NINETY-NINE (99) + ONE (1)

1. Introduction

a) Ninety-nine (99) + One (1) is about searching for one lost sheep. When the lost sheep is found, heaven rejoices.

2. Story of the lost sheep.

a) 12“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:12-14 NIV)

b) The same story is also recorded in Luke 15: 4-7.

i) 4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I 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. (Luke 15:4-7 NIV)

3. What does the story of the lost sheep teach us?

a) The meaning of being lost.

i) The shepherd had 100 sheep but one of them was lost. The story teaches that lost people are like lost sheep. There are certain things about sheep that teach us about being lost.

ii) For God's word says...

@1. 6We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6 NIV)

@2. 25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25 NIV)

iii) A person who does not know Jesus could not be more accurately portrayed than in the picture of the lost sheep. 3 things you must know about sheep.

#1) Sheep have little awareness.

@1. Men are able to train all kinds of animals but you will never see a trained sheep. Spiritually the lost man is dense and unaware of his lost-ness. He may be intelligent in many areas. He may have many degrees. He may be able to speak in several languages and converse about science and foreign policy, but when it comes to spiritual things the lost individual is spiritually illiterate.

@2. 14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)

@3. Paul said that in the last days men would be 'always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.' (2 Timothy 3:7 NIV)

#2) Sheep are aimless.

@1. Sheep don't mean to get lost...they wander away from the safety of the fold and out of the shepherds care. That is a picture of those that are lost. People don't aim to be lost…but they are because they are naturally drawn to the lusts of the world. And without any sense of spiritual direction they wander aimlessly into more and more sin.

#3) Sheep are at risk.

@1. Other animals have some means of defense. A dog can bite. A rabbit can run. A cat can scratch and claw, but a sheep is helpless against its enemies. Similarly, lost individuals have no defense against the devil who is constantly on the prowl looking to destroy his prey. The only hope a sheep has is the shepherd. So the lost sheep helps us to understand the condition of the lost. This is a story about being lost. This is also a story about being sought!

b) The compassion of the shepherd.

i) The shepherd in this story of course is Jesus.

@1. 1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1 NIV)

@2. 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11 NIV)

ii) In this story we see what Jesus did in order to find the lost sheep. 3 Cs to remember.

#1) The care.

@1. Do you see the picture? The shepherd begins to count his sheep and one is missing. He should have had 100 but he had only 99. So what's the big deal? Why would the shepherd care so? It is not because the sheep is so valuable. The Shepherd cares because He loves the sheep. He cares for lost souls and seeks after them. Two thousand years ago when Jesus left heaven and came to this earth to die on Calvary , He did not come because we were so valuable. No He came because he loved us. And by the way...notice that the shepherd's main concern is for the one, not the 99. If I had been the only lost person in the world, Jesus would have left heaven and came just for me.

#2) The concern.

@1. In Luke 15:4 gives us a picture of a searching shepherd. He is persistent He’s still looking for lost sheep today. Remember Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus went after...Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, and the woman at the well. We too must go after those around us who are lost. What if no one had ever cared about you? This is a story about being lost; about being sought; and it’s a story about being found!

#3) The celebration.

@1. The shepherd doesn’t scold the sheep He just finds it and puts it on His shoulders. All that is required to be saved is to repent and trust Jesus, and then Jesus will do the rest.

@2. This is not just a story about being lost, being sought, and being found; it is a story about being happy.

@3. The shepherd puts that sheep on His shoulders and rejoices. The sheep was happy, the shepherd was happy, the friends of the shepherd were happy, even heaven is happy. Nothing will keep the church rejoicing and celebrating like seeing people come to know the Savior. Let's do our part to see the celebration continues over and over again.

4. Prayer focus

a) Pray that you realize that you need Jesus to be your shepherd. Why not trust Him as your Savior right now? Don't delay.