LUKE CHAPTER 15

LUKE CHAPTER 15

SCRIPTURE

Today I will summarize Luke chapter 15 where Luke wrote about Jesus talking about the lost sheep.  The lost coin and the lost son.   Jesus heard the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled.  They were saying things like,” This man likes to be around sinners.  He welcomes them and even eats with them.   On hearing this Jesus replied to them and said,” If you have 100 sheep and you lose one of them.  He leaves the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and looks for the lost one until he finds it.  When he finds it, he is so happy that he puts it on his shoulders and carries it back home.   Then he calls his friends and neighbors to celebrate and expresses how happy he is to find his lost sheep.  

In the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent.   Or if you have ten silver coins and you lose one of them, you will light the lamp, sweep the house and look carefully everywhere until you find it.  And once you find it you will be filled with joy and you will celebrate.  In the same way, the angels of God will rejoice over one sinner who repents.  Jesus said let me tell you a story.  A man had two sons.  The younger one said,” Father, you are dead to me.    Give me my share of the inheritance now.  Instead of refusing the son and kicking him out of the family, the father gave him what he asked for.  The son took the money and went to a distant country.  There he lived recklessly and spent every penny.  Then a severe famine spread over that country.   The son was so hungry that he decided to get a job but unfortunately, there were no jobs either.  Finally, he found job feeding pigs.   He longed to eat what the pigs were eating.  But no one gave him anything.   When he came to his senses and realized that even his father’s slaves ate well, he has nothing now.  He thought that he is physically and morally bankrupt. He said to himself now I know what I should do.  I must repent and ask my father to forgive me.   

  I will tell him that I have sinned against heaven and in his sight and I am no longer worthy to be called his son.   I will ask him to please make me one of his slaves.   Then he got up and began his journey home.  Now at his home, his father had been watching for his son’s return for quite some time but today was a special day.  He saw something in the distance.  He knew exactly who was coming up the road.   The father felt compassion and ran to meet his son.   He hugged him and kissed him.  The son said;” Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and in your sight.  I am not worthy to be called your son but the father told one of his slaves who ran with him quickly.  “Go get my best robe ring and sandals and put them on my son.  Kill the fattened calf and cook it.  We’re having a feast.   This son of mine who was dead has come to life again.   He was lost and now he has been found and they began to celebrate.   The older son was out in the field.  When he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing.   He asked one of the servants about it.   The servant replied,” Your younger brother is back safe and sound.  Your Father is holding a celebration.   But the older son became annoyed on hearing this.  

He refused to enter the house.  The father heard about that and went out to talk with his son.   The son said,” Father, I have been in saving you for many years and I never neglected even one of your commands.   But you haven’t given me a single goat to eat with my friends but when the other son of yours came home after wasting money with prostitutes.   You killed the prized fattened calf for him.   The father said,” son you have always been with me, and every that I have is Yours.  You could have had a feast with your friend any time that you wanted.   But we had to celebrate.   Your brother was dead and now he lives.  He was lost and now he is found.

OBSERVATION

That joy in heaven and all the angels rejoice when one person repents for his or her sin and turns to Jesus for salvation.  God and angels watch this miracle happen and they are glad.  God wants us to see that people should not be angry that he has compassion for people and that he wants sinners to be saved.  He rejoices when people with dead and lost spirits come alive and is found.  Do you know someone who is rebelling against God and would be considered a prodigal son?  Would you be considered a prodigal son?   Turn away from the fleeting pleasure of sin.   They will leave you empty alone and eternally dead.   Turn to Jesus for salvation today.  Why don’t you let God find you and rescue you?  There is still time to repent for your sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ for Salvation. 

PRAYER

Lord, I am poor in spirit without you.  But with you, I am prosperous in my soul.   I ask that you would help me in my time of need.  Pour out your spirit in my heart and help me experience Your complete deliverance and restoration in my life.  I confess that I get impatient because I want total freedom and wholeness.  Give me the patience to wait on your time for everything.  I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.  He set my feet on Slid ground and steadied me as I walked along.  He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see that he was done and be amazed.  They will put their trust in the Lord.   Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud, or in those who worship idols.   O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.  Your plans for us are too numerous to list.  You have no equal.  If I tried to recite all your deeds, I would never come to the end of them.  Please, lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.  May those who destroy me be humiliated and put to shame.  But may all who search for you may be filled with joy and gladness in you.  May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” as for me since I am poor and needy in spirit.  Let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.  You are my helper and my savior.  You do not listen to us or answer our prayers because we are worthy but you answer us because your son Jesus Christ is worthy.  I ask you Abba to hear and answer our prayer in His name.    Amen.