[0:00] As the Lord enables us, I would like us to turn again to that chapter that we read together in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18. And I would like us to look this evening for a short time at verses 12 to 14.
[0:18] Verse 13.
[0:48] Verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
[1:01] Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
[1:12] Now we find this parable of the lost sheep.
[1:24] Here a parable with which we are all familiar. And I would like us first of all to look at the context in which we find this parable.
[1:38] In the first verse of chapter 18 we have the disciples. And the disciples are asking the Saviour this question. In verse 1.
[1:49] Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Now this question is not an idle question.
[2:02] You see this is a question which appears to have preoccupied the disciples of Christ. throughout his ministry. Throughout his ministry.
[2:13] And as they accompanied him. As he performed miracles. As he gave the blind their sight. As he caused the deaf to hear.
[2:24] As he even brought the dead back to life. We have with him. His disciples. And time and time again.
[2:35] Throughout the period of the Lord's ministry. We find the disciples. Arguing amongst themselves. As to which of them.
[2:46] Should be accounted the greatest. The disciples are found discussing this question in Luke. After the Lord has told them.
[2:58] Of how he is going to die. How he will suffer. In the Roman place of sinners. And he has set out before them.
[3:08] All that was to come. Of his sufferings. And yet we find the disciples. Arguing amongst themselves. Which of them.
[3:19] Is the greatest. We find them then. At the Lord's. At the last supper. When the Lord initiates. When the Lord initiates.
[3:30] His supper. There the disciples. Are disputing. Among themselves. Which of us. Should be accounted the greatest.
[3:44] Who is the greatest. In the kingdom of God. God. Amen. Amen. Amen. And the Lord Jesus Christ. In his wisdom. Calls before them.
[3:55] A little child. And he takes this little child. And he sets the little child. In the midst of the disciples. And he says to them.
[4:07] Verily I say unto you. Except ye be converted. And become as little children. You shall not enter. The kingdom of heaven.
[4:21] And whoso shall receive. One such little child. In my name. Receiveth me. But whoso shall offend. One of these little ones.
[4:32] Who believe in me. It were better for him. That a millstone. Were tied around his neck. And that he were drowned. In the depths of the sea.
[4:45] We also find. Something interesting. In verse 10. When the Lord is speaking. About not despising. Any of the little ones.
[4:56] Of his flock. He speaks to us. And he says. Take heed that he despises. Why is not one of these little ones. For I say unto you.
[5:09] That in heaven. There are angels. Do always behold. The face of my father. Which is in heaven. We don't.
[5:21] Hear a lot about angels. Angels are ministering spirits. Sent forth to minister. For those who are the heirs of salvation.
[5:33] This text. This text is the only text. In scripture. Which gives the. The possessive. Indicating that there is an angel.
[5:47] A guardian angel. For each of the Lord's people. Their angels. Are in my father's presence. A ministering spirit.
[5:58] A ministering spirit. A ministering spirit. Sent forth. To minister to the heirs of salvation. And even the weakest. And the smallest. The despised.
[6:09] Of the flock of Christ. Have their angels. In the presence of God the father. Father. And the text here. Brings before us.
[6:22] When we look at. The lost sheep. We are looking at. The work of God's spirit. In the life. Of an individual believer.
[6:33] Now we often pray. And we look for great works. We pray for the Lord. To come in revival power.
[6:44] For nations to be converted. To Christ. We look for the growth. Of the church. We look. For the nation. To turn again.
[6:56] To the Lord. In great numbers. And such. Evidences of God's pleasure. Have been experienced. By our forefathers.
[7:06] In this nation. And in this island. But whenever. The word. The spirit of God. Is at work. Even at times.
[7:18] Of revival. When people are converted. In their thousands. And tens of thousands. The work of conversion. Is an individual work.
[7:33] Every individual soul. Must be brought to Christ. On their own. Even at times. Of great revival.
[7:44] There is the same pattern. That we find. Conviction of sin. A soul. Coming under. Conviction of sin.
[7:56] Realizing. That they are sinners. In the sight of God. And that they stand. In need of a saviour. Conversion to Christ.
