weekly sermon

           2-24-08

Not By Accident!

For those of you that don't know me, or even for those that do, that may not know this bit of information, I was born in the early 60's. This was a time of most modern technology, yet when I was born, we lived in a small remodeled chicken house. We had no electricity, no gas, or no running water. To say the least, we were very poor. Well my parents were poor and they just dragged me along with them. My dad worked in a cotton field, then as a farm hand, and did every small job he could just to make our ends meet. We lived in some pretty rough times.

I looked back on my early childhood, reflecting on our meager existence, and thought of all the things that we really had. I was very fortunate in my life concerning the simple things in life that it takes to exist.

I thought of one simple question to ask everyone. Is there anyone out there that has had such a bad life that nothing they can think of in their lives has been good at all? I would feel very comfortable in saying that I believe that every person can think of bad things that has happened to them in their lives, but I feel more comfortable in making the statement that everyone can also think of some good things that have also happened to them. This would actually be the point to this message.

The title of this message is "not by accident". I chose this title for one simple reason. Even if you had a terrible life, you could still look back and find something good that has happened there. These good things did NOT happen to you by accident. God has always had a plan for everyone from the very beginning of time.

There is a plan for you. You just have to follow the path of God, and not waver from this path. The biggest reason that most of us can not find our plan is that we have fallen from the path God has laid out for us. How is it that we can believe that we are in the pack and that God really wants us there to fulfill our plan?

Let us take a look in the book of Matthew for the answer to our last question. Matthew 18:12, "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? (13)And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that [sheep], than of the ninety and nine which went not astray."

If we look at these two verses we notice that God is asking a question, 'wouldn't you go find your lost sheep if you had one missing?' Now remember back in this day and time what ever possessions you had were VERY valuable to your family and their way of life. These sheep were their source of income, their source of food, and their source of clothing. They would raise the sheep to sell for money, the meat from the slaughter for their food, and their wool that could be spun for clothing. The way of life in this day and time was not like ours in the sense that they had jobs to earn money to run down to Wal-Mart to get food and clothes. These were family businesses they took very serious, this is why they would rejoice so much over that one sheep they found. What I am trying to say is, when God asked this question, He already knew the answer. The answer was very clear, every Pharisee, of whom he was speaking to, would of course leave the ninety nine sheep to go an find the one that was lost.

How does this pertain to us you ask? For this answer turn with me to the book of Luke. Luke 15:4, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? (5)And when he hath found [it], he layeth [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6)And when he cometh home, he calleth together [his] friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. (7)I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

This is Luke's rendition of the occurrence. AS you can see from the story, it is basically the same as Matthew's, with one exception. Luke took this one step farther. Luke shows here how the lost sheep refers to the lost sinners of the world. The souls that are saved belong to God, which of course He is very happy to have in His flock. God has already rejoiced over these souls. Just as verse 7 states, Heaven will rejoice more for that one lost soul that needs repentance than for the ninety nine souls that do not need repentance. Just like the ninety nine sheep that are safe and sound, there is no reason to rejoice for them, there has already been rejoicing for them when they found their way. Now is the time to rejoice over that one lost that has found their way back to the flock. This lost would be those of us that have not yet found salvation. Finding this salvation is just as easy as the sheep that was lost. That lost sheep just stands there waiting to be found. God is already there, as we stated last week, and the sheep just waits to be found. Now those of you that are lost, you just need to know that God is already there looking for you. You do not need much to make it into the flock that is of God. Just as the man put the lost sheep on his shoulders, God will also carry you when you are lost until you find your way back.

My son and I were out golfing the other day. He is an exceptional golfer and I am just mediocre. He was giving me a few tips when he spoke a word of wisdom to me that not only related to golf but also related to everyday life. He said "your topping the ball, that is why you can not get it in the air. You are hitting the ball about an eighth of an inch high. If you were a fraction lower on the ball you would be hitting a perfect shot." Now you are probably asking yourself, how does this golf tip relate to everyday life. Well if I could hit that ball a fraction lower I would have the perfect shot. All it takes is that fraction to become better at my drive, and it only takes a fraction, most of the time, to become much better in life. Much of life is great for most folks, and they are on the right track, that fraction would push them over the edge to perfection.

As you can see you are only a fraction of the way from being perfect in the eyes of God. Take that one step that God wants you to take to make you the perfect person that you already are, take the step of salvation. If you have never taken that one step, all you need to do is say a simple prayer with me.

Dear Lord, take over my life and forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.

If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
 

With Love in Christ,

Pastor Stone