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THE
MEANING OF LOST Introduction: Luke 15 is God's Lost and Found Department. This chapter contains three parables which illustrate God's love and concern for the lost. Though this story is familiar I believe we can learn some valuable lessons from it. This is a story about being lost. Notice first that the parable teaches us about..... I. THE CONDITION OF THE LOST The shepherd had 100 sheep but one of them was lost. The parable teaches that lost people are like lost sheep. There are certain things about sheep that teach us about being lost. For God's word says..."All we like have gone astray” (Isa. 53:6). "For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd and the bishop of your souls" (I Pet. 2:25). A person who does not know Jesus could not be more accurately portrayed than in the picture of the lost sheep. For example: A. Sheep Have Little Awareness Men are able to train all kinds of animals but you will never see a trained sheep. Spiritually the lost man is dense and unaware of his lostness. He may be intelligent in many areas. He may have many degrees. He may be able to speak in several languages and converse about science and foreign policy, but when it comes to spiritual things the lost individual is spiritually illiterate. Paul said that, "... the natural man received not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:14). Paul also said that in the last days men would be, "Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (II Tim. 3:7). B. Sheep Are Aimless. They don't mean to get lost...they wander away from the safety of the fold and out of the shepherds care. That is a picture of those that are lost. People don't aim to be lost…but they are because they are naturally drawn to taste of the devils grass. And without any sense of spiritual direction they wander aimlessly into more and more sin. C. Sheep Are At Risk. Other animals have some means of defense. A dog can bite. A rabbit can run. A cat can scratch and claw, but a sheep is helpless against its enemies. Lost individuals have no defense against the devil. He constantly is on the prowl looking to destroy his prey. (Illus: that’s why you can’t stop sinning). The only hope a sheep has is the shepherd. So the lost sheep helps us to understand the condition of the lost. This is a story about being lost. This is also a story about being sought!
II. THE COMPASSION OF THE LORD (VV.4-7) The shepherd in this story of course is Jesus. David said, "The Lord is my Shepherd" (Ps. 23:1). Jesus said, "I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (Jn.10:11). In this parable we see what Jesus did in order to find the lost sheep. A.
The
Shepherd’s Care (v.4) Do you
see the picture? The shepherd begins to count his sheep and one is
missing. He should have had 100 but he had only 99. So what's the big
deal? Why would the shepherd care so? It is not because the sheep is so
valuable. The Shepherd cares because He loves the sheep. He cares for lost
souls and seeks after them. Two thousand years ago when Jesus left heaven
and came to this earth to die on B. The Shepherd’s Concern (v.4) Verse 4 gives us a picture of a searching shepherd. He is persistent He’s still looking for lost sheep today. Remember Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus went after...Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, and the woman at the well. We too must go after those around us who are lost. What if no one had ever cared about you? This is a story about being lost; about being sought; and it’s a story about being found! C. The Shepherd’s Celebration (vv.5-7) · The shepherd doesn’t scold the sheep He just finds it and puts it on His shoulders. All that is required to be saved is to repent and trust Jesus, and then Jesus will do the rest. (Illus: picture of security (He’s holding on to me). · This is not just a story about being lost, being sought, and being found; it is a story about being happy. We need a dose of happiness in the church today. · The shepherd puts that sheep on His shoulders and rejoices. The sheep was happy, the shepherd was happy, the friends of the shepherd were happy, even heaven is happy (vv.7 & 10) Nothing will keep the church rejoicing and celebrating like seeing people come to know the Savior. Let's do our part to see the celebration continues over and over again.
Conclusion: Perhaps today you realize that you need Jesus to be your shepherd. Why not trust Him as your Savior right now? Don't delay. |