Four Who Are Lost
FOUR WHO ARE LOST
LUKE 15:1-31
Introduction:
This chapter could be called the parable of lost things—there was the sheep that was lost; the coin that was lost, and the two sons that were lost. To me this is one of the most beautiful chapters in the Bible.
Look at the way it begins: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him." That tells us a lot about the Lord. It means that the outcast, the ostracized, those who had failed, realized that in Him they would find help instead of condemnation. "A friend of sinners" He liked to eat with them. So when the religious murmured because He received sinners, He told them four stories. In those stories we see who the lost are, how they became lost, and God's attitude toward them.
I. LOST THROUGH OTHER INTERESTS
a. The Lost Sheep (vs. 3-7)
i. Not necessarily a bad sheep. It no doubt loved the shepherd as much as the other sheep.
ii. The story does not imply that the sheep ran away willfully. It was out eating grass one day—ooh it was so good in that spot that the sheep forgot the shepherd and just kept drifting away.
iii. I remember the time that I became lost as a child when I was6 or 7 years of age in Houston, Texas
iv. Finally the sheep looked up and it was dark and the shepherd and the flock was out of sight.
1. That's the way a lot of people become lost. We get interested in things—even good things, and we become so absorbed that we forget to pray; we are too busy to go to church and we gradually leave God out of our lives.
2. Then one day something happens. Maybe it is sorrow or crisis, or some great need and we realize that we are not sufficient unto ourselves and we look around and say, "WHERE AM IT? HOW DID IT GET HERE? I'M LOST"
v. Not a mean sheep, but without the shepherd it had no guide. No way to turn...and I can tell you friend, that without our Shepherd, we have no way to turn.
II. LOST THROUGH IDLENESS
a. A coin was lost (vs. 8-10)
i. That doesn't mean it was once silver and now turned to copper. Though it was lost, it was still the same coin and still of value.
ii. Being lost doesn't mean a person has thrown away all of his character, principles and ideals.
iii. A lost person is not necessarily an immoral person.
iv. You can be lost as far as salvation is concerned and still live an honest, decent life.
1. There will be those at the end of the age that will say, "Lord, Lord, but will not be able to enter for the Lord will say, "depart for I never knew you”.
2. There are those who say "I am a good person, I live a good life, I don't cheat, steal...etc." I don't need the church...etc.
b. The coin was lost because it was out of circulation.
i. A coin represents service—unless it is spent it will accomplish nothing.
1. Sad stories are told about reclusive people who hide their money, afraid of banks—only to find that inflation has stolen their savings and it won't buy what it once would.
2. The story that Jesus told of the unprofitable servant who hid his one talent..."Bind the unprofitable servant. You could have at least put it in the bank to earn interest..."
3. Or the fig tree that produced no fruit. "Cut it down, it's taking up space"
ii. These represent a lot of good people who are not doing anything as far as service to God is concerned.
1. God has given to each of us at least one talent and it is up to us to seek Him and find how we can minister in His Kingdom—how we can serve Him.
iii. The highest purpose of man is to serve God.
1. If we are not using our talents for God, then we can become lost—we can be out of circulation like the coin.
c. Now the attitude of the self-righteous Pharisees would only drive this person further away.
i. The way to find this person and restore them to their rightful place in God is to show them a better way to spend their lives.
ii. The spirit of this age would draw us away from Him...think of all the activities and things we can become absorbed with...
III. LOST THROUGH DESIRES
a. The Prodigal Son (vss.11-24)
i. No doubt this was a fine young man with many promising abilities—wanted to really live his life to the fullest.
ii. Home was dull; his father's restraints irked him and he decided he could manage his own life
iii. So he heads-out on his own and the only master he listens to is his own desire. He never thinks of what he ought to do; only what he wants to do. He doesn't pray "thy will be done"; instead, "it is my life and no body can tell me what to do"
1. He declares his independence. He recognizes no laws but the ones he makes himself.
2. He has a good time (Moses "the pleasures of sin for a season."
3. As long as his money lasts, his friends last...but then.soon..Both are gone.
4. He finds out that he is not sufficient unto himself...
a. "He began to be in need”
b. He becomes a beggar and a beggar is never free.
iv. He was lost in the sense that he had become a slave.
