Title: Luke 15
By: Todd Bevins
Intro
I was thinking about this morning, and like most of you, our hearts were overjoyed at the response to the gospel message. The way the Lord does things using the Word of God and the Spirit of God to draw that which is unsaved. Such rejoicing in our own hearts. I couldn’t help but know how this goes along with that. Thinking about the rejoicing that goes on here, but also there is rejoicing that goes in heaven as well. I want you to think about that. I want you to think about how important—I mentioned briefly in class this morning, sometimes life gets busy and we get sometimes in a place where we are so consumed with the things that are going on that we forget the vital importance of seeing those that are unsaved come to the Cross of Calvary. The time is limited. The time that we have, we don’t know how much time is left. I have no way of knowing that. As one individual said before, we plan as if we are going to live here for a while. However, we live each day like it is our last on earth. I think that is a good way to deal with life. Often, we fail to do that. However, how important it is to remember the need for the unsaved.
Listen to how important it is as Jesus is being criticized, as He is speaking to a massive crowd. He has been speaking about discipleship and some other things prior to this, and about following Him and so forth. In chapter 15, Luke writes and tells us:
Luke 15:1 & 2
15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
They got mad and upset and was beginning to complain. Think about this just for a moment. We are talking about the so-called religious crowd was upset with the fact that He was spending time with those that are sinners and He is going to actually eat with them. That bothered them. I don’t know a better way to have a good conversation than over a good meal. I can do that with anybody; I don’t care who it is. Even if I just ate, I will eat again. Just because.
I think about these things, how that the scribes and Pharisees murmured and they complained. They are upset at something Jesus said; I did not come to save the whole. It is not those that are whole that need a physician. It is those that are sick that need a physician. That is why He is here to begin with. He spake a parable unto them saying, why, because He knew exactly what they were thinking. He knew what they were saying event though they might have murmured it or said it quietly. Jesus knew exactly. He did not need anyone to tell Him what was in man. He knew what was in man. He already knew all of those things. Look what happens in this parable that I want you to think about some things that Christ points out.
Luke 15:4
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?
We will pause for a moment. We have talked about sheep before and more recently as well. I don’t know too many people that deal with sheep now a days. I know there are some. I don’t know of any personally. This is an occupation back then that was a normal life to them. He says this.
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?
The first time in twenty-some years, I suppose in the ministry; I never thought about the fact, and it never crossed my mind that He speaks of leaving the ninety-nine. The deal is it is not really the focus or the fact that He is leaving the ninety-nine. He is really trying to point out and wants them to understand the importance of the one that is straying. Do you know what He is doing? He says, I care so much about that one that I am going to go after them. I am going to find them. I have heard people say before about the Lord. I hope they find the Lord—or—They finally found the Lord. Do you know what? No. They didn’t. do you know why? He wasn’t lost. We were the ones who were lost. He finds us. I think Mark Roach said one time that He sends out the heavenly hound dogs of mercy and grace. They run us down. What he really is saying is this. The Lord cares about us so much. It is hard to think about or hard to realize. I like to embrace the fact that I have a wife that loves me more than any wife loves her husband in all the world. However, I doubt that is probably true. I do know this much. I know that I have a heavenly Father that loves me more than I can ever even possibly imagine. That is the illustration that he wants you to see.
I was thinking about brother Dan this morning, when he mentioned; it doesn’t matter your color, it doesn’t matter your race, it doesn’t matter your kindred, or your type or wherever you are from. It does not matter. None of those things matter to the Lord. Why? Because everybody is valuable. Everybody is important. He loves everybody. It does not say that he died for some. It says He died for all. Therefore, it is not His will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. God desires all to be saved. Here He is in this crowd of religious leaders who view themselves maybe at times a little better than somebody else. No doubt, they would separate people between unclean and righteous and those who would follow and walk after the law or those that would embrace and those that would go after their own customs and their own ways. That was great but some of these others they would consider them unclean. They wouldn’t even waste their time with them. Jesus said that’s fine. That is who I want.
He seen a young boy that really wouldn’t amount to a whole lot in the eyes of a lot of folks. He said, I want him. I am glad that He called me to a place of repentance. I am glad that He called me. Even as unintelligent as I am, not very English spoken, I guess you would say. If that is the right way to put it. He said, I can do something with him. I love the Lord tonight.
