September 6, 2016

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.'" Luke 15:10-24

We have been taking a look at lostness. There are four types of lostness revealed in this portion of Scripture. None of them are good.

There were the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were lost within their faith due to their self-righteousness.

There is the lost sheep who became lost from the flock when he nibbled himself away from the shepherd through self-indulgence.

There is the woman whose lost focus resulted in a lost coin because of her self-satisfaction.

The third parable deals with a father and his two sons which shows that lostness can happen within the family because of self-interest.

Jesus saved the best story for last.

It is not unusual for a man to have two sons and it is not unusual for that man to be quite wealthy. That was the scenario that Jesus sets for this parable.

It is not unheard of for a father to choose to distribute his fortune to his sons while he is still alive, that was often how they handled their retirement. What is very unusual was a youngest son coming to his father and demanding that the father release his portion of the family fortune. That shows gross disrespect, almost contempt, for the father.

Amazingly, the father capitulates to the request and gives it to the son!

The same foolish, immature, self-interest that drove the son to demand his fortune was not a formula for success. Predictably, armed with the means to do so, he rushed foolishly into self-destruction wasting money on wine, women, and wantonness.

My mother has a lot of wisdom. She always says, "A person wrapped up in himself makes a pretty small package." This youngest son proved that point. What his father had accumulated over a lifetime, he squandered in weeks.

This is one of the most powerful pictures of what it means to be lost. He was separated from his father, feeling foolish and flat broke. I was there once. So were you. It is the human condition. It is how sin plays out in your life. Lostness is caused by spiritual separation from your Heavenly Father. He is holy and you are sinful. Because He is the source of life and love, the fact you are separated from Him means that you are cut off from the source of spiritual life. God is also the source of wisdom. Because we are cut off from that source of wisdom we do foolish things. The result of those two factors is that we end up spiritually broke. Bankrupt, actually.

Self-interest is the root of sin. Sin deceives us into believing that we can be in control of our lives and sin without consequences. That never has a happy ending. It didn't end well for the younger son and it won't for you. You may be familiar with the pain that self-interest can inflict on relationships. It can cripple a marriage. It can alienate children from parent and parent from children. Some of you are all too familiar with the pain and loneliness caused by people living under the same roof but pursuing selfish interests. There is nothing lonelier than being lonely within marriage and family relationships.

If you are familiar with that pain, you understand lostness. If you have experienced that pain you can relate to how God feels toward His many lost sons and daughters.

This story has a happy ending. 

But first, you need to realize that when you look at the younger son you are looking at your own selfish nature. When you look at the younger son's plight, you are looking at your future. Just as his selfishness did him in, so will yours. It will drive you to flee from the Father and from the freedom of the mansion to the filth of the pigpen.

If you REALLY have self-interest, flee TO the Father. You don't have to stay in the sty. There is a way back home.

September 5, 2016

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:8-10

Several times I have dropped change as I paid the person in the drive-thru window. When I drop a penny, I let it go. When I drop a nickel, I let it go. When I drop a dime, I let it go. If I drop a quarter, I put the car in neutral, open the door and try to find the fallen quarter.

Ever done that?

If you have done that you know what you find when you go down their - lots of pennies, nickels and dimes.

Why is that that? There seems to be sort of inherent value system coded into our psyche that determines whether the reward gained is worth the effort expended. Simply stated, I am only going to do something if I think it is worth the effort. You, too.

That is the 800 pound gorilla in these three parables. We decide what we will do or don't do based on how much we value something or someone.

The shepherd ventures out into the wilderness because he values the lost sheep more than he values his own comfort.

A woman grabs and flashlight and a broom and searches day and night until she finds the coin that was lost. Why does she do that? Only because of the high value she places on that coin. That coin means more to her than the time and effort expended to find it.

When a son goes lost his father makes time everyday walking down the road to the top of the rise to search the horizon for that missing boy. Why would he do that? Because that son is more valuable to him than anything else he could do during that time.

So, Jesus is making an important statement about God's value system and ours. He is clearly stating that God values lost people more than just about anything else. In fact, God values lost people more than He valued His own Son. How do I know that? Because God gave His Son to atone for the sins of lost people.

