30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 15 1-7 To seek and to save the lost - part I The lost sheep 12 Rejoicing in heaven
📖 Luke 15:1-7
03Feb2020 - *Rejoicing in heaven* - _Luke 15:1-7_ - Bible reading: _I Peter 1:10-12_
_Luke 15:4-6 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? (5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6) *And when he comes home*, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
We have titled the 15th chapter of Luke as *To seek and to save the lost*. This is the heart of God and this is how our heart needs to be too. The Lord was deeply concerned for the Pharisees and the Scribes for they were not in tune with the heart of God, which is to seek and the save the lost. He is God, who seeks us, finds us, carries us, and then He rejoices over us.
God then brings us home. Yesterday, we understood what it means for us to have come home and the awesome privileges and responsibilities that we now have in coming home.
When we come home the host of heaven rejoices. _Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance._
_Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: (14) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"_ This was the message of the angels to the shepherds. What was the joy of this message? The angels were singing that God is in the highest but at the same time, God has declared good will toward man and peace on earth. All that man deserved was the wrath of God but here was God making it possible for man to be reconciled back with God. This is the joy of the host of heaven.
_I Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (11) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (12) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into._
The angels loved to look into the over arching plan of God and the outworking of it. This is why there is great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner, who repents.
*Thought to ponder*
Is heaven rejoicing that you are engaging in seeking and saving the lost?