HEAVEN’S PARTY
Luke 15:1-32
Read at beginning of service:
Psalm 96:1-3 (NIV)
1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
INTRODUCTION
Let me begin this morning by asking you a question. What really excites you in life? What things do you rejoice in? I mean, what really gets you hopping inside and running around to your friends and family and leaving them remarking, "What has gotten into him today?" Sure, there are a number of things that make us happy and bring a grin to our faces and a kick to our step – but that’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking you what makes you want to yell at the top of your lungs, "Yee haah!" What gets you so excited that everything pales in comparison?
Have you got an answer yet? Maybe the thing that really excites you in life is material in nature – something you have (a car, a boat, a house, a stereo, a computer, a collectible…etc.). Maybe what really excites you in life is personal in nature – something you do (eg. When you are in the midst of an intimate moment with your spouse, when you score that important goal for your team – whether the "team" is your family, your workplace, your sport – when you are involved in helping someone else out). Maybe what really excites you in life is spiritual in nature – something you experience (worshipping God, spending time in prayer, being part of a Bible Study, going to church, participating in spiritual discussions, having a God-encounter, seeing God answer prayer in your life or in someone else’s life). Maybe what really excites you in life is something else entirely, but now that I’ve got you thinking about what gets you excited in life I want to ask you another question. What do you think really excites God? What excites Jesus? What excites the Holy Spirit?
If I were to ask this question of each of you individually I’d probably get a number of answers – God gets excited when we do what He asks, God is excited and rejoices when we worship Him, God is excited when we kneel in prayer etc. Certainly, there is some truth in all of these things, but is this it? Is God happiest when we do what He wants? Is He happiest when we worship and praise Him? Is he happiest when we kneel in prayer?
To answer this question this morning, I’d like to go to God’s word and read to you some words of Jesus that I think best describe when He is the happiest. But before we do that let’s pray.
(Read Luke 15:1-32)
what get’s heaven excited?Now the first thing I’d like to do before we go any further is make a few observations about the passage I just read. Notice that there are two groups of people that Jesus is addressing when telling these parables. He is addressing those in one group who are well known as sinners and "outcasts", tax collectors and the like – and the other group that Jesus is speaking to is found snickering, grumbling, and muttering in the sidelines who were well known as "the good people, the righteous" otherwise known as the Pharisees and teachers of the law. It’s interesting to note that in this particular gospel, Luke often points out that these two groups are present wherever Jesus is teaching.
Another observation I’d like to make is the point made in the first verse that the first group - the sinners and tax collectors – were gathering around Jesus to hear HIM. They were interested in what He had to say – in fact, they were interested in the man himself. It seemed that wherever Jesus went, he was surrounded by those who should be repelled by Him. After all, He is the sinless Son of God. Wouldn’t sinners find themselves uncomfortable in His presence? Or rather, shouldn’t Jesus be uncomfortable in their presence? Indeed, this seems to be the opinion of the Pharisees and teachers of the law when they make the questioning remark, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (v2) or in other words, "If He is who He claims to be than why is He associating with the like of these people? They aren’t His crowd, they aren’t His type!"
It is important we keep these two groups in mind when we look at these three parables. For Jesus isn’t ignorant of who He is speaking to and neither should we be.
In response to the desire of the first group to hear Him speak and the muttering of the second group who are griping about the people He is found in the company of, Jesus tells three stories. Each story speaks of something lost and of something found. A lost sheep. A lost coin. And a lost son. And at the end of each one, Jesus describes a celebration, a party. The shepherd throws the party for the lost-now-found sheep. The woman throws a party because of the lost-now-found coin. And the father throws a party in honor of his lost-now-found son.
Three parables, each with a party. Three stories, each with the appearance of the same emotion: joy! When talking about the shepherd finding the lost sheep, Jesus says: "And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home…" (vv. 5-6). When the woman finds her lost coin, she announces, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin!" (v9). And the father of the prodigal son explains to the reluctant older brother, "…we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!" (v 32).