Words are important. Words have meaning. But, actions speak louder than words. God expressed His love through the writings of the Torah and especially through the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. But that wasn't sufficient. He wanted to show His love and prove it by his actions.

So, what we do ultimately determines what we value, and vice versa. Conversely, we get insight into what we don't value by virtue of what we fail to do.

Jesus told three stories to make it clear that God values lost people. He expects us to value lost people as well. And He expects us to prove our love for lost people by seeking them, searching for them until they are found and brought to the Father.

Heaven values lost people because God values lost people. Heaven proves its love for lost people by celebrating whenever one is found.

Do you share God's value system? Don't tell Him. Show Him. Your action will speak more than your words. So will your inaction.

September 4, 2016

"Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" Luke 15:3-4

I believe that Jesus believes that we don't have enough concern for lost people. He challenges us in that area.

I can't only speak for myself and I must confess that I often lapse into a casual attitude toward lost people. I am found, my life is good, my future is secure, so my sense of urgency wanes. In fact, it should be just the opposite.

If you have ever been like me. If you have ever lost your urgency over the plight of people who are spiritually lost, Luke 15 is just what we need.

Jesus tells three stories that deal with the desperation of lost people and their value to Him. The first deals with a lost sheep. Let's see what we can learn about lostness.

There are not many things sheep do well. The one thing they are most known for is – GETTING LOST.

Philip Keller was a sheep rancher. In his book, "A Shepherd Looks at the Twenty-third Psalm," he says that sheep they require more attention than any other livestock. They just can’t take care of themselves. Unless their shepherd makes them move on, sheep will actually ruin a pasture, eating every blade of grass, until finally a fertile pasture is nothing but barren soil. Sheep are near-sighted & very stubborn, but easily frightened. An entire flock can be stampeded by a jack rabbit. They have little means of defense. They’re timid, feeble creatures. Their only recourse is to run if no shepherd is there to protect them. Sheep have no homing instincts. A dog, horse, cat, or a bird can find its way home, but when a sheep gets lost, it’s a goner unless someone rescues it.

Being lost means being out of relationship.

Because of their propensity for getting lost, the two things that sheep need most are: A SHEPHERD and OTHER SHEEP. They will not survive long without those two important things.

That is what happened in Jesus’ story. This sheep got separated from the care of the shepherd and the security of the other sheep. He did not know where he was, where he needed to be or how to get there.

Sheep are not worth much and a single lost sheep is even less valuable. Apparently the other 99 sheep didn’t even notice he was missing. Only the shepherd noticed and only the shepherd cared.

Even though the sheep was out of relationship with the flock and with the shepherd, the shepherd did not stop caring about the lost sheep.

Why should we care about sheep let alone a single lost sheep?

Because this story is not about sheep - it is about us, you and me. We are created for relationship. God designed us to need Him and other people in order to be healthy and happy. And we especially need to be in relationship with God Who is our only hope for abundant life now and eternal life later. Anyone who is out of relationship with God is spiritually lost and dead.

Being lost means being in great risk.

A sheep has absolutely no means of defending itself. It cannot fight and it cannot run. Its only security is found in the flock with 99 other sheep and under the protection of the shepherd.

But this sheep had wandered away from those two sources of safety. To a lion or a wolf a lone sheep looks like lunch! This sheep had put himself at great risk.

Also, sheep have been known to graze themselves off a cliff and fall to their death. They are not very bright to begin with and even worse when they are preoccupied with grazing. It’s not a good picture. Sheep, lost out in the wild, are goners. They aren’t very bright. They have no natural defenses. They can’t even run real fast. On their own they don’t do well at finding adequate food and water. Every time the word lost is used to describe a sheep, it’s a word in the original that carries a powerful sense - in fact it’s a word for absolute destruction, death, ruin. That’s what it means to be lost. By becoming lost, this sheep had put his life at risk.

So, why does this matter to us?

Because Jesus is not really talking about sheep, He is talking about us. He is warning of the great risk faced by those who are out relationship with God and the church. A lost person remains lost until he is found. If he never gets found he will slip into eternal lostness. That is unacceptable to God and should be unacceptable to us!

