Breaking Limitations (3)

Luke 19:1-10

Luke 19:1–10 GNB

1 Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a Sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, “Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.” 6 Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy. 7 All the people who saw it started grumbling, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner!” 8 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Do You Remember when you realized You Changed In The Lord?

What where some identifying things that you began doing or had a desire to stop doing?

1 Peter 3:15 NIV84

15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

1 Peter 3:15 KJV

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:15 GNB

15 But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honour him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you,

If I was to ask you_______ how do you know your saved.. What would be your answer?

Luke 19:9 TPT

9 Jesus said to him, “This shows that today life has come to you and your household, for you are a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek out and to give life to those who are lost.”

* Luke has consistently shown how Jesus cared for those in need and for those rejected by society. In the Zacchaeus account these themes are summed up in beautiful detail. The account is unique to Luke’s Gospel, just as the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the compassionate father are. Luke always portrays tax collectors favorably

Luke 3:12–13 TPT

12 Even the despised tax collectors came to John to be baptized, and they asked him, “What are we to do to prove our hearts have changed?” 13 “Be honest,” he replied. “Don’t demand more taxes than what you are required to collect.”

Luke 7:29 TPT

29 When the common and disreputable people among the audience heard Jesus say this, they acknowledged that it was the truth, for they had already experienced John’s baptism.

Luke 15:1 TPT

1 Many dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often gathered around to listen as Jesus taught the people.

Luke 18:10 TPT

10 “Once there were two men who went into the temple to pray. One was a proud religious leader, the other a despised tax collector.

Many Christians want to make Church a social club with rules & agenda’s.

But in Christ Kingdom sinners where hungry for what he was saying and they remained around him.

Luke 19:1–3 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.

Zac has three obstacles

1. He’s wealthy

2. He is the chief of the tax collectors

3. He is a small in stature

He didn’t allow any of these obvious issues to stop him from persuing, Jesus

Luke (Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10))

Jesus proceeds into Jericho. His visit has attracted a large crowd. Zacchaeus, a rich chief tax collector, also is interested in Jesus. In Luke’s literary context, the introduction of Zacchaeus sends both positive and negative signals. Tax collectors have been portrayed with favor, but rich men with disfavor. , in his culture Zacchaeus would be regarded totally negatively because his wealth was “extorted” from fellow Jews on behalf of occupying Rome.

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

The tax collector is too short to see over the crowd, but his desire is so great that he exercises creativity in attaining his goal. A sycamore-fig tree is like a short oak tree, with a squatty trunk and wide branches. So Zacchaeus has a high camera angle on the event.

His ability to Humble himself is the first indicator he’s ready to break limitations.

Rich men don’t climb trees....

The reason why many people haven’t caught Christ attention is pride is in the way…

Because he is a leader of leaders, his ability to forecast is on 1000%.. He see’s where Jesus is, and everyone is there. But he’s able to identify where Christ is Coming. And he sets himself up on a tree. AKA breaking Limitations..

Can you discern what God is up to in the world, In the Church and in his Kingdom?

If you can’t you better get with the one that can.

Luke 19:5 TPT

5 When Jesus got to that place, he looked up into the tree and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry on down, for I am appointed to stay at your house today!”

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

Jesus takes the initiative, calling for Zacchaeus. The text does not discuss how Jesus knows his name, but Jesus announces that it “is necessary” (dei) for him to stay with this eager spectator. In the ancient culture, the request revealed Jesus’ acceptance of Zacchaeus; thus it stuns the crowd

There is a Power and Breakthrough in your seeking.

Matthew 7:7–8 TPT

7 “Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.

The Cost of breaking Limitations requires an unquestionable posture of Seeking After the face of God.

Many seek the hand of God

The greatest thing to hear is Jesus wants to stay at your house.

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

The request meets with public skepticism, which allows Jesus to make a point about the nature of his mission. Zacchaeus’s attempt to glimpse Jesus has become much more.

Zacchaeus responds by coming down the tree and receiving Jesus with joy

How many of us would need to get ride of the weed, porn, Henny and the zodiac posters before Christ could come over?

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

The theme of joy, coming as it does after a story about the Son of David, may suggest messianic joy. What is clear is that joy is an appropriate response to God’s initiative on our behalf

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

Here joy is the response of a man who has fulfilled God’s will despite the protests of many who surround him. The crowd’s grumbling recalls earlier grumbling about Jesus’ associations

The crowed is complaining and Zac is praising.

My prayer is everyone that has had obstacles in there way of getting Christ in there house will come down off the tree with Praise in-spite of the folks that feel you don’t deserve anther chance..

Can you praise in the midst of complainers!!!

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

Here joy is the response of a man who has fulfilled God’s will despite the protests of many who surround him. The crowd’s grumbling recalls earlier grumbling about Jesus’ associations

Luke 5:30 KJV

30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

If You are going to break limitations:

You have to develop and unbothered attitude with murmure’s and complainers

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

So Zacchaeus responds:

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

“Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Two actions substantiate Zacchaeus’s new approach.

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

A new generosity means that half of his assets are going to those in need

Luke 12:13–21 GNB

13 A man in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us.” 14 Jesus answered him, “My friend, who gave me the right to judge or to divide the property between you two?” 15 And he went on to say to them all, “Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because a person’s true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be.” 16 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops. 17 He began to think to himself, ‘I haven’t anywhere to keep all my crops. What can I do? 18 This is what I will do,’ he told himself; ‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store my corn and all my other goods. 19 Then I will say to myself, Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?’ ” 21 And Jesus concluded, “This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God’s sight.”

Luke 16:19–31 KJV

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 GNB

7 What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! 8 So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.

Zacchaeus knows something many of us don’t know. He had money and didn’t have God, and rather gave up wordly riches.

We got Godly Riches in God and rather give it up for wordly riches.

Zacchaeus was a sower & giver.

I promise you its don’t tell is us, and i am not a betting man. But Zacchaeus gained more wealth by this posture of breaking LimitationsLuke 19:8 (KJV)

8 ; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

In addition, anyone who was robbed will be paid back with the highest penalty the law allows, a fourfold rate

This is a hart of a Changed Man.....

When the Lord Saved you what was one of the first things you wanted to get right?

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

This rich man, touched by Jesus and responding with faith, exemplifies the restoration of a “lost one” and opens up his resources to be shared with others. He does not have to sell everything to receive Jesus’ commendation. His heart is in the right place when it comes to possessions. So Zacchaeus becomes an exemplary rich disciple.

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

Jesus announces, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” He speaks of the tax collector’s spiritual heritage here. Now this one has been joined to the great patriarch of faith (Rom 4:11–18; Gal 3:9, 29). Zacchaeus’s access to God’s blessing has been gained through faith. Not only that, but Jesus’ mission has been fulfilled

Luke Saving the Lost: Zacchaeus (19:1–10)

“The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Jesus does what the nation had failed to do in the past, become a shepherd to lost sheep (Ezek 34:2, 4, 16, 22–23—the hope of the Davidic king restored to the nation may be alluded to here and in Jn 10). Jesus’ initiative is a requirement of his mission. In order to find the lost, he must seek the lost. In such cases even the rich and rejected can be a part of the flock. Faith brings Jesus home to stay in Zacchaeus’s heart and the lost sheep back to the Shepherd.