[8:08] You must be born again. The saviour said. To Nicodemus. For except a man. Be born again. He shall not see.
[8:19] The kingdom of God. God. And then we find. The process of sanctification. In the life of the believer.
[8:30] As we grow. In knowledge of God. And holiness. But all of these works. Conviction. Conversion. Sanctification.
[8:42] They are individual works. And each. Individual. Must experience. These works. In their own lives.
[8:54] If vast numbers. Are to be saved. And we pray to God. That they will. Then they must come into. The kingdom of God.
[9:05] One by one. They must be saved. For themselves. And our text here. Warns against. Despising.
[9:17] Any of the Lord's. People. Any of the Lord's. Little ones. They must not be despised. We must not despise.
[9:29] The weakest. Of the sheep. In Christ's flock. We must not despise. The worst of sinners. Those who have gone off.
[9:40] Into the mountains of sin. The saviour. Didn't despise them. Despite their sin. And neither ought we. The one who has gone astray.
[9:56] For here is the Christ. Who came into the world. To save sinners. And he came to seek the lost.
[10:06] Here we find him. Going out. Into the mountains. To find this lost. Shape. And in the Greek.
[10:18] The word here. For lost. Is stronger. Than the word we have in English. It has connotations of. One that has been destroyed. Or has been ruined.
[10:29] And many are one. In the history. Of Christ's church. Who was very near.
[10:40] Ruined. By their indulgence. In sin. Was saved. By the grace of God. Before. They lost their lives.
[10:52] In this world. And we ought. As believers. To show care. And compassion. To those. Whose lives. Have been ruined.
[11:02] By sin. And then. We read. In verse 11. For the son of man. Is come.
[11:15] To save. That which was lost. The son of man. Here friends. Is the great.
[11:25] Mystery. He could. He could have called himself. The son of God. For he was. The son of God.
[11:37] Here he calls himself. The son of man. And that. Itself. Is the great mystery. Great. Is the mystery.
[11:47] Of godliness. That God. Was manifest. In the flesh. The incarnation. Caused the angels.
[11:59] To sing. The wise men. Came from the east. To behold the child. Here is one of the greatest.
[12:11] Events. In the history. Of our world. Alexander. Hodge. Said. Of the incarnation.
[12:24] That God. Here. Added. Humanity. To his. Eternal. Personality. The second.
[12:36] Person. Of the gaunt. End. Added. Humanity. To his. Eternal. Personality. It is a great mystery.
[12:47] That God. Was manifest. In the flesh. And he was manifest. In the flesh. To come and save.
[12:58] That which was lost. He suffered. And he died once. To save. Sinners. Of mankind. Kind. And here.
[13:10] Is the son of God. The son of man. The one. Who is the friend. Of publicans. And sinners. And he comes.
[13:21] Into this. Sin sick world. To redeem. A people. For himself. To pay. The price. Of their.
[13:32] Redemption. With his. Own. Blood. On Calvary. Is three. And we. As lost.
[13:42] Sheep. In our. Wandering. State. In our. Sin. We meet. With the Christ. Who comes.
[13:54] To seek. And to save. And to redeem. Sinners. And when we are. Straying. Far. From God. The good shepherd.
[14:07] Casts. His eye. Over. Those. That will be. His own. And he. Watches. Them. He. Watches. Over. Them. With interest.
[14:19] Friend. Maybe. You're here. Tonight. And you've. Heard. The gospel. Of the Lord. Jesus. Christ. Time. And time. Again.
[14:31] You've. Heard. Of the. Savior. Who is. Willing. To save. To the. Othermost. Everyone. That will. Come. To him. By faith. And you've.
[14:43] Maybe. Rejected. The invitation. Of the gospel. Time. And time. Again. But the.
[14:53] Savior's eye. Is still. Watching. Over you. He has not. Withdrawn. His invitation. For you.
[15:04] To come. To him. That you might. Have life. And that you might. Have it. In all its fullness. He calls you. To come.
[15:15] That you might. Have life. Even. Tonight. The good shepherd. The good shepherd. Of Israel. Is seeking.
[15:26] Those. Whose salvation. Seems. Most unlikely. Who was. A more unlikely. Convert. Than.
