Month: January 2017

Luke 15:1-32

Jesus Concerned Over Every Lost Soul

For those of you, who doubt that Jesus is concerned over every lost soul, I tell you, he really is. Verse 10 in this scripture tells us even the angels are happy, when a sinner repents. As I studied the chapter, I loved every bit of it.

1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

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Picture of Jesus holding a bible. Text reads Today's lesson on Jesus is Concerned over every lost soul. Taken from Luke 15:1-32
Jesus is worried about every lost person

I would like to do an in-depth study on Luke 15. It has more meaning then the surface theme of lost and found. I encourage you to read all of Luke 15 and then meditate or study on it. You will find many precious nuggets!

Luke tells us that although Jesus used parables to teach the disciples and/or the people, these particular parables were mostly for the benefit of the Pharisees. They had come against Jesus for “hanging out” with sinners and even eating with them. The Pharisees would not associate with sinners, believing unrighteous people were beneath their attention.

Christ is going to teach them by using 3 narratives. First is the parable of the lost sheep. The second is the parable of the lost coin and the third is of the lost son. They spotlights lost things that represent why Jesus is concerned over every lost soul.

Luke 15:3-7 – The Lost Sheep

3And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4What 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? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And 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. 7I 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.

Christ is saying that searching for one lost sheep is worth leaving the other ninety-nine sheep while he looks for the one. The shepherd asks his friends to rejoice with him (verse 6) because the sheep is finally found. Jesus ends this parable by showing that although there may be ninety-nine “believing” people, it’s the lost one that is important.

Luke 15:8-10 – The Lost Coin

8Either 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? 9And 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.

Jesus continues with the parable of the lost coin. A lady has ten coins and loses one of them. The woman searches diligently for that one coin she lost. When she finds it, she calls her friends to rejoice with her (verse 9). Jesus tells us that the woman still had nine coins, but it was very important to find the missing coin .

Luke 15:10 There is joy in the presence of the angels

10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Before we get to verse 10, we needed to pay attention to what was happening in verses 1 and 2. In this post, I am not delving into the area of the religious men who are consumed with God’s laws, rather than love. They obviously held a different opinion than Jesus Christ. Christ hated sin but felt love for the sinners. I will at some point, post on this verse but I encourage you to study it on your own. There is so much information packed into verses 1,2, and 10. Along with these 3 verses, you need to also study deeper into the lost son.

Luke 15:11-32 – The Lost Son

11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And 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. 13And 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. 1

4And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And 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!

The Lost Son heads back home

18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And 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.

21And 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. 22But 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: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

The elder son is jealous and doesn’t understand

25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29And 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: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

Thought dead but now alive

31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It 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.

Jesus continues with the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son wants to take his inheritance and leave; so his father gives him the money and the son goes on his way. After he loses everything, the young son humbly returns to his father’s house (verse 24). Everyone is happy. The son considered dead and now found alive.

In these parables, we see the same message; Jesus is concerned over every lost soul! Jesus said that in order to save sinners, the Pharisees needed to spend time with them. They should not shun or preach at them, but befriend them.

Here’s what I found in studying…

The word “lost” does not mean only the unsaved people who will not receive life eternal. They can be Christians that have been on the narrow path leading to God and eternal life, now moved to the wide path leading to eternal death. These “lost” could also be people who have not heard about Jesus or are confused and need help understanding.

The sheep represents the person who is falling away from faith

Jesus is concerned over every lost soul. He wants everyone rescued from Satan, his demons and eternal death.

The lost coin represents a believer

The lost coin represent a believer who has fallen away from the church. It’s the church’s duty to watch out for each other and to diligently search to save souls.

The lost son

The last parable digs a quite a bit deeper. The elder brother represents the Jewish people who remained solid in their religious ways and hung onto laws and rituals. However, they became self-righteous, proud and eventually ended up far from God (like the Pharisees). This parable also shows that the father of the two sons, loved both equally. In the same way, God loves the Jews and the Gentiles equally.

Once humbled, the father took his “lost” son back immediately, just as if nothing had ever happened. God will also take back his humbled “lost” children as if they never left.

Jesus was teaching the Pharisees that every lost person is very important to God. Those people who have moved away from God are just as important as those who love and believe in God (and after the crucifixion, believe in Jesus).

Father God doesn’t have to take us back!

The Lord doesn’t have to find the lost, save people or forgive our sins. He does it because he wants to and because he loves us so much. Unfortunately, most of the Pharisee’s didn’t listen or take advantage of Jesus’ warnings to change their ways. Still today there are many Jewish people who continue to live by the law and rituals and will not recognize Jesus as the Messiah!

Jesus is concerned over every lost soul. So; the job God has given believers today, is to find the lost (regardless of who they are or what they’ve done) and tell them about Jesus. That may even mean “hanging out”, or perhaps sharing a meal with sinners, just as Jesus did.

We are all sinners, not deserving salvation. However, God loves all of us and does not want to see, even one person lost.

Picture with word LOST at top. Sheep, coins and an image of a man on side of paper. Text reads "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. Luke 15:7
Joy in heaven when one lost soul is found

My Prayer for Luke 15:1-32

God, the Father of Life Eternal,

I ask you Lord, to place the lost along my path, those you know I can help. Guide me and give me the words that would touch their hearts and open their eyes to you or to hear your call.

Help me Father, to realize that not every person wants salvation. “I” am not the person to save people, you do that. My job is to pray for and seek out the lost . And then show them to the way to believe once found. Unfortunately, not all will accept that offer.

