Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus. the founder and perfecter of our faith. All of us are prodigal sons, and our Father rejoices when we come back to Him. But some of us are like the elder brother who cried unfair when his sinning brother sought forgiveness. Today, what Jesus thinks about the lost people in your life.
From the Moody Church in Chicago, this is Running to Win with Dr. Erwin Lutzer, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Pastor Lutzer, today you come to the halfway point in your series on following Christ. We began by asking what would Jesus do, and now we're looking at the great mission of Jesus to seek and save what is lost. It seems clear that following Christ isn't just for Sundays, it's a lifetime commitment.
Well, Dave, you're absolutely right. It is a lifetime commitment. And I want to go back to the verse that you hinted at, if you didn't already quote it, namely, that Jesus said, I have come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Now, truth be told, every one is lost. But what Jesus was saying is there are some people who are lost. and who won't admit it, or who don't know that they are lost, but for those who know that they are lost. and that they need a shepherd, and that they need forgiveness. Those are the kinds of people for whom Jesus came, and now He's asking us.
to do his work on earth. twenty four seven. At the end of this message, I'm going to be telling you about a special resource that we think will help you do just that, namely, Follow Jesus, 24, 7. It's entitled Walking with Jesus: A Radical Return. to his priorities.
For now? Let us listen. Yeah. Listen carefully. The reason that we have to find men and women is because most of them do not know that they are lost.
That's the problem. They think to themselves, why do I need Jesus Christ? I'm not lost. I am the captain of my fate. I am the master of my soul.
And therefore, they see no need of the warmth of the Father's house because they are enjoying the far country. For every person who comes to Moody Church. And says, I want to know more about Jesus Christ. There are a hundred in the apartments next to us who will never be found unless someone goes seeking for them. And by the way, Notice the text, those who are seekers are leavers.
It says that you leave the 99 and then you go and you seek the one sheep. You leave the coins and then you find the one that is lost. You don't find the people who are lost among those who are already found. You have to leave. A number of days ago, I read a story in which a man was looking for a ring that evidently he lost.
He was on his knees under a street lamp looking for the ring that was lost, and someone came and said, What did you lose? He said, I lost a ring. I said, where did you lose it exactly? He said, oh, about a half a block up the street. Guy said, What are you looking for at Here.
Why? He said, well, there's no street lamp there. You think about it for a moment. We like to go looking for things where we are comfortable. We like to find those who are already in the light.
But Jesus, in defending himself, was saying, I'm willing to go where it's dark. I'm willing to go where it's difficult to see. I am willing to leave that I might find.
So notice the text. Christ is saying to the Pharisees, Don't you understand that people are valuable? Secondly, you must understand that people are lost, they need to be found. And thirdly, he is teaching that those who seek find. Seeking leads to finding.
What is finding in these parables? What does Christ mean when he talks about finding?
Well, if Being lost means that you are separated from your owner. Being found means that the owner and the object or the person have been brought together. That's what finding is. And the best way to understand finding is to remember that Adam in the Garden of Eden was running from God. Why?
Because of guilt. First of all, he didn't want God to find him. And because of fear. And it is that guilt and fear that keeps driving people away from God. And God goes out finding.
And to be found means that once again a person has been reconciled to God, and that means he has a change of mind. He begins to think differently about Jesus Christ. He no longer sees Christ as simply a historical figure, or someone that was good to know about, or even a Savior who died on the cross. He begins to see Jesus as a personal savior who died on the cross for him, and he begins to embrace Christ. There is a change of mind, but there is also a change of heart, a change of affection, so that he begins to love Christ.
He who does not love Christ, let him be accursed. There are people today who claim to have believed. They claim, they make a profession of saving faith, but they do not love the Christ whom they claim redeemed them. How can that be? What Jesus is saying is that the people who are found And the objects that are found are reconciled back with their owner, and God is the one who is calling sinners to Himself.
Finally, I want you to notice in this passage. The text teaches that finding leads to rejoicing. People are valuable. People are lost. Seeking leads to finding, finding leads to rejoicing.
Notice in every instance the emphasis on the joy. That the finding brought. Verse 5, and when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. Christ goes on to say in verse 7, I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 90 and 9 righteous ones who think they need no repentance.
Look at the second parable. Verse 9, and when she has found the coin, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost. And to make the point again, Christ says in the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God. over one sinner that repents.
Now turn to the end of this chapter. where we have an amazing story. It is the story of the prodigal, the third of Christ's parables. He is out. And of course, we know the story of how he there in the pig pen decided to come back to his father.
And how, in the process of coming back, he cannot even think to himself that his father might receive him. And so he comes and he says, Father, I've sinned against heaven and against thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. And he wants to say, make me as one of thy hired servants. It's interesting that that's what he thought he would say when he was in the pig pen, but. As he comes and embraces his father, he does not add those words, make me as one of my hired servants.
Why? He doesn't even get a chance to get them out of his mouth. His father is smothering him with hugs and kisses. And saying, Bring hither the fatted calf and kill it. And put some shoes on his feet and a ring on his finger.
