1024 From Striving to Surrender 09-18-22

1. TRYING to see Jesus - you are short.

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. Luke 19:1-3

We are all born short.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

We can’t change.

2. TRUSTING the gospel - you are in Christ.

So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, Luke 19:4-5

Religion is you trying to see God. Gospel is you trusting Jesus.

Stop trying harder to become a better person, trust Jesus’ sacrifice to make you a new person.

Jesus calls you by your new name.

3. TRANSFORMATION by letting Jesus live in you - Christ in you.

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus 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.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:5-10

Many have accepted Jesus as their savior but few have let Him be their life.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Christian life is not a changed life, it’s an exchanged life.

There is a world of difference between asking God to help you to be holy and Christ living in as your holiness! (1 Cor 1:30)

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:4

Victory doesn’t come because we got the power to be like Christ but because we gave Christ the place to live through us. (1 Cor 15:57)

Instead of praying “Lord, help me to live my life for you”, pray “Lord Jesus, live out your life through me”

When you are in Christ that’s your identity. When Christ is in you that’s your life.

Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.