LOST IN THE HOUSE. Luke 15:8-10 OVERVIEW:

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1 LOST IN THE HOUSE Luke 15:8-10 OVERVIEW: HAS ANYONE EVER DRIVEN TO A PLACE THAT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE? YOU HAD YOUR MAP AND WRITTEN DIRECTIONS AND YOU WERE ON YOUR WAY. BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED. YOU MISSED A TURN. YOU KEPT DRIVING AND DRIVING AND FINALLY REALIZED YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OF THE LANDMARKS THAT ARE INDICATED ON THE MAP! YOU HAVE SEEN ONLY A COUPLE OF CARS ON THE ROAD OVER THE PAST HOUR. IT S DARK. YOU RE SCARED. THE ROAD YOU ARE TRAVELLING ON IS TOTALLY UNFAMILIAR. AND YOU RE VERY APPREHENSIVE. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU RE LOST! BUT FINALLY! YOU SEE A SIGN THAT POINTS TO GAS, FOOD, AND RESTROOMS UP AHEAD. YOU PULL IN AND ASK THE STATION ATTENDANT WHERE YOU ARE AND VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO REACH YOUR DESIRED DESTINATION. HAS ANYONE EVER DRIVEN TO A PLACE THAT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE? YOU HAD YOUR MAP AND WRITTEN DIRECTIONS AND YOU WERE ON YOUR WAY. BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED. YOU MISSED A TURN. YOU KEPT DRIVING AND DRIVING AND FINALLY REALIZED YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OF THE LANDMARKS THAT ARE INDICATED ON THE MAP! YOU HAVE SEEN ONLY A COUPLE OF CARS ON THE ROAD OVER THE PAST HOUR. IT S DARK. YOU RE SCARED. THE ROAD YOU ARE TRAVELLING ON IS TOTALLY UNFAMILIAR. AND YOU RE VERY APPREHENSIVE. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU RE LOST! BUT FINALLY! YOU SEE A SIGN THAT POINTS TO GAS, FOOD, AND RESTROOMS UP AHEAD. YOU PULL IN AND ASK THE STATION ATTENDANT WHERE YOU ARE AND VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO REACH YOUR DESIRED DESTINATION. 1 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

2 THE TEXT TODAY COMES FROM THE BOOK OF LUKE, AND WAS WRITTEN BY LUKE, A COMPANION OF PAUL THE APOSTLE. HE WAS PROBABLY A GENTILE AND ALSO A MEDICAL DOCTOR. IT WAS POSSIBLY WRITTEN A.D. 59 TO 63, ALTHOUGH SOME THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN YEARS LATER. LUKE ALSO WROTE ACTS. OF ALL THE GOSPEL WRITERS, LUKE GIVES US THE GREATEST VARIETY OF TEACHING, PARABLES AND EVENTS FROM THE LIFE OF JESUS. LET S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TEXT (READ LUKE 15:8-10 AGAIN) IS THERE ANYBODY WHO IS ASKING THEMSELVES, WHY THROW A PARTY OVER FINDING A LOST COIN? DON T YOU THINK THAT S A LITTLE STRANGE? WE LL I M GLAD YOU ASKED. THIS COIN WAS PROBABLY PART OF THE WOMAN S DOWRY OF TEN COINS, PERHAPS WORN ON A CHAIN AS JEWELRY OR KEPT IN A SMALL PURSE. IF SO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGN THAT THE WOMAN WAS MARRIED, LIKE A WEDDING RING SIGNIFIES TODAY. LOSING IT WOULD HAVE HAD MORE SENTIMENTAL VALUE THAN MERELY ITS FACE VALUE. THE COIN ITSELF, (GREEK) A DRACHMA, WAS WORTH ABOUT A DAY S WAGE. THERE ARE SEVEN THINGS THAT THIS WOMAN DOES. LET S LOOK CLOSER AT THE NUMBER SEVEN, AND FIRST CONSIDER THE MEANING OF THE WORD. IN THE HEBREW, SEVEN IS (SHEVAH). IT IS FROM THE ROOT (SAVAH), TO BE FULL OR SATISFIED, HAVE ENOUGH OF. HENCE THE MEANING OF THE WORD "SEVEN" IS DOMINATED BY THIS ROOT, FOR ON THE SEVENTH DAY GOD RESTED FROM THE WORK OF CREATION. IT WAS FULL AND COMPLETE, AND GOOD AND PERFECT. NOTHING COULD BE ADDED TO IT OR TAKEN FROM IT WITHOUT MARRING IT. IT IS SEVEN, THEREFORE, THAT STAMPS WITH PERFECTION AND COMPLETENESS THAT IN CONNECTION WITH WHICH IT IS USED. OF TIME, IT TELLS OF THE SABBATH, AND MARKS OFF THE WEEK OF SEVEN DAYS, WHICH, ARTIFICIAL AS IT MAY SEEM TO BE, IS UNIVERSAL AND IMMEMORIAL IN ITS OBSERVANCE AMONGST ALL NATIONS AND IN ALL TIMES. IT TELLS OF THAT ETERNAL SABBATH-KEEPING WHICH REMAINS FOR THE 2 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

