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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, good morning, and thank you for joining us today on this Thursday morning.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And today we're looking at Matthew chapter 18 and one of my favorite parables that Jesus tells, the parable of the one lost sheep.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We're looking specifically at verses twelve through fourteen, which say this What do you think?

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<v SPEAKER_00>If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go and search for the one that is straying?

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<v SPEAKER_00>If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So it is not the will of your father who is in heaven that one of these little ones will perish.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In this day and age it's pretty hard to get really lost.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Some of us remember traveling without GPSs and smartphones.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then you could truly lose your way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>As kids, we played games such as hide and seek, where the winner was the person who could stay lost the longest period of time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lostness is not as fun when you are a grown-up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It can have dire consequences here on earth as well as eternal consequences.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I remember a time when my oldest child was quite young and decided to hide in a circular clothes rack in a large department store.

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<v SPEAKER_00>As my friends and I searched for her, I grew more and more anxious until I was near panicking.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I was about to call the store security and the police, fearing that she had been abducted.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She finally decided she had won that round of hide and seek and came out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>My extreme apprehension was instantly transformed to joy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The one who had been lost was now found.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Even if you have never been lost yourself, you have misplaced something or someone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You have experienced those feelings of dread and then happiness when what you were seeking was found.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Bible says that the Lord and heaven rejoice when the lost one is found.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In Jesus' time, a flock of about a hundred animals was typical.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The shepherd knew his flock and cared for each individual.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Unlike today, when a large corporation might be willing to sacrifice one percent as long as they retain the other ninety-nine, our Lord is concerned with each and every sheep and will search diligently for the one sheep that has gone astray.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There is no such thing as an acceptable loss margin when it comes to our Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The one lost sheep may be an unbeliever.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Lord desires for all to become believers and to be saved.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When we become believers, we are brought into the safety of the sheep pen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is a reminder to us that Jesus loves all sinners.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He refers to them as little ones.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes this literally means child, but it can also mean someone who is not a believer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Who do you know that is not safely in the sheep pen?

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<v SPEAKER_00>The one may be on the fringes of our society.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He may be homeless or a drug addict.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She may be unwed mother or a prostitute.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He or she may be a church member.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This parable reminds us that Jesus loves all and that we should too.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Are you the one lost sheep that Jesus is seeking, or do you know a lost sheep?

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<v SPEAKER_00>The one sheep may be a believer who is not following Jesus with his whole heart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What percentage of your life have you surrendered to Jesus?

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<v SPEAKER_00>If it's not a hundred percent, Jesus is searching for the missing part of you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Unlike my experience with my daughter, Jesus is not searching for lost sheep in a panic.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He knows exactly where they are.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you have never entered the sheep pen, he wants you to.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you have left the fold, he desperately wants you back.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you are in the fold but have not surrendered 100% of yourself, he desires that you would.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Turn to the safety of Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There are still feelings of panic when a sheep gets lost, but it is not Jesus who is feeling that way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We are the ones who feel anxious and fearful when we are not fully surrendered to Him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He wants us to surrender all so that we can experience 100% of His peace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Our action this morning is this If you are not a believer, you are not safe.

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<v SPEAKER_00>To be plain, you cannot go to heaven when you die without Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus is the only way to have true security.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just as the sheep are safe in the shepherd's pen, believers are safe from the penalties of their sin when they believe.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Their action step is to accept Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There would be no better time than now as we near Easter.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Easter is the celebration of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When Jesus hung on the cross, he paid the penalty for all of our sins.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When he rose from the tomb, he proved that he was the Son of God and had power over sin and the grave.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Becoming a follower of Jesus is easy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Please ask any of our church staff or leaders if you have questions about how to follow Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you are a believer, there are two action steps.

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<v SPEAKER_00>One, examine yourself and prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal to you any areas that you have not surrendered fully to Him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus doesn't want 50% or 75% or even 99% of you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He wants all of you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Secondly, who do you know that is not safely in the sheep pen?

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Lord wants that person to be brought in.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Can He use you to bring that lost one in?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Consider using Easter to invite your friend or your family member that's not safely in the sheep pen to come and be a part of one of our gatherings as we celebrate the greatest news on earth, the resurrection of Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And so we pray this morning, dear Lord, please help me to see myself as you see me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Am I lost?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Have I strayed?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Or have I kept areas of my life from you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, I desire to be 100% yours.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Reveal any area of my life that I have not surrendered and give me the strength to admit it and turn it over to you now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, I know that you love all people, all sinners.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you for loving them and for loving me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Please help me see those around me with your eyes and remind me that you love them and want them to go to heaven to be with you when they die.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If there is someone that I need to bring to you, please give me the courage to do so.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you for the time of the year when we focus on your sacrifice that allows us to be cleansed of our sins and to go to heaven when we die.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you for caring as much for the one as you do for the 99.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you so much for listening to the devotion this morning.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um, as you kind of contemplate and read over this story, um, we would encourage you to read the 99 by seventh time down, or Reckless Love by Corey Asbury.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Both songs talk about this story and this parable.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You can also consider reading this parable in Luke chapter 15, which goes into a little bit more depth in his gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But thank you so much for joining us today as we looked at Matthew chapter 18.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Read that on your own time again, and we'll see you back tomorrow morning as we look at Matthew chapter 19.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Have a great day.