3 Conditions of Being Lost 

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2 Corinthians 4:4

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

Matt 18:11

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

 

Lost- having no direction, wandering aimlessly without purpose or direction

 

• Men never admit they are lost
• Just takes longer to get there
• Lost w/Judy

 

The world is lost

• Have no direction
• Wandering aimlessly
• Drugs, alcohol, perversion, material things, fashion, lost causes
• Sin is running rampant in the world
• Growing worse
• Suicide, no hope…

 

We the church have:

• Direction
• Purpose
• Light
• Hope
• Salvation for the world

 

We must be able to understand the lost and their perspective on their conditions.

 

Knowledge is power! 

 

Luke 4:18

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

 

The entire purpose of Jesus coming had everything to do with reaching the lost.

 

John 6:12

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

 

• 5000 fed
• 5 loaves & 2 fishes
• Gather up the remainder
• Why?
• No way of taking that with them
• “That nothing be lost”
• Jesus was frugal with the results of His work
• He wanted nothing wasted
• He will work the miracles, just don’t waste the effort or the leftovers

 

Relatable evangelism

• Understanding who you are reaching
• Relating to who you are reaching
• Reaching who you are reaching

 

 

Luke 15:8-9 (KJV)

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

 

• Coin
• Inanimate object
• Did not know it was lost
• Did not know it needed to be found
• Was even unaware that someone was looking for it
• Only worth 17 cents but had immeasurable value to the woman
• Only a day’s wage
• But she hunted until she found it

 

1^st Condition

• Ignorant of being lost
• Unable to help the seeker find it
• Simply must wait until found

 

 

 

Luke 15:4-5

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.

 

• Lost sheep
• Knew it was lost
• Frightened, scared, and wanting someone to find it
• Hurt, wounded, and bleeding
• Did not know the way back
• Only 1 lamb
• Had 99 in the fold already
• Importance because it was lost

 

2^nd Condition

• Knew it was lost
• Wanted help
• Animate object
• Did not know where to turn for help

 

The coin and the sheep were searched for diligently because of the ignorance of their condition. The responsibility of finding them was upon the shoulders of the seeker solely.

 

 

Luke 15:11-23

 

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

 

• Willingly left to go in a direction he did not know
• Sin will always take more than anyone is willing to give
• Lost all that he had
• Lost who he was
• Lost himself
• All for pleasure
• Realized his condition in a hog lot
• Could go no lower
• Servants in Dad’s house live better than I do
• Started home
• Notice the Father did not come to him
• Compassion
  • Acting upon one’s feelings of kindness

 

3^rd Condition

• Lost
• Animate object
• Knowledge of condition
• Knowledge of how to improve condition
• Was not searched for, but rather had to come back on his own

 

All were lost, and needing to be found.

 

JOY was the end result of all being found.

 

Who are you looking for?

Who should we be trying to reach?

Who is our responsibility to?

When will we experience joy in our lives?