The Sermon God Is Seeking You by David M. McGee
Sep 20, 2015
God Is Seeking You (31:25)
Referenced Scriptures: Luke 15:1-24; Hebrews 10:19-39; Luke 1:39-45
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Luke 15:1-24
1) Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
2) The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
3) He told them this parable.
4) "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn‘t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
5) When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6) When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!‘
7) I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
8) Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma, wouldn‘t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
9) When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.‘
10) Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting."
11) He said, "A certain man had two sons.
12) The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.‘ He divided his living to them.
13) Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and took his journey into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
14) When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
15) He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16) He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
17) But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father‘s have bread enough to spare, and I‘m dying with hunger!
18) I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.
19) I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants."‘
20) He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21) The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son.‘
22) But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
23) Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;
24) for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.‘ They began to be merry.
Hebrews 10:19-39
19) Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20) by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21) and having a great priest over the house of God;
22) let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
23) let us hold fast the confession of our hope unyieldingly. For he who promised is faithful.
24) Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
25) not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
26) For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.
28) A man who has set at nothing Moses‘ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
29) How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30) For we know him who said, "Vengeance belongs to me," says the Lord, "I will repay." Again, "The Lord will judge his people."
31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32) But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings;
33) partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.
34) For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
35) Therefore don‘t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
36) For you need patience, so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
37) "For yet a very little while, He who comes will come, and will not wait.
38) But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
39) But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.
Luke 1:39-45
39) Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
40) and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41) It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary‘s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42) She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43) Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44) For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
45) Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
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This. The le for today is is with you. is with you. And sometimes. We have the no misunderstanding. That is someplace else and not beside us that is preoccupied with all the affairs of the world. He can't be listening to my prayer. Or you know he's off on of A is not off on a vacation you know those all those things that we might throw in there to miss give a misconception about who is and what he is and how he's working in our life so I'm not going to clear all of them up today. But I want to see the importance of that of understanding that is with us. And that is with us and it means that we are never by ourselves. We are never alone and no matter what problem or what difficulty we find ourselves in is with us. There were these two boys and they were. This is a little joke. There were these two boys and they were always in trouble. You know. No matter it home at church at school they were always in trouble so the mother being very concerned about it. Decided that she would ask. The pastor to speak with the boys and so he decided to bring the. One of the boys and in talk to them about his his behavior. So the pastor had the boy said down in his office and in his goal was to let him know that is with you. And he is with us all the time. But of course he didn't ask it that way. He. He asked the boy. Where is and boy sets there and doesn't say anything. And he asked again. Where is and the third time he becomes very demonstrative this is where is the boy. Jumps up and runs out of his office and he runs home. He grabs his brother and they hide in a closet. What's wrong what's wrong. Well is missing and I think we stole them. So isn't missing. is with us and we know that he sits in he we know that he sits on the throne in heaven. But the throne of heaven is not just where he is. He is everywhere present at the same time. And sometimes we look at these misconceptions. And I think we're a lot like the little boy. We have the sots and somehow gods. Missing and he's M.I.A. he's missing in action we need him and he's not here or he's not interested in that. He's too busy seeing to the affairs of the universe and doesn't have time to listen to us. And it's. It's sad how many individuals that you speak with that I speak with that have this understanding that is somewhere other than where I am and that he's too busy taking care of things. Well what we've done is make in our own image. Now. I don't know about you but it's hard to pay attention to two or three things at the same time and give every one of them are in divided attention. You know. If you're talking to someone and they're not paying attention you can generally tell. They're