The point is clear. Jesus is happiest when the lost are found! For Him, no moment compares to the moment of salvation. As Max Lucado observes in his book, Just Like Jesus, "Let one child consent to be dressed in righteousness and begin the journey home and heaven pours the punch, strings the streamers, and throws the confetti." (Just Like Jesus, by Max Lucado, p. 143)
Luke 15:10 (NIV)
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
A century ago this verse caused Charles Spurgeon to write:
There are Christmas days in heaven where Christ’s high mass is kept, and Christ is not glorified because He was born in a manger but because he is born in a broken heart. And these are days when the shepherd brings home the lost sheep upon His shoulders, when the church has swept her house and found the lost piece of money, for then are these friends and neighbors called together, and they rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory over one sinner who repents.(quoted in Just Like Jesus, Max Lucado, p.143)
Why does this cause such joy in heaven? After all it isn’t as if we’re talking about a nation of people or even a city of souls; we’re talking about joy, "when one sinner repents"! How could one person create that much excitement?
Who would imagine that our actions have such an impact on heaven? We can live and die and leave no more than an obituary. Our greatest actions on earth go largely unnoticed and unrecorded. Dare we think that God is paying attention?
According to this verse, he is. According to Jesus our decisions have an impact on the unseen world. "Our actions on the keyboard of earth trigger hammers on the piano strings of heaven" (Ibid. p. 144) Let a child call and the ear of the Father inclines. Let a sister weep and tears begin to flow from above. Let a saint die and the gate is opened. And, most importantly, let a sinner repent, and every other activity ceases, and every heavenly being celebrates!
We don’t always share this excitement do we? When you hear of a soul saved, do you drop everything and celebrate? Is your good day made better or your bad day salvaged? Sure, we may be happy about it – but do we get excited? Do our chests burst with joy? Do our lungs blast out Yee haa! Do we feel the urge to throw a celebration?
"When a soul is saved, the heart of Jesus becomes the night sky on the Fourth of July, radiant with explosions of cheer." (Ibid, p. 145)
Can the same be said of us? Perhaps this is one area where our hearts could use some attention.
the reason for the rejoicing over the repentent…So Jesus made it clear what it is that excites Him. But then the question is, why? Why do Jesus and his angels rejoice over one repenting sinner? Is it because they see something we can’t? Is it because they know something we don’t? Yes, yes, and yes. You see, Christ and his angels know what we are saved to and what we are saved from. They know heaven’s heights and hell’s horrors.
When I read each parable in preparation for today I noticed that while there are similarities between each story, there are also some differences. While it is clear that Jesus is emphasizing through the telling of these stories the celebration that takes place over the lost being found – I think it is also important that each story has a different perspective on why this celebration occurs.
God is happy with those in His fold – but He is happier when more are added.The first parable is structured around the statement that Jesus makes at the end of it when He remarks that there is more rejoicing in heaven over the one sinner that repents than over the "ninety-nine" righteous persons who do not need to repent. In other words, God is happy with those in His fold – but He is happier when more are added. He isn’t satisfied to let the lost stay lost. In this story, the shepherd didn’t count over his flock and say to Himself, "Oh well, one sheep is missing, that’s okay I’ve still got ninety-nine"! NO! The shepherd looked over the flock and left the ninety nine to find the one!
When the shepherd went to look for the lost sheep it wasn’t because He was unhappy with what He had but because He would be happier with what He could have.
In the beginning to this message I remarked that we need to remember who Jesus is speaking these parables to. Do you remember? Jesus is speaking to two groups – sinners, tax collectors and Pharisees, teachers of the Law. When Jesus mentions the lost in his stories He is talking about sinners – when He talks about the righteous He is referring to the Pharisees. So Jesus starts these three stories by clearing up a misconception that the Pharisees seemed to be carrying around with them. Their idea was that God has abandoned sinners and outcasts to their own devices and is happiest with those who remain. Jesus says on the contrary, God is happy with those who obey Him and follow His laws but He is happiest when the lost are found! When the lost are returned to His flock!