3 PEOPLE OF GOD IN ALL ITS EVERLASTING PERFECTION. IN THE CREATIVE WORKS OF GOD, SEVEN COMPLETES THE COLOURS OF THE SPECTRUM AND RAINBOW, AND SATISFIES IN MUSIC THE NOTES OF THE SCALE. IN EACH OF THESE THE EIGHTH IS ONLY A REPETITION OF THE FIRST. NOTICE IF YOU WILL THE EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE TEXT. LOSES ONE PIECE OF SILVER - (POINT OF REALIZATION) LIGHTS A CANDLE - (POINT OF ILLUMINATION) SWEEPS THE HOUSE - (POINT OF PREPARATION) SEEKS DILIGENTLY - (POINT OF DETERMINATION) FINDS IT - (POINT OF RESTORATION) CALLS HER FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TOGETHER - (POINT OF COMMUNICATION) REJOICES - (POINT OF CELEBRATION) SHE WENT FROM A STATE OF DEFEAT TO A STATE OF DELIGHT! I M SURE SOMEBODY ELSE, SOMEWHERE AT SOMETIME HAS LOST SOMETHING OF VALUE OR IMPORTANCE TO YOU. IF YOU RE AWAY FROM HOME, MORE THAN LIKELY YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER YOUR LOST ITEM. HOWEVER, THERE IS ALWAYS AN EXCEPTION TO THE RULE. USUALLY IT S NOT THE NORM. BUT IF YOU ARE AT HOME, YOU CAN RETRACE YOUR STEPS AS MANY TIMES AS NECESSARY. BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU LOOK HARD ENOUGH, LONG ENOUGH AND GOOD ENOUGH, EVENTUALLY YOU KNOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THAT LOST ITEM THAT HAS YOU FRAZZLED TO DEATH! AND WHEN YOU DO, YOU ARE SO RELIEVED! 3 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

4 LET S EXAMINE THE HERE AND NOW. I NEED TO SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN BE LOST IN THE HOUSE. FIRST LET ME DEFINE THE WORD LOST. IT MEANS 1) UNABLE TO FIND THE WAY OR 2) NO LONGER VISIBLE. AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE WHEN I SAY HOUSE I AM REFERRING TO THE CHURCH. HOUSE IS DEFINED AS 1) A BUILDING OR RESIDENCE FOR A FAMILY, AND 2) THE WORD IS ALSO USED OF A CLAN OR ALL THE DESCENDANTS OF A FAMILY (1 SAMUEL 20:16), SO JONATHAN MADE A COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF DAVID, SAYING, LET THE LORD EVEN REQUIRE IT AT THE HAND OF DAVID'S ENEMIES. 3) THE BELIEVER S FINAL DWELLING-PLACE IN HEAVEN (II CORINTHIANS 5:1), FOR WE KNOW THAT IF OUR EARTHLY HOUSE OF THIS TABERNACLE WERE DISSOLVED, WE HAVE A BUILDING OF GOD, AN HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS. NOW THAT WE HAVE DEFINED THESE TWO WORDS, I ALSO NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF FOLK YOU WILL FIND IN THE HOUSE. THIS REMINDS ME OF WHEN I WAS STUDYING FOR MY ORDINATION A FEW MONTHS AGO. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO BE RECEIVED INTO THE CHURCH 1) LETTER 2) CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE, AND 3) CANDIDATE FOR BAPTISM AS WELL AS THREE WAYS OUT OF THE CHURCH 1) LETTER 2) EXCOMMUNICATION-PUBLIC OR PRIVATE OFFENCE, AND 3) DEATH THE FOLK YOU WILL FIND AT THE HOUSE ARE THOSE WHO 4 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

