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Show THE JOY OF THE LORD 9-10; Luke 15: 5-7; 22-24 day a man was out walking in the rain. He met a little boy who looked very poor but was whistling a happy tune. The boys clothes were ragged but he had One smile a The man his face. on asked the boy, "Are you like that?' happy "Yes, "Don't your "No, sir! I always sir!" worry about anything?" never worry. I have a good ever place to sleep enough to eat, and I will always take care of and know that Jesus me.!" This text is the sorrow wonderful passage about of God when souls are lost a and the joy that comes 1 when they are restored. I want to talk in this about he joy sheep and a sermon experienced when a lost is returned, a lost coin is found, lost son is reclaimed. First, the shepherd rejoices when one lost sheep is restored. Of his one sheep, one went astray and had to be sought for. When he found that lost one, the shepherd called his friends to join him in celebration. "Rejoice with me, I have found my lost sheep." Can you imagine the celebration? In Biblical times, shepherds spent long hours with their sheep and knew them all by their name and the sheep knew the voice of their shepherd. So a lost sheep was not just a financial or material lost. It was the lost of a relationship, a personal loss. Like a missing child, a lost sheep caused hundred 2 great anguish, worry, pain, apprehension, wondering, and fear. No wonder David slew the bear and the lion that came to take away one of his little lambs. But oh, what ajoy the finding and the rescuing. F or the shepherd would put that lost one his shoulders and carry him with great joy to the safety of the fold. Jesus told on this story to remind us of just how much rejoicing goes on in heaven when one lost soul home, comes saved. Second, the one woman sinner is rejoiced she found the coin that was when lost. We don't know how the coin got lost and really it doesn't matter how. But one thing we do know is that the woman put aside everything and swept her floor and searched for the one lost coin until she 3 gave up trying to find that coin until it was safely back in found it. She never place. She lite a light and looked carefully and when she found it, it was its party time. The Bible says, she called in her friends and neighbors and said, "Rejoice with me, I have found my lost coin." The joy she had, the world didn't give it to her and the world couldn't take it away. She wanted everybody to share her excitement and pleasure. Third, the waiting father rejoiced when his son came back from the far country. His son had a change of heart, a change of mind, and certainly a change of direction. He left determined to do his own thing but came back willing to yield to whatever his father or son. Can't you said, imagine, 4 to be servant this father morning looking out the window, down the road, and hoping he would see his flesh and blood coming home? Can't you imagine him hardly able to rest or sleep at night, so to speak, sleeping with one eye open, feeling the empty space, wondering about the well-being of his child? Can't you imagine the tears that washed his face, the fretting the occupied his mind, and getting up early every the stress that shadowed his every footstep? And then familiar over the one day! Then figure came hill, one day a around the curve, down the road. "I think that's my son." He had been praying and hoping and crying and he didn't want to get too overly anxious, out his arms so he stretched and waited. Then he 5 saw his clearly. He had been preparing for this day. He had a ring and a robe and sandals and a calf being fattened -symbols of honor, son-ship, happiness and royalty.. So he rushed out the door son . and up the hill and said, "This my son that was dead is alive, was lost is found. Put I one on the music and let's dance." come to remind us this morning that step away from God is the far country and there is nothing that brings more joy to lost soul to the heart of God than for come home from the far country. 6 one |