For this, my son was dead and is alive and is lost and is found. It's time for a party. But I find it very interesting that the elder brother was not in a mood. To rejoice.
Now you understand that Jesus is likening the elder brother to the Pharisees, who were so resentful that harlots. And sinners and tax gatherers were being invited by Christ into the kingdom of heaven and were being saved and welcomed by the Father. They couldn't handle it. in their self-righteous spirit. And so to illustrate it, Jesus tells the story of an elder brother who stayed home.
He comes home and there's a party that's going on, and he asks his dad to come out to the back porch so that he can find out what's going on. And the father says, Come on in, we're having a party. We've received your brother safe and sound. And what does he do? He chews his dad out.
He says, Lo, these many years have I served thee. Neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment. Yet thou never gavest me a goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. The Father listens.
And he says, Son, all that I have Is thine. You're ever with me. Why are you asking for a fatted calf? Don't you see all the cattle that are on the hills? You can have a party whenever you like.
But he says it was good that we should be merry and be glad because this, my son, was dead and is alive and is lost and is found. It is always a time of rejoicing when the boy comes home. It is always a time of rejoicing when a wayward child comes back to the fold. It is always a time of rejoicing when God seeks a sinner and finds him. and there's restoration.
And I find it interesting that there is not only joy here on earth where we might expect it, but Jesus says that there is a cosmic celebration even in heaven. From one end of heaven to the other, the angels rejoice because the word is out, another sinner has been converted and reconciled to God. Why is it that there is so little joy among us? Because so Few times we hear the cries of newborn babes in the nursery. Let me say this very clearly: that if we intend to follow Christ, And earnestly do so.
We must. I want to underline the word must. We must become seekers of lost men and women. You should have in mind at least one person. Preferably two or three, or some of you, perhaps six or eight, who are on your list in your mind and heart, and you say, God has put me next to this person to befriend them, to eat with them, to fellowship with them.
Why? Because I must become a seeker of lost man. And if you and I can enjoy the Father's house and not care about those who are in the far country, we may be busy in his work, but we are out of step with his heart, and to that extent we do not follow the Christ who commands us to follow him. to find lost humanity. Whatever means God may give you, it is our responsibility to be seekers because many people will not be found by themselves.
We must seek them. And by the way, what about you? You may be lost. You may know where you are geographically, but today here, you may be lost. You may be someone whom Christ is seeking.
And I hope he finds you today, by the way. I love to tell that story. About the boy who left home and lived a very worldly, sinful, selfish life involved in immorality and drunkenness. And like the prodigal, he decided to come to his senses and wondered whether his parents would ever receive him back. Would they?
He didn't know. If they chose not to, he would understand, for he had disgraced them. and disown them. But he thought it was worth a try.
So he wrote a letter home and he said, Mom and Dad, I'd like to come back, but I don't know if you'll have me. In a couple of days I'm going to take the train home. And you know that the train passes past our backyard, and in the backyard there is an apple tree. If you will receive me, would you hang a handkerchief on one of the branches of the apple tree? As the train pulls into town, if there is no handkerchief on the branch, I will go to the next town.
But if there's a handkerchief, I'll get off.
Well, a couple of days went by, and he wondered indeed whether the letter had arrived and whether he could expect a handkerchief on the apple tree. and as the train pulled into town and he was peering through the window, he could hardly wait to see the backyard. And there on that apple tree, There was a handkerchief on every single branch.
Now that's the message that we have to proclaim to lost men and women today. We can go to these apartments, we can go to our neighbors, and we can say, God isn't mad at you, God isn't trying to get even with you, God does not have his back toward you, you have your back toward God. There's a God who welcomes sinners, and when they are welcomed, there is a celebration in heaven, and there is a celebration on earth. And we are followers of Christ who said, The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. He left heaven to be among men that he might seek them and win them.
And that's what. Moody Church really is all about. And that's why in the next years we would like to concentrate many more of our efforts to this community where God has planted us. Because Jesus said, as the Father hath sent me, so send I you. The banquet is spread, the handkerchief is on the tree.
But I don't have to tell you. But according to our own sinful nature, we never have a burden for people. We can stare eternity in the face and not care. It only comes when we begin to have our hearts beat with Christ in prayer and looking to Him to generate within us the love and the compassion and the burden that we so desperately need as individuals and as a church. And it is then that God will begin to lead us.
Men and women will be saved. And by the way, don't ever lead anybody to Christ without telling somebody else about it. In all of these three parables, they're always getting their friends together and saying, Rejoice with me. And we will rejoice together. Why?
As the fathers said. This, my son, was dead and is alive. He's lost and is found. It is good for us that we make merry and throw a party. Because somebody who has been lost with eternal value.
has been found. Let's pull out the stops. And let's rejoice. The boy. Is home.
Let's pray. Our Father, we are reminded that. A toothache to us means much more. than 10,000 people perishing. in a far-off country without Christ.