looking someplace else and. Or if they're looking at you with this blank stare and. You know they're not really they're there someplace else. And so we think of in that whole concept the somehow. He's too busy there's too many of us there's too many things going on that. He just can't get it all together. Well we need to rethink the holes. Concepts and understand that if all the people who have who are who have ever lived. All the people who will ever live. All at one moment in time would approach with a prayer to give to each one of us. His undivided attention. There's enough of to give to. There's enough of to give his undivided attention to everyone. Every moment of every day. And it's not taxing or wearing on him. OK. So isn't bound by our concepts. And our limitations. He is the hero. We don't make him in our image. We are made in his. So we need to recognize that in our life. So we take time. Take time every hour to acknowledge that is with us. Practice the presence of . Practice being being aware that is with us. That we are aware that is here he is with us when we're driving worries with us around the table. He's with us in oh as we're taking a walk. Whatever it is going to work. is with us he's there. Every moment. And he's there all the time so why not stop and thank him for his presence. Why not stop and sank him for being with us want to stop and you know. Be aware. is here. You know. He never know he might help you out a little bit this week I was driving. To Berlin and. Usually you know I'm not too big of a hurry anymore. Just going to get there you know whatever. But a grounding the band up on one of the straight stretches and it's a it's a very nice hill a nice grade. You can do very well because I usually pool over let the trucks take that route. And let them fly down the road and I discontinued. Driving. Well this particular day. I'm going down the hill and it's like you know what I needed to slow down. It's like well as their god is their cop up ahead. There policeman up ahead radar that's what is radar gods saving me from the radar gun you know. And so you slow up and you're going down the road and just as I was coming to this creek. And a little bridge and it's kind of a grow overgrown area deer jumps out. Runs right across the road in front of me. And I didn't have to swerve I hit the brakes but you know if I had been a few seconds faster. We probably would have met each other and become personally acquainted. But. But it's just those things that is with us every moment of every day no if I had hit the deer was against me. No you know. No matter what happens. is there and we. We asked for his direction we asked for his protection. We asked for his guidance so. But we need to be aware that is with us. And that whatever we're facing. is with us. Whatever we need his strength is there to to help us. So in Luke Chapter fifteen. This is a very familiar story in very familiar section of scriptures and. It begins with the. The law sheep in Luke Chapter fifteen. We find that. Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. But the sheriff season the teachers of the law. Muttered. This man welcome centers and eats with them. So here we are sitting in a religious. You know. Jesus is sitting in a group of people. And he's sitting with people who are sinners. There are tax collectors and they are centers and to the elite of the society. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law. While he should know better than to ociate with people. People of Leicester status and. When we when we look at this we sometimes feel that we're not good enough. Well. If you think that you're not good enough we need to pay attention to this verse. Because the people who were the educators. The ones who represented . Are the ones who are very condescending to those who are seemingly outside of the fold. While Jesus here in begins with this parable and. This is Jesus telling us about the father. And how that Todd is looking after seeking. Each of us. His children. So Jesus told the pair of Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not have the one thousand nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it. So it isn't that is so preoccupied with the ninety and nine that. Did I lose somewhat He along the way. Well he's not preoccupied with that he's not preoccupied with oh one is lost or preoccupied with the ninety and nine. He understands that he seeks for now. If we were not of value. Why would seek us. If we did not have value. And that are lying if I did not have value. Why would seek us out but you see. We have value because . Seeks to be with us. He seeks your life. And he wants us to fit into the. You know all things work together good. That each piece of the puzzle of our life. Fits in to gether But this piece of the puzzle. And me and my piece of the puzzle. Fits into the puzzle piece for other people's lives and the plan of for other people. And for myself. So we're not just having our own little puzzle. Putting our life together. And how that all these things fit in to gather for us. But is working. This whole situation that is not only fit for our life but our piece of the puzzle fits into other pieces of individuals lives. And all of us in the body of Christ. We are all part of the Body of Christ fitting all of our lives together so there's this m ive puzzle being put together. Every day is the Body of Christ and we're active in it. And that every little thing so is a preoccupied Ohana I make all this fit. You know the misfit the misfits. How can we make the missed it fit. And doesn't have any misses. He is only children. And his children. is working fitting everything together for us. And how that then effects upon other people. HOW THE than works out into the lives of other people. So here is the last sheet. What's going on there's there's someone missing in this piece of the puzzle and the shepherd is going to go out and look for them. The shepherd is going to go find the lost sheep. Did you ever go searching for an animal in the woods. Well. We used to have. We used to have cattle at the farm and there was always one. One or two they would jump the fence. And you have to go find it. And sometimes the young ones you know the the. Nine months. Year Old Ones you know. They when they got out. I mean they could run like the wind and. And you couldn't find them we were out I remember one time we searched almost a whole day to find one cow. You know. One young cow and it was a. It was a neighbor. A couple