IF YOU GET LOST, JUST CALL ME

Psalm 34:17 NIV

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 72:12 NIV

For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.

Romans 8:15 NKJV

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Matthew 11:28 NKJV

28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 14:6…

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Ephesians 3:14–15 NIV

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.”

I. A FATHER'S LOVE NEVER STOPS LOOKING FOR HIS CHILDREN

Luke 15:11-24 NIV

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:13 NIV

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

Luke 15:17

"When he came to his senses..."

Luke 15:20

"While he was still a long way off, his father saw him.."

II. A FATHER'S HEART NEVER STOPS PURSUING HIS CHILDREN

2 Samuel 14:25 (NIV) 

"In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.

2 Samuel 15:5-6 NIV

5  Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him.  6  Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

2 Samuel 15:10 NIV

10 Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets,then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”

2 Samuel 18:5 NIV

"Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake."

2 Samuel 18:33 NIV

"O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"

1 John 3:1 NIV

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Psalm 145:18 (NIV)

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth"