~JOHN 17: 14-16 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ~EPHESIANS 1: 25 The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. ~JOHN 9: 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ~LUKE 15: 1-7 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “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? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I 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. 3 marks of our SHEPHERD: a. Searches for his sheep b. knows his own - these sheep belong to him c. Takes responsibility ~PSALM 23: 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Jesus shared his Motivation of his heart, HIs compassion compelled him because THE LOST SHEEP IS HIS. All 100 sheep are his , not only the 99. This is why he comes and searches for those who are lost because he says “You are Mine” Question Do you belong to God because he redeemed you, Or did God redeem you because you belong to him? ~ISAIAH 40: 1 Now this is what the Lord says— the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. What is your response ? 1. What is your response when you think about the lost sheep? 2. Do you see others as heathen/foreigner/alien or a LOST SHEEP of the fold you belong to? We don’t judge the lost, we have compassion for HIS LOST SHEEP… 3. Can you remember what it felt like to be lost.? When you were found? John 17:14-16 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

From Series: the Lost & Found Department | More Messages from Cheray Dekas

From Series: "the Lost & Found Department"