Rounding Up the Strays - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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Rounding Up the Strays

Western Sunday

Matthew 18:11-14

Intro: Jokes:

Why did the cowboy get a job at the bank? Because he always wanted to be the Loan Arranger.

What did the cowboy say at his second rodeo? This ain’t my first rodeo!

What did the cowboy say to the Catholic priest? Howdy pardoner.

It is Western Sunday! I love this day. I love the whole idea of Western Sunday.

The western clothes, the potluck, the Singspiration, and especially the opportunity to preach a western themed message.

God laid this message on my heart last week.

My heart is broken this morning for the strays.

I. The Sheep that have Strayed

There are a lot of strays out there!

In this story, there is a lot of emphasis and attention put on this sheep that went astray.

But how did it go astray?

This straying sheep is a type and a picture of two kinds of people: lost and the believer that has strayed from the Lord.

Let’s look at some Scripture that explains what I’m talking about.

A. They could be gone astray because of Desertion

John 10

· 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

· 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

· 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

There are so many believers that have been deserted by hirelings that were not real shepherds.

Wolves came into the church, and instead of running off the wolves and protecting the flock, the hirelings left.

The casualties that have occurred because of hirelings is heartbreaking.

In my book, “Wolves Among Lambs,”, I address this matter of pastors that abandon the flock or fail them.

I got another letter last night from a dad that said he will never go to another Baptist church ever again.

Those that have gone astray because of the gross dereliction of duty by pastors and under-shepherds is staggering.

This is what God said about these shepherds in Ezekiel 34.

· 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

· 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

· 8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field

The shepherd’s job is to feed and care for the flock of God.

1 Peter 5

· 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

· 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

· 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

B. They could be gone astray because of Disobedience

· Psalms 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

· Proverbs 5:23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Maybe they are astray because they broke through a fence or tore down a gate that was put there to protect them.

They didn’t like the rules, the boundaries, the limits to their freedom.

They were not content with the place they were put; they wanted more. They

C. They could be gone astray because of Distraction

It’s heartbreaking at how many people have strayed away from God, from His Word, the church and the will of God is because they got hurt by others that did something to distract them away from the right path.

The Bible is clear – it is possible for the righteous to be led astray by others.

· Proverbs 28:10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

D. They could be gone astray because of Deception

Many people have been led astray by false teachers and false doctrine.

They put their confidence in someone that deceived them.

They have been tricked into believing something that was not true.

They followed a liar and a deceiver and were led astray by their trickery and deception.

· Jeremiah 50:6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

E. They could be gone astray because of Disbelief

· Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

· Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

II. The State that is Sorrowful

There’s nothing more pitiful than a stray.

There’s nothing more pitiful than a stray animal that has wandered away from its caretaker.

They are alone; they are isolated from the flock or the herd.

They have no one to care for them when they are hurt.

They have no one to protect them from predators.

They have to find their own food and water.

There is no one around to hear them when they call out.

The state of straying sheep is heartbreaking!

The thought of lost sheep; straying sheep moved the heart of Jesus to compassion.

· Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Twice in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus clearly said why He came:

· Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

III. The Shepherd that is Searching

A. The Resolve of the Shepherd

Matthew 18

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

· 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?

· 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The Great Shepherd left much more than the ninety and nine.

He left the ivory palaces of Heaven.

He left the angels. He left the Father. He left everything to come searching for the strays!

· 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God is patient. He is longsuffering. He is merciful.

He sends preachers. He sends missionaries. He sends soulwinners.

He sends a child of God to pass out a tract.

He uses so many means to reach out to the lost and the strays.

B. The Reunion with the Shepherd

· 1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

· Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

C. The Rejoicing of the Shepherd

· 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.

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.

· Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.