Why God Searches for Us?
Luke 15:1-10
INTRODUCTION
A. The game of Hide and Seek.
B. The example of deer hunting in the Low Country and how the dogs pursued the deer (also other sports where dog are used to run animals).
C. The diligent pursuit American and other countries made for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan because of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
D. Man walking along an isolated road and heard crying sound.
1. Looked underneath a bridge and saw a puppy in the mud.
2. Gash on the head and covered in mud.
3. Legs were swollen, had been bound with cords.
4. As he approached the dog began to snarl and growl.
5. Sat down and started talking to the dog.
6. Dog stopped growling and let him touch him.
7. Unwrapped the cords and carried him home, cared for its wounds and fed him.
8. Dog continued to snarl every time he approached.
9. Weeks went by and one day the dog wagged his tail instead of growling.
E. White Fang by Jack London.
1. He was misused and abused.
2. Used in fighting until a young man won his love.
F. Adam and Eve in the garden.
1. Sinned by doing what God told them not to and hid.
2. God said, “Where are you?”
3. Not a geographical question but a spiritual one.
G. Consider the following profound statements.
1. God loves me just as I am but he refuses to leave me where I am.
2. Nothing I do, whether good or bad, will make God love me more than he does right now.
3. I am a unique creation and God wants a relationship with me.
H. These two stories along with that of the prodigal son are very familiar.
1. Been called the gospel within the gospel.
2. Tells about the nature of God.
3. Some suggest the shepherd is Jesus, the woman is the Spirit and the Father is God.
4. No one can come to God unless he works in their life.
I. Before we judge Christians who spend time with lost folks, listen to what led to these stories.
1. “Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came (tense speaks of continuous action) to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people-even eating with them!"
2. Lived immoral lives, dishonorable occupations, neglected the sacred religious traditions, no money entrusted to them, couldn’t give testimony, couldn’t be trusted with secrets, couldn’t be guardians of orphans, couldn’t be trusted with charitable funds, shouldn’t be a guest of such people.
3. Religious leaders were so concerned with trivia of law that they had no time for such people- couldn’t accept Jesus as the Messiah because he associated with such people.
4. Jesus jeopardized his reputation among the church community by whom he associated with, “A man is known by the company he keeps.”
5. Reggie McNeal, one-time director of the Leadership Development Department of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, said at the 2001 state Convention that we need to get out of the church and spend time with lost people.
HE SEARCHES BECAUSE SOMETHING IS LOST
A. Shepherd who had 100 sheep but lost one.
1. Familiar scenario.
2. Grazing land was often scarce and sheep grazed on narrow plateaus bordered by steep cliffs.
3. Shepherd had to keep track of the sheep.
4. If one was lost or killed by a wild animal, he had to bring back the hide.
5. Sheep can graze and just wander off.
6. Will lie down helplessly when it discovers it is lost.
B. Woman who lost a coin.
1. Had ten silver coins.
2. One represented a day’s wage for a common laborer.
3. Many lived on the edge of poverty, might not be able to feed her family.
4. Might have been part of a headdress that married women wore.
5. Not to be removed even during sleep.
C. The something that is lost is humanity.
1. Isaiah, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way.” (Isaiah 53:6)
2. Paul, “There is none righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10)
D. Every person is under the condemnation of sin.
1. Lost and without hope apart from God.
2. All of humanity was represented in Adam and when he sinned we inherited his sin nature.
3. All we have to do is observe to know this is true.
E. Repentance is our only hope.
1. Believe in what Christ has done on Calvary.
2. Confess and repent of our sins.
3. Christ is the Savior of those who do but the Judge of those who refuse.
F. The woman and shepherd represent the search of God because something is lost.
GOD SEACHES BECAUSE WE NEED DELIVERANCE FROM OUR SINS
A. Man not satisfied until the 1 sheep was found.
1. Flocks averaged between 20 and 200.
2. Discovered the missing when counting them as they returned to the fold.
3. Left the 99 and looked for the one.
4. Expert trackers.
5. When found, threw over his shoulders.
B. Woman also makes an anxious search.
1. Probably lived in a peasant’s home.
2. Low door and small circular window.
3. Let in a minimal amount of light.
4. Light a candle to make the search.
5. Swept the house, like looking for a needle in a haystack.
C. God takes the initiative in salvation.
1. Jesus, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (through the Spirit) (John 6:44)
2. The search is through conviction (little voice that tells us we are doing wrong).
3. Paul shows the process of salvation, “And whom God predestined, he also called, and whom he called he also justified, and whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29)
4. So great was God’s love and so great was our need that he sent his only Son.
D. We as believers are the instruments he uses in his search.
1. We must confront people with God’s love.
2. Commissioned to carry the gospel to all people.
3. Leave our comforts and venture to the uncomfortable.
4. Live to touch those he died for.
5. We serve him by serving others.
6. Baptize ourselves into the social, political, and economic aspects of our world because Jesus is Lord of those too.
7. The world is the proving ground for what we profess to believe.
WANTS TO BRING CELEBRATION TO HEAVEN
A. One who found the sheep rejoiced.
1. Called friends and neighbors for a celebration.
2. Many of the flocks were owned jointly.
3. “Takes a village to raise a sheep.”
B. Same with the woman who found the coin.
1. Called friends and neighbors to rejoice.
2. Could now buy food for her family.
C. Jesus’ conclusion, “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.” Again, “I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
D. We too must rejoice when people repent, not grumble as they did when Jesus hung around with the wrong crowd.
CONCLUSION
A. 1921, Lewis Lawes became warden at Sing Sing prison.
1. Toughest prison but when he retired 20 years later it was a humanitarian institution.
2. When asked about the transformation, he said, “I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Catherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”
3. Young mother with three small children when he became warden.
4. Warned not to go inside but she did and took her kids.
5. Attitude, “My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry.”
6. Got acquainted with the men and their records.
7. Taught one blind prisoner to read Braille.
8. Learned sign language to communicate with one deaf-mute.
9. Killed in a car accident.
10. Next morning Lewis didn’t come to work and inmates knew something was wrong.
11. Next morning her body was resting in casket three quarters a mile from prison.
12. As acting warden took his morning walk, he was shocked to see a large crowd of tough criminals gathered at the main gate.
13. Came closer and noted tears.
14. “All right, men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight.”
15. Walked to pay final respects and all returned.
B. God has such a love for us that he would send his Son all the way to Calvary.
C. God searches because something is lost, because we need deliverance from our sins and because he wants heaven to celebrate.