We confess that the sheep and the coins so often take precedence over. The boys and the girls and the men and the women. We confess that finding a lost wallet sometimes generates more joy. Than finding a lost sinner. Today, we pray that we might learn from Christ in whose steps we so desperately want to follow.
May we learn what it is to seek what is valuable, to go for it. and be there with men and women. who need to know about the father's home. and the handkerchiefs on the apple tree. And now I turn to you, the congregation.
I have to ask you a question. Does God bring to mind one person whom you are seeking, one couple?
Some relatives, some friends, some associates at work, some neighbors. Can you name anyone whom you are actively seeking? for the kingdom of God. If not, would you ask him to bring that name to mind? And say, Oh God, I don't know what's involved.
I may even be fearful, but by your grace, I'm going to actively seek this person. Maybe giving them a book to read. Going to actively seek this person this week. for the kingdom of heaven. to follow Christ.
in this community. Lord, do this. that we might be able to rejoice together with much praise. as sinners. are born into your kingdom.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Okay. My friend, this is Pastor Lutzer. Jesus Christ has called us into the world, even as Christ was in the world. As a matter of fact, he says that very explicitly. As the Father has sent me into the world, even so I am sending you into the world.
Now, if you're a believer in Jesus Christ, I want you to run through your memory very quickly. And I want to ask you this question. Who do you know in your life? who needs to be found. Our responsibility, of course, is to seek the lost, and then to disciple those who are found, But first of all, they have to be found.
That is to say, they have to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. I'm holding in my hands a book entitled Walking with Jesus, A Radical Return to His Priorities. We're making this resource available for you because we want you to understand that walking with Jesus is a twenty-four-hour commitment, seven days a week. And we represent him in this world.
So, the question that we have to answer is. How did he live? And then the Bible says that we are to follow in His steps. For a gift of any amount, this book can be yours. Here's what you do, and I'm going to be giving you this contact info twice, because this is the last week.
We're making this resource available. You go to rtwoffer.com. That's rtwoffer.com or pick up the phone and call us at 1-888-218-188. 9337. Remember the title of the book, Walking with Jesus: A Radical Return to His Priorities.
It's so important. that every single day be an investment, an investment that's going to pay off for all of eternity. Once again, for a gift of any amount, here's what you do. You go to rtwoffer.com. Of course RTW offer is all one word.
rtwoffer.com or pick up the phone and call us at 1-888-218-1. ninety three thirty seven. It's time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor Lutzer a question about the Bible or the Christian life. In a culture marked by failing marriages, many people wonder about remarriage. Esther listens to running to win in Roselle, Illinois, and asks, If divorce is caused by adultery, it is Is marriage to another person okay?
Well, Esther, I want to treat this very carefully, because I don't know everything that is behind your question. You know, sometimes in marriages, and I'm not saying that this is true of yours, but sometimes in marriages, one partner or the other Almost is glad when their partner commits adultery because now they have. quote grounds for divorce. They've been looking for grounds for divorce for a long time, and at last their partner has handed it to them. Beware of that kind of an attitude.
I believe it is very important that we are cautious about divorce. As a matter of fact, I've just read a booklet entitled Before You Divorce in which it warns, and this is from a marriage counselor. Who has been counseling people for 23 years? It warns about divorce. And sometimes what people think is a wonderful escape hatch and is going to help them.
actually creates so much bitterness, so much misunderstanding, It hurts the children so deeply that in retrospect they wish that they'd have stayed with their partner. many a marriage has been able to survive infidelity. Obviously there has to be forgiveness, there has to be reconciliation and a rebuilding of trust. but it's not as if it is impossible, especially if both partners are willing to be committed to it.
So I want to caution you. Don't be hasty. when it comes to the matter of divorce. And then you say, Is marriage to another person okay?
Well, Sometimes those relationships develop even at times when the marriage itself is in trouble. People already have their eye on someone else. I would simply ask you to talk to your pastor, to be very careful Yes, I do believe that there are times when uh divorce is legitimate. It's almost never possible to get out of a marriage without sinning. But at some point, yes, it may be legitimate, especially where there is prolonged adultery and no hope of reconciliation.
but don't jump to that conclusion too quickly. God calls us not just to be happy. but to be faithful. and sometimes being faithful means that we endure, but we endure in such a way that God is honored. The name of Jesus is not maligned.
And our testimony for Christ remains secure.
So think about that, Esther. Thanks for listening, and God bless. Thank you, Esther, and thank you, Dr. Lutzer, for those thoughtful comments. If you'd like to hear your question answered, go to our website at rtwoffer.com and click on Ask Pastor Lutzer or call us at 1-888-218-9337.
That's 1-888-218-9337. You can write to us at Running2Win 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60614. Following Christ is a long-term proposition. Once we follow him into a community, our objective must be to help change that community from the inside out.
Next time, Pastor Lutzer brings message number five, changing our community.
So plan to join us. Thanks for listening. For Pastor Erwin Lutzer, this is Dave McAllister. Running to Win is sponsored by the Moody Church.
