I HAVE LOST NONE
GENESIS 31:38-40; HOSEA 12:12
Key verse: JOHN 17:12
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” John 18:9, That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
Introduction:
The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world as a man to do the Father’s will. He called unto Himself a people and gave them eternal life. Satan has tried from the very beginning of time to destroy the work of God, but he has been defeated by the Savior.
Of those that the Father has given to Jesus Christ He has lost not one. Every one of them will enjoy eternity in the very presence of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ for all of eternity.
I. SATAN TEMPTED HIM SORELY
A. The desert knew his temptations, Matthew 4:2, “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”
1. The devil tempted Jesus through His physical needs for He was a man, John 1:30, “This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
2. The Scripture tells us that he suffered as a man, Hebrews 2:18, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
B. The desert knew His conflict, Mark 6:31, “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”
1. The Lord retired to a desert place for time with the Father, Mark 1:35,“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
2. He invited His disciples to come aside for rest and fellowship, Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
C. The desert knew his victory too, Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
1. We are more than conquerors, Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
2. We have the armor of God with which we may defend ourselves, Ephesians 6:10-11, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
II. OF JESUS OWN HAND GOD REQUIRED FAITHFULNESS AS A SHEPHERD
A. My sleep departed from mine eyes, Luke 6:12, “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
B. His hair was wet with dew, and his locks with the drops of the night praying for His Beloved, Song of Solomon 5:2, “I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.”
C. All night he was in prayer wrestling for his people as Jacob wrestled with the Lord, Genesis 32:24, “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”
D. We witnessed the fervor of His prayer, James 5:17, “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”
1. One night Peter must be pleaded for, Luke 22:31-32, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
2. At other times another claims his tearful intercession, Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
III. I HAVE LOST NONE
B. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus laid down His life for the sheep, John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
C. As the Good Shepherd, He had cared for His Sheep, John 10:14-15, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
D. His Sheep are protected in His hand, John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
1. I have kept them in your name, John 17:11-12, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
2. He is able to keep us, 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
CONCLUSION:
The Lord has fulfilled His word to the Father in that He has called unto Himself a people and has care for them and preserved them for eternity, Titus 1:3, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”