Why isn't it? 

Why do we not feel a sense of urgency? 

How can we be casual when people are out of relationship and at eternal risk?

When The Lost Are Found

"So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’" Luke 15:3-5

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’" Luke 15:8-9

"Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:23-24

Jesus told these three powerful parables to illustrate His attitude toward the lost. He longs for them. He loves them. He looks for them hoping they will receive His love.

Peter said it this way, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Jesus portrays His love for lost people in two ways. First, we see His love demonstrated in the urgency with which He searches for the lost - the sheep, the coin and the son. When we lose something we love it shows!

Second, Jesus' love for the lost is shown in the way He celebrates when the lost is found! When the lost sheep was found and brought back to the fold there was a great celebration! When the lost coin was found and returned to its proper place there was a celebration! And after the lost son returned there was a banquet to celebrate his return!

The three parables also demonstrate what Jesus hopes for those who follow Him.

He wants you to seek lost people with an urgency. If lost people really matter to you it will show. You will intentionally and persistently look for opportunities to win their friendship so you can witness to them so you can win them to faith.

When you do win them there should be a great celebration to match the celebration happening in Heaven! A celebration like we had at FredWes last Sunday when we baptized eight new believers!

From the day FredWes was launched it has been about reaching the lost. Actually, before it was launched it was about reaching the lost. That is what fueled the vision and lead Pastor Gerald and Brenda to Fredericksburg. It has been the driving force in every location and relocation the church has had. It must be the driving force behind our relocation to New Post and the Capital Campaign to help us get there.

If if becomes about anything other than reaching lost people it isn't worth doing.

What is it worth to you to reach a lost family member or friend?

Think about it.

September 3, 2016

"Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2

I want you to notice two very different attitudes toward sinners and one important attitude by sinners.

The differences in these attitudes mark the difference between a dynamic church and a dying church.

So, let's look at this!

First we focus on the Pharisees. Based on their complaints toward Jesus it is quite apparent how they felt about the tax collectors and pharisees. They weren't very subtle about it so I'm sure those two groups felt the disdain and rejection of the religious establishment of their day.

Also, I'm fairly sure the tax collectors and sinners heard the Pharisees and they criticized Jesus for the company He was keeping.

On the other hand, Jesus welcomed tax-collectors and sinners. He did it for a very simple reason, He came to seek and save those who are lost. He was drawn to their spiritual hunger and their openness to the truth of His teaching. And, unlike the Pharisees, these guys were very aware of their sinfulness.

Let me ask you, would you rather go to a place where you don't feel welcome or to a person who is always glad to see you?

So did the tax collectors and the sinners. As the text says, "All the tax-collectors and Pharisees were coming to hear Him."

Well, no wonder sinners and tax-collectors (all of them) came to hear what Jesus had to say. Through His compassion toward them and dialogue with them He had won a measure of their trust. His words contained truth and life and love while the Jewish religious leaders spoke prejudice and criticism.

The Pharisees and religious leaders symbolize a church that is dying. A church that is legalistic, self-focused, self-satisfied, self-righteous and suspicious of anyone who isn't exactly like them. I wouldn't go to a church like that and neither would you. So, why would you think a lost person would show up there. In fact, if you care about lost people you pray they don't go to a church like that either!

Unfortunately there are far too many churches like that.

Contrast that to a dynamic church that wants sinners to come and welcomes them warmly into their fellowship! A dynamic church speaks truth and honors God's Word and challenges hearers to apply it to daily living. A dynamic church is committed to praying for lost people and intentionally builds relationships with lost people so that the Holy Spirit begins working in lost people to draw them toward worship and the Word.

This is the vision I have for FredWes. This is what "loving people to LIFE means"! We want to be people who build winning relationships with unsaved people so they feel comfortable when we invite them. We want to welcome them warmly when they come to investigate faith at FredWes. We want to lovingly confront them with the simple truth of the Gospel.

There are reasons churches die and there are reasons churches become dynamic. This story clearly illustrates the difference.

Will you help me make FredWes a place where lost people want to "come and hear"?