Now this word, "lost" is a word that can carry so many meanings. We can lose our bearings, we can get lost on the way from A to B, or we can tell somebody to get out of our way, "Get Lost!" But in these parables the word lost is used for more than just something that has been misplaced, or something that can’t be found – especially when we know that God in His omnipotence and omniscience cannot "lose, or forget" something. No, in these parables the word lost is best illustrated by the child in the supermarket. The helpful worker comes up to the crying child and says, "Say there, why are you crying?"
"I’m lost", says the little boy, "I can’t find my Daddy!"For the little boy, "lost" means being absent from his daddy. And being lost is the worst feeling in the whole world. You know what? Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want anyone to be lost. For to be lost, is to be absent from His presence. Folks if we were to summarize the horror of hell in one phrase it would be, "God isn’t there."
Think about this question for a moment: What if God weren’t here on earth? Sure people are cruel now, but what would we be like without God’s presence? Sure we’re brutal to each other now, but imagine the world without the Holy Spirit. Oh, and yes, there is loneliness and despair and guilt in our world now, but imagine our world without the touch of Jesus. No forgiveness. No hope. No acts of kindness. No words of love. No more food given in his name. No more songs sung to his praise. No more deeds done in his honor. If God took away his angels, his grace, his promise of eternity – of life, and his servants, what would our world be like? It would be "hell".
According to Jesus hell knows only one sound, the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 22:13). From hell comes a woeful, unending moan as its inhabitants realize the opportunity they have missed. As people realize that they are forever "lost" – separated from the presence of God, of love, of joy, of peace, of security! But while on Earth those who are lost (that is don’t know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour) still have a chance to be found!
Contrary to what the Pharisees and Teachers of the law may think God does not delight in the plight of the lost.
Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV)
11 Say to them, ’As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’
Are you like the Pharisees and teachers of the law? Are you smug in your own righteousness and Christian "religion" that you are satisfied with your own relationship with God exclusive of where others may be? Let me ask you this question, when you have conversations with people who don’t know the Lord, do they see the grace of God extended through you or do they see the law? Are you happy that the people you come into contact with at work and at home are lost? Do you start muttering when "seedy" people come and attend our church? Let me challenge you friends, let Christ transform your heart, let Christ give you His eternal view of the people you come in contact with. Experience the happiest time of your life when the lost are found!
But then there may also be among us this morning who are lost. You know that you don’t have a relationship with God, you may even feel you don’t deserve it. You may feel that if there is a hell, you’re living it right now. You may feel that if there is a heaven it is only for someone other than yourself. You may feel that there is no way that what has happened in your life could ever be forgiven. Friend, you are lost – but God will be happiest when you are found. And better yet HE IS SEARCHING FOR YOU!
God is "sweeping the house" and searching for that which is valuable to Him.
In the next parable, Jesus repeats what He already illustrated by the first parable, that there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents. But in His second story, Christ emphasizes the thoroughness of the search for this sinner! In the same manner as the woman swept through the house to find her lost coin, God is sweeping His house to find the lost soul.
Every single person is valuable to Him and that is why God doesn’t want anyone to remain lost. There isn’t a nook or cranny or high or low place that will hide us from the searching sweep of God’s Spirit.
Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
God isn’t satisfied to let the lost stay lost and He is actively searching them out – seeking to draw them into His presence!
So, some of you may find yourselves here to day and not quite knowing why you are here. Let me encourage you, God’s Spirit has drawn you here. He wants you to know that you are valuable – to valuable to be lost – He wants to find you and there is no where you can run to or hide in that will keep you from His searching spirit. Only death will separate you from that search. But then, at death – if you haven’t been found, you are lost forever. So don’t let death catch you without knowing God, without knowing Jesus, without knowing the Holy Spirit.
God’s grace and mercy is NOT limited to the faithful but unlimited for the repentant!
