OPPORTUNITIES? NEVER FORGET THE BURDEN FOR THE LOST
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Genesis 48 is known as the BRIDAL SEARCH chapter. Psalms 51 is known as the REPENTANCE chapter. I Corinthians 13 is known as the LOVE CHAPTER. Hebrews 11 is known as the FAITH CHAPTER. Come let us look at Luke 15 it is known as the LOST CHAPTER.
Many had been talking negative about Jesus Christ’s teachings and attitudes. The religious crowd had been so critical about Jesus’ teachings and attitudes toward the “LOST.” Seems the Levites and the Priest had lost something along their journey. They were so busy doing their “religious duties” they forgot their burden for lost people. 1. JESUS’ HAD A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON FOR ALL TO HEAR: JESUS LOVES THE LOST. 2. JESUS REMINDS US: THERE IS GREAT JOY WHEN THE LOST ARE FOUND.
INTERRUPTIONS? DIVINE INTERRUPTIONS? IS THIS INTERRUPTION AN INTERRUPTION OR AN OPPORTUNITY? FORGIVE ME FOR MENTIONING THIS AGAIN, BUT HURT CAN CAUSE US TO LOSE SIGHT OF OUR GOAL.
There was a very exciting football game: THE ROSE BOWL 1929. There was a center playing that day. He never got to carry the ball, he was the center. His name was ROY REIGELS. He recovered a fumble and ran 69 yards to score a touchdown for the other team… they lost the game by one touchdown. Roy cried for days. He was known for over 50 years as WRONG WAY ROY. How could the young man do that? EASY, HE WAS HIT SO HARD, HE WAS HURT… HE LOST SIGHT OF THE GOAL? LET ME TELL YOU WRONG WAY ROY MADE THE ALL AMERICAN TEAM THE NEXT YEAR. His failure made him a better player.
THE CHALLENGE: This interruption, this trial, this pain, this hurt, this set back, this distraction could be LAUNCHING OUT IN THE DEEP TO SEE GOD’S HURTING PEOPLE.
Proverbs 4:25 (MSG) Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. 26 Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
WILL OUR LOVE CAUSE US TO LEAVE THE COMFORT ZONE OF THE 99 FOR ONE?
JESUS CARRIES THE LOST SHEEP ON HIS SHOULDERS!
Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
NOTE: WHAT TOUCHES HEAVEN? GOD AND ALL OF HEAVEN REJOICE MORE OVER THE FINDING OF THE ONE LOST SHEEP THAT HAS WANDERED AWAY FROM THE FLOCK AND HAS BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE FLOCK. YES! BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE LITTLE SHEEP IS IN GRAVE DANGER AWAY FROM THE SHEPHERDS WATCHFUL EYE.
It is God’s desire that not one shall be lost. NO NOT ONE. We must understand we must LOVE the lost, weaker and wayward sheep as much as the biggest, smartest sheep in the flock. The GOOD SHEPHERD LOVES THE LOST SHEEP. Jesus plays no favorites.
PROBABLY THE SHEEP THAT NEEDS YOUR LOVE THE MOST DESERVES IT THE LEAST. LOVE THEM ANYWAY!
MOTHER TERESA PENNED THESE POWERFUL WORDS
LOVE THEM ANY WAY!
PEOPLE ARE ILLOGICAL, UNREASONABLE, AND SELF CENTERED.
FORGIVE THEM, LOVE THEM ANYWAY
IF YOU ARE KIND, PEOPLE MAY ACCUSE YOU OF ULTERIOR MOTIVES.
BE KIND ANYWAY.
IF YOU ARE HONEST, PEOPLE MAY CHEAT YOU.
BE HONEST ANYWAY.
IF YOU FIND HAPPINESS, PEOPLE MAY BE JEALOUS.
BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY, MAY BE FORGOTTEN TOMORROW.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE AND IT MAY NEVER BE ENOUGH.
GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.
FOR YOU SEE, IN THE END, IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD.
IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.
GIVE YOURSELF FULLY TO GOD.
HE WILL USE YOU TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS
ON THE CONDITION THAT YOU BELIEVE MUCH MORE IN HIS LOVE
THAN YOUR WEAKNESS.
A SACRIFICE TO BE REAL MUST COST!
MUST HURT! AND MUST EMPTY OURSELVES.
GIVE YOURSELF FULLY TO GOD AND TO OTHERS.
GOD WILL USE YOU TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS ON THE CONDITION
THAT YOU BELIEVE MUCH MORE IN HIS LOVE
THAN IN YOUR WEAKNESS.
IT’S NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU DO,
BUT HOW MUCH LOVE YOU PUT INTO
WHAT YOU DO THAT COUNTS.
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD,
GO HOME AND LOVE YOUR FAMILY!
I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU LOVE UNTIL IT HURTS,
THERE CAN BE NO MORE HURT,
ONLY MORE LOVE!
THE LOST COIN? THE COIN THIS LADY LOST WAS A SILVER COIN. THE 10 COINS PROBABLY WERE THE LADY’S SAVINGS FOR HER DOWRY. THE GRADUALNESS OF LIFE HID THE BUILD UP OF DUST AND DIRT.
Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
NOTE: JOY COMES TO HER AND HER NEIGHBORS. The lamp, the light suggest the word of God
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
THE NEXT STORY OF THE LOST IS OFTEN MISIDENTIFIED AS THE STORY OF THE LOST SON OR THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON. NOT TRUE. THIS STORY IS A STORY OF TWO SONS… SAD HAPPY? HAPPY SAD? JOY? TEARS?
Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
The younger son says 4 words: 1. GIVE ME! When he comes home he says: 2. MAKE ME… Life experience has changed the YOUNG MAN’S ATTITUDES.
The younger son had to see where he was, HE HAD TO ACKNOWLEDGE… THE LIGHT CAME ON…
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
What Is your problem? Don’t say I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM… HOLY SPIRIT EXPOSE THE PROBLEM. Admit the pig pen stinks and at my Father’s house there is JOY. The young man woke up, he repented--- HE CHANGED HIS HEART AND HIS ATTITUDES. We know the LOST IN THE PIG PEN…
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
CAN YOU HEAR THE JOY?
Luke 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
TRIANGULATION: GOSSIP… HE DOES NOT TALK TO THE FATHER.
Luke 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
THE OLDER BROTHER IS MISSING THE FELLOWSHIP? ANGER AND BITTERNESS, JEALOUSY? WORRY? WHO IS THE FAVORITE?
Luke 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
GET REAL? LIAR, LIAR, SELFISHNESS? SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS? ANGER? THROW UP THE PAST?
Luke 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
You ever seen a perfect child? I never talked back? Get real? Where did you eat every day? On the holidays?
Luke 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR ANGER TO BOIL AND MISS THE GIFTS?
1. THE GIFT OF THE BEST ROBE. The covering of the Father, Protection.
2. THE GIFT OF THE RING ON HIS FINGER: authority, Pharaoh put ring on Joseph.
3. THE GIFT OF SHOES ON HIS FEET, slaves never wore shoes. The son was accepted home as a son. Shoes represent power.
4. THE GIFT OF THE FATTED CALF.
CONCLUSION: THE PRODIGAL SON WAS RELEASED FROM HIS BONDAGE BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE FATHER. The Father refused to allow the older brother’s reaction to ruin the party.
Luke 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
DO WE HAVE A PLAN TO REACH THE LOST AND FIND JOY?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
We will lose our joy unless we reach the lost? 6/24/20
