Responsibilities Regarding the Lost: Luke 15

      In today’s America, everyone who dies goes to heaven. Every sports hero, every soldier, every political figure (except, of course, those who oppose America’s agenda) all somehow manage to receive entrance through the pearly gates. Television characters, no matter how wicked they might be, no matter how many lies, affairs, shady business deals or drunken binges, there’s always some clergyman ready to declare their passage into the beautiful beyond. Even in religious circles, there is a great hesitancy to affirm that anyone is lost.

      In using the term “lost,” we refer to one who does not stand justified in the eyes of God, someone who is still in his sins, someone who, if they do not repent and obey the gospel, is on a sure course to the lake of fire and brimstone, the place of eternal damnation and separation from God. Consider this, if people are not lost . . .        What is so great about he love of God- John 3:16? What is so amazing about grace- Ephesians 2:1-10? What is so wonderful about the death of Christ- Romans 5:6-11?

      Tonight, our focus of study is Luke 15 and “Responsibilities Regarding the Lost.”

1.   Three REACTIONS to the Lost

      a.   SEEKING the lost

            i.   The shepherd leave the 99 and GOES AFTER the lost sheep- v. 4

            ii.  The shepherd searches until he FINDS it- v. 4

            iii. When the little boy from Whitehouse was lost after a car accident, hundreds showed up to search or assist those searching.

                  (1) They did not find the child for several days- did they consider giving up?

                  (2) Most people in the world are lost and don’t even know it! (Shelby and Kelly)

            iv. Sometimes the lost are found alive and brought home to great rejoicing.

            v.   Sometimes the lost are found dead.

            vi. Sometimes the lost are never found (woman in Middle TN)

      b.   PREPARING myself to find the lost- vv. 8-10

            i.   The woman searched diligently and cleaned up her mess

            ii.  Matthew 7:3-5 the mote and the beam

            iii. Are you prepared to seek for the lost? If not, prepare yourself! Even if you are not successful in saving others, at least you have saved yourself!

      c.   WAITING on the lost to come to their senses and return home.

            i.   In Shelby’s case, this did not apply.

            ii.  The prodigal son knew what was right and REFUSED to be found.

            iii. He had to lose everything before he would come home.

            iv. Some parents need to stop financing their children’s infidelity, else they will NEVER come to their senses.

2.   OBLIGATION of the Lost

      a.   REPENTANCE- v. 7, 10

      b.   What is repentance?

            i.   2 Corinthians 7:9-10

            ii.  Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20

            iii. The two sons of Matthew 21:28-31

      c.   Note the repentance on the part of the prodigal:

            i.   v. 12 GIVE me what is MINE

            ii.  v. 18-19 MAKE me as one of your servants

                  (1) “Have Thine Own Way” - “Mold me and make me”

                  (2) “My Stubborn Will at Last Hath Yielded”

                  (3) “None of Self and All of Thee”