our God.
Note - 2 types of backsliding
the other one - those who never come back to God; apostasy
this one - speaks of God’s children - they will return to God!
Conclusion
Conclusion
The Church is in the ministry of “finding the lost”
The Church is in the ministry of “finding the lost”
evangelism - to find the lost sheep
church cleaning - to put the people God in the right places
coming to oneself - recognizing our personal standing before God;
Make the reason of your rejoicing the souls that are found!
Make the reason of your rejoicing the souls that are found!
rejoice when souls are saved and converted!
rejoice when God’s people find their place in the house of God!
rejoice when a backslider comes home!
SONG