prodigal son

Parables of Lost Things – Sheep and a Coin
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Parables of Lost Things – Sheep and a Coin

Parables - Lost and Found Sheep and CoinHave you ever lost something and spent a lot of time trying to find it? People lose things all the time. Here are a few things that are commonly lost:

‣money
‣purse
‣wallet
‣sunglasses
‣pen
‣phone
‣Ear ring
‣Your seat

Or how about:

‣your temper
‣your voice
‣your cool
‣your head
‣your patience
‣your dignity
‣Your mind
‣Time

There are so many things we lose everyday, but when we find them, we rejoice and celebrate! Today I want to look at a few things in the Bible that were lost. Last week we looked at the Prodigal Son. In the beginning of Luke 15 we read about a lost sheep and a lost coin.

Read Luke 15:1 – 10 HCSB

The Lost Sheep

A sheep was lost and likely knew it was lost. It knew it wasn’t with the other sheep or the Shepherd. They are just living and doing what they think is right, but without the Shepherd, they can lead them selves astray so easily.

Because of curiosity it strayed. Seeing a gap in the hedge it wandered from the rest, or nibbling away at the pasture, it drifted aimlessly in the opposite direction and became separated from the shepherd and the other sheep. This sheep represents the stupid, foolish, unthinking kind of wanderer from God. Happily it was overtaken by the seeking shepherd and brought back to the fold. Jesus is our good Shepherd.

Does the sheep come back saying “Oops, I’m sorry, I got lost?” NO! That sheep stays lost, and it might even say to other sheep; “Baaaa… leave me alone I am doing what I want to do!” until Christ finds it. That is why we preach the Gospel to everyone.

John 10:11 HCSB
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:14 HCSB
I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me.

It is in Jesus’ very nature to save people. He seeks and saves the lost.

John 19:10 NKJV
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

The man who owned this sheep that was lost, went to great lengths to find and rescue it. Even leaving the 99 behind just for one measly ole sheep. The Shepherd saw value in the lost sheep. This is true love. This is the love Jesus has for us.

Along with the sheep being lost, we read that a woman lost a silver coin and swept through her entire house to find it.

The Lost Coin

Read Luke 15:8 – 10 HCSB

The lost coin didn’t know it was lost either. It is an object. Something that has no heartbeat. It was lost at home. Does this not imply the possibility of the soul, precious in God’s sight, being lost even though in a Christian home, or in a visible Christian Church?

Are there those living where we do, and attending the church we do, who are not saved, who continue to be lost because of indifference on their part or ours? We should be like that woman who lost her coin and seek out and look for those who are lost. It should be a passion of ours to see the lost found!

The woman felt the loss of her coin as if she had no other silver piece. It was no comfort telling her that she still had the other nine pieces safe. Since she was poor, much depended on finding the lost coin and so she searched diligently for it.

Jesus was illustrating His own saving ministry among men, He tried to make those heartless Pharisees see that if a woman could exert all possible care in finding a coin of little worth, was He not justified in taking all possible care in winning back to Himself lost sinners whose souls were worth more than silver?

Further, if the woman was so happy over the recovery of the coin she herself had lost, to the point of calling her neighbors and friends to rejoice with her, then Jesus had every right to ask us to rejoice with Him, and with the angels, over the restoration of those repenting of their sins? Yes, He did have every right to expect us to be happy for the Kingdom of God when one soul comes to Jesus and is saved from utter damnation. This is building God’s Kingdom. This is God’s heart!

In the story of the Father and the Lost son we looked at previously, the father was heart-broken over the loss of his younger son. It was not enough to tell him that he still had another son with no desire at all to leave home. His father’s heart went out to the missing one in spite of his willfulness and wickedness.

Does God care about lost things?

Combining the whole chapter (Luke 15) as a whole, 3 stories in one Parable: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son, is a better picture because in reality there is but one parable with three aspects.

We read, “So He told them this parable:” (Luke 15:3 HSCB) This is in the singular form. There is no break in-between each parable in this chapter. They all merge and blend together.

The three parables recorded in this chapter are not repetitions; they all declare the same main truth, but each one reveals a different phase of it.

Concern over something lost, and joy at the recovery of that which was lost, is the prominent note of each simile our Lord used. At the heart of this masterpiece of parable literature, the sheep, the coin, the son were all lost and all worth saving. It was serious to lose a sheep, worse to lose money, and worst of all to lose a son. A sheep is valuable, money more valuable, but man is the most valuable of them all.

It is interesting when we look at all three stories in the parable of Luke 15. The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are represented and help in recovering the lost. First, We have Christ as the Good Shepherd, laying down His life to save lost sheep. In the second story, the woman sweeping the house for her lost coin, is an example of the Holy Spirit working through His Church (the saved) to save others. The Spirit’s work naturally follows the Shepherd’s task. In the third picture, the father represents Father God seeking his lost child. Here the Divine Father is before us all His abundant love to seek and save the lost.

Look, then, at the three pictures set out before us, they symbolize the whole compass of salvation, but each one apart sets forth the work in reference to one or other of the Divine Persons of the Trinity —

The shepherd – with much pain and self-sacrifice, seeks the reckless, wandering sheep.