miles away told us that you lose a cow. Usually they'll stay relatively close to the to the pasture to the others. But this one was way off at the neighbors and we had to go. Drive over there and then of course we had to chase it back home. And it surely had no sense of direction because it was always wanting to go the opposite way of which he trying to get it. So you had those times and. But will go out and search out and look for us. And he knows exactly where we're at he knows exactly what's going on in our life and. And it's grin it's it isn't that the ninety nine don't have value. They are safe in the relationship that they have. And is looking for the one that is lost. So Jesus is telling us the story and then the second one is or Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Now. This is a very important. Silver coins. Some have likened it to the headdress that they would wear. And that on this headdress were ten silver coins that would be like a diamond ring a wedding ring. That you would have and suppose that you lost it would you look for it. You know Rhonda lost a diamond out of her ring. When David Michael was little she was carrying him into the bedroom and. And she lost it she hit the wall. Well we didn't know it was gone till she found this. Jagat thing it's like oh my word she loses. So was we were outside we were doing all these things but then of course we're tracking around an individual told us while at night. Get a big high powered big flashlight and shine it on the rug around the house and the diamond will pick up. That's how we found it. You know had to wait till night time and then. You know. Wait until then I thought we found it in the bedroom where David Michael was in the crib and. We could see the light and see the diamond. And see is looking for us you know the difference between a diamond in a lump of coal. One. What's that age no pressure pressure. A diamond has has sustained itself and stayed together under pressure. A lump of coal hasn't had the intense pressure and in our line. Sometimes we think of the pressure is being that which would destroy us. But in an actuality is that which will bring out a greater value in those. And it's in this growing process that we are looking in so the woman. And this is again is the story Jesus is telling about someone who has a sense of value. Someone who has a sense of value on an item. And they are going to spend everything. They have they're going to take care of the house apart. Looking for this one piece this one coing. Well you've got nine more what do you want with one. You know what you just be happy with nine and let the tenth one go. It represents more than just ten pieces of silver. It isn't the monetary value. It's the relational value. That is important. And so Jesus is telling us that this relational value that he has for us to so important that he will search a south. And the third story Jesus has is the parable of the lost son. And here we have the sun. One of the has two sons and one of them just says you know what dad. I want what belongs to me. And I'm outta here. I don't want to stay in this in this dead beat place. And I don't want to stay here on the farm or taking care of cattle and sheep and all that stuff. I don't want to do that I want to go live my life and haven't my way. You know I would sing for sing for you. I did it my way but I won't. And so this is the kid this is the guy who says I'm going to do it my own way. Takes off. What happens. He spends everything he has an inch up eating in the pig pin. Taking care of Pigs and eating in the pig pen. While I actually can't eat. In the pig pen because the pigs have more value than he does. So he can't even eat the food for the pigs. Because he doesn't have any value. He's lost. Well what happens. The father is looking for his son. And he feels the urge to return to where his father's through his father's home. He has the urge to return home to where he is even those slaves in my father's house. Eat better than this and are taking care of. I will come back and I will offer myself as his servant. So that I could just have food again. And have some place to stay in the picture we have here is that the father is looking for his son. And while the sun is a great way off. The father knows. That's my boy. That's my child. And what happens. He runs towards him. So that's the image that Jesus is telling us about the Father and about looking towards us and for us. He's looking and longing for us to be in a relationship with him and he wants us he wants to be involved in our life. He wants to be involved with you when he look around say Whoa. That will make one. That's one person who wants to be involved in my life maybe too. Into. But know it's who has this greatest that is this great appreciation for who we are and what we can become so we have the law shape the last coin and the last son. But is with us. And you see. When Adam and Eve are in the garden. And Adam and Eve sinned. And Jesus or comes down in the cool the day and says Adam or are you know. It was Adam who was hiding. It was who is doing the seeking. I often we have this image that. If I don't seek him. He's not interested in me. Not true. is interested in our life. That's why we have to as it were open our hearts and open our lives to recognize that who is and how that he wants to be involved in our lives. He wants to be involved. You know I heard about the story with Mary. When Mary is pregnant and know Mary is has conceived and her cousin Elizabeth is with child and. When Mary goes to see Elizabeth. That as she approaches and as she talks to Elizabeth. The baby inside John the Baptist's inside. Elizabeth leaps and comes to life. You know. And I was thinking of how that. How that whenever 's promises. Come to our life. Like we say loves us and inside of us there's this. Yes. This is sleep inside of us. They're just promise inside of us A says. Yes that's true. And that's the life of the Spirit. Birthing you know letting us know that that there's this. There's someone alive in us. And I'm not having a baby. But I have. I am alive with promises. I'm alive with the promises of . And there are these gifting that has placed inside of us. And whenever someone talks about them. It's like yes yes that be good that would be wonderful. And then we go wow you know it could be for me because see how we try to sabotage. What has placed inside of us. We try to almost downplay. We've got his place inside of us. Because it seems so impossible. And