1. He gave way to his desires until eventually his desires became his master.
2. The purveyors of alcohol never show us the finished products of their wares.
3. I can remember a time in my own life when there were things I allowed to become my master...
IV. LOST THROUGH PRIDE
a. The Elder Brother (vs. 25-31)
i. He wasn't a bad fellow.
1. As we read the story we find him in the field.hard at work. In fact, he worked right up until dinnertime.
ii. He wasn't a dead-beat or an immoral person.
1. He was no doubt honest and conscientious...probably went to church every week.
2. And yet he was just as lost as the other three, maybe more so. He was lost because he was so proud of himself. Others fell into sinful ways, but "not him"
3. "I'm as good as I need to be. I never went out and wasted my living."
4. He had no need to improve. His heart never hungered and thirsted for God. He never felt the need of bowing his knee before God.
iii. Study the lives of the true saints of God and you'll find they constantly felt the need to draw close to Him, ever seeking Him.
1. He became satisfied with himself and when he reached that point, his progress stopped. He was lost and never left the Father’s house.
SUMMARY
So there are four that are lost: The one who lost his guide; the one out of circulation, the one who became a slave to himself, and the one who was satisfied with himself.
What a beautiful picture of the love of God reaching out to each of these. the sheep, the coin, the prodigal, the elder son. The Father was grieved because the elder son chose to remain in darkness. The door was not closed against him; he just refused to go in.
V.SAVING THE LOST IS THE LORD'S BUSINESS
a. His methods
a. It was simple...he loved people. He was a likable person. He taught and inspired people. He laughed and played with little children. He loved the birds and flowers.
b. He talked to people about ordinary things in their lives...a farmer plowing his field, a woman cooking, patching clothes, etc.
c. If He were here today, he would tell stories about building airplanes, working on computers, checking groceries at the store...He might even talk about car salesmen....
d. He sought to be a friend to anyone who would let Him. Matthew, the tax collector (despised); James and John. Fishermen, Mary and Martha; housekeepers; the woman at the well...really a woman of the street.
e. He became their friends and their lives were changed!
b. It must be our business!
a. Three ways He shows us to evangelize
i. The Shepherd who went out to find the sheep:
1. Left the 99 safe in the fold...he couldn't rest as long as there was one outside
2. How many people are there lost outside that could be won if some sincere and tactful person would take the time and effort to go see them...go seek them out
3. This was Jesus' command "Go into the highways and byways and compel them to come in."
a. He didn't say "you must go to church every Sunday" (although that certainly is something we should do), but he did say, "Go out and compel them to come in
ii. THE LOST COIN HAD NOT GONE ANYWHERE
1. Though it was lost, it was still in the house. This is the second type of evangelism for the church: KEEPING-UP WITH THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE CHURCH.
2. "But you don't understand, Don...that's why we have a Pastoral staff"
3. As the young people say 'NOT' each of us has a responsibility to care for one another. "Am I my brother's keeper?" YES!
4. How many have slipped away this year because someone failed to follow the leading of the Spirit...to go see him or her. To encourage them...
iii. THIRD TYPE OF EVANGELISM REPRESENTED BY THE FATHER OF THE PRODIGAL
1. He did not go after the boy, but he kept things at home in such a way that the boy wanted to come back. In the far country. When he came to his senses he said, "Here I am starving to death...but in my father's house, I know there is food
2. There are a lot of lost sons and daughters who grew up in the Father's house who are out in a "far country". . It is the business of the church to keep the table spread with food...prepared for them when they "come to their senses
3. How important it is for the body of Christ to lay aside their petty differences...for the sake of unity and keep the spirit of unity in our midst and have the table spread when they come.
4. That is, we keep that attitude of the elder brother out of our midst...realize that we have "all sinned and come short"
5. Notice: The elder son became angry and refused to go in. "So his father went out and pleaded with him...."
CONCLUSION; in each of these three stories, Jesus deals with individuals.
It was one sheep, not a flock.
It was one coin, not a sack full,
It was two sons....
Someone said, "Winning people one at a time is the best way to win the world. In time"