He says, in other words He is going to go to the full measure to find that one. Why? Because He loves that one. He cares about that one. Here is the next thing He says.
Luke 15:
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Let’s think about this just for a moment. He says, rejoicing. Here He is. It’s a lost sheep. He goes out. The thing that we have to realize is this. He is putting out this illustration beginning to listen. Do you know what they do understand? They might look at him and say, “You would leave ninety-nine for one?” Jesus is saying, Yes, most definitely.” Here is the real point I want you to realize. That one that is out there cannot defend themselves. That one that is out there cannot find his/her way back home. That one that is out there, if he/she doesn’t have someone out there to take of them, he/she is in some real trouble. So, it means so much to me that He says I realize and I understand his life is in danger if I don’t go.
That is why He pursued you and me. Do you know what He realized? He already knew that in the end, if we did not receive Him, He knew our place was forever in hell. That is why He would pursue you and I. He would call you and I. He would continue to speak to our heart such as He did this morning to the young lady who would come and accept Him as her personal Savior. What a great and wonderful time that was. Why is that? Because He loves us so much. He cares so much. He knows the end result forever is eternity in hell. He knows that. He didn’t come; again, to die for anything, or any other cause, but He came that He might die for all that would believe and trust in Him, can have a way to heaven.
He goes on and says this.
Luke 15:6
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.
I missed the next point and that is this. He grabs the sheep and lays it on his shoulder. The shepherd must take action. If he doesn’t, as I said already, the sheep will die. God is actively seeking and continuing to seek even to this day. Once found—I like this one theologian writes—once found, He carries them home.
Romans 5:6
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
When we couldn’t take care of ourselves, when we had no way of getting back to God, we had no way in getting back in a right relationship with God; He looked down through the ages of time, through humanity, before man was even created, He knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew that Adam and Eve would sin in the garden. He knew that man would fail. As He looked down through the ages of time, He said, if I don’t go, they are going to die. If I don’t go, there is no hope. Do you know what He would do? As He would look—I would think about this from time to time—He would see all the wickedness. He would see all the sin. He would see all of those things yet He would say, I love them so much. There are going to be some that would accept the call. There are going to be some that I am going to go out and deal with and be able to allow the Holy Spirit of God to speak to their heart. They are going to receive the message and they are going to receive me. They will love me and they will serve me. There are going to be some. No, not all. Did He know that? Absolutely, He did! He came anyway. Yet He would come anyway. Yet He would go to the cross.
When I think about my life, I think about my conduct, my attitude, how that I lived my life prior to Him moving into my heart. I think about those things and think, why? Why would you do such a thing. Do you know what it does? It causes me to fall in deeper love with Him. Why? Because I don’t really have an answer. The fact that He is God and that He loves us that much.
Family of God
The next thing that He says is this. What does He do? Once He carries it on His shoulders; He brings it home. Where? To the family of God, embraced by the loved ones of God. Why? We gained a family I never knew I even had. I knew about brother John Paul. I knew a little bit about him. I knew more of Gabe, his brother. I didn’t know anything about Joseph. Sometimes what I missed out with Joseph. That one there is a character. Anyhow, the point I want to get at is this. When Christ moves into our heart we become family. There is a bond there. There is immediately something there. I can speak to someone who lives far away from here. If they are saved and they know Christ, we begin to talk. There is a special bond that takes place because we have something in common. What is that? We know that it is by the grace of God that we have been saved. We know that it is by the blood of Jesus Christ. Without Him, we have no hope. Therefore, we can rejoice together and be grateful together for what God has done. Why is that? Because He has carried us into a family, into a safe place. People…I will say it this way. I am going to be honest when I say this. Saved people, you can trust them. You can count on them. I am not going to say that some get into a place that they don’t need to be. Their lives get in a mess. What I am telling you is this. Godly people, you can trust them. You can feel safe around them. It is a place we can gather together, and I don’t have worry about someone just doing something evil or unkind. However, what I can do is this. I can say, I am home with my family. I am in a home with my family. I am at home in the presence of Almighty God. Praise God! Not only does He do that here, but one of these days He is going to do that when we enter into heaven throughout all eternity. He is going to carry us through this evil and wicked world. He is going to take us on home into His presence. I am glad for that wonderful day. One of these days, we will stand before Him.