so unlikely. And it doesn't fit. Our image of what is like. So we need to. We need to see this when you see for who says he is. We need to see for what his word. The picture of what has presented of Himself in His Word. And we need to see that is desiring to be with us as . Having a will for our life. And you know what. You haven't missed it. If you haven't missed out on the will of because can work all things together. All of the mishaps all of the garbage all the difficulties. He can work it all into a plane. That is a perfect picture. For fulfilling his will in our lives. Paul in prison. He's Well Paul the Apostle Paul was Saul of Tarsus. He's killing Christians. How can he. How can he in his life it into good. But it does. It turns it around. He turns it around and find jesus and it's all there. I think of Peter Peter and whenever he says oh jesus the worry I'll never deny you and Jesus says Peter. Tonight. You're going to deny me three times. What kind of failures do we think. Take us out of the position where wants us to be. What type of failures are so great that we cannot find the will of for our life. How about denying Jesus. Peter did you know it's interesting that. After the resurrection. The. They're told the ladies are told go back to the disciples and tell them that I'm alive and tell Peter tell Peter. See tell teacher. See there was no exclusions Peter would have to exclude himself from being blessed by . Because of his denial. wasn't looking at his denial. He was looking at what he could become. Because Peter had a will and a purpose that wanted to fulfill. And he didn't blow it. Because he he denied Jesus Jesus work that out for the good in his life. And then in Hebrews Chapter ten. I like this this verse here. It's Hebrews Chapter ten beginning at verse. One thousand nine hundred four brother since we have confidence to enter into the most holy place. Having boldness to enter. You see. has sought after us and has brought us into a relationship with him. So that we can have boldness to come to him that we can have boldness just to say Jesus. You know. Jesus I know you're here with me and I'm coming right into your presence. And your presence is already here. So I can have a boldness to enter into this relationship to has the stablished forming. Adam where are you. David where are you. He knows Rahmat he wants me to admit. I need him. I want. He wants me to recognize that no matter what I've done he still calling me to into his presence. And that when I am in his presence I am there because of his grace and His mercy. I am there because he loves me and he wants me to be there. He wants me to be in that his presence. So since we have this confidence we have boldness to enter into this holy place. By the blood of Jesus. I don't come in a god look what I've done. I come in. Oh thank you for what you have done and that. There's no presumption. There is only knowing. He loves me. There's only knowing. I'm forgiven. There's only knowing. I'm supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be in his presence. I'm supposed to come in like. I've never sinned. Because in 's eyes. My sins don't exist anymore. My failures don't exist anymore. So what's keeping us from coming boldly to . Are misconceptions of and of things we've done. And how we think that somehow. We don't deserve this more deserving has nothing to do about it so do with it. No one deserves. Solve a sion. But has freely given freely given. You know. I go back to that with the thief on the cross. And he says to Jesus remember me. Remember me. And Jesus is today. You'll be with me in paradise. What did. What did the thief do to deserve being inserted into paradise. What did this. What did the thief. Deserve How did he deserve anything. He said I deserve this death I deserve to live like this. I deserve to end my life this way because of what I've done. And Jesus says. Basically I'm you know. You're all going to be put back together again in my kingdom. And it's all OK. You're forgiven. You'll be with me today. See it's. What does that teach us. It teaches us to is is beyond all of our rules and regulations. is beyond all the things that we line up in like the Pharisees saying. Doesn't he know who he sitting with. And Jesus saying yeah I know who I'm sitting with I've going out seeking the sheep. I'm seeking the. The last coin. I'm looking for my lost son. These are my last sheet these are all my lost a flock and I've come to be with them. And you guys. You can't see the. You can see the hand in front of your face. You can see the writing on the wall. And what are we supposed to do as individuals who are found. As in one thousand nine were to come boldly to 's Presence. As if there's never been a mistake. As if there's never been a sin and. And they goes on by a new and living way open to a for us through the curtain. In the Old Testament. It was by this killing of a sacrifice. Killing of the Lamb killing of the bull killing of the of the turtle dove killing of these animals. But in the New Testament Jesus is saying. It's a new and living way. Open to all who will recognize that the curtain has been torn. That that which that courage in which separated the holies of Holies from the rest of the nation. That tore that curtain is torn in half and we have access by a new. And a living way. In the new in living way as Jesus Christ. If we desperately verse twenty six if we desperately keep on singing. After we have received the knowledge of the truth. No sacrifice for sin is this. If gone if we can't recognize that has forgiven us of our sins. And that we just throw it away as if it is nothing. There is no other way. Jesus says I am the Way the Truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me so the only way is through Jesus and if we won't accept his forgiveness. There isn't one. And then verse thirty five. So do not throw away your confidence. Do not throw away your confidence. Don't throw away your confidence. When Mary. Spoke to Elizabeth. The baby in the lives of his room. Jumped with joy a spirit was opponent. When we read the promises. When we hear the promise. Were forgiven. loves us all things work together fit together for good. has a plan in a purpose for our life. When we say and hear those promises. And something alive. Leaps. Inside of us. The life inside of us leaps. And it's saying yes. That's for you to not throw away your confidence. Don't throw away that experience. Don't allow it to simply die. Keep it alive. Because it's