My Limitations and God's

Luke 19:1-10

A state trooper is sitting on the side of the road catching speeders… and there he saw a car going 22 mph. This is just as dangerous as a speeder… So, he turns on his lights and pulls the car over...

There are 5 elderly ladies in the car… 2 up front and 3 in the back… and they were wide-eyed and white as ghosts...

The driver, confused about being pulled over, begins to say, “What is the problem officer; I was going the speed limit...?

The trooper, holding back his laugh… explains to her that she was looking at the route number; it was route 22 and she thought that was a speed limit sign.

The woman smiled with embarrassment and thanked the officer for helping her out.

The officer stated before he left, “Mam, before you go… I need to ask… is everyone in the car ok? All these women seem to be terrified and shaken...”

And the woman answered back, “They will be alright in just a few minutes… we just got off route 136.”

Does everyone know their limitations? Are we looking to ourselves or to God to find them?

Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he...

How wee was he? I do not know.

The average Jewish height during Jesus’s day, according to archeological digs, was around 5’5’’ to 5’6’’........ And he was a wee shorter than this.

Zaccheus, a Jewish name… and a person who had not lived up to his name.

His name means “innocent one, or righteous one”...

But Zach has been a chief of sinners until this very day...

He was now a chief among the publicans, tax collectors, covering a large district. He would supervise the men who collected the taxes, like Matthew... and he would receive his share of the money.

This is why he was a rich man...

Tax collectors were hated by their countrymen. They cheated the people, taking more than what was owed. They were known and identified as being traitors to their own people… as they collaborated with Rome, their enemy and oppressor.

He was rich… He worked for a power house empire...

But Zach was missing something...

This is true for so many people today...

Many millionaires are miserable people...

Many Famous actors and singers are depressed and suicidal...

They have the materials… but they do not have the spiritual.

Jesus is coming… everyone around has heard about this Jesus.

Word had gotten out that Jesus was coming… the teacher, and the healer...

Word had gotten around by this time that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead...

The city was stirred And people were lining the streets.

Zach sought to see who Jesus was...

Zach had a desire to see this Jesus, to meet this Jesus...

But it was not a desire that went away due to the crowds and his limitations...

It was not a desire that went away with a challenge.

Listen: I like concerts, amusement parks, and grocery stores.

If I want to see someone in concert bad enough… I wait in long lines...

If I want to ride a ride bad enough… I wait in long lines...

If I want those items from the store… I will pay the price and wait in lines...

But if it is not worth it… I will not.

I will walk away and do something else...

If it is not worth it… I am going somewhere else.

We seek and we keep seeking that which we must have.

We go and we keep going after those things that are worth it.

We will go the extra mile and extend our limitations if the reward is worth it.

2. Zach was limited and hindered by his size...

I can identify with my brother Zach. This can be very frustrating at times…

A step-stool is my friend… But, You got to hand it to short people… because they can’t reach it...

Now: Height aside… We might be limited by time, my money, or by something else… We might be limited by fear… by our past… by what someone else has said… by lies...

However… If I wanted to see something, experience something, or meet someone bad enough...

I will go the extra mile, work an extra mile, and set aside time some other place...

If it is worth it… I will find a way to make it happen...

I will take my limitations and will have to get creative...

*When my misery is greater than my comfort… I will try something.

Again:

We all have limitations. We all have limits.

But when we are looking to Jesus… when we are looking to experience Jesus...

When we are desiring to experience Christ’s best...

We will go out on a limb…

When Jesus is worth it.

What was Zach willing to do...

Whatever it took. Whatever was necessary...

Church:

What are you willing to do to meet with Jesus, to experience Jesus, to experience repentance, faith, a miracle, a new life, courage, the ability to witness, share faith, preach the Gospel… To do what you believe God wants you to do...?

What are you willing to do?

Verse 4 - Zach got wild. With the eagerness and passion that he had… he did something men did not do. Men in the East, back then, did not run… Wealthy publicans did not run...

And they sure didn’t climb trees!

But, this child-like wonder and faith possessed Zach to do that which was not the norm...

Child-like wonder and faith cares not for the voices that say… “Zach, what are you doing.… are you crazy, stop doing this, this is embarrassing; come down… be civil… remember who you are...”

But Zach is not going to miss this!!! Zach is not going to miss this opportunity!!!

Child-like faith and wonder keeps you going… keeps you running… and keeps you climbing.

Children will run and climb to get their heart’s desire...

Not dignified men and women...

Dignified men and women... that are more concerned with their appearance... than they are with meeting with Christ… they will miss Jesus...