[15:36] Than. Saul of Tarshish. Saul. Who persecuted. The church. Of Christ. Saul. Who consented. To the stoning.
[15:47] Of Stephen. But yet. Saul. Was one wayward. Sheep. Of Christ's flock.
[15:59] Who the Savior. Would call. To himself. When he met. With him. On the Damascus. Road. And when. Saul of Tarshish. Was blinded.
[16:10] By the glory. Of Christ. And he heard. The still. Small voice. Of Christ. Saul. Saul.
[16:22] Why. Persecuted. Thou me. Well friends. Christ. Will have his flock.
[16:32] He will have his flock. And not one of them. Shall be lost. He takes special care.
[16:46] Of his flock. Because they are his own. They are his people. His own flock. Precious.
[16:57] To him. We read of this. Good shepherd. With a hundred sheep. And one has gone astray. Does he leave the ninety and nine.
[17:11] And go out to find that one. Which is lost. And he goes into the mountains. To seek that one missing sheep. Well a hired servant.
[17:27] Would very likely be quite content. To have gathered. Ninety nine of his sheep. And he would accept. That one had gone astray.
[17:39] But the Lord Jesus Christ. Would never accept. Ninety nine. Of his flock. Because not one.
[17:51] Of his flock. Can be lost. Not one of them. Can be lost. You see. These sheep. These sheep. Belong to Christ. They are his.
[18:02] These are the sheep. That he purchased. With his own. Precious blood. On Calvary's cross. These are the sheep.
[18:15] That were gifted to him. By eternal. Donation. From his father. Father. No Christ.
[18:26] Could not accept. Ninety nine. When his flock. Numbers one hundred. And he will go out. And he will seek. That one.
[18:38] Which is lost. The saviour. Said to his father. Those whom thou. Gavest me. Are mine.
[18:48] And not one of them. Shall be lost. Not one of them. Shall be lost.
[18:59] Not one of them. Can be lost. They are his. And here is the shepherd. Who deals so tenderly.
[19:12] And so lovingly. With each and every one. Of his own flock. Every soul. That is his.
[19:25] There was a story. That I heard. Many years ago. Of a young boy. And with his father. He built a model boat.
[19:37] And the boy. Would go down. To the shore. And he would put. The boat. Into. The sea. And he would watch. This boat.
[19:49] Floating. In the waves. But one day. The boy. Was down. At the seashore. With his boat. And the boat. Went out. With the tide. And he lost it.
[20:01] And some months. Later. When this boy. Was walking. Past. A shop. In the town. Where he lived. He saw. For sale. In the. Window.
[20:12] Of the shop. His boat. And he went. In to see. The shopkeeper. And he told him. That boat. He said. In the window.
[20:22] Is my boat. I made it. With my father. And the shopkeeper. Said. Well that might be. But I paid money. To buy that boat.
[20:34] From a local fisherman. And he said. The only way. You can get that boat. Is by buying it. Back from me. So the boy.
[20:44] Would set. A little. Of his money. Asside. Each week. Until he had. The money. To buy. Back. His boat. And the day.
[20:55] Came. Where the boy. Had the money. And he went. Down. To the shop. And he bought. Back. The boat. Which he had. Made. With his father. And he was.
[21:08] Overheard. Saying. Your mind. Twice now. Once. Because I made you. And twice.
[21:19] Because I bought you. And that is how it is. With the Lord's people. They're precious. To Christ. They're precious.
[21:30] Because he made them. He made them. In his own image. He made them. With the purpose. Of worshipping him.
[21:41] And they're precious. To him. Because he bought them. He bought them. With his blood. Notice the effort.
[21:53] Which this shepherd. Goes to. To save this one. Weak. Lost sheep. He goes into the mountains.
[22:06] And he seeks. That which was gone astray. And if so be. That he finds it. Verily I say unto you. He rejoices. More of that sheep.
[22:18] Than of the ninety and nine. Which went not astray. He leaves the ninety and nine. Of his choice flock. Grazing in the green pastures.
[22:33] And he goes off into the mountains. With all the dangers that that presents. In search of this one wayward lost sheep. He leaves those that are happy and holy.