through that trial and through the difficulties. And through the problems you will see . Answer that leap of joy inside of you. It's true that understanding that has spoken to our hearts and no matter what we see in a matter what we think the matter what we feel. will honor his word that he has made real to our hearts. Do not throw away your confidence. It will be richly rewarded. You need to preserve some you need to persevered so that when you have done the will of you were received what he has promised. So as we have stayed faithful to what has given us. We will receive the promise that came to life inside of us. We will receive that promise to jumped inside of our. Our spirit when we heard the word of for our life. Never let that fade allow the Spirit of to speak those things and keep them alive in us. Every day every moment of every day. We remind ourselves. is with us. He is sought us. He is continuing to be with us you'll never leave us nor forsake us. So no matter where we are no matter where we're at what's going on remember is with me. is with me. is here. And he is honoring his word inside of me. And even though I may not feel that jump. Baby still in there. They've he's alive the spirit is alive and that promise was alive inside of us. They meant. Let's stand him and. Thank you Jesus. That you have heard our prayers. you have found us. Now we have found you and you've been there all the time. Thank you Jesus for touching our lives by your Spirit speaking to our hearts. By your word giving us strength for this moment that we may understand you more deeply and clearly. Thank you Jesus for being with us and we are grateful that our name is written in your book of life. That every incident of our life is going to fit together. Not because we're going to make it fit. But you Lord. Are putting it together by your spirits in your word. We pray these things in Jesus name and everyone said Amen. bless you. This. The le for today is is with you. is with you. And sometimes. We have the no misunderstanding. That is someplace else and not beside us that is preoccupied with all the affairs of the world. He can't be listening to my prayer. Or you know he's off on of A is not off on a vacation you know those all those things that we might throw in there to miss give a misconception about who is and what he is and how he's working in our life so I'm not going to clear all of them up today. But I want to see the importance of that of understanding that is with us. And that is with us and it means that we are never by ourselves. We are never alone and no matter what problem or what difficulty we find ourselves in is with us. There were these two boys and they were. This is a little joke. There were these two boys and they were always in trouble. You know. No matter it home at church at school they were always in trouble so the mother being very concerned about it. Decided that she would ask. The pastor to speak with the boys and so he decided to bring the. One of the boys and in talk to them about his his behavior. So the pastor had the boy said down in his office and in his goal was to let him know that is with you. And he is with us all the time. But of course he didn't ask it that way. He. He asked the boy. Where is and boy sets there and doesn't say anything. And he asked again. Where is and the third time he becomes very demonstrative this is where is the boy. Jumps up and runs out of his office and he runs home. He grabs his brother and they hide in a closet. What's wrong what's wrong. Well is missing and I think we stole them. So isn't missing. is with us and we know that he sits in he we know that he sits on the throne in heaven. But the throne of heaven is not just where he is. He is everywhere present at the same time. And sometimes we look at these misconceptions. And I think we're a lot like the little boy. We have the sots and somehow gods. Missing and he's M.I.A. he's missing in action we need him and he's not here or he's not interested in that. He's too busy seeing to the affairs of the universe and doesn't have time to listen to us. And it's. It's sad how many individuals that you speak with that I speak with that have this understanding that is somewhere other than where I am and that he's too busy taking care of things. Well what we've done is make in our own image. Now. I don't know about you but it's hard to pay attention to two or three things at the same time and give every one of them are in divided attention. You know. If you're talking to someone and they're not paying attention you can generally tell. They're looking someplace else and. Or if they're looking at you with this blank stare and. You know they're not really they're there someplace else. And so we think of in that whole concept the somehow. He's too busy there's too many of us there's too many things going on that. He just can't get it all together. Well we need to rethink the holes. Concepts and understand that if all the people who have who are who have ever lived. All the people who will ever live. All at one moment in time would approach with a prayer to give to each one of us. His undivided attention. There's enough of to give to. There's enough of to give his undivided attention to everyone. Every moment of every day. And it's not taxing or wearing on him. OK. So isn't bound by our concepts. And our limitations. He is the hero. We don't make him in our image. We are made in his. So we need to recognize that in our life. So we take time. Take time every hour to acknowledge that is with us. Practice the presence of . Practice being being aware that is with us. That we are aware that is here he is with us when we're driving worries with us around the table. He's with us in oh as we're taking a walk. Whatever it is going to work. is with us he's there. Every moment. And he's there all the time so why not stop and thank him for his presence. Why not stop and sank him for being with us want to stop and you know. Be aware. is here. You know. He never know he might help you out a little bit this week I was driving. To Berlin and. Usually you know I'm not too big of a hurry anymore. Just going to get there you know whatever. But a grounding the band up on one of the straight stretches and it's a it's a very nice hill a nice grade. You can do very well because I usually pool over let the trucks take that route. And let them fly down the road and I discontinued. Driving. Well this particular day. I'm going down the hill and it's like you know what I needed