For the One Series: Everything for the One

For the One Series – Part 2

“Everything for The One”

April 8, 2018

Introduction:

Jesus gave his disciples a commission to change the world and that’s what we want to be all about here at Abundant Life. That’s what this message series, “For the One” is about changing the destinies of peoples lives. One of the templates that reveal the heart of Jesus and the father is found in Luke the 15 chapter. This chapter teaches the lengths at which Jesus says he is willing to go and therefore we should go to reach “The One”. Go with me to our text this morning and follow along as I read it. We are only going to read the first 8 verses.

Luke 15:1-8

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins a and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."     

(Pray for God’s Help unpacking the truth of this Word)
You may not recognize the name Arland D. Williams Jr., but he is a great American hero. Arland Williams was traveling from Washington D.C. on Florida air flight 90. The plane was flying in freezing conditions and shortly after takeoff was unable to gain the necessary altitude. The plane struck the 14th Street Bridge and plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River.

Rescue efforts started almost immediately and Williams was one of only six people who survived the crash. The survivors were struggling to stay afloat in the freezing waters when helicopters arrived to extend lifelines to those still alive. The chopper shone its light on Williams and extended him a line to pull him to safety. Williams grabbed the line and immediately took the line to someone struggling worse than he was and they were rescued.

Helicopters returned to where Williams was and extended the line again and again Williams took the line to someone else in greater need. The copter lifted the person to safety and lowered the line a third time to Williams. Without hesitation, Williams again gave the lifeline that would have carried him to safety to another survivor. The line was lowered to Williams again, but this time he was gone.

First, notice when Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees and teachers of the law about eating/reaching out to the lost he teaches that shepherd is willing to risk…

I.               Everything for the One Lost Sheep (Luke 15:4-6) 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'

a.    The Worlds Value System (Luke 15:4) Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Jesus asks the listeners, the Pharisees, and scribes a question: which of you having 100 sheep and losing one does not leave 99 and go after the one who is lost?

·      Jesus makes it sound like this would be common sense, but if you really think about this, Jesus’ idea sounds kind of foolish.

·      Leave or risk the 99 just for the sake of the one sheep?

·      Most people would not risk the health of the ninety-nine, especially not knowing if the single sheep is still even alive. The shepherd risks everything, his own life, the rest of his flock, for the sake of a single sheep.

·      If we think of it simply in the Rate of Return investment it doesn’t make sense and that IS one of the points we must not overlook.

·      Although 99 is greater than “the one” the father has a different value system.

b.    The Fathers Value System (Luke 15:6) 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'

·  Noticeably the shepherd, Jesus, greatly values the one. He is will to do whatever it takes, he risks his security and safety for the one.

·  Another glimpse into God’s value system is verse 7 - 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

·  The Story of the One is revealed over and over in the New Testament, and it is also the story of what we are all about here at Abundant Life

Then Jesus further teaches about the lengths we ought to go the reach the one as talks about doing…

II.             Everything for the One Lost Coin (Luke 15:8) 8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins a and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

The woman loses a “silver coin.” The literal term for this is a “drachma.” I wanted to try and figure how much this was worth - but there were no other instances of it being used in the New Testament. One commentator said it was worth a fraction of a penny. Another 18 or 19 cents. Another said you could buy a portion of a sheep and then in another place said you could buy an ox with one. Then I got to thinking about why there was this discrepancy in the price, and I figured it out, supply and demand. In earthly terms, the price of a drachma all depended upon the market at the time. But to this woman, it meant everything because we see…

a.    Her intense searching (Luke 15:8) Does she not light a lamp

In the Fall of 1975 just, several months after we have been married, Elke and I moved to Waxahachie, TX. I was enrolled at SAGU to finish my degree and Elke had been hired by the local hospital for her first job as a newly graduated Registered Nurse. She worked fulltime, and I went to school fulltime. One Saturday started as usual but abruptly changed when we could not find her paycheck! To tell you there was panic in that apartment and in our hearts would be an understatement! Purses were emptied two and three times, papers and bills were rifled through over and over. Couch cushions were removed, and every article of furniture was looked under. It was intense.

In our intense searching, we were going to remove every obstacle that stood in our way in our attempt to find that lost check.  Intense seek and search is another take away from the text where Jesus is teaching about everything for the one but her valuing the one lost coin is also seen in…

b.    Her persistence in seeking (Luke 15:8) sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

AB’s Spoken Word about her best Friend

Finally, it ought to be clear that Jesus reveals his heart, God’s heart and that…

III.           Everything for the One is all about Understanding Priorities (Luke 15:2)

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were isolationists – Jesus teaches us that the way to reach the one is not separation but the pursuit. The pursuit of our one. He clearly states that his mission and ours is to seek out the lost and going after the one. (Luke 19:10)

a.     Priority of the Kingdom of God is Everything “For the One” and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

·  That is what Abundant Life is about and to reach the lost we want to remove the barriers that may stand in the way.

                        Reaching the one means a ….

b.    Priority of Living by Faith –  For the One (Luke 15:4) Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost.

I’m asking you to go on a spiritual journey with Elke and me. This is a faith journey and where we simply ask God what he would have us do to reach the ones.

We have some challenges and limitations that before us but God has given us an approach and plan to address them.

Wrapping up the Message with “For the One” essentials

Walk the congregation through various sections of the brochure.

    Do a short recap of the vision, the current planning and preparation for a permanent facility, and the associated cost. Provide clarity on:

o   Vision – What are we doing?

o   Size of Need – What will it take to get to our financial goal…we want to define this more specifically before we make the "Ask"

o   Challenge /ask – What is it you are asking me to do? (Seek God with an open heart, 100% participation in seeking God with an open heart.)

    Challenge all to spend the span of this spiritual journey (next three weeks) praying over this card asking God how they might sacrificially be a part.

Equal sacrifice, not equal gifts.

An example of a youth gives an X box while a someone else gives thousands.

Both sacrificed.

    Mention alternative (non-cash) ways to give, i.e., Stocks, bonds, Real Estate, cars, boats.

    Remind then to prepare for two things on Commitment Sunday

o   Come with whatever God has spoken to you about for a three-year commitment in mind.

o   Seek God direction in what you are to do bring the largest cash offering possible towards your commitment.

Conclusion:

Someone here this morning you have never made a public commitment to the One who gave everything for one. (Confess him before men.) A couple other rededicate your life.

Pray for all of us to seek God to hear His voice in simply finding what would direct us each individual to do.