No doubt by this point in Jesus’ parables the Pharisee’s and teachers of the law are starting to feel a little bit uncomfortable. But Jesus wasn’t done yet. In His final parable on the subject, Jesus gets more personal and drives the point home to both groups gathered before Him that day. Jesus begins the parable that leaves the hearer with no doubt that Jesus knows who He is speaking to, "…There was a man who had two sons" (v11). One son demanded his share of his inheritance from his father and squanders everything he is given in a distant country. Finding himself in the midst of a famine and poverty the son realizes he is lost – "How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you…" With this realization and a repentant heart the unfaithful son returns to his father only to find when he comes in view of his home that his father is rushing out to meet him. The sinful son is embraced by his father and in the midst of his rehearsed confession is interrupted by his father’s excited shouts to his servants to bring a robe, a ring, and sandals to dress his son with. The father shouts out to the servants – "It’s time for a party – my son has returned – he was dead and now he is alive – he was LOST and now he is FOUND!"
Some of you may feel like this son. You know that your life hasn’t brought you the satisfaction that you’d like to have. No matter what you do there seems to be a famine of heart, and of mind. Like the unfaithful son you find yourself at the end of your resources and wondering if there is anything better. Yes there is! The unfaithful son remembered the resources of his father and in the same way our Heavenly Father wants us to remember His resources. Yes, He is searching out the lost, and yes, He desires that none should perish – but the final step is up to you – You must be willing to be found! You must be willing to come before God and acknowledge you sin as the unfaithful son did. You must be willing to repent. You must be willing to recognize the awesome love that God had in making it possible for you to return through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus. But know this, the moment you take this step – God is watching and waiting for you to do it – the moment you appear in His sight, God will rush out to you and surround you with His love, His grace and His mercy and throw a party in Heaven!!!!
Then Jesus switches our attention to the other son. This son has been faithful to his father. He has not disobeyed his father’s wishes nor has he squandered His father’s riches. When he hears the noise of celebration in his house he investigates and finds that his unfaithful brother has returned. Filled with anger he runs to his father and complains about the injustice of the treatment his brother is receiving.
The father’s reply is pointed,
Luke 15:31-32 (NIV)
31 "’My son,’ the father said, ’you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
Come on son, rejoice – for your brother is home! Rejoice for my son has returned to the land of the living! Rejoice for he was lost and has been found!
Christian friends. Do you get excited about what God gets excited about? Do you get excited when the lost are found? Or are there other things that grab your attention?
When you come in contact with people do you wonder if their lost? Or maybe you know of someone who is lost but are sure that there is no way they could ever know God or even that they deserve it. When a new person comes into the church do you place them in categories with different colored marker flags indicating their compatibility with your personality? Is he rich? Is she pretty? What work does he do? What color is her skin? Does she have a college degree? Do they have a good background? Any kids? Does he smoke? Does she drink? Is he disabled? Is she gay? Are they living together?
Friends God has only two categories for people, Lost or Found, Dead or Alive, Doomed or Saved, heaven called or hell bound (Mark 16:15-16).
To have a heart like Christ is to look into the faces of the saved and rejoice! They are just one grave away from being just like Jesus. To have a heart like his is to look into the faces of the lost and pray. For unless they turn, they are one grave away from torment.
C.S. Lewis stated it this way:
It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as now you meet only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or the other of these destinations.
(quoted in Just Like Jesus, Max Lucado, p. 149)
Here me this morning, this is the third and final point Jesus emphasizes through these parables. God’s grace and mercy is not limited to the faithful but unlimited for the repentant.
CONCLUSION
My challenge to you this morning is simple. Ask God to help you have his eternal view of the world. Ask God to supernaturally transform your heart so that you get excited about what He gets excited about. Realize that every single person is extended an invitation to dinner with Him – when someone says yes, celebrate! When another seems slow in replying, pray, and encourage, and stir them up. Don’t let the lost stay lost, don’t let the dead stay dead.
This sermon was preached by Darren Ethier at Hanover Pentecostal Church on March 4, 2001. This message is Part 9 of the sermon series: Supernatural Transformation. It is recommended that the book, Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado be read as it served as the inspiration for much of this series. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1873, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