Preacher of Old
Brother Pete Barnhart; I was thinking about him a few moments ago. He used to say this. “I want to stand before God with clean hands and a pure heart.” He would raise his hands. I don’t think he had three teeth in his head. He would raise his hands. He would spin as he would say it; he would say, I want to stand before God with clean hands and a pure heart. I think last count somebody had, he was well into his 90’s. Every time they would ask him, he would give them the same year, the same age every time they asked him for several years in a row. Nobody really ever knew how old he was. I know this. I know where he is at today. I know one of these days, I am going to get to sit down and spend some time with him. I think about some of them from years ago.
We move on and he says this. Here is what I want you to think about.
Luke 15:7
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.
Let’s go back to what we are thinking about and that is this. To them that occupation was important to them. To lose one sheep would have been vitally important. They would want to know where he is at. They would do all they could to go out and find him because they know the danger and what is going to happen to that sheep if they don’t. They care about that sheep. He is saying, who wouldn’t do that? Anybody in their right mind that loves and cares about their sheep, that is exactly what they are going to do. They are going to go out and look for it because they know it cannot defend itself. It can’t take care of itself. When they bring it back and they carry it back. What happens then? Here is what he says.
Luke 15:7
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.
Isn’t there rejoicing, when they come back; would everybody be excited? Oh! You found it! Thank God! He is saying this. When he goes out and he is calling and speaking to those that are unsaved. He is dealing with their hearts. As the message goes out; here is what He says is the response in heaven when they accept the call.
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.
I want to read to you what this theologian says about this. I thought it was wonderful. Though the sheep does nothing to rescue himself, or repent—Jesus mentioned the need for repentance. The last few words of his brief story, it is almost as if he said this. The sheep doesn’t repent but you need to when God finds you. Here they were. They thought they were so good that they did not need repentance, but Jesus said, Yeah, you do! No matter how much you think you know about the law, no matter how good you think you are and I will say it again here tonight in just repeating what our Lord has said. No matter how good you think you are, no matter how often you sat in the church house, no matter where you attended, no matter how much money you have given; I am telling you that apart from Jesus Christ, you can’t go to heaven. If you don’t believe in the death, burial, resurrection; his blood is shed broad in your heart. My friend, you don’t allow Him to forgive you of your sins then hell will forever be your home.
I know this. I know that you will gain a family that you never realized you would even have. You will have people love you like you never even realized loved you. You will have people to be truthful and honest with you as our brother mentioned a minute ago. Sometimes there are those friends that will mention when you do wrong and they do it out of love. They care about you. Do you know what? They look at some things and they see some things going on. I am glad for people like that. They say hey, we need to talk for just a moment. When they do it in a godly way, it has a wonderful impact. God uses it in a great way.
We are going to look at just a few more. I want to point out something else to you here.
Luke 15:8
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Now I don’t know any woman that loses a piece of silver that isn’t going to go after it. I don’t know a man in the world that wouldn’t go after it…
Luke 15:8 & 9
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The thing I have lost; I have now found. The thing I needed…I don’t know about you but when I came to Christ, He was exactly what I needed. I didn’t know that. In searching of Him in bottles and other things. I did not know, but I knew this. I knew when I found Him; He was all I needed. Do you know what? He made that clear. Praise God! Her friends rejoiced with her. She rejoices. It goes on and says:
Luke 15:10
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
You look at them as unclean. You look at them as what you might say; they are not worth messing with. They are not worth dealing with. I look at them and say, I want them to be with me in heaven. I want them to be with me, rejoicing in heaven. I want them to experience the goodness of God. I don’t care what they have done, or where they have been, or what they have been involved in; Jesus is saying, I love them no matter what. Therefore, I don’t think it is any coincidence that it begins with sheep and the lost sheep and then He gives one more parable that you have heard me talk about multiple times, which we are not going all the way through. We will just highlight as we look at it.