5 Teaching point one: COME BY THE HOUSE (UNCHURCHED) UNSAVED II CORINTHIANS 4:3&4, BUT IF OUR GOSPEL BE HID, IT IS HID TO THEM THAT ARE LOST: IN WHOM THE GOD OF THIS WORLD HATH BLINDED THE MINDS OF THEM WHICH BELIEVE NOT, LEST THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD, SHOULD SHINE UNTO THEM. THE UNCHURCHED/UNSAVED ARE THE FOLK WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN INTRODUCED TO GOD, THE FOLK WHO KNOW ABOUT HIM, BUT DON T BELIEVE THE HYPE, THE FOLK WHO SUPPORT LOGIC OVER SPIRITUALITY. THE FOLK WHO TRULY BELIEVE THAT ALL THEY HAVE DONE, SAID AND THOUGHT IS SO TERRIBLE, THAT NO ONE COULD, SHOULD, OR WOULD EVER LOVE THEM. THEY FEEL WORTHLESS AND UNDESERVING. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE: DAMAGED DAMNED DECEITFUL DEPRESSED DEPRIVED DESOLATE DESPERATE DEVIOUS DISBELIEVERS DISILLUSIONED DISTANT DISTRAUGHT DOUBTERS DOWNTRODDEN THESE ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO BE EMBRACED, DISCIPLED AND SHOWN LOVE AND COMPASSION AS CHRIST SHOWED US. ARE YOU LOST IN THE HOUSE? 5 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

6 Teaching point two: COME THROUGH THE CHURCH (CHURCH HOPPERS) NOT SUBMISSIVE IN THE HOUSE (CHURCH), BUT THE HOUSE (CHURCH) IS NOT IN THEM JOHN 10:16, AND OTHER SHEEP I HAVE, WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD: THEM ALSO I MUST BRING, AND THEY SHALL HEAR MY VOICE; AND THERE SHALL BE ONE FOLD, AND ONE SHEPHERD. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR HAND TO THE PREACHER BUT NOT THEIR HEART TO GOD. THEY HAVE THEIR NAME ON THE CHURCH ROLE BUT THEY DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF CHRIST. LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD, THESE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ON ASSIGNMENT FOR THE DEVIL. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING AND RESISTING CHANGE, BUT NEVER COME UP WITH ANY IDEAS/SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE ANYTHING BETTER. DON T YOU KNOW IT S HARD TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN YOU RE LOOKING BACKWARDS? THESE ARE THE ONES WHO WEAR THEIR FEELINGS ON THEIR SLEEVES. THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF TENSION AND THEY WON T WORK ANYMORE. OR EVEN BETTER, THEY RUN OFF TO YET ANOTHER CHURCH UNTIL SOMEONE THERE HURTS THEIR FEELINGS AND THEY LL BE GONE AGAIN. THERE IS NO PERFECT CHURCH. WHEN YOU SHOW UP, IT WILL NO LONGER BE PERFECT. SO GET SOMEWHERE; BE STILL; TAKE ROOT; GET IN THE WORD SO YOU CAN KNOW AND GROW! THESE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE: DETACHED DISCONTENTED DISORDERLY DISAGREEABLE DISENGAGED DISPLEASED DISAPPOINTED DISGRUNTLED DISSATISFIED DISCONNECTED DISJOINTED DISTASTEFUL 6 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