I will praise and glorify your name each and every day. Help me to continually be on the watch for the lost and tell them of the good news of Jesus Christ. Also I will pray for those who do not know you, praying they will hear your call.

Thank you Father for loving each and every person in this world and that every one of them have exactly the same option of finding Christ and receiving salvation, as I did.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, I pray. Amen

With God, There is No Need to Worry – 2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5: 13-15

[13] For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

[14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

[15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (KJV)

Regardless of the events happening around him, Paul always appeared to stay on an even keel. He knew the Corinthians were convinced that he was either not sober, crazy or perhaps putting on a show for them. Paul was not faking contentment.

“It is to God” – Paul is telling the people that it is only because of God’s strength in him, that he is able to stand strong through all types of situations.

Paul is explaining that Jesus died on the cross for ALL people of the world but that doesn’t mean all people are saved. Only those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will be saved. Unfortunately not all people will accept the gift of salvation that Jesus so willingly died for.

So, knowing that we are all sinners and need the blood of Jesus to cover us, then we must assume we are not our own but have been bought by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Once saved, we then belong to Jesus and not ourselves. It seems only right that we should give God the glory and honour and allow him to use us to help others.

Having the heart of God in us, we are to go out and tell others the good news of Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus not only to shed his blood to cover our sins but also to give us an example of how we are to live and serve, while on this earth.

Jesus has already completed the hardest part of our salvation. He paid dearly for all of our sins, on the cross. Without the death and resurrection of Christ, everyone would still be spiritually dead and have no chance living an eternity with God. However because of Jesus’ sacrifice, everyone has the chance of living for eternity with Christ.

If you wish to know more about salvation, I have written a post in the salvation tab.

Heavenly Father,

I have been through good and bad times and the one constant in all of them, has been you. There have been many times I have worried non-stop because of events happening that I had no control over, such as finances, jobs, relationships and the list goes on. It seemed like I was always worrying about something and that worry never helped.

Once I became a Christian, I thought my times of troubles would go away and I was surprised when they didn’t. I was under the wrong belief that you would watch over me and keep me out of trials and tribulations, but you didn’t.

However the more I studied about you God (Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit), the more I understood about your love. I realized that those hardships made me grow spiritually, helping me gain strength and taught me to have faith in you God.

Whatever comes along now, I can ride through without worry, just as Paul did. I still have pockets of fear, but I’ve learned to turn away from them. I am mostly at peace; not crazy, not drunk, not pretending, but resting contently because I have placed my faith and trust in you!

Help me to remember that (as a Christian) I must not live a life for myself. I was born spiritually dead and it is only because of Jesus, paying the price for my soul, that I am spiritually alive and will be spending eternity with you, God.

I pray Father that the spiritually dead (non-believers in Christ) will hear, see or experience something that will open their eyes and they will turn to you.

Jesus came to earth to save everyone, but he will not force his salvation on anyone. It’s a free gift for the taking!

In Jesus’ precious name I pray,

Amen

1 Peter 2:4-5

Building Up a Spiritual Church

God is building up a spiritual church, with Jesus as the cornerstone. We are the lively stones of the spiritual house.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

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We are like living stones, being built into a spiritual house

Jesus (being the fullness of the Godhead) came to earth as the ultimate living stone. However, even though Jesus was rejected and killed by men, his work did not stop on the cross. God sent Jesus to be a living corner stone for all who come to Him, through Christ. In other words God sent Jesus to become the Saviour to Christians.

What builds up a spiritual Church?

Churches and temples are being erected by men by first laying good solid corner stones and then a suitable foundation is added. Soon it becomes a church. Once the building is ready, people come together to learn about God and to praise and worship Him. Although we have these brick and mortar buildings called “churches”, the real Church is within the people, themselves.

Church buildings are made of dead parts (bricks, sand, etc.). Whereas spiritual churches (Christians) have living parts like bodies, souls, prayers, praises, worship, love and the likes. Living stones is where our bodies are used as a temple for the Holy Spirit to live in.

Christians are the living stones. As each of us join the family of Christ, we become another part of the spiritual house that God is building. As more and more Christians come along they place themselves on the existing foundation.

Christians are a holy priesthood in themselves. There is no longer any reason for animal sacrifices or a middle man. This means that Christians are now able to go before God, on their own, using the name of Jesus.

However, it is important to realize that as one brick cannot build a house, neither can one Christian build a spiritual house. In other words, to build the spiritual church that God is looking for, Christians must come together and build on each other.

Do you want to belong to the Spiritual Church of God? What is salvation Prayer for salvation

By one brick at a time, we will build our spiritual lives that will be acceptable to God.

My prayer for 1 Peter 2:4-5

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank you for building up a spiritual church! Without you Father and your love for us, we would still be taking sacrifices to an altar. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, I now have the ability to come before you instead of men. In other words Father God, I now can come directly to you with my confession and with my prayers.

I am now considered a living stone, a Christ believing person. To build up and keep my spiritual house in order I must continue to receive the Word, in a manner of honesty, sincerity, devotion and joy. As well, I need to be in the company of other Christians so we can build on each other. Help me Father to use a loving heart in a way that is pleasing to you.

Thank you that I have found a congregation of other Christians that I can talk to, worship and grow with and continue to build up your spiritual church, all for your glory.

In the name of Jesus, our corner stone, I pray. Amen