The last one is:
Luke 15:11 & 12
11 And 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 falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
I always love the simple fact that the father—he asked for his portion of goods. He asked what would be given him when the father died. The father said, well, if that is what you want. I am certain the father talked to him a little bit. He may have tried to persuade him otherwise. Regardless, he gave him what he asked for and allowed him to go on his way. Here is what happens.
Luke 15:13
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
You know the story of what takes place. The younger son gathers it all together. He packs all of his things up. I believe with all my heart that the younger boy had no intentions of ever coming home. I think he thought when he got out of there that he was gone for good. I will go out here and do what I want to do. I will live my own way and do my own thing. There are no more rules. There are no more regulations. I can just do as I please.
Luke 15:14
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
When all the money was gone, there came a famine. It seems like when the money ran out, the friends ran out. Everything ran out. If you have never been there; you don’t know what it is like. I have learned in recent days you can’t buy friends. You can’t do it. They will leave you empty handed.
Luke 15:15
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Think about something just for a moment. We are talking about a fellow that came from a very, no doubt, wealthy family. He left. He has had plenty. He knows what it is like. You say, how do you know that? His father had servants. Therefore, he came from a wealthy family. He leaves, but where is he at now. He is at the low of the lows. You will find out…
Luke 15:16
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
He was so hungry that he would have gladly eaten the food that he was feeding to the pigs. We find out here—I don’t know about you, but that is pretty hungry. Now, I get pretty hungry but I have never been that hungry.
Luke 15:17
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I love that verse and have for twenty-some years. He comes to himself. He said:
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
He says, here it is. Here I am. I am at rock bottom. As I look at things and no doubt his stomach; he was starving. He thought about home. He says, you know what. In reality, the best time of my life was when I was back home at my father’s house. The servants at this point, in my father’s house have it a lot better than I have it now. He says, when he comes to himself; for us we would say, he wakes up. He comes to his senses. He makes up a plan. He rises up.
Luke 15:18 & 19
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
That’s what I am going to tell dad when I get back home.
Luke 15:19 & 20
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The boy ran to his dad? No. The dad ran to his boy. I don’t read anywhere, and I haven’t in all these years that he questioned him. You have heard me say that before. He doesn’t ask him. “What did you do with the money? Where have you been? What all have you been involved in.” None of those questions came up. Why? Because only one thing matters. His son is home and that is all that matters. Why? Because that is what was most important to him.
In life for you and me, there are many things we might deem important. Our jobs are important. Our families are important. Makes sure we pay our bills. That is important, for some people. The point of the matter is this. There are a lot of things important. Do you know what God says? The most important thing to Him is you and me and all of those out there in this world today that does not know Christ; it is important to Him that they hear the gospel message. It is important to Him that they are introduced to the one and only true God that they might be able to have an opportunity to receive Him.
I thank God for missionary work. I thank God for evangelism. I thank God for all that goes on. I don’t know if we can ever do enough. There is never a time to lay down. There is never a time to quit. There is never a time to give up, but continue to spread the gospel. Tell the Good News of Jesus Christ to those that are unsaved.
It says…
Luke 15:18 & 19
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
I love what happens next. The father just cuts him off. I don’t know that he even heard what he had to say right there. I would say it probably went in one ear and out the other. He probably didn’t even think nothing about it.
Luke 15:22 & 24
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, 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.
Closing
The whole point in all of this was for Jesus to point out to those that were listening. When they said, you are wasting your time with that group of people. Why would you even be around people like that? Jesus is saying, “Listen. There are no castaways. There is nobody that we would look at and say they are not worth it. Everybody is worth it. They are so important to me that we go after them. We go after them because I love them. I care about them.” Why? It is so important to me that I would come to this earth and offer my life as a sacrifice. I would fulfill all the jot and tittle of the law, all that God demanded, all that God required. As brother Dan spoke a little about this morning; I would receive the whippings of the cat-of-nine-tails. One would look at me as if I was raw hamburger—we might say speaking on behalf of Christ. He is saying, they would look at me and not even be able to recognize me. I would do that because I loved them that much. I care about them that much. Those that are unsaved, if they would listen and receive the call; that is how much I love them.
I am glad today that we serve a God who loves us enough that even though in all of our failures and shortcomings; he knew all of that and came anyway. He is a great and awesome God. Isn’t He?
Come and pray!