Saving the Lost
TEXT: Luke 19:1-10
Luke 19:1-11 (KJV)
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, (Jesus knew his name—Word of Knowledge in Action) make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
Introduction:
A. Last week we looked at Luke 18:35-43 --- Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem (for Passover – To give His life) and as He nears the boarders of Jericho and and hears the cries of a Certain Blind Man. Jesus Stops!
1) Jesus healed that blind man both physically and spiritually.
2) “Your faith hath saved you.”
3) Jesus met this man on the way.
B. In our text today – Jesus enters Jericho – He walks through Jericho. WHY?
C. Zacchaeos was there and he was wanted to see Jesus.
1) “He sought t see Jesus” “Who He was”
a. He wanted to see this man that he had heard so much about.
2) He received Jesus joyfully.
D. Not all liked it. Satan and his group will never respond with joy.
1) When “they” saw it “they all” murmured.
2) Have you notice a common thread through all of these sermons I have preached from the Gospel according to Luke?
a. The religious people murmured about everything He did.
1. Pharisees and Scribes
b. He healed the blind, they murmured.
c. He cleaned the lepers, they murmured.
3) Those He saved, healed, and delivered rejoice like little children at Christmas.
ROME: Levied heavy taxes on all nations under their control.
The Jews opposed these taxes because they supported a secular government and its pagan gods, but they were forced to pay.
Some of their own countryman became tax collectors, lured by the wealth such as a position promised.
Jewish Tax Collectors – no longer considered a “Son of Abraham.”
Now looked upon as a traitor.
E. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.
1) That which the enemy had taken into captivity.
a. The captivity of sin.
b. The captivity of vain and powerless religion.
D. Jesus was all about SAVING THE LOST ---
E. The CHURCH must never forget that one of our main missions is “SAVING THE LOST.”
1) Rescuing the perishing.
I. What Does It Mean To Be “Lost?”
A. We have heard of people losing their health.
• We have heard of people losing their reputation.
• We have heard of people losing their loved one.
• We have heard of people losing their fortune.
B. Jesus is referring to the greatest loss of all – the loss of the SOUL.
1) When the SOUL of MAN is lost – it is lost from GOD.
2) THE SAD PART--- Not all sinners realize the danger of being LOST.
Not all are aware of the VALUE of the SOUL.
THEY ARE SHORT SIGHTED – ONLY ABLE TO THINK OF THE PRESENT.
UNAWARE THAT ETERNITY IS LOOMING AHEAD.
3) Hear the words of Mark 8:36 (KJV) “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
4) Being LOST is the MOST TRAGIC experience one could know.
C. NOW I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN HEALING – But I would rather go through life sick and when I die, go to heaven than to be physically whole and die and go to hell.
1) I believe God wants to prosper His people – but I would rather go through life broke than to be rich and end up eternally lost and confined to a devil’s hell.
EXAMPLE: Rich Man and Lazarus
Which World would you rather be rich in?
D. Being “LOST” --- means being separated from God.
1) EXAMPLE – Jesus on the Cross --- “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
2) Jesus felt the pain of being spiritually dead – separated from God.
3) LOST – un-prepared for eternity --- that that comes after this short life on earth.
4) Life is but a vapor.
II. When Is A Person Lost?
A. In life you are a loss to yourself.
1) Not knowing the PEACE, LOVE, or JOY of God.
2) You see things from a very self-centered view.
a. Seeking to save your life – you lose it.
3) You are like a flower that has the potential to be a thing of great beauty – but without Christ in your life – you will never bloom.
a. You are a BUD that refuses to open.
b. Your life does not give off the lovely fragrance of Christ-likeness.
B. You are a loss to your family.
1) You fail them in the most important area -- “Spiritual Leader.”
a. You may provide for them materially.
b. You may give them love and security.
c. But you are failing to lead and guide them into the most vital realms. SPIRITUAL.
d. Could lead to the loss of your entire household.
e. Someone has to STANDUP AND TAKE THE LEAD!
Example: Joshua “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
2) Your relationships with family and friends can never be all that it could be without Christ.
a. Christ – give you the ability to love.
b. Christ—gives you the ability to forgive.
c. Christ—gives you the ability to ignore those insignificant thiongs that could cause a blow up and a separation.
C. You are a loss to your community.
1) You may be active in community affairs.
2) You may be interested in the wellbeing of the community.
3) THE GREATEST COMMUNITY NEED IS SPIRITUAL!!
a. Want to being down the crime rate? Teen Pregnancy
b. Want to stop High School Drop Outs? Suicide
c. Want to put a stop to the drug dealing? Spousal and child abuse
d. Want to put a stop to DUI’s?
4) Give your life to Christ and then live this LIFE – Let your LIGHT SHINE.
a. Be a TRUE EXAMPLE of CHRISTIANITY!!
b. WIN ALL YOU CAN!!
D. You are a loss to God.
1) He created man for FELLOWSHIP.
2) He created you to be a worshiper – a praiser.
3) He created you that you might love Him and that He could LOVE YOU!!
4) He created you to be a SPIRITUAL THORN IN THE ENEMIE’S SIDE!!
a. Satan has been buffeting you and people you know, long enough.
b. It is time to make the devil pay!!
E. In DEATH – the moment your soul and spirit leave your body, your fate is sealed.
John 3:36 (KJV) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
1) There is no such thing as purgatory – no in between ground.
2) It is Heaven or hell.
3) Your family cannot pray you out nor buy your way out of hell.
EXAMPLE: Story of the Rich man and LAZARUS.
F. A person is lost when God pronounces judgment upon them.
The Judgment Bar of God;
Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV)
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
III. Why is a Person Lost?
A. Sometimes it is because of pride --- unwilling to admit they need saving, that they need Christ in their life.
1) Unwilling to forgive others.
2) Unwilling to change.
B. Procrastination –
1) Some things you cannot afford to put off.
C. Because some refuse to accept God’s provision for their sins.
1) Christ is the WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.
John 14:6 (KJV) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
D. What must I do in order to be SAVED?
1) Admit that you are lost.
2) Ask God to forgive you of your sins.
3) Receive Christ as your Savior.
4) Turn away from your sins and walk in the newness of life.
E. What must I do to be lost? NOTHING!!
IV. The Mission of Jesus Upon the Earth
A. “To seek and to save that which was lost.”
1) When was it lost? Lost in the Fall
B. Some do not want to be saved.
1) It is possible to go so far into sin and rebellion that you scoff at the idea.
2) The YOUNG PEOPLE AT BRO. Hedge’s Church.
3) You can be sure that Christ will not save you against your will.
C. He is seeking you today!!
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) “For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. “
1) You coming here today is not by accident.
2) Jesus is here and He is offering you salvation.
3) You are like a drowning man who has had a life preserver tossed to him.
a. You may take hold and be saved.
b. You may reject and be lost.
4) Zacchaeus became an impressive example of a RICH MAN coming to Salvation.
a. The Rich Young Ruler of Luke 18 missed out. He was looked at, by the Jews, as being HIGHLY FAVORED by God, because of his great wealth.
b. But God is interested in the HEART!!
Zacchaeus truly repentant – had a TRUE CHANGE of HEART –
1. He was willing to make restitution to all he had wronged.
2. This would mean giving away a lot of his wealth
Jesus accomplished the impossible – He called out a wealthy sinner, calling him to repentance and Salvation and the sinner answered the called.
Jesus can save anyone to the uttermost!!