7 THESE ARE THE FOLK WHO ARE ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND TRYING TO UNDERMINE AUTHORITY AND SABBOTAGE THE MINISTRY BECAUSE THEY DON T AGREE OR BECAUSE THEY DON T LIKE THE ONE IN CHARGE. BEWARE! THEY ARE WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING. THEY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR LEADERSHIP AND FEEL THEY CAN DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. THESE ARE THEY WHO FEEL LIKE NO ONE CAN TELL THEM ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY VE SEEN IT ALL, DONE IT ALL, AND KNOW IT ALL! I JUST STOPPED BY TO LET YOU KNOW, YOU RE ONLY FOOLING YOURSELF. THE BIBLE SAYS, BE NOT DECEIVED, GOD IS NOT MOCKED. WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP. ARE YOU LOST IN THE HOUSE? What are some of the myths that an unsaved person has about the church? Those who come by the house are in the but the is not in them! Those who come by the house have given their to the preacher but not their to God. Is there a perfect church? Why or why not? 7 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

8 1 Teaching point three: COME IN TO THE CHURCH (SAVED) 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17, THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. THESE MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO SHOUT, FOR GOD I LIVE AND FOR GOD I DIE! THESE ARE THE ONES WHO ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE AND ARE THANKFUL UNTO HIM AND BLESS HIS NAME. ARE YOU GLAD THAT THE LORD FOUND YOU AND SNATCHED YOU UP FROM THE PIT OF HELL? JUST WHEN SATAN THOUGHT HE HAD YOU BOUND, GOD REACHED DOWN AND SNATCHED YOU OUT OF HIS HAND. THEN HE HELD YOU CLOSE AND HE DIDN T AND HE WON T LET GO! THE SAVED ARE THE ONES WHO CAN STAND TALL AND SAY I VE BEEN RUNNING FOR JESUS A LONG TIME AND I M NOT TIRED YET. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO CAN SAY I M RUNNING FOR MY LIFE. IF ANYBODY ASKS ME, WHAT S THE MATTER WITH ME? TELL I M SAVED, SANCTIFIED, HOLY-GHOST FILLED, WATER BAPTIZED, I GOT JESUS ON MY SIDE AND I M RUNNING FOR MY LIFE. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO KNOW THAT THE RACE IS NOT GIVEN TO THE SWIFT NOR TO THE STRONG BUT TO THE ONE WHO ENDURES UNTIL THE END. THESE ARE THEY WHO HAVE A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WAITING FOR THEM; NOT ONLY FOR THEM, BUT ALL WHO LOVE HIS APPEARING. DON T GIVE UP, DON T GIVE IN. JUST HOLD ON! IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO IS WILLING TO HOLD ON AND SEE WHAT THE END S GOING TO BE? WHEN YOU VE BEEN LOST FOR A WHILE AND WONDERING BACK AND FORTH ON THE WRONG ROAD, YOU SOON BECOME WEARY AND TIRED AND DESIRE TO GET WHERE YOU RE GOING. YOU WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT ROAD SO YOU CAN MAKE IT TO YOUR DESTINY, SO YOU HAVE TO PULL OUT THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS TO GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO BE. I HAVE THREE TOOLS THAT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ON YOUR JOURNEY. THEY ARE A MUST. DO NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM IF YOU EXPECT TO MAKE IT HOME. THEY ARE: 1 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