The woman – diligently searches for the insensible, but lost, piece of silver.

The father – receives his wandering, returning son with the kiss of reconciliation.

Therefore, the three life-sketches are one, and one truth is taught by the whole three, yet each one is able to stand alone from the other.

Now all this said, Here is why these three stories or pictures were given. In order to find out we have to visit the beginning of Luke 15.

Luke 15:1 – 3 Amplified Bible
Now the tax collectors and [notorious and especially wicked] sinners were all coming near to [Jesus] to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes kept muttering and indignantly complaining, saying, This man accepts and receives and welcomes [preeminently wicked] sinners and eats with them. So He told them this parable:

Jesus saw these two groups of people coming to listen to him talk. He knew what was in their hearts. These three stories in this parable were given to expose the sinner and the saint. Both classes were represented here.

In this world there are those who know God and live for Him, and those who know God and don’t live for Him, and those who don’t know God, nor even think of living for Him. This parable was written to those who were lost and didn’t know they were lost. This parable was directed to the Tax Collectors and Pharisees. The known sinners and the religious people. Wow, what a contrast. I am sure the Pharisees thought what Jesus said didn’t apply to them. They were more ready to judge Him instead of learning from Him.

I have been watching the social networks like Facebook and Twitter and the reaction of the Supreme Court’s ruling of same sex marriage in all 50 states. To be honest, I see sinners and religious people barking out what they think and believe.

Jesus came for the lost. All of them. We can’t be quick to judge another person and what they have or haven’t done. Our place is to pray for them. Show them truth, but do it in love. I believe homosexuality is a sin. But I will not hate people for practicing it. There is too much hate in this world. I have seen both sides spew out words of hate an not love. I will not condone the homosexual life style either.

In the three stories in this parable we can truly apply the truths we find in helping those and ministering to those who are lost. There are four verbs that describe these three stores: Lose, Seek, Found, and Rejoice. We seek out the lost, find them, love them, and rejoice when they come home to Jesus!!!

Have you ever lost something of great value? If so, you may have had moments searching, retracing your steps, and asking others to help you look for your valuably lost item. Do you remember the joy you experienced when you found what was lost? That joy pales in comparison to the joy in heaven when even one sinner repents.

If you feel lost, I want to pray for you. If you have been judging and criticizing people for their lifestyle, I want to pray for you too.

Prayer:

Lord God, I ask for your forgiveness for any wrong we may have done in our lives, or looking at the lives of others. I repent (turn away) from my old life and look towards You and the new life You have for me. Holy Spirit may you be closer than my breath everyday. Jesus thank you for taking my place for all the wrong I have done. I rejoice in the Lost being found! I rejoice in You today. Amen.

It is God’s amazing grace that has saved each one of us. We once were lost, but now we are found in Christ! Let’s rejoice and be glad with others who were lost and become found!

Your once was lost, but now I am found sister,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com
www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

 

 

 

 

 

Resources: Pastor Kris Belfils and “All the Parables of the Bible” by Herbert Lockyer

Parables of Lost Things – The Father and the Lost Son
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Parables of Lost Things – The Father and the Lost Son

Parables - Lost and Found Mini SeriesWords are powerful. With our words we can speak life or death. With our speech we can put people in bondage or set them free. With the words we think or say we can bring healing or torment. James talks about the tongue being a rudder that steers the whole ship, or a bit in the horse’s mouth.

James 3:2 – 12 (Amplified Bible)
“For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna). For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature). But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God’s likeness! Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so. Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water.”

We can take a look at one of the parable’s of Jesus to see how much power words really have. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, there are three characters. Each one speaks words and acts upon them.

Luke 15:11 – 32 (Amplified Bible)
“And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want. So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry. But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing. And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant. And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well. But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him, But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends; But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf! And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!”

This is the story of The Prodigal Son.

Prodigal in the dictionary means, “Wastefully, or recklessly extravagant, giving or yielding profusely; lavish, lavishly abundant, profuse, a person who spends, or has spent his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance.”

We act upon what we say:

1. Younger son spoke – Younger son dwelt on what was going to be his “someday.” He asked his father: “… give me the part of the property that falls [to me].”( Luke 15:12)

The younger son had been thinking about this for some time and planned on asking his father for what was rightfully his… but this only comes when the father has passed away.

Action of his words:

“And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living.” (Luke 15:13)

He wanted to go out and live his own life the way he wanted to live it. His actions reflected what he was thinking and again he acted upon it. He spent his money recklessly extravagantly. This is being a prodigal.

2. He came to himself

He spoke words to himself again:

“How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants.” (Luke 15:17-19 Amp)

Action of his words:

“So he got up and came to his own father.” (Luke 15:20 Amp)

He acted on his words and left for home. But this time he had “come to himself.”

We Come To Ourself

We come to our self when we realize we can’t make it on our own. We come to our self when we see that all our choices have made big mistakes in our life. We come to our self when we give up control and give it back to our Heavenly Father. We come to our self when we go to the Father and ask Him to forgive us of our wrong we have done.

