Jesus Transforms Lives Series

Jesus transforms lives

Luke 19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

He was a chief among tax collectors

He would thus be very important to the Romans, and very much despised by the Jews

He would also be very, very wealthy

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

A few weeks ago I spoke on the topic...how to turn your frustration into a celebration. I spoke about:

How we can trust Jesus to transform circumstances that are contrary to his promises through prayer and faith in Him.

That he can take what the enemy means for evil and turn it around for our good.

He can turn your sorrow into joy.

Your water into wine.

Your bitter life-destroying waters of Marah into sweet, life-giving streams.

But even more amazing than that is the fact that Jesus can change lives...that he can change YOUR life

This is by far THE most important thing about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He can change us into sons and daughters...

He can make us new creatures in Christ Jesus...

He makes us:

Useful

Fruitful, and

Joyful

Being useful is a great blessing...

It gives you a sense of purpose, achievement, and value...and that’s great!

But being useful is not the epitome of our Christian experience.

The thing that is most important is becoming like him.

Jesus said: Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of my Father.

We have to be Obedient to his will...

And this requires love...

Jesus said: If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

Some people get their sense of significance from what they do...how much they do...and all they accomplish and achieve.

They rejoice in what God does THROUGH them.

But our true significance comes from what He has done IN us.

Some glory in how much they amass in life. They look to their Material possessions. But a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.

Jesus said: Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

Your true treasure is what He does in you.

Your true treasure is having a heart of love for God...which is seen in obedience.

Your true treasure is having a heart of Compassion for others...which is expressed seen in your willingness to serve them.

Isaiah 61 speaking of Jesus, says: 

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour.

Oaks of righteousness...is a vital part of God’s plan for our lives, because...

The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking...but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost

Righteousness means that we are Right with God, and Right with others.

That We have Peace with God...and others.

In Genesis, In creation we see God turning Darkness to light, Chaos...to order.

We see Him doing the same in redemption. 2 Cor 5:17

He turns our Darkness to light. And our Chaos to order.

Jesus said: for the son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Paul: This is a faithful saying and worthy of full acceptance: Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners.

For Paul, this happened on the Damascus Road....

He saw a great light....he was knocked off his high horse....