Good News Week 47. Whose Are You?

As we begin our 21 Days of prayer and fasting, I would encourage you to make part of your prayers this question, this seeking of God, “what must I do?”

What are you asking of me God?

What are areas in my life that I need to surrender to Your rule?

What are attitudes in my life that I need to surrender to Your rule?

What are actions in my life that I need to surrender to Your rule?

My hope for this church body is that every member of this body and every active participant of this church would devote time to prayer over these 21 days and that you would determine in your mind to fast something (a meal, a food, a media consumption) every day.

That we as a body would be unified in this seeking, in this pursuit of the presence of God in us individually and as a church body.

That we would ask the Good Questions of not just what God can do for us, but what God would have of us.

This morning we are going to look at 2 men who sought out Jesus but only one left his encounter rejoicing.

Lets start with the first one.

It’s a familiar story.

Really both are familiar stories.

But lets start with the Rich Young Ruler.

The Rich Young Ruler

So the rich young ruler asks a good question.

Luke 18:18 CSB

A ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

The rich young ruler was concerned about the afterlife.

It’s good to be concerned with the afterlife.

Where we will spend the afterlife is a matter of eternal significance.

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus answers him according to the the Law and Religion.

Jesus answers as a Jew to a Jew.

But before He responds directly to the question he challenges the Rich Young Ruler.

Luke 18:19 CSB

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.

I think Jesus is challenging this man belief about who Jesus is.

Do you believe I am good?

Do you believe I am the Word made flesh?

Do you believe I am the Promised One?

What do you believe about me? I think Jesus is saying?

Eternal life always starts with our belief about Jesus.

Who do we belief He is.

What do we believe about Him?

Jesus doesn’t give the Rich Young Ruler a chance to respond with words, but will see the Rich Young Ruler respond with his actions and attitude soon enough.

You Know The Commandments

So Jesus comtinues to answer the man’s question.

Luke 18:20 CSB

You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”

Jesus here is repeated 5 of the last 6 of the 10 Commandments, the Commandments God gave Moses for the Hebrew people.

Jesus doesn’t mention the 6th directly, but it’s the reason the man is struggling with this question of eternity as we will see soon enough.

Something you should know about the 10 Commandments - the first 4 deal with our relationship with God and the last 6 deal with our relationship with our fellow humanity, our neighbor.

The Rich Young Ruler believed he was good with the first 4 because he believed he was a child of Abraham And an heir of the promise.

The Jews believed that because they were biological descendants of Abraham that they would receive the promise of God’s covenant with Abraham simply by genetics.

Well, we know Jesus came as the perfect Israel so that by faith in Jesus we could by adopted into the family of God by the Spirit of God.

So Jesus doesn’t even address the first four commands.

Jesus assumes that the Rich Young Ruler is keeping those commands.

Jesus goes straight to the practical.

And by doing so, Jesus is affirming the validity of keeping those commands.

Jesus is saying these things matter.

They mattered in Moses’s day, they mattered in Jesus’s day, they matter in our day.

They are basic foundational ethics and morals for human flourishing and obedience to created order.

What are these God-given morals that reflect His good character and lead us away from idolatry and sin?

Lets look.

Do Not Commit Adultery

Be sexually faithful.

Be sexually pure.

Be sexually honorable.

Follow God’s good design for human sexuality - one man and one woman in marriage covenant together.

Maybe you’ve lived outside of God’s good design in the past or are living outside of God’s good design in present, hear me, God is gracious and merciful.

He will not hold your past sin against you.

But he also requires you to live now in obedience.

Repent.

Be forgiven.

Be cleansed.

Be made new.

And then live as that new creation in Christ Jesus.

Begin the journey towards sexual wholeness and obedience today.

Saturday, February 4 we are having a Marriage Conference.

It’s called Save The Date.

So save the date for Save The Date.

You’ll be hearing more about that this week.

It’s for both married couples and singles who want to pursue God’s Good Design for sex and marriage.

Do Not Commit Adultery.

Do Not Murder

Most in this room are good here.

I think.

What is murder.

It’s the taking of a life.

There’s an understanding of innocent life.

God was setting boundaries.

Murder is sin.

Taking life is a direct affront to the image-bearing creative mandate.