We all need to “come to ourselves” from time to time. If we don’t we will lead ourselves astray. We will “self-destruct” without God! We, as sinners, are slow to come to our self and go back to God, but God is quick to run to us as He sees our brokenness and repentive heart.

3. The Father saw his son from a far off and ran to him.

The Father always was waiting and looking for the son to come home. He longed for him to be home. For the father to see him from a far off, you know he was constantly thinking about the way-word son and looking for his return.

God always has His eye on us, waiting for us to move towards Him!
You might feel far away from God.
You may have distance yourself from Him for some reason. Know this; God has his eye on you, waiting for you to draw near.

“I do not know that the prodigal saw his father, but his father saw him. The eyes of mercy are quicker than the eyes of repentance. Even the eyes of our faithWhy are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. (Psalm 42:5 MSG) are dim compared with the eye of God’s love. He sees a sinner long before a sinner sees Him…. He was resolve to come, yet he was half afraid. But we read that his father ran. Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness. God can run where we scarcely limp, and if we are limping towards Him, He will run towards us. The father “saw” his son. There is a great deal in that word, “saw.” He saw who it was; saw where he had come from; saw the swineherd’s dress; saw the filth upon his hands and feet; saw his rags; saw his penitent look; saw what he had been; saw what he was; and saw what he would soon be. His father saw him.” God has a way of seeing men and women in a way you and I cannot understand. He sees right through us at a glance, as if we were made of glass; He sees all our past, present and future.”
C.H. Spurgeon (wrote in a sermon on the Prodigal Son)

The Father had prodigal love towards his son as he was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. (Luke 15:20)

Other translations read:

“… fell upon his neck and affectionately kissed him.” (New Testament In Modern English)

His father extravagantly kissed him and loved on him. He was waiting and anticipating his son to come home. I am sure the father always had his son on his mind. Any loving father would.

His father showed more extravagant love for his son as he said to bring the best robe (festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. This signifies kingship, authority, rule and reign. I am sure the son didn’t feel like he deserved it. He knew what he did and where he came from. His father gave him all that, and a fatten cow to eat, and celebrate the homecoming with his friends. We act upon what we say!

The father spoke: 

“Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring out that [wheat-] fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” (Luke 15:22 – 24 Amplified Bible)

When we stray it hurts the Father. The Father will mourn like someone is dead. He will ache in His heart until we come back like someone who has lost a precious jewel and longs to find it.

Action He took:

He lavished His love on the prodigal son and gave him even more than before! The Father sees you! He knows where you have been. He knows what you have done. He knows what you have spoken, and He knows your name!

We don’t have to worry about the past. God has wiped it all away the moment we repent. We don’t have to worry about our future because God has prepared ahead of time what we will need. All we have to do is trust God with our lives and allow Him to be the Father.

Anger and jealously will make us act first…

4. The older son’s actions:

“But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in.” (Luke 15:28 Amp)

In this case, he took action before he spoke to his father. But his “actions spoke louder than words,” as the father pleaded with him to join in the celebration.

The older son spoke:

“Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends; But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf!” (Luke 15:29-30 Amp)

The older son spoke with jealously and anger. He didn’t understand why his father would lavish so much love on his younger brother after all the WRONG that he did. It didn’t make sense to him.

Mercy and grace never makes sense to someone who is not the receiver, only the one who receives.

When jealously and anger grips our hearts it paralyzes us. It makes us do things that are selfish. The older son was offended because all he could see is the “good” he had done and the “bad” his brother did.

Being critical or judgmental towards others is a sin. The older brother was just as guilty of wrong as the younger brother.

5. The father spoke:

“And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!” (Luke 15:31-32 Amp)

This parable was spoken to the tax collectors and Scribes and Pharisees.

Luke 15:1-2
“Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2 Amp.)

The church is likened to that of the older son. Maybe you have been a child of God most of your life. Do you get critical towards sinners? Do you cast a judgmental eye towards those that have fallen or that keep falling? We can get judgmental towards the lost ones that come in as they may not talk like us or walk like us. We can think of them as “less then” because of their past. This is sin! God wants us to let go of the judgment and celebrate the change in people’s lives. We need to rejoice over one lost sinner that comes to Jesus and treat them with respect and love. Love will always receive; jealously and judgment always pushes away.

What have you been speaking to yourself lately? Are they words of hope or discouragement? What have you been speaking about people lately? Are they words of hope or judgment?

Maybe you can relate more with the Prodigal son. Do you feel like you can’t come back to God because of your past? Do you feel lost and all alone? Do you identify with the prodigal son? Do you identify with the older brother?

God sees everything. He knows your name! We can come to God and ask for forgiveness no matter what we have thought, spoke, or have done. No matter what actions you have taken with your words, God is there waiting for you to embrace Him.

There is power in our words. Let’s do the right thing with our actions and run to God and experience His extravagant love He has waiting for you!

Prayer:
Lord, I need You. I am sorry for leaving You and doing my own thing, going my own way. Please run to me. I come back to you. I don’t deserve your acceptance, but I am so thankful you always give it to me. Today I turn from going my own way, and choose Your way. Thank you for Your forgiveness. Thank You for a new start. Amen!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com
www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com