Sermon Central
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Jesus Finds Lost Things! (The Lost Son) Series
Contributed by Tony Searles on Feb 15, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the third of a three part sermon series I preached during our Month of Missions emphasis. In this particular sermon we considered how the son represents those who willingly and knowingly wander away from God.
MAIN TEXT - Luke 15:11-32
Over the last couple weeks I have attempted to make a case for us to develop a HEART for MISSIONS – especially here in our “Month of Missions!”
In that, I have made it expressly clear that it is all about having a heart that reflects God’s heart!
-Because He is our goal and desire – and we must want to be like Him!
*To have the same passions and desires that He does…
*That, primarily, is to love and reach those who don’t know Him!
THAT, after all, is the meaning of Missions!
→To make an organized effort for the propagation of the Gospel!
And remember!
That is one of the primary reasons why Jesus came to us in the first place!
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
-Jesus came to spread the Gospel by SEEKING & SAVING the LOST!!
-These are the Lost Sheep, Lost Coins and the Prodigals!!
→Now, as we have read through Luke 15 together, it has become evident to us that God’s heart is for people; and therefore, His heart is for MISSIONS because He loves the LOST and He is always active in finding the lost all over the earth!
However, we have a part to play in this Great Commission!
-We don’t just rest in the fact that there are Missionaries…
In fact, just in the Assemblies of God alone, we have 2,098 appointed missionaries and 615 missionary associates in 248 countries/territories who are committed to reach all people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ – especially unreached people groups!
Church…there is a role that each of us have as well! Because they can’t do this alone!
→We are responsible to PRAY for these Missionaries and their ministry.
→We need to GIVE in order to FINANCIALLY SUPPORT them in the work they do.
→And as the Lord would enable you, you may even need to GO on a Missions Trip to PARTICIPATE in the work around the world!
→In particular, we are ALL responsible to GO to our world right here around us and reach people for Jesus…
*So, let’s make these a part of our Hearts for Missions!
• Why?
→Because JESUS FINDS LOST THINGS!!
Jesus is proving that statement to us through His words in Luke 15!
-That He is still a seeking Savior today!! Amen!!
Jesus took time to make this clear to the critical and accusing religious crowd who confronted Him here…
-He shows them His heart as He talked about the foolish lost sheep that the shepherd chases after to find.
-He reveals the heart of the Spirit when He talked of the woman who swept through the house to find one lost coin that had unknowingly dropped to the floor.
And Jesus could have stopped there, and we would have gotten the point – that He finds lost things!!! But JESUS DOESN’T STOP THERE…
And we could also be tempted to think that Jesus was just repeating Himself…
-But there was one more aspect to consider when we think of lost things...
-Primarily because these things were each lost for entirely different reasons!
1. It’s not just about the thing that foolishly walked away…
2. Nor is it only about the thing that was lost because life took its toll on it…
3. But, there are also some that have run away because of outright rebellion!
→Yet! God still loves them too!!!
JESUS FINDS ALL LOST THINGS!!!
→So, this morning, we are going to hear the Father’s heart as Jesus tells us about the prodigal who took off out of blatant rebellion!
-As well as how God is waiting for the prodigals to return to Him for grace and forgiveness!!
So, let’s be reminded, and challenged, once again Church…
“JESUS FINDS LOST THINGS!”
…Even the Prodigal Son…
STAND & READ - Luke 15:11-24
And He said, "A man had two sons. 12 "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. 13 "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."' 20 "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly 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 fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.
