August 10, 2003
HOLY SPIRIT BLESS US
LUKE 19: 1-10 (From Curiosity to Conversion)
A Chief of the IRS way back in Jesus’ times was converted to Christ! Is that good news to you?
I really love this story because of the fact that no matter what position/status you have, conversion must take place within you. This story of Zacchaeus gave us a picture of a complete about face (180 degrees turn around) after his encounter with Jesus.
Zacchaeus hold a high position in big time institution like the IRS way back his time.
He was a man who can buy what he likes because he is wealthy. He can do whatever he wants because he can afford to do it. He used his power and influence to make things work in his favor.
In our present time, a lot of people are like Zacchaeus who are aspiring for position, power and monies to make things work for self gratification and pride. It’s but normal to want those things to make life comfortable.
But the big question is how do we accomplish and do things? What is our motive?
Will it make us better person in the sight of God and people?
While I was praying for a message to be delivered today, the Holy Spirit led me to this part of the Scripture and it spoke to me so vividly that I was very inspired while doing this sermon.
V. 3, “and he sought to see who Jesus was,” . This text show us that this wealthy man was curious about who Jesus was. He must have heard something about this man named Jesus who was walking in the streets.
I was made to believe that he probably heard something about Jesus in his office.
There might have been instances that he heard people talking about the wonders and miracles that Jesus had done- His power to heal… His power to change people’s lives, behaviors and characters…
I know for sure that there were people who have seen Jesus did things that are worth talking about and they did not shut their mouth.
Apostle Paul was right when he said, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10: 17
Zacchaeus faith all started from what he had heard from people who talked about Jesus.
Let’s talk about Jesus my dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
We need to share Jesus Christ, we need to include the love of Jesus Christ in our conversation because there are many Zaccheaus out there who are listening to us.
V.4 “So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him (Jesus Christ)…
Because he is short just like me, he ran and climbed up into a sycamore tree.
My friends, the moment Zaccheaus did that, he forgot all about himself . All he knew is that he was curious about Jesus and he needs to do something to see Jesus.
If I were him, I would probably not climb that thorny tree. But Zacchaeus did.
For Zaccheaus, it didn’t matter as long as he accomplished his purpose- that is to see and witness before his eyes who Jesus is.
In our case, we don’t need to climb a thorny tree to see Jesus. The Lord has provided us a beautiful & air-conditioned chapel so that we can encounter Jesus. We sit in a soft cushioned pews with beautiful music courtesy of Madam Donna during our Worship Services. We enjoy the beautiful facilities freely given by God and the generous people of the Methodist Church.
We need to take advantage of this opportunity and invite family and friends so that they will also feel and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in our worship services.
We need personal encounter with Jesus Christ to do this.
V.5 “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him. “Zaccheaus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Jesus Christ knew us by name. He knew us who we are. He knows where we live and what kind of life we are living. He knew us more than we know ourselves because He is our Creator. I believe there are things we don’t know about ourselves but Jesus does know us even to the very detail of our life.
Jesus Christ commanded Zaccheaus to come down because He must stay in his house.
What a command from Jesus Christ! We need to listen my friends.
I know that there are things that we still keep in ourselves that hinders our personal encounter with Jesus.
We need to come down, we need to take action, we need to surrender the heights of our pride and come down.
Henry David Thoreau once said: “ It is only by forgetting yourself that you draw near to God.”
Ego/Pride keeps us away from God. The moment we think of ourselves more highly than others… pride works and pride will bring us nowhere.
An invitation with a promise, “for today I must stay at your house.” What a glorious event that each of us must long for, Jesus inviting us so that He can stay with us! Wow!
I can’t wait to hear those words from Jesus.
Zaccheaus came down and received Jesus joyfully. V.6
A normal reaction with excitement.
Try to bring back our memories during our first encounter with Jesus Christ.
Wasn’t it full of joy and excitement?
V. 7 “but when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
Well, my friends what’s new? Is it new to us to know that even before, people love to make side comments whenever something is taking place. People are very sarcastic. Gossip starts to spread around. They were talking about Jesus going to the house of a sinner? People are questioned what Jesus was doing to a sinner’s house.
These people did not realize that what is taking place is for their benefit in the end because Zacchaeus was a corrupt public official.
Zacchaeus knew that people will talk about him for what he did. But, who cares?
All he knew is that he met the Lord and Savior of his life.
This thought about people could have been a stumbling block on his way to conversion but Praise the Lord! It did not prevent him from making the right decision to encounter Jesus Christ in his life.
My dear friends, are we Zacchaeus or the stumbling block in this story?
Sometimes we are unaware that because of our gesture and ways, people are not encouraged to come back to our fellowship.
According to studies, in communication , 55 % cause by our action, around 30% our eyes and 15 % spoken words. So by means of our action and gestures we can communicate ourselves even though we don’t talk. We are communicating something which might be positive or the negative. Body language conveys who we are to people.
V. 8 “Then Zaccheaus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Listen carefully and examine Zaccheus’ statement, in verse 3 Zaccheus sought to see who Jesus was.and then in verse 6 “and received Him (Jesus) joyfully.
And in verse 8, he said, “Look, Lord,” Zaccheaus called Jesus as His Lord because at that moment Zaccheaus knew that he is no longer the boss in his life, his household and in his profession.
There is a Lord much greater and powerful than he is. And he submitted himself to that power.
There is major turn around in his life. There was a sudden and instant change that took place within him….and he gave to the poor what he got and restore it fourfold.
This is visible example of real conversion. There is willingness to change in every aspect of your life even to the point of loosing everything for the sake of our service to Jesus Christ our Lord.
Zaccheus was a changed person when He received Jesus joyfully and Jesus became his Lord.
The result is a total change from inside out.
My friends, the ending of the story is V.9 “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.”
And remember, Jesus Christ, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.” V.10
We need to ask ourselves, Am I true/real to my faith in Jesus or until now I am still searching for something that will fill in the void within. Is Jesus Christ sitting in the throne of your heart as Lord and Savior.
God is laying the foundation to trust Him and make commitment to Him that will make your life more meaningful and productive.
(ill) NEW CREATION
London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling.
The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.
As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.
"Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site."
Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God’s, the old life is over
(2 Cor. 5:17). He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build.
- Ian L. Wilson.
My Savior Jesus Christ can make all things new just like what He did to Zaccheaus even to all of us. But He is looking for a “site and the permission to build.”
Would you be willing to become that site and wholeheartedly give Him permission to build, so that always and everyday of our life we could say these words...
(ill) Poetry
My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done;
Leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun.
This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray:
Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way
Would you be willing to be used by God to help other people’s lives so that because of you and me their life will encounter the love and saving grace of Jesus- our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
