Things Jesus Wants Us To Know
I know today is Fathers' Day. I want to commend all of you men that are here today. May God bless you very much in your walk. May you walk for Him every day of your life. I am glad to have my father, one of my sons, and his daughter here with us today. I want to tell all of you neither my father nor I was a perfect dad, but by God's grace we improved as time went by. May each of you dads be the type and kind of father that the Lord wants you to be. And as far as that goes, may you also be the son or daughter that God wants you to be. I will just throw this in right now for no cost…Be all you can be for the Lord and you will make your earthly and your heavenly Father happy and proud.
INTRO: Do you ever take a Red-lettered Bible and marvel at the words of Christ? Have you ever wondered if the red-lettered edition Bible is heavier because of the Blood of Christ? Does His wisdom contained therein reach you like none other? Well, this is what I am trying to do with this series, let us see what He wants us to know from His Word. So, do you think it would be neat to sit down with God and ask Him questions? Well we do have His Word for us. I have been doing a series entitled "Things Jesus Wants Us To Know." We have been working through the Gospel of Luke. We have learned many things. Today I want to look into Luke.
First I want to set the stage if you would, and read from Luke 15:1- 10
Luke 15:1 - 32 1Then 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.3
And he spake this parable unto them, saying,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.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.Now having read that and looking at the scripture, I want to show you a few things form that before we get into the rest of the chapter.
We can see that Jesus was spending time with those who were much in need of His help, specifically it mentions publicans (tax collectors) and sinners. Now there was also a fringe group hanging out with Him as well. They were the Pharisees that I preached about last week. They were very religious yet very distant from what God truly had for their lives. In fact they were constant complainers, critics and chaos-causing companions. A great crowd right? But, we have seen that the Lord was not just a crowd pleaser, but a proclaimer of the truth, even when it was sharp and somewhat controversial.
Let us look at this as see what we can grab…
Jesus is one we need to hear - 1
Jesus is one who cares - 2
Jesus is one who knows us - 4
Who we are
Where we've been
Where we are headed
Jesus is one who wants to know us in a special relationship - 4
Our requisite - 4
Our rescue - 5
Our repentance (is given because of Him) - 5
Our great rejoicing shared with others (comes because of Him) - 6-7
O may we but see that God loves us. His Son, Jesus Christ loves us. He is willing to reach out to us and help us come to God - not on our terms, but to God in a full state of sorrow and repentance. Then we can truly rejoice greatly.
He had talked to them in a parable telling them how important a lost "sheep" was to the Shepherd. Are you that lost sheep? God loves you. He is speaking to you right now through His Holy Spirit.
Jesus was not done. He then shared a story about a woman who had 10 pieces of silver and lost one. Now that does not really seem all that bad. She only lost 10%. Actually it was about a day's wages. That makes it more important. In fact it was thought to be part of a garland that she wore in public as a married woman. Sort of like losing you wedding ring. That puts it in more perspective. Well we can see her reaction…
We can see…
Jesus is one who knows our real desires
Our loves - 8
Our looking - 8
Our light
Our loot (treasure) - 8
Our location
And
Ours and others' lively rejoicing
It is obvious that God cares about those who are lost. In fact His angels rejoice greatly when lost ones are found. I am not talking about a show - never watched it. I am not talking about someone who is misplaced and rescue squads are looking in the backwoods. I am talking about someone who is separated for God and His love. Someone who the Great Shepherd is looking for, someone who will bring great rejoicing when they turn their life to Christ.
Okay, what has this to do with Fathers' Day? Everything! You see God the Heavenly Father loves all of you. Enough to give His only Son for your salvation. Have you trusted Him? Will you seek Him?
Okay, let's finish this chapter and see a great story about the love of a father. Verses 11-32
Luke 15:11 - 32 11And 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.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.14
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.15
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.16
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.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!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.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.21
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.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.25
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.26
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.27
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.28
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.29
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:30
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.31
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.32
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.Oh what a story. This is where it is at! Can you understand what Jesus has placed in front of you today? Do you feel like there is no hope? Do you feel unworthy? Then listen to what God tells us in His Word.
We can see a…
Father who was provided for his children - 11-12
Father who was no doubt hurt or wounded for his lost son
Father who was often obscured by his lost son - 13-16
Father who was available to his son - 17
Father who was worth knowing - 17-18
Father who forgives his son - 20-24
Can we relate this to our heavenly Father? One, who cares, provides, seeks, watches, calls, reaches out to us? One who is willing to meet us when we turn to Him and forgive us when we call to Him?
But, let us change gears here. Let's look at the son. I know, there were tow sons. But I want to look at the lost son. The one who earned the title, "The Prodigal Son."
We see a son who…
Was in a terrible situation or predicament
Haven't we all at some time found ourselves in dire straits?
He was wasting his life - 12-13
His life was wanting and lacking (even simple things) - 14
He was willing to try almost anything (except admitting wrong)- 15 -16
He was wounded and weakened - 17
And at this point…
He was willing to even see his father - 18
So we can see he was in a terrible spot, but we can also see a son
Who had a tried and true solution.
He…
Acted in time- 17-19
Arose and started- 20a
Approached his father - 20b
Acknowledged his sins - 21
Accepted his father's forgiveness - 22-24
Isn't this the key? When we realize we are away from the Father, out of His bounds of safety, not in a relationship with Him (through His Son), then we turn to Him? Just like the Prodigal Son, we need to
Start while we can
Get started now
Go to the Father
Give Him our lives confessing our sins and our need for Him
And Grab His forgiveness
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 061707am