Intro: God’s will for the lost is that none should perish that all should come to repentance. This is 2 Peter 3.9. God’s Word translation gives a wonderfully clear picture of God’s will for people that are separated from Him by sin. “The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.” Repentance is a turning from our way of thinking and living and turning toward God’s. Those that resist and rebel against God ultimately will suffer His wrath first in Hell and then in the lake of Fire.
I. Jesus urgently seeks the lost (Luke 19:1-10)
This word seek in the Greek means to seek by inquiring, to desire. God desires to find us all.
Just as God sought out Adam and Eve when they hid in the Garden after the first sin Jesus is still searching, and desiring for His lost ones today!
A) Jesus desires to find the lost
1) The unusual behavior of Zacchaeus (running, climbing)
2) The unlimited knowledge of Jesus
Jesus called Zacchaeus’ name. Knowing all that He did about Zacchaeus he still desired a relationship with Him. Zacchaeus was hated by his fellows Jews and though He was rich physically he was spiritually bankrupt.
B) Jesus desires to sit down with the lost
Luke 19.5 “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house.”
Jesus wants to get up close and personal with you. He is not disconnected and disinterested. He wants to be right in the middle of your mess.
It was in that moment that Jesus saw God’s unlimited love and forgiveness in the eyes and heard it on the words of Jesus. While the religious were saying Jesus is going to sit with a sinner! The Bible clearly reveals to all of us that we are all sinners until Jesus comes to us personally. Have you discovered your lost identity in Jesus? Have you stared into His eyes and seen the passion of His grace? If you looked to Jesus and saw eyes of judgment look again with the eyes of Zaccheus and see eyes of grace!
Jesus came looking for Zacchaeus and found Him. Has Jesus found you?
Yam Sing came from China to California and was brought to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When examined before baptism concerning his experience of faith, someone asked him how he found Jesus. "I no find Jesus at all; He find me," was the answer from the converted man, an answer which was more than satisfactory to the questioner, and which showed that he had learned something of the love of Him who came to "seek and to save that which was lost."—S. S. Advocate.
II. Jesus desires to unleash saving grace on the lost (Luke 19.8)
Jesus comes to find and fully unleash His grace and abundant life in you! Zacchaeus was saved because Jesus found Him not because of promised good works. Saving faith is more than spoken words and spiritual feelings. Saving faith is a gift from God that creates a living relationship with Jesus Christ that results in a changed life. (James 2:14-16) This is God’s desire for all people that are found by Jesus!
A) Sinful self-righteousness creates a barrier to God’s grace
A young woman asked for an appointment with her pastor to talk with him about a besetting sin about which she was worried. When she saw him, she said, "Pastor, I have become aware of a sin in my life which I cannot control. Every time I am at church I begin to look around at the other women, and I realize that I am the prettiest one in the whole congregation. None of the others can compare with my beauty. What can I do about this sin?"
The pastor replied, "Mary, that's not a sin, why that's just a mistake!"
The pride of the group gripping about Jesus setting with sinners was the mistake that they were better than the sinners. The mistake we make when we are proud about our comparison to others is that we forget Jesus is the one we are to compare ourselves to.
Pride is a self focus that makes us blind to the absolute beauty and perfection of Jesus.
Pride is also a self focus that makes us blind to our spiritual bankruptcy and nakedness before God.
B) Simple humility and repentance opens a bridge for God’s grace
Under the Mosaic law if a thief voluntarily confessed his crime, he had to restore what He took an add one fifth to it and bring a trespass offering to the Lord (Lev 6:1-7) If he stole something he could not restore, he had to pay fourfold. (Ex 22.1) If the thief was caught with the items he had to repay double. (exodus 22.4). Zaccheaus didn’t try to bargain or see how much he could get away with. He offered to pay the highest price because God’s law was now written on His heart. God’ grace does not cause us how much do I have to pay it makes us like Zaccheaus willing to pay the highest price to those we have hurt.
III. Jesus desires to use the church in seeking the lost
Matthew 4:19
Matthew 28.19-20
2 Peter 3:15 “But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence [in God] when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect.” God’s Word Translation
It is the Lordship of Christ that will create in us a desire to be involved in His work of seeking out people who are separated from God.
A) Jesus wants us to seek to build relationships with lost people
Matthew 4 and 28.19-20 reveal that Jesus wants us in our daily walk with people to make disciples. He reveals to us in sitting down to eat and spend time with sinners that we are to follow His example and build relationships to show and share the unlimited grace Jesus offers. 2 Peter 3:15 always be ready to defend your confidence in God with gentleness and respect. Jesus wants us to build bridges of relationship that God’s grace can travel across.
B) Jesus wants us to share the truth of sin and salvation with lost people
Do we all have to be shaped into the same mold of sharing Jesus? No! There are many different types people and different methods of sharing the truth of Jesus.
1) Confrontational -- Acts 2 Repent and be baptized, be saved from this corrupt generation.
2) Intellectual – (Acts 17) Paul engaged and debated with the intellectuals of Mars Hill.
3) Testimonial – (John 9) One thing I do know, I was blind now I see.
4) Relational – (Mark 5) Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you.
5) Invitational – (John 4) The Samaritan woman at the well begged the people of the city to come and hear Jesus for themselves.
6) Serving -- (Acts 9) Dorcas impacted her city by doing deeds of kindness. Don't ever think you're a second class Christian because you don't proclaim Christ like Peter or Paul. Discover your own method. Then get out of your chair and use it, for the Glory of God. Live by faith, not fear!!!
C) Jesus wants us to seek His face for a movement of the Holy Spirit in the life of the lost
In Ivan endures all the horrors of a Soviet prison camp. One day he is praying with his eyes closed when a fellow prisoner notices him and says with ridicule, "Prayers won't help you get out of here any faster." Opening his eyes, Ivan answers, "I do not pray to get out of prison but to do the will of God."
Our Daily Bread, December 29, 1993
How is God glorified? John 15.8 “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.”
Much fruit comes from the working of Jesus’ Lordship through the Holy Spirit working in and transforming your life! When we abide in Jesus in life style and not lip service we become a mirror that reflects the majesty, mercy and grace of God who see our lives!!
Alexander McClaren, “Character produces conduct, but conduct rests on character, and strengthens the impulses from which it springs. And thus our action as Christian men and women will tell upon our inward lives as Christians, and the more our outward conduct is conformed to the pattern of Jesus Christ, the more shall we love Him in our inmost hearts.”
Conclusion: God’s will is that none will experience eternity alone for saying no to Jesus. We have the greatest responsibility and privilege as followers of Christ. We can extend our hands to those that dangle over the chasm of separation from God. John 20:21 As the father sent me so I send you.