When The Lost Are Found

"So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’" Luke 15:3-5

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’" Luke 15:8-9

"Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:23-24

Jesus told these three powerful parables to illustrate His attitude toward the lost. He longs for them. He loves them. He looks for them hoping they will receive His love.

Peter said it this way, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Jesus portrays His love for lost people in two ways. First, we see His love demonstrated in the urgency with which He searches for the lost - the sheep, the coin and the son. When we lose something we love it shows!

Second, Jesus' love for the lost is shown in the way He celebrates when the lost is found! When the lost sheep was found and brought back to the fold there was a great celebration! When the lost coin was found and returned to its proper place there was a celebration! And after the lost son returned there was a banquet to celebrate his return!

The three parables also demonstrate what Jesus hopes for those who follow Him.

He wants you to seek lost people with an urgency. If lost people really matter to you it will show. You will intentionally and persistently look for opportunities to win their friendship so you can witness to them so you can win them to faith.

When you do win them there should be a great celebration to match the celebration happening in Heaven! A celebration like we had at FredWes last Sunday when we baptized eight new believers!

From the day FredWes was launched it has been about reaching the lost. Actually, before it was launched it was about reaching the lost. That is what fueled the vision and lead Pastor Gerald and Brenda to Fredericksburg. It has been the driving force in every location and relocation the church has had. It must be the driving force behind our relocation to New Post and the Capital Campaign to help us get there.

If if becomes about anything other than reaching lost people it isn't worth doing.

What is it worth to you to reach a lost family member or friend?

Think about it.

September 1, 2016

“Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?" Luke 15:4

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them," Luke 15:8

"because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:24

Luke 15 is a chapter about what moves God's heart and the thing that God is passionate about is finding those who are lost!

So, what does it mean to be lost? If we don't understand the peril of lostness we won't possess the urgency of seeking the lost.

The lostness referred to here in these stories refers specifically to the spiritual condition of the lost one.

Being lost means:

• Being Disoriented

People were created for fellowship with God. Sin separates people from God. As Blaise Pascal insight-fully declared, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in every heart." Until He is allowed to fill that spiritual void a person is lost and disoriented.

The sheep and the son were the two antimate beings in the three parables Jesus told. They were obviously disoriented as the longing in their hearts caused them to wonder from their place of safety and security. The further away they drifted the more disoriented they became.

• Being Displaced

The coin became lost when someone carelessly dropped it, or moved it or hid it in the wrong place. It had no way of returning to its rightful place. Until found it would remain displaced.

Lostness involves displacement. Adam's rebellion caused the human race to become displaced from the purpose and will of God. So you and me and everyone else comes into the world displaced.

• Being Deceived

Jeremiah the Prophet wrote, "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?"

Because we are born with flawed judgment and deceitful heart, we don't even know we are lost and drifting ever further from God. 

That is how the sheep wondered away from its shepherd. It is why the son rejected the love and lavish provision of his father fulling expecting to satisfy the evil desires of his selfish heart.

• Being Disconnected

The result or by-product of being disoriented, displaced and deceived is a life disconnected from God's presence, God's power, God's purpose, God's peace, God's promises and God's pardon for their sins.

When you are disconnected from God your chances of connecting in healthy relationships with others greatly decreases.

The disconnected life is another sad consequence of being lost in sin.

• Being Dead

The lost coin was lost but obviously as an inanimate object it was not dead. But the lost sheep was headed to a certain death unguarded by the shepherd. It was only a matter of time until a wolf or a mountain lion preyed on the helpless sheep and shredding it to pieces. And the rebellious son who wandered away from his generous father was gone so long that he was presumed dead by his family.

The Bible talked about the spiritual condition of a person lost in sin, "Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins." Ephesians 2:1.

Being spiritually lost is a pitiful condition. It is a perilous condition. It is a condition that you are powerful to reverse or reform. 

Only God can rescue lost people. Only His Son Jesus could provide for their salvation. That is why He came to seek and to save those who are lost!

That means you! That means me! That means once we are found by Jesus we must join him in the search for others who are lost!

Are you part of the search?