Changing Your Condition By Changing Your Position
Changing Your Condition By Changing Your Position
Text: Lk. 19:1-10 – PPHC – Aug. 13, 2006 A.M.
I. Zaccheus – His Condition: Lost
A. Description of: Occupation - publican (“chief” tax collector) in Jericho.
1. v. 1 - “he was rich” in material gain (what the world considers wealth).
2. v. 3 - “short in stature” - in the things that really counted, he didn’t measure up!
B. He “Sought to see Jesus” - v. 3 – (which one he was)
1. Jesus = O.T. Yeshua – salvation, deliverance, victory (“getting on top”)…
2. Evidently, he had “heard” of this Miracle Worker.
a. Rom. 10:17 “For faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
b. A weighing happening within Zaccheus – what he had “experientially” known vs. what he had heard! Kerugma – “heralded word – preached.”
1. The Word will challenge you…gets all up in your business; in your face!!!
· Your 1) Thoughts, 2) Feelings, 3) Emotions
· Jn. 16:8 “..when He is come, He will REPROVE the world of sin... to convict/convince
a. To convict: Expresses the work on the unbelieving portion of man.
b. To convince: Expresses the work on the believing portion of man.
· God doesn't leave you with a vacuum in your life; after conviction, then comes convincing. – Is. 30:21 “…this is the way, walk therein.”
3. Zach. wanted to see “who he was” for himself...didn’t rely on hearsay, gossip, the
Upcoming Events section in the Jerusalem Post newspaper.
a. Not even what dad and mom and others might have said. (A weighing happening)
· Illustration: The sheep can hear the voice of the shepherd even in the howling winds,
yet, inside there is a great desire to see the shepherd’s face appear over the next knoll
or hill that separates the two. (A great calming effect is produced by experiencing his physical presence)
4. He couldn’t see Jesus because of the “press” (crowd).
a. There may be things in your life that prevent you from coming to Christ.
Illustration:
II. He Changed His Position
A. This Setback Didn’t Defeat Him... he “ran” (outran the crowd) and climbed a tree.
1. Christians need to develop this “bulldog” tenacity/attitude of not giving up without a
fight.
a. He climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus…the scrapes of bark biting into his arms/legs.
1. He probably looked foolish to the people under the tree that day...but he didn’t care!!
a. Photographers scrap with one another just to get a picture of a celebrity.
· Don’t allow anything hinder your pursuit of God!
· Illustration – “Blind man…Son of David, have mercy on me!” Lk. 18:35
- His cry stops Jesus in his tracks and his attention was immediately focused on him.
a. A beggar: to be in such need, one comes forward (pros) to day another for help (aiteo).
b. Imagine the humiliation, the degradation of this man; how much he must have wanted out of this lifestyle!!!
B. Jesus was “…to pass that way” (v. 4)
1. “When” Jesus came by, not “if” He came by...Lk. 15:4 He leaves the 99 to find the 1.
2. “He looked up...” up to where Zaccheus was (He knows “where” you are);
a. Jer. 23:24 “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.”
3. Jesus “saw him” - one cannot escape the gaze of that Galilean.
a. 2 Chron. 16:9 - for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.
b. When God sees you, your whole life is bared before Him - thoughts, desires, affairs, (transparent).
1. Ps. 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart.
· What did Jesus see when they brought the lady caught in the act of
adultery? The men saw an adulteress, worthy of death. Jesus never sees the
“adulteress, the thief, the molester, the drug addict, the alcoholic, the murderer”,
etc…He sees the PERSON, the soul that will live somewhere forever in eternity.”
C. “Make haste and come down; for today I must abide at thy house” - v. 5
1. Grk. meaning = {this very day I must tarry at your house continually} he’s not coming over for just a chat; He’s coming to move in with you!!
2. Zaccheus’ haste showed obedience and an earnest desire to please Jesus.
D. “He received Jesus joyfully” = The Hinsons sing; “Burdens are Lifted At Calvary”
E. He confessed as Jesus as “Lord”.
1. Transformation takes place - a “greedy” man now becomes a very “giving” man.
2. Salvation confirmed - Jesus said... “This day is salvation come to this house.”
III. He Changed His Condition By Changing His Position
A. About Jesus: “...To seek and to save that which was lost.”
1. “To seek” = to seek in order to find
2. “To save” = to rescue one from perishing; to restore; heal; make whole
a. “The lost” = one that has been declared to be put to death (destruction)
· If you’re tired of your condition, change your position!