Men and women who are more concerned... with the way people see them than how God sees them… they will consider the endeavor not worthy of their time and energy...

They will not wade the crowds, wait in line, and pay the price...

And they will miss the experience.

People that are more concerned about public opinion will blend in with the crowd.

People that are more concerned with being dignified will not fall on the knees...

They will not shout the name of Jesus… Sing loudly, raise their hands, or witness publicly...

For some Christians today:

Maybe at one time… people didn’t control our excitement for Jesus...

But somewhere along the way… we became dignified people...

Not Zach… He is all in… Something is stirring in his heart and he has to go...

He is running and climbing… not allowing his limitations or surroundings to stop him...

And what happens?

Jesus stops... for Zacchaeus… Jesus looks right towards Zach… and invites Zach to a one-on-one exclusive at Zach’s house...

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

James 4:8 - Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Matthew 7:7 ““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him.”

Zach sought after Jesus… and Jesus found Zach… Jesus rewarded Zach.

And how did Zach respond? He came down and received Jesus joyfully...

John 1:11–13 “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

How do we know that Zach was saved and was spiritually born again?

Zach had a change of heart that resulted in a changed life… on the spot.

Zach gave evidence of a repentant heart right then and there...

But before we go further with that… how about them critics out there...

Remember, Zach was hated by the multitudes by being in his position, and cheating people...

Remember, Zach was a traitor… who cheated people and got rich off of them...

And Jesus could have gotten brownie-points with the Jews and Jewish leaders by spitting in Zach’s face and calling him names...

If only Jesus would have looked at Zach the way the crowds looked at Zach… Jesus would have been accepted and approved by so many others… possibly...

Jesus is not interested in politics… He is not moved by numbers or public approval...

The critics hated and looked on Zach with hate… They complained that Jesus would hang out with this sinner...

But Jesus looked on Zach with love and compassion... and never gave an inch to the masses...

Jesus was after the lost soul...

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost...

The Great Physician came for the sick… not for public approval...

“Ryan, are we to hang around sinners… known sinners in the community...”

The Bible says not to eat with someone who calls themself a brother but lives in unrepentant sin… (1 Cor. 5)

But a broken sinner… A sinner who wants Jesus… A sinner who wants the truth… A sinner that needs help...

We are to meet with those folks and help lead them to the Lord...

We are to meet with those folks and work to build them up...

Do not worry about the critics.

Do not worry about the noise...

We are on mission with Jesus, to disciple the nations...

And before you meet a saint that is found… You meet a sinner that is lost.

The crowd may say:

“But don’t you know what he is? Don’t you know what he has done...? Don’t you know his story?”

I know what I am without a Savior, and I know what Christ has done...

Why do you have these limitations on love, grace and mercy… that Jesus does not have?

Why do you have these limitations to witness only to those who are well received?

Why do you have limits on the Great Commission?

Christ does not have limitations on His grace and mercy.

Christ will meet you where you are...

Christ is not limited by pride, by ego, by status or traditions...

These things may hinder us… but not Jesus.

Jesus looks at the heart and goes with that...

And what do we see the heart doing in this moment...? What is coming out of Zach’s heart?

We see Righteousness coming out from a repentant heart...

He is willing to give his wealth to the poor and to make it right with those he cheated… restoring up to fourfold… which was the Roman law.

What has happened to this man?

Verse 9 - Salvation has come to this house...

Go back to Luke 18:25 - The camel went through the eye of the needle...

The impossible happened...

Man is limited. Zach is limited. Jesus is not limited...

With faith...

The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Jesus does not have those limitations.

Now we are coming to a landing, with a self-examination....

Is Jesus worth it? Is Jesus worth seeing, worth knowing, or worth meeting...?

What are we willing to do to be known personally by Jesus and to experience life with Him?

What is holding us back from running?

What is holding us back from climbing?

What is holding you back from Jesus?

What is keeping you from trying to do something for Jesus?

What keeps you from witnessing?

Who told you you are too small... too weak… to messed up...?

Who put limitations on your faith?

Who put limitations on your voice?

Are we too dignified today?

Do we rather have the crowd than the Savior?

Would we rather experience the crowd?

Or… Is Jesus worth looking a little foolish for?

If you were to ask Zach the question today in heaven...

“Zach was all of that worth it… Was it worth the embarrassment?”

“Zach, was it worth being called a fool… As it worth the risk… Was it worth the race...?

I believe that Zacchaeus is saying today in heaven… “He was worth it...”

Take your limitations to Jesus today...

Close and Pray