to slow down. It's like well as their god is their cop up ahead. There policeman up ahead radar that's what is radar gods saving me from the radar gun you know. And so you slow up and you're going down the road and just as I was coming to this creek. And a little bridge and it's kind of a grow overgrown area deer jumps out. Runs right across the road in front of me. And I didn't have to swerve I hit the brakes but you know if I had been a few seconds faster. We probably would have met each other and become personally acquainted. But. But it's just those things that is with us every moment of every day no if I had hit the deer was against me. No you know. No matter what happens. is there and we. We asked for his direction we asked for his protection. We asked for his guidance so. But we need to be aware that is with us. And that whatever we're facing. is with us. Whatever we need his strength is there to to help us. So in Luke Chapter fifteen. This is a very familiar story in very familiar section of scriptures and. It begins with the. The law sheep in Luke Chapter fifteen. We find that. Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. But the sheriff season the teachers of the law. Muttered. This man welcome centers and eats with them. So here we are sitting in a religious. You know. Jesus is sitting in a group of people. And he's sitting with people who are sinners. There are tax collectors and they are centers and to the elite of the society. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law. While he should know better than to ociate with people. People of Leicester status and. When we when we look at this we sometimes feel that we're not good enough. Well. If you think that you're not good enough we need to pay attention to this verse. Because the people who were the educators. The ones who represented . Are the ones who are very condescending to those who are seemingly outside of the fold. While Jesus here in begins with this parable and. This is Jesus telling us about the father. And how that Todd is looking after seeking. Each of us. His children. So Jesus told the pair of Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not have the one thousand nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it. So it isn't that is so preoccupied with the ninety and nine that. Did I lose somewhat He along the way. Well he's not preoccupied with that he's not preoccupied with oh one is lost or preoccupied with the ninety and nine. He understands that he seeks for now. If we were not of value. Why would seek us. If we did not have value. And that are lying if I did not have value. Why would seek us out but you see. We have value because . Seeks to be with us. He seeks your life. And he wants us to fit into the. You know all things work together good. That each piece of the puzzle of our life. Fits in to gether But this piece of the puzzle. And me and my piece of the puzzle. Fits into the puzzle piece for other people's lives and the plan of for other people. And for myself. So we're not just having our own little puzzle. Putting our life together. And how that all these things fit in to gather for us. But is working. This whole situation that is not only fit for our life but our piece of the puzzle fits into other pieces of individuals lives. And all of us in the body of Christ. We are all part of the Body of Christ fitting all of our lives together so there's this m ive puzzle being put together. Every day is the Body of Christ and we're active in it. And that every little thing so is a preoccupied Ohana I make all this fit. You know the misfit the misfits. How can we make the missed it fit. And doesn't have any misses. He is only children. And his children. is working fitting everything together for us. And how that then effects upon other people. HOW THE than works out into the lives of other people. So here is the last sheet. What's going on there's there's someone missing in this piece of the puzzle and the shepherd is going to go out and look for them. The shepherd is going to go find the lost sheep. Did you ever go searching for an animal in the woods. Well. We used to have. We used to have cattle at the farm and there was always one. One or two they would jump the fence. And you have to go find it. And sometimes the young ones you know the the. Nine months. Year Old Ones you know. They when they got out. I mean they could run like the wind and. And you couldn't find them we were out I remember one time we searched almost a whole day to find one cow. You know. One young cow and it was a. It was a neighbor. A couple miles away told us that you lose a cow. Usually they'll stay relatively close to the to the pasture to the others. But this one was way off at the neighbors and we had to go. Drive over there and then of course we had to chase it back home. And it surely had no sense of direction because it was always wanting to go the opposite way of which he trying to get it. So you had those times and. But will go out and search out and look for us. And he knows exactly where we're at he knows exactly what's going on in our life and. And it's grin it's it isn't that the ninety nine don't have value. They are safe in the relationship that they have. And is looking for the one that is lost. So Jesus is telling us the story and then the second one is or Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Now. This is a very important. Silver coins. Some have likened it to the headdress that they would wear. And that on this headdress were ten silver coins that would be like a diamond ring a wedding ring. That you would have and suppose that you lost it would you look for it. You know Rhonda lost a diamond out of her ring. When David Michael was little she was carrying him into the bedroom and. And she lost it she hit the wall. Well we didn't know it was gone till she found this. Jagat thing it's like oh my word she loses. So was we were outside we were doing all these things but then of course we're tracking around an individual told us while at night. Get a big high powered big flashlight and shine it on the rug around the house and the diamond will pick up. That's how we found it. You know had to wait till night time and then. You know. Wait until then I thought we found it in the bedroom where David Michael was in the crib and. We could see the light and see the diamond. And see is looking for us you know the difference between a diamond in a lump of coal. One. What's that age no pressure pressure. A diamond has has