Get Closer

Welcome

Thank you for joining us today. Welcome to Church as Home! My name is Keith and my wife Maegan and I have the incredible privilege of serving as the Lead Pastors of this amazing church, Celebration Orlando. We are so glad that you are here. I pray that this holiday season has been a time of refreshing and reflection. I believe those are key ingredients for perspective and preparation. If you are joining us via our podcast or online, maybe for the first time, please consider joining us for one of our services. We would love to meet you.

Introduction

I am not sure about you but this year has been full of twists and turns. Sometimes we can be so engaged in our day to day drive, we can lose sight of how much mileage we are racking up. One of the things I have to keep in mind is, just because I may be in the same place, it does not mean I haven’t been on a journey. For some of us we have seen the birth of children, the loss of friendships, maybe moving to a new area, finishing school, going back to school, getting a new job…or, we are exactly in the same place. The key is no matter where we are, recognize there is more.

Scripture

Luke 19:1–10 ESV

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

We've heard the saying, perspective is everything. How we see things determines how we receive them. If we see Jesus as our healer, we receive healing...As it relates to faith, we struggle to see Jesus because we look at Him as an option. JESUS IS NOT AN OPTION, He IS the SOLUTION!!! This isn't multiple choice, it's fill in the blank. Jesus is the answer. Narrow your focus. I want to share a couple of scriptures with you to help make my point. (HSCB)

Illustration

One of the biggest moments of anxiousness that I have when going to a new place is parking. I am not sure why it is such a big deal to me, but I think it is safe to say I give it a descent amount of thought. Especially in the city where there is street parking. We all know the feeling when we get the perfect parking spot. We will literally believe we’ve had a supernatural encounter. That said, the adverse can be true and we can feel like we have secret sin in our lives when we are going on our 5th trip around the block and still haven’t landed our spot yet. I recently was in the city to meet with a friend and it was street parking. It was around lunch time, it was an area I had never been to, so I had no idea what to expect. I arrived on the street and looked at my map and it told me the destination was 2 miles ahead on the right. I am driving and I get about 1 mile in and now I’m getting nervous. The street is filled with people. So I tell myself, I need to take the next spot that I see. I drive a few more blocks and there it is. The perfect spot. I pulled in and begin my walk. I noticed something though, there were several other spots and a parking lot! I parked so far away because I thought where I was was the closest I could get.

Transition

I sense that many of us can get to a place where we think that this is a good as it gets. Maybe this has been your best year yet; you can get closer. Maybe it’s been your most challenging season, don’t park there, you can get closer. There’s more spots for you. Don’t walk through things unnecessarily, let grace bring you closer. If you are breathing it is because there is more.

In looking at this passage, there’s a few things worth noting that I believe can encourage us.

Observations/Points

Jericho

One of the things that I learned to appreciate when I went to Israel is geography. Not only looking at what God has done, but where He has done it tells a story as well. That’s the case with this setting. It all takes place in Jericho.

Promise Land

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

Where the spies were sent

The first city the Israelites took possession of

We all have our version of a Jericho. It is on this canvas we paint this miracle. Jesus is about to enter the city and a blind man raises his voice so that Jesus can heal him. He used the exact same method that uses to enter the promise land. Perhaps you are closer than you think but your key to enter isn’t your strategy, it’s your praise. Your praise may bring you to the promises. The blind man is healed and there is a massive crowd.

FROM THE DISTANCE

when we view Jesus from the distance, we lose Him in the crowd.

Zacchaeus, I'm sure, heard about Jesus. I can imagine he heard of Jesus healing the man at the entrance of the gate. He likely saw the crowd coming toward him. He likely saw Jesus from the distance but couldn't quite make him out in detail. I used to attend Philadelphia Eagles games years ago. I would sit in the highest seats in the end zone and look at the jumbotron and my binoculars to catch the highlights. I once got 50 yard line seats at the first level. I could see everything. I could hear everything. It changed my standard with viewing games. The same could be said of us. We sit in the nosebleed seats of our lives, use our binoculars to zoom in on the highlights of Jesus. He has paid the price to give you a closer look. Now you're seated in heavenly places! You're seated in the owners box. Where are you sitting tonight? ;

Zacchaeus

Rich Tax Collector

The area was under Roman rule. We see Jesus say, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. This was dealing with taxes. No one liked this because the designated people would tax the people and take extra for themselves. It was bad enough that they had to endure this, but when one of their own was the collector, they viewed them as a traitor. Zacchaeus was well known but not well liked.

Small Stature

The average height in those days was between 5'1" and 5'6". Many speculate that Zacchaeus was around 4'5". Studies have shown that approximately 80% of our height is directly determined by our parents. