THE SEEKER

LUKE 15:8-10


      Alexander Maclaren described these parables, “They were meant to show us that a human instinct which prizes lost things because they are lost has something corresponding to it in the divine nature, and so to vindicate the conduct of Christ.” Endnote

 

•          Shepherd–Christ

•          Seeker–Holy Spirit

•          Father–God


  I. God’s work (15:8)


      A. Possession


          1. Woman


Mal. 3:17a. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels;


Eph. 5:27 [ESV]. so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.


      Spurgeon said, “It, I doubt not, represents the work of the Holy Spirit, working, through the church, for the lost but precious souls of men.” Endnote


          2. Wedding


Rev. 19:7 [ESV]. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;


          3. Wealth (day’s wage)


Rev. 6:6 [HCSB]. Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius--but do not harm the olive oil and the wine."


      B. Possibility


          1. Lost (“attention is fastened. . . upon the sorrow of the one who has lost” Endnote )


      Spurgeon wrote, “Every man of Adam born is as a piece of silver lost, fallen, dishonored, and some are buried amid foulness and dust.” Endnote


              a. Creation


      A created object can become lost from its owner. A loving God created man for fellowship with Himself knowing that man might choose freely to disobey Him and become lost.


      David Smith wrote, “Jesus here declares that a sinner is precious in God’s sight and his loss is a loss to God.” Endnote


      William Taylor wrote, “To God the sinner is as something lost is to him to whom it belonged. . . .” Endnote

 

•          Lost in the wild (sheep)

•          Lost in the house (silver; unconverted inside the door)


              b. Choice (careless neglect)

 

•          Lost because of waywardness (sheep)

•          Lost because of willfulness (silver)


Lk. 13:3 [ESV]. No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.


2 Cor. 4:3 [GNB]. For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost.


          2. Least


      R. G. Lee told of a WWII newspaper clipping that read, “Quick advance made in surprise attack by American troops. Great battle won– and only one man lost!” Lee said, “But that one was of much value to a little woman over yonder in a cottage home. . . . That ‘quick advance,’ when only one man was killed, took the sun out of the sky of her life. The ‘great battle won’ quenched the fire on her hearthstone, leaving her heart desolate as a winter’s hearth without flame.”7


      C. Pursuit


      Spurgeon said, “The piece of money was lost, but it was not lost hopelessly. The woman had hopes of recovering it, and therefore she did not despair, but set to work at once.” Endnote


          1. Light (lost in darkness– Mammoth cave)


Lk. 8:16 [ESV]. No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.


Lk. 12:35 [ESV]. Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,


Eph. 5:13 [ESV]. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,


      When the light of revival burns low, the church cannot see the lost.


              a. Holy Spirit


Prov. 20:27 [ESV]. The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.


              b. Holy Scriptures (Ps. 119:130)


          2. Look


Lk. 11:25 [GW]. When it comes, it finds the house swept clean and in order.


      Souls get lost when the house of God gets dirty.


      Spurgeon preached, “Oh, how a Christian church, when it is moved by the Holy Spirit, cleanses herself and purges all her work!”

“I delight to see an earnest house-sweeping by confession of sin at a prayer meeting, or by a searching discourse, a housesweeping when every one is earnest to reform himself, and to get nearer to God himself by a revival of his own personal piety. This is one of the means by which the church is enabled to find the hidden ones.” Endnote


      D. Persistence


          1. Search


      Spurgeon stated, “First and foremost our business is to win souls, to bring men to Jesus, to hunt up those who bear heaven’s image, though lost and fallen. This is what we must be devoted to, this is the main and chief concern of believers, the very reason for the existence of a church; if she regard it not, she forgets her highest end.” Endnote


Mt. 7:7 [ESV]. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.


Mt. 13:45 [ESV]. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,


          2. Stop


      Spurgeon noted, “Those people who have no interest in the lost silver are annoyed at the dust; it is getting down their throats, and they cough at it; never mind, good woman, sweep again, and make them grumble more.”

“An earnest church will be sure to experience a degree of excitement when it is soul-hunting, and very cautious, very fastidious, very critical people will find fault. Never mind them, my brethren, sweep on and let them talk on. Never mind making a dust if you find the money. If souls be saved irregularities and singularities are as the small dust of the balance. If men be brought to Jesus, care nothing what cavillers say. Sweep on, sweep on, even though men exclaim, ‘They that turn the world upside down are come hither also.’” Endnote


Dt. 4:29 [HCSB]. But from there, you will search for the LORD your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.


Jer. 29:13 [HCSB]. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

 

•          Useful (purpose; fallen out of circulation, use)

•          Rightful (property)


      Jerry Vines said, “You can do one of two things with your life. You can waste it like the prodigal son did or you can invest it and put your life to work and make it useful for Jesus Christ.”

“God never meant for you to be lost. He never meant for you to be in the dark. He never meant for you to be dirty. He meant for you to be useful and beautiful.”


      A newlywed couple spent one day their first fall raking leaves into forty large bags. In the house the wife discovered that her wedding ring was missing. She sifted the bags of leaves until she found the wedding ring. Endnote


 II. God’s workers (15:9)


      A. Community


Acts 10:24 [GNB]. The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited.


          1. Friends


Prov. 17:17 [ESV]. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.


Prov. 18:24 [ESV]. A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.


          2. Fellowship (other like friends understood the real value of a lost dowry coin)


1 Cor. 12:26 [ESV]. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.


      B. Celebration


          1. Rejoice


Rom. 12:15 [ESV]. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.


1 Cor. 13:6 [ESV]. it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.


          2. Reason


Is. 12:3 [ESV]. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.


Lk. 15:32 [HCSB]. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.


      C. Confession


          1. Responsibility


Lk. 15:21 [ESV]. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'


      Edersheim wrote, “In the first the danger of being lost arose from the natural tendency of the sheep to wander. In the second Parable it is no longer our natural tendency to which our loss is attributable.” Endnote


          2. Redemption


Ps. 107:2 [ESV]. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble


III. God’s workmanship (15:10)


      A. Presence (the joy of God himself Endnote )


1 Pet. 1:12b. which things the angels desire to look into.


Holy, holy, is what the angels sing,

And I expect to help them make the courts of heaven ring;

But when I sing redemption’s story, they will fold their wings,

For angels never felt the joys that our salvation brings. (Johnson Oatman)


      The presence of God is near those who love lost people.


          1. Joy


Ps. 16:11 [ESV]. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.


Is. 51:11 [ESV]. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.


Lk. 10:21 [ESV]. In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.


1 Th. 2:19-20 [HCSB]. For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy!


      Jeremias wrote, “Their wanderings have caused Him pain, and He rejoices over their return home.” Endnote


          2. Justify


Lk. 18:13 [ESV]. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'


1 Tim. 1:16 [GW]. However, I was treated with mercy so that Christ Jesus could use me, the foremost sinner, to demonstrate his patience. This patience serves as an example for those who would believe in him and live forever.


      Matthew Henry wrote, “And many times those that have been great sinners before their conversion prove more eminently and zealously good after, of which Paul is an instance, and therefore in him God was greatly glorified, Gal. i. 24. They to whom much is forgiven will love much.”


      B. Person


          1. Worth (one– Lk. 15:4-7-10)


Mt. 10:29 [ESV]. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.


Mt. 18:14 [ESV]. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.


      The worth of the lost increased exponentially with each part of the parable.

•          One sheep

•          One silver

•          One son


          2. Will


Job 42:6 [HCSB]. Therefore I take back my words and repent in dust and ashes.


Lk. 16:30 [ESV]. And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'


Acts 26:20b [HCSB]. that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.


Rev. 3:19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.