Sermon Central
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The Lost And Found Chapter
Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Apr 29, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Describing the Lostness of Mankind and the grace of the Saviour
PP0552 DATE
THE LOST AND FOUND CHAPTER!
INTRODUCTION: There are certain chapters of the Bible that are known by certain titles:
Genesis 1 - The Creation Chapter.
Exodus 12 - The Passover Chapter,
1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath Chapter.
Psalm 23 – The Shepherd Chapter.
1 Corinthians 13 - The Love Chapter.
Hebrews 11 - The Faith Chapter.
I’ll be using a portion of Chapter 16 also.
In this Lost and Found Chapter there are four possessions that are lost.
The Sheep was lost unintentionally.
The Silver was lost by the fault of another.
The Son was lost wilfully.
The Soul was lost foolishly. Chapter 16
If you are lost today it will be for one of these reasons or a combination of any of them. Remember the entire Godhead, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit are involved in your salvation.
Jesus uses the example of the shepherd going and looking for the lost sheep. That is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The woman with the candle and the broom sweeping the house is a picture of the Holy Spirit.
The father of the prodigal is a picture of God the Father.
Someone said it like this:
The Father thought it.
The Son wrought it.
The Holy Spirit brought it.
Glory to God I’ve got it.
The wages of sin are seen in each of these instances. Rom 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
James 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
The sheep finishes in the wilderness.
The silver finishes in the dark.
The son finishes in a far country.
The soul finishes in hell.
To really understand this chapter you must understand what it means to be lost. It means not to be in the hands of God, but to be totally out of God’s love and mercy.
The sheep was not in the hands of the shepherd. That is why it was lost.
The silver was not in the woman’s hands. That is why it was lost.
The son was not in the father’s house. That is why he was lost.
The sinner was not saved. That is why he was lost.
It also means to be eternally separated from God.
Without God there is no light.
Without God there is no way to be rescued.
Without God there is nothing.
It means you are headed for destruction.
Let’s examine this and learn what God has for us today. There is always something for everyone in the Word of God, thus, let God give you what He has for you.
I. THE LOST SHEEP Vs. 4-7.
Lu 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. (KJV)
A. The Sheep Knew It Was Lost But It Didn’t Know How Go Get Back To The Shepherd.
1. The community around knows there is something missing in their life, but they do not know how to find it.
2. We could go to the busiest intersection in town and begin stopping cars and asking the people how to go to heaven and not one in fifty would know.
My wife called a local minister once and asked him how she could go to heaven. He stammered around and finally said, “You must search.” He didn’t say what one must search for.
Most of the world does not know how to get to Jesus. Most of those that do know don’t want to do what the Bible says.
B. The Good Shepherd Went After The Lost Sheep.
If we could get ninety nine out of one hundred today we would be satisfied. If we lived in a town with 100 people and we got 99 of them saved, every preacher in America would be calling us and asking, “How did you do it?” But the Good Shepherd was not satisfied until He found that one that was missing.
1. The Good Shepherd is searching for you today. The Good Shepherd is a picture of Jesus. 1 Pet 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