However, siince sin entered the human condition at the fall God has set boundaries for the taking of life.

So the boundary here is murder - the taking of innocent life.

It’s a main factor in my stance against abortion and my stance against state sponsorted death penalty.

It’s why sex selective and genetic selective abortion is so ugly to me.

It’s why the possibility of executing an innocent person is so troubling to me.

Life is precious.

Murder goes against our image-bearing creative mandate.

But Jesus goes even further than I do.

Jesus says if you hate someone you’ve already murdered them in your heart.

Jesus is teaching us that life matters, humanity matters, and hatred in the heart leads to murder in the streets.

Do Not Steal

Do not take from someone else what belongs to them.

Why?

Because it isn’t just.

It isn’t fair.

It harms the human condition.

It harms the community.

It creates fear and distrust.

It harms the societal contract.

It devalues others and the God given creation mandate to work the garden.

It robs us of our created value and designed joy when we rob others of the fruit of their labor.

This is probably an area that we hate when done to us but excuse when we do it to others.

Cheating on our taxes. We say well that my money. Ok. But do we believe Romans 13?

Downloading content online that we didn’t pay for. We say those media companies have it coming. Ok. But are we stealing?

Shoplifting. I mean.

A bank heist. Didn’t think that’s been done by anyone here.

Do Not Bear False Witness

Don’t lie about others.

Don’t pollute other peoples perspective of them.

Don’t character asassinate.

Don’t gossip.

Don’t share fake news.

It seems like over the past decade, with the rise of social media, we’ve just decided to ignore this command.

We share fake news stories.

We prefere news stories that confirm our biases and disregard truth or facts.

Are you a true or false witness.

Honor Your Father And Mother

This seems like an odd thing to include in this list.

Don’t commit adultry. Don’t murder. Don’t steal. Don’t bear false witness.

Honor your parents.

What?

Here’s what I’m learning the longer I parent - It hasn’t yet gotten easier only harder.

I think it’ll get easier one day.

Changing diapers is hard.

Sleepness nights are hard with a fussy baby.

Changing minds is harder.

Sleepness nights are harder with a fussy teenager.

Scrapped knees are hard.

Scrapped hearts are harder.

Honoring your father and mother isn’t just about obedince, although that is certainly part of it.

Obedience is an act is displaying honor.

Do I as a parent alwasy get it right? No.

But i hope my children know that I love them and that they can obey as an act or honoring.

Honoring your father and mother is about positional recognition.

What does that mean?

For children it’s about them recognizing the authority of their parents and the position of their parents.

Honoring parents is about understanding that they love you and are setting boundaries out of love, wisdom, knowledge, and life experience.

Honoring parents is about positional recognition.

And the older I get the more I want to honor my parents and grandparents.

The older I get the more I have that positional awareness.

The more I honor them for their life and wisdom and faith and faithfulness.

Do Not Covet

The last of the 10 Commandments is not listen by name her by Jesus, but it is Do Not Covet.

Covetting is wanting what someone else has to the point of jealously or greed or even harm.

Coveting leads to bitterness, jealousy, malice, stinginess, greed, cheating, dishonesty.

Covetneous sees what's others have or even could have and plots to take it from them.

Covetneousness says your happiness is more important than theirs, your value is greater than theirs, your wants mean more.

Covetneousness says that if you want it then you should have it no matter what the cost to others.

And that is the sin of the Rich Young Ruler.

You Still Lack One Thing

Luke 18:20–23 CSB

You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.” “I have kept all these from my youth,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.

Coveteousness.

He want his stuff more than he want others to have their needs met.

I mean, that’s a hard thing for Jesus to say.

But Jesus went straight to the heart of the Rich Young Ruler.

The Rich Young Ruler was rich because he was unconcerned with the poor.

His stuff was more important to to him than either eternal life or the present lives of those in need around him.

Luke says that the Rich Young Ruler became very sad, because he was very rich.

His sorrow was his choice.

How Hard It Is

I thought about naming this point Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems because that it how is for folks who let money because their prime affection.

Luke 18:24–30 CSB

Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed you.” So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.”

Unless someone values eternity more than they value the present they will live without concern for what matters most.

It’s easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle.