[22:50] Grazing. And he goes into the mountains. And so the. The spirit of God. Goes out looking for each and every individual.
[23:05] Who is to be redeemed. He goes out in this way. For each and every one of his flock. Who is to be brought home. He goes through all the difficulties.
[23:18] He goes through all the dangers. Of the mountains. To save the lost. And when he finds that. Lost wayward sheep.
[23:30] He completely. Saves them. And redeems them. He redeems them. With an everlasting salvation. And they shall never be lost.
[23:45] And so the saviour. Does through the work of his spirit. For every soul. That will be brought into his flesh. Look.
[23:55] He will seek that soul. And he will not leave that soul. Half saved. He will bring that soul.
[24:05] To a knowledge of himself. So that that soul. Will know. The redemption. That he has purchased. In the Roman place. Notice. Notice how he says.
[24:17] In verse 13. He rejoices more. Of that sheep. Than of the ninety-nine. Which never went astray. Now you might consider that.
[24:29] Quite puzzling. If there were ninety-nine. Of the flock. Of the shepherd. Who never went astray. Into the mountains of sin.
[24:40] Why is there more rejoicing. Over the one that went so far astray. Than over the ninety-nine. That never went out of.
[24:52] The path of duty. Well there is a special rejoicing. Over this wayward lost sheep. What the Lord is not saying here.
[25:06] Is that there is more love. For the wayward soul. That he loves that soul more. Than the ninety-nine.
[25:16] That never went astray. You see the ninety-nine. That never went astray. Into the mountains of sin. They were kept by God's grace.
[25:28] And he values the ninety-nine. Ninety-nine times more. Than the one that went astray. Because there is equality. In the kingdom of God.
[25:41] Every soul. Is equally valued. In the kingdom of God. But what we have here. Is there is more rejoicing.
[25:53] There is more rejoicing. Over the one that went astray. Than over the ninety-nine. That never went astray. Spurgeon tells a story.
[26:07] Of a father. Who had four children. And one of the children. Became desperately ill. Gravely ill.
[26:18] And he was. In the bedroom. And the father and the mother. Would be in that room. With a sick child. Day after day.
[26:32] Nursing the child. And they expected the worst. The father. And the boy. And the boy. And the boy. And the boy. And the boy.
[26:45] Had turned. A corner. And it became apparent. That the child. Was going to pull through. And that he would be okay. And Spurgeon says.
[26:56] And Spurgeon says. That's the kind of rejoicing. That we read of here. The father would rejoice. Far more.
[27:08] That that sickly child. Was going to pull through. Than over the three healthy children. Who didn't cause him. Such anxiety.
[27:19] Or such concern. He rejoices. Because it looked as though. They were going to experience the worst. And he rejoices in their recovery.
[27:31] That's how it is here. With the shepherd. One of them looked as though. They were going to. To be lost.
[27:43] The 99 didn't look as though. They were in that precarious situation. But by God's grace. That one was found. And the one wayward lost sheep.
[27:57] Caused more rejoicing. Than the 99. Which were never. In such a situation. Remember friends. We read.
[28:07] There is rejoicing in heaven. Over every sinner. Who repents. There is rejoicing. In the presence of God.
[28:18] Amongst the angelic host. For every sinner. Who repents. Sometimes there is great rejoicing.
[28:31] In the church of God. When a prodigal. Is brought home. One who seemed so unlikely. A convert.
[28:41] And there is great joy in heaven. Over one sinner. That repents. And really the lesson for us here.
[28:52] Is that Christ. Is that Christ values. Each and every one of his sheep. The sheep of his flock. The shepherd forgets all the labor.
[29:07] That he has gone through. Going out into the mountains. For this one sheep. For the joy that this sheep has sailed. And so there is joy in heaven.
[29:20] For every. Sheep that is. Brought back. By the spirit of God. Into his flock. The elder brother.
[29:30] In the parable of the prodigal son. He couldn't understand. Why the father. Rejoiced so much. This younger son has come home.
[29:46] A waster. He wasted all that. They had. Why was there such rejoicing. That he should come home. But the Christian understands.
