2023.06.04.Sermon.Lost and Found
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA. GOD loves you and JESUS came to save the lost. HE would have come if there were only just one, even just for you. JESUS Loves you and rejoices in every one who turns to HIS Salvation.
In the first line of Amazing Grace (Song)
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
I remember visiting a church and they sang the line "that saved a wretch like "I used to be".
SCRIPTURES: Luke 15:3-7
1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Peter 3:14-15; Matthew 18:12-14; 1 Peter 2:10, 1 Peter 2:25; Luke 5:32; Matthew 18:11; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 50:6; Luke 19:10; Deuteronomy 31:8; Luke 15:8-10; Colossians 3:23-24
Allie Giro of the BGEA recently wrote:
Scripture tells us that God’s desire is for all to know Him (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). In the gospel of Luke Jesus teaches us through parables of the lost coin (Luke 15:8–10) and the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32), the value of individuals and that God is a pursuer of people. We are blessed that when our Good Shepherd wants to pursue another lost lamb, the 99 who are in the fold can join together to joyfully serve in the rescue effort!
Hearts are being transformed, prodigals brought home, hope is being shared! God is moving greatly through your time, ministry, guidance and evangelism to callers. Colossians 3:23-24 says Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving..
I told her that she had fueled my message for today.
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
2 Peter 3:9, 14-15
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…
2 Peter 3:9, 14-15 (NLT)
9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved…
Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
Luke 15:3-7 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
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.
Matthew 18:12-14
12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Luke 15:3-7
THE SHEEP—vs 4
We are sheep(le). You are sheep, I’m a sheep.
Sheep sometimes wander away from the flock— Isaiah 53:6 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.
Lost sheep have no place to rest— Jeremiah 50:6 “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their resting place.
We are in need of a shepherd—1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
THE SEARCH—vs 4
The shepherd leaves his flock to find the lost sheep.
Christ, as the Good Shepherd, searches for lost sheep.
That was His whole purpose in coming— Luke 19:10 …for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
He loves us like we were His only sheep.
THE SUPPORT—vs 5
The shepherd took the sheep in his arms and carried it.
Jesus will take us in His arms and carry us to safety. Just as HE opened HIS arms on the Cross of our redemption, HIS arms are always ready to carry us home.
He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us—Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
THE (S) CELEBRATION and EXALTATION—vs 5b-6
“Exaltation” = “Leaping, Dancing, Rejoicing”
The shepherd rejoiced.
The friends and neighbors rejoiced. In the parable of the LOST COIN and PRODIGAL SON, we see Exaltation and Celebration in the return of what was once lost!
THE SALVATION—vs 7
“Joy shall be in heaven”. Note in Luke 15:8-10 THE LOST COIN in verse 10. 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.”
“In the ‘Presence’ of the angels of GOD”…Not “the angels”—they don’t know the joy of salvation. Only the LOST can understand the JOY of SALVATION! Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The redeemed in heaven rejoice over a sinner that repents—a lost sheep that comes home!
Luke 15:11-32 PRODIGAL 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. 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. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
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! 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.” ’
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.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Remember what JESUS said… Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
PRAISE GOD. I was once lost, but now I'm found. I was blind, but now I see. And that my friends, is the JOY of SALVATION!
SO, we too are part of the RESCUE MISSION. THE SPIRIT of CHRIST dwells in us, and we are to carry the GOSPEL Message to our circle of influence. This is yours’ and my purpose. To take the GOOD NEWS of JESUS to the lost world, so that the darkness will flee and the LIGHT OF CHRIST will shine brightly. And we rejoice in those who come to salvation, for this is the JOY that we know and can share in the ministry that you and I have been called.
BE DILIGENT IN YOUR CALLING TO LEAD OTHERS TO CHRIST
Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV)
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Be blessed and be a blessing!
Bill