But it’s not impossible.

God is able to make it possible for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle.

When our attention is on God our affection is transformed.

When our sight is heavenward our surrender is joyful.

When our focus is eternity our foundation is secure.

Listen, wealth isn’t the problem.

Our affections are the problem.

The Love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

It’s not money - it the affection toward materialism.

You can be godly and wealthy or godly and poor.

You can be ungodly and wealthy and ungodly and poor.

But why it’s so hard is because it’s so easy to set our affections on our possessions,

Set your affections of things that moth and rust can't destroy.

Set your affections on Jesus.

But first you must set you eyes on Jesus.

Zacchaeus Was Rich

So we’ve looked at the Rich Young Ruler, now lets look at his counterpart.

Zacchaeus.

Luke 19:1–4 CSB

He entered Jericho and was passing through. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way.

A little bit about Zacchaeus.

He was not well liked.

Wealthy? For sure. Well liked? Not so much.

Times haven’t changed much.

Folks who disregard the needs of others or cheat others or manipulate the system or are unjust in order to get or maintain their wealth aren’t popular. At least not by most people.

And that was Zacchaeus.

He was a chief tax collector.

Not in the time and place in history he was known to be dishonest in collecting taxes from his fellow Jews and he worked for their occupier - Rome.

The more he could cheat the taxpayers the more favor he had with Rome.

And the more money he had the more he could line his pockets.

He was called a sinner. He was bearing false witness. He was covetous.

He was not a good guy.

Thats the juxtaposition Luke paints between the Rich Young Ruler and Zacchaeus.

On the surface the Rich Young Ruler seems like a decent guy - obedient to the commandments (at least outwardly), and Zacchaeus seems like a rotten dude - cheating folks out of their money to get wealthy.

But under the surface something is different.

The Rich Young Ruler was satisfied living for the present while Zacchaeus felt there was more he was missing.

Something wealth couldn’t fill.

So he decided he need to see this man who was coming into town.

Word about this man spread.

He was a miracle worker.

He was a prophet.

He was a teacher.

He was a rebel.

He was different.

His words cast out demons, healed the sick, raised the dead, proclaimed the Kingdom, and brought LIFE into all who would believe.

Zacchaeus needs to see this man.

Zacchaeus Could Not See

Last week we talked about he blind man who couldn’t see anything until he say Jesus.

I want to remind you again, we need a fresh vision of Jesus.

Our carnal desires will not satisfy.

Our wordly affections will not satisfy.

What we see from ground level will not satisfy.

We need to get higher to see clearer.

We need to climb above the dirt to see true vine.

Too often we stay low.

Too often we keep our eyes at ground level.

Look up. Thats were your help comes from.

Listen, don’t let the crowd keep you from seeing who Jesus is.

The crowd may confuse you.

The crowd may block your vision.

The crowd may push against you.

The crowd may separate you.

The crowd may seem to tall to see over.

The crowd may seem to big to fight against.

The crowd may seem insurmountable.

The crowd may stand in your way.

Don’t let the crowd determine your fresh vision of Jesus.

Run to the place of sight.

Climb the tree.

Get above the crowd, above the noise, above the barriers.

Do whatever you need to do to get a fresh vision of Jesus.

Not a new Jesus. Not an unscriptural Jesus. Not a false Jesus.

We need a fresh vision of the Ancient of Days.

The Alpha and Omega.

The First and the Last.

The One who Was and Is and Is To Come.

The One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

We need a fresh vision of Jesus.

So push through the crowd, run on ahead, climb that tree, worship with a on don, fast that meal, read that scripture, listen to your pastors sermons, attend church, but don’t stop until you’ve found your satisfaction in Jesus and your affections are transformed.

Don’t let the crowd keep you from the Christ!

Jesus Sees Zacchaeus

Luke 19:5–6 CSB

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully.

I love this.

Jesus looked up.

Jesus sees you.

Jesus looks toward you.

Draw near to me and I will draw near to you says the LORD.

Jesus moves toward you.

You have Jesus attention.

All your praying, and seeking, and pushing through, and running ahead, and climbing trees is never in vain.

You will seek me and you will find me when you search for me with all your heart, says the LORD.

Jesus see you.