[30:00] That there is rejoicing. Amongst the family of God. If there is rejoicing. Amongst the angels in heaven. There should be joy. Amongst the saints on earth.
[30:12] When we hear. That someone has been saved. The Christian understands. That there is joy in heaven. And on earth.
[30:23] When a sinner repents. You see. There is. There is such security. For those who are found.
[30:34] In the flock of Christ. There is. There is. There is. On April 6th. 1989. A cargo ship.
[30:44] The SS Missouri. Left London. She was crossing the Atlantic. With a full and precious cargo. When she came upon.
[30:57] An emigrant ship. The SS Denmark. The Denmark. Was an emigrant ship. Carrying. 665 passengers.
[31:09] And 59 crew. If I remember right. The Denmark. Was crossing from. Norway to New York. Now the Denmark.
[31:22] Was displaying. A distress. Flank. And so. The captain. Of the Missouri. Captain.
[31:34] Hamilton Morel. He approached. This ship. And he took. The ship in tow. But the message. Was conveyed. That. The Denmark.
[31:45] Was taking on. Too much water. And that they would. They were. Looked as though. They were going to sink. So. Captain Morel. Called his. His crew.
[31:57] And he said. That they have no option. But. To throw their cargo overboard. And to launch the lifeboat.
[32:11] And that is what they did. Mid-Atlantic. They threw their cargo overboard. And they launched the lifeboats. And every.
[32:23] Passenger. On the Denmark. That was 665 passengers. Was brought on board the Missouri. Captain Morel then ordered that.
[32:39] The captain and the crew. Of the crew. Of the Denmark. Of the Denmark. Should abandon their ship. And all 59 of the crew. Were taken aboard the Denmark.
[32:54] A few hours later. The SS Denmark. Had sunk beneath the waves of the Atlantic. But every one of our passengers.
[33:06] And crew. All 665 passengers. And all 59 crew. Were safely on board the Missouri.
[33:21] Friends. That's how it is. With the church of Christ. Not one of them. Can be lost. Verse 14.
[33:32] Even so. It is not the will of your father. Who is in heaven. That one of these little ones. Should perish. There is certainty.
[33:49] There is security. In Christ. And supposing you are here tonight. And you feel you are the weakest sheep.
[34:00] In Christ's flock. You might feel your faith. Is smaller than. Or as small as a grain of mustard sand. The smallest of sins.
[34:13] But friend. If you are a. Member of Christ's flock. If you have been purchased. With his blood. Then you have security. In the gospel.
[34:25] The father is not willing. That any of his flock. Should be lost. Remember how the savior. Looked out.
[34:35] Over the Jerusalem of his day. And how he said. O Jerusalem. Jerusalem. How often.
[34:46] Would I have gathered you. As a hen. Gathers her chicks. Under her wings. But you would not. Friend.
[34:59] Maybe you have ignored. The claims of the gospel. Of Christ. For most of your life. But the Lord. But the Lord. Is still calling you. To himself.
[35:10] Come unto me. He says. All you that labor. And are heavy laden. And I will give you rest. There is a full.
[35:21] There is a free invitation. In the gospel. To everyone. To everyone. And the mission. Of Christ's church. The mission.
[35:33] That was entrusted. To us. Was to go. Therefore. Into all the world. And to preach. The gospel. To every creature.
[35:45] To preach. The gospel. Of life. To preach. The gospel. Of hope. For there is life. Friends. To be found. In Christ.
[35:59] And so. That the people. Of God. As the shepherd. Here. In this parable. Ought to be. Reaching out. To the poor.
[36:11] And the weak. And the lost. In our communities. In our villages. With the gospel. The gospel.
[36:21] Of life. Friend. If you are lost. If you are lost. On that great day. When Christ returns. It won't be.
[36:33] Because there was no gospel. For you. There is life. There is a free invitation. In the gospel. To each and every one.
[36:45] If you are lost. My friend. It is because. You would not have. This Christ. To ruin over you. May God. Grant. That everyone here.
[36:57] Will come to find. This Christ. As their own shepherd. And to know. The security. That he. Offers to us. For life.
[37:07] And for eternity. Let us pray. I hope to. Yes. Thank you. Thanks.