sustained itself and stayed together under pressure. A lump of coal hasn't had the intense pressure and in our line. Sometimes we think of the pressure is being that which would destroy us. But in an actuality is that which will bring out a greater value in those. And it's in this growing process that we are looking in so the woman. And this is again is the story Jesus is telling about someone who has a sense of value. Someone who has a sense of value on an item. And they are going to spend everything. They have they're going to take care of the house apart. Looking for this one piece this one coing. Well you've got nine more what do you want with one. You know what you just be happy with nine and let the tenth one go. It represents more than just ten pieces of silver. It isn't the monetary value. It's the relational value. That is important. And so Jesus is telling us that this relational value that he has for us to so important that he will search a south. And the third story Jesus has is the parable of the lost son. And here we have the sun. One of the has two sons and one of them just says you know what dad. I want what belongs to me. And I'm outta here. I don't want to stay in this in this dead beat place. And I don't want to stay here on the farm or taking care of cattle and sheep and all that stuff. I don't want to do that I want to go live my life and haven't my way. You know I would sing for sing for you. I did it my way but I won't. And so this is the kid this is the guy who says I'm going to do it my own way. Takes off. What happens. He spends everything he has an inch up eating in the pig pin. Taking care of Pigs and eating in the pig pen. While I actually can't eat. In the pig pen because the pigs have more value than he does. So he can't even eat the food for the pigs. Because he doesn't have any value. He's lost. Well what happens. The father is looking for his son. And he feels the urge to return to where his father's through his father's home. He has the urge to return home to where he is even those slaves in my father's house. Eat better than this and are taking care of. I will come back and I will offer myself as his servant. So that I could just have food again. And have some place to stay in the picture we have here is that the father is looking for his son. And while the sun is a great way off. The father knows. That's my boy. That's my child. And what happens. He runs towards him. So that's the image that Jesus is telling us about the Father and about looking towards us and for us. He's looking and longing for us to be in a relationship with him and he wants us he wants to be involved in our life. He wants to be involved with you when he look around say Whoa. That will make one. That's one person who wants to be involved in my life maybe too. Into. But know it's who has this greatest that is this great appreciation for who we are and what we can become so we have the law shape the last coin and the last son. But is with us. And you see. When Adam and Eve are in the garden. And Adam and Eve sinned. And Jesus or comes down in the cool the day and says Adam or are you know. It was Adam who was hiding. It was who is doing the seeking. I often we have this image that. If I don't seek him. He's not interested in me. Not true. is interested in our life. That's why we have to as it were open our hearts and open our lives to recognize that who is and how that he wants to be involved in our lives. He wants to be involved. You know I heard about the story with Mary. When Mary is pregnant and know Mary is has conceived and her cousin Elizabeth is with child and. When Mary goes to see Elizabeth. That as she approaches and as she talks to Elizabeth. The baby inside John the Baptist's inside. Elizabeth leaps and comes to life. You know. And I was thinking of how that. How that whenever 's promises. Come to our life. Like we say loves us and inside of us there's this. Yes. This is sleep inside of us. They're just promise inside of us A says. Yes that's true. And that's the life of the Spirit. Birthing you know letting us know that that there's this. There's someone alive in us. And I'm not having a baby. But I have. I am alive with promises. I'm alive with the promises of . And there are these gifting that has placed inside of us. And whenever someone talks about them. It's like yes yes that be good that would be wonderful. And then we go wow you know it could be for me because see how we try to sabotage. What has placed inside of us. We try to almost downplay. We've got his place inside of us. Because it seems so impossible. And so unlikely. And it doesn't fit. Our image of what is like. So we need to. We need to see this when you see for who says he is. We need to see for what his word. The picture of what has presented of Himself in His Word. And we need to see that is desiring to be with us as . Having a will for our life. And you know what. You haven't missed it. If you haven't missed out on the will of because can work all things together. All of the mishaps all of the garbage all the difficulties. He can work it all into a plane. That is a perfect picture. For fulfilling his will in our lives. Paul in prison. He's Well Paul the Apostle Paul was Saul of Tarsus. He's killing Christians. How can he. How can he in his life it into good. But it does. It turns it around. He turns it around and find jesus and it's all there. I think of Peter Peter and whenever he says oh jesus the worry I'll never deny you and Jesus says Peter. Tonight. You're going to deny me three times. What kind of failures do we think. Take us out of the position where wants us to be. What type of failures are so great that we cannot find the will of for our life. How about denying Jesus. Peter did you know it's interesting that. After the resurrection. The. They're told the ladies are told go back to the disciples and tell them that I'm alive and tell Peter tell Peter. See tell teacher. See there was no exclusions Peter would have to exclude himself from being blessed by . Because of his denial. wasn't looking at his denial. He was looking at what he could become. Because Peter had a will and a purpose that wanted to fulfill. And he didn't blow it. Because he he denied Jesus Jesus work that out for the good in his life. And then in Hebrews Chapter ten. I like this this verse here. It's Hebrews Chapter ten beginning at verse. One thousand nine hundred four brother since we have confidence to enter into the most holy place. Having boldness to enter. You