Zacchaeus wasn’t just looked at by Jesus he was seen by Jesus.

That’s become a common phrase “I felt seen”.

We say that when someone understand us, our journey, our story.

Zacchaeus was seen.

But he wasn’t just seen.

Hear me, it’s good to be understold. It’s good to have some get you, your story, your feelings, your hurts, your joys.

It’s good to be seen.

But Zacchaeus wasn;t just seen by Jesus.

Zacchaeus was KNOWN by Jesus.

Jesus Names Zacchaeus

Do you see that?

Luke 19:5 CSB

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”

Before Zacchaeus introduced himself Jesus knew him by name.

He was seen by Jesus and he was known by Jesus.

Zacchaeus.

Imagine the thoughts and feelings that flooded Zacchaeus.

He calls him by name.

You are not a number to Jesus.

You aren’t a client to Jesus.

You aren’t a problem to Jesus.

You aren’t just another in a long line of seekers, questioners.

Not only does he see you and understand your story, he knows your name.

He knows your fears.

He knows your questions.

He knows your failures.

He knows your triumphs.

He knows your sin.

He knows your doubts.

He knows your secrets.

He knows your confusion.

He knows you.

He knows who he created you to be, when he formed you in your mother’s womb, he had a good and perfect will for your life.

When you rescued you, healed you, kept you, brought you, covered you, and sustained you - He was thinking good for you.

You thought your running and climbing was pointless.

Know it was setting you up for dinner with Jesus.

Jesus is inviting himself over because Jesus has good and perfect plans for you.

Jesus knows you, everything about you, and Jesus wants to spent time with you.

Jesus sees you.

Jesus knows you.

Jesus loves you.

Go With Jesus

Luke 19:6–10 CSB

So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

I love this, Zacchaeus quickly come down.

Zacchaeus felt a joy that all the riches in the world could not compare to.

Zacchaeus had he deepest need met.

He was seen.

He was known.

He was named.

But he was judged.

Not by Jesus.

Jesus already knew who he was and was willing to be seen with him.

Don’t let others mislabel you after you have been named by Jesus.

Don’t let others call you by your sin after you’ve been with Jesus.

Don’t let others call you by your past when your becoming your future.

Hear this!

Jesus isn’t afraid to be called a friend of Sinners.

Why, because sinners can become saints when Jesus comes over.

Jesus never hang out with sinners to sin with them, Jesus hung out with sinners to save them.

Jesus isn’t as concerned with your past as he is with your future.

Jesus isn’t as concerned with who you were as he is with who you are becoming.

Jesus isn’t as concerned with what you did as he is with whose you are.

Give It Away Now

The Rich Young Ruler lacked one thing because he had everything.

Zacchaeus lacked nothing because he gave it all away.

Here is the transformation that a fresh vision of Jesus brought, Zacchaeus returned was he had stolen.

Did he have to legally? No. A corrupt system rewarded corrupt characters.

Did he have to covenantially? Well, here’s what Jesus said, Luke 19:9-10

Luke 19:9–10 CSB

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

Zaccaeus was a true son of Abraham because he welcomed Jesus, and Zacchaeus behavior changed after Jesus came to his house.

Zacchaeus wsn’t a faithful son of Abraham until he met the one who said before Abraham was, I AM.

Following Jesus changes our affections.

Following Jesus changes our behavior.

Why?

Not because behavior modification is salvific, but because Jesus is salvific.

Following Jesus changes our behavior because following Jesus changes our affections.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the law.

And when we are in Jesus we want to Love God and love our neighbor.

This is what is called the Law of Christ.

Loveing God and Loving Neighbor.

And as our affections are turned toward our Savior our behavior toward our neighbor is concerned with righteouness and goodness.

Following Jesus saves us to live with a better humanity in mind.

Jesus doesn’t just save us from hell, Jesus saves us for earth, and unto eternity.

Jesus Is Seeking You

Thats why Jesus came.

To seek and save the lost.

We are talking a lot about seeking Jesus.

But don’t forget, Jesus is seeking you.

Jesus is pursuing you.

Jesus isn’t giving up on you.

Jesus isn’t running from you.

Jesus is seeking and saving.

That’s why Jesus came.

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