9 DIRECTIONS (GOD S WORD) PSALMS 119:11 & 105 SAYS, THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE. THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD, THERE IS NO DIRECTION FOR YOUR LIFE. GOD S WORD IS THE TRUE COMPASS FOR SUCCESS! GOD S WILL IS WRAPPED UP IN HIS WORD. AND IN HIS WORD IS THE REMEDY TO EVERY SITUATION, EVERY SET BACK, EVERY SETUP, EVERY STUMBLING BLOCK, AND EVERY STORM! GOD S DIRECTION IS PLAIN AND PRECISE TURN RIGHT GO STRAIGHT! MAP (JESUS CHRIST) JOHN 14:6, JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME. JESUS DEMONSTRATED EXACTLY HOW YOU ARE TO LIVE BY THE EXEMPLARY LIFE THAT HE LIVED. EVERYTHING THAT YOU EVER HOPE TO BE CAN BE MIRRORED BY THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WALK IN HIS FOOTSTEPS. CRUCIFY THE FLESH DAILY AND TAKE ON MORE OF JESUS CHRIST. NAVIGATION SYSTEM (HOLY GHOST) BUT THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING ALL THINGS TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU. (JOHN 14:16) YOU NEED THE HOLY GHOST TO GIVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS; TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE; TO GIVE YOU INNER GUIDANCE; TO FILL YOU WITH ANOINTING, TO INSTRUCT YOU IN YOUR PRAYER TIME, TO OPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD S WORD, TO GUARD 2 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

10 YOUR MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIPS; TO GIVE LIFE, TO PURIFY YOU; TO CONVICT YOU; TO EMPOWER YOU; AND TO IMPACT YOUR LIFE WITH POWER! YOU NEED THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST TO COME AGAINST THE ENEMY; TO DESTROY YOKES, TO LOOSE THE CHAINS OF BONDAGE. YOU NEED THE HOLY GHOST IN YOUR LIFE TO HEAL, DELIVER AND SET FREE! SOMETIMES EVEN BELIEVERS LIVES SEEM TO REFLECT THE SADNESS, FEAR, ANXIETY, AND JUDGMENT OF HELL MORE THAN THE JOY OF HEAVEN. MAYBE THAT S WHY THE WORLD SOMETIMES THINKS OF THE CHURCH AS A STRICT, UNWELCOMING, JUDGMENTAL PLACE WHERE THE LAST THING PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT TO FIND IS JOY BUT AS THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP JOY WITHIN US, OTHER PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO SEE THAT JOY AS WELL. THIS IS GOD S INTENT FOR US! OUR FACES WILL BE BRIGHTER, OUR SCOWL LINES WILL DIMINISH, AND OUR EYES WILL SHINE WITH THE JOY OF CHRIST S LOVE RADIATING FROM DEEP WITHIN US. THE DEEPER TRUTH REVEALED BY THIS STORY, AND OTHERS LIKE IT, IS THAT, LIKE THE WOMAN S GOLD MEDALLION, THOUGH WE HAVE OFTEN BECOME LOST, FRAGMENTED, OR DISCONNECTED FROM THE SOURCE OF OUR LIFE IN GOD, WE CAN BE FOUND AND MADE WHOLE AGAIN. UNTIL YOU OPENLY CONFESS THAT YOU HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD AND HIS LAWS, YOU ARE LOST! UNTIL YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD AND THAT HE DIED ON THE CROSS, WAS BURIED AND GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU ARE LOST! IF YOU HAVE NOT OPENED THE DOORS TO YOUR HEART AND RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, YOU ARE LOST! BUT DON T WORRY. PROVISION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE. LUKE 19:10 REMINDS US, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST. HE CAME TO FIND US. WE DIDN T EVEN HAVE SENSE ENOUGH TO SEEK SALVATION FOR 3 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

11 OURSELVES. GOD ALREADY KNEW THAT MAN WOULD MESS UP. BUT GOD STILL WANTED US TO BE WITH HIM SO HE COULD LOVE US AND BECAUSE BECAUSE GOD LOVED US SO MUCH HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHOULD NOT PERICH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. AND HIS SON GAVE HIS LIFE What is the title given to those who come into the house? What are some of the characteristics of those who come into the house? What are the three things you must always have with you on your Christian Journey? 1. which is the of. 2. Map which is. 3. which is the 4 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved

12 5 Which category do you fall in? The one who comes by the House Yes No The one who comes through the House Yes No The one who comes in the House Yes No Please explain why. (Write your story) SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: LUKE 15: SAMUEL 20:16 II CORINTHIANS 5:1 II CORINTHIANS 4:3&4 JOHN 10:16 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 PSALMS 119:11 & 105 JOHN 14:6 JOHN 14:16 5 Abounding Love Bible Ministry 2014, All Rights Reserved