see. has sought after us and has brought us into a relationship with him. So that we can have boldness to come to him that we can have boldness just to say Jesus. You know. Jesus I know you're here with me and I'm coming right into your presence. And your presence is already here. So I can have a boldness to enter into this relationship to has the stablished forming. Adam where are you. David where are you. He knows Rahmat he wants me to admit. I need him. I want. He wants me to recognize that no matter what I've done he still calling me to into his presence. And that when I am in his presence I am there because of his grace and His mercy. I am there because he loves me and he wants me to be there. He wants me to be in that his presence. So since we have this confidence we have boldness to enter into this holy place. By the blood of Jesus. I don't come in a god look what I've done. I come in. Oh thank you for what you have done and that. There's no presumption. There is only knowing. He loves me. There's only knowing. I'm forgiven. There's only knowing. I'm supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be in his presence. I'm supposed to come in like. I've never sinned. Because in 's eyes. My sins don't exist anymore. My failures don't exist anymore. So what's keeping us from coming boldly to . Are misconceptions of and of things we've done. And how we think that somehow. We don't deserve this more deserving has nothing to do about it so do with it. No one deserves. Solve a sion. But has freely given freely given. You know. I go back to that with the thief on the cross. And he says to Jesus remember me. Remember me. And Jesus is today. You'll be with me in paradise. What did. What did the thief do to deserve being inserted into paradise. What did this. What did the thief. Deserve How did he deserve anything. He said I deserve this death I deserve to live like this. I deserve to end my life this way because of what I've done. And Jesus says. Basically I'm you know. You're all going to be put back together again in my kingdom. And it's all OK. You're forgiven. You'll be with me today. See it's. What does that teach us. It teaches us to is is beyond all of our rules and regulations. is beyond all the things that we line up in like the Pharisees saying. Doesn't he know who he sitting with. And Jesus saying yeah I know who I'm sitting with I've going out seeking the sheep. I'm seeking the. The last coin. I'm looking for my lost son. These are my last sheet these are all my lost a flock and I've come to be with them. And you guys. You can't see the. You can see the hand in front of your face. You can see the writing on the wall. And what are we supposed to do as individuals who are found. As in one thousand nine were to come boldly to 's Presence. As if there's never been a mistake. As if there's never been a sin and. And they goes on by a new and living way open to a for us through the curtain. In the Old Testament. It was by this killing of a sacrifice. Killing of the Lamb killing of the bull killing of the of the turtle dove killing of these animals. But in the New Testament Jesus is saying. It's a new and living way. Open to all who will recognize that the curtain has been torn. That that which that courage in which separated the holies of Holies from the rest of the nation. That tore that curtain is torn in half and we have access by a new. And a living way. In the new in living way as Jesus Christ. If we desperately verse twenty six if we desperately keep on singing. After we have received the knowledge of the truth. No sacrifice for sin is this. If gone if we can't recognize that has forgiven us of our sins. And that we just throw it away as if it is nothing. There is no other way. Jesus says I am the Way the Truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me so the only way is through Jesus and if we won't accept his forgiveness. There isn't one. And then verse thirty five. So do not throw away your confidence. Do not throw away your confidence. Don't throw away your confidence. When Mary. Spoke to Elizabeth. The baby in the lives of his room. Jumped with joy a spirit was opponent. When we read the promises. When we hear the promise. Were forgiven. loves us all things work together fit together for good. has a plan in a purpose for our life. When we say and hear those promises. And something alive. Leaps. Inside of us. The life inside of us leaps. And it's saying yes. That's for you to not throw away your confidence. Don't throw away that experience. Don't allow it to simply die. Keep it alive. Because it's through that trial and through the difficulties. And through the problems you will see . Answer that leap of joy inside of you. It's true that understanding that has spoken to our hearts and no matter what we see in a matter what we think the matter what we feel. will honor his word that he has made real to our hearts. Do not throw away your confidence. It will be richly rewarded. You need to preserve some you need to persevered so that when you have done the will of you were received what he has promised. So as we have stayed faithful to what has given us. We will receive the promise that came to life inside of us. We will receive that promise to jumped inside of our. Our spirit when we heard the word of for our life. Never let that fade allow the Spirit of to speak those things and keep them alive in us. Every day every moment of every day. We remind ourselves. is with us. He is sought us. He is continuing to be with us you'll never leave us nor forsake us. So no matter where we are no matter where we're at what's going on remember is with me. is with me. is here. And he is honoring his word inside of me. And even though I may not feel that jump. Baby still in there. They've he's alive the spirit is alive and that promise was alive inside of us. They meant. Let's stand him and. Thank you Jesus. That you have heard our prayers. you have found us. Now we have found you and you've been there all the time. Thank you Jesus for touching our lives by your Spirit speaking to our hearts. By your word giving us strength for this moment that we may understand you more deeply and clearly. Thank you Jesus for being with us and we are grateful that our name is written in your book of life. That every incident of our life is going to fit together. Not because we're going to make it fit. But you Lord. Are putting it together by your spirits in your word. We pray these things in Jesus name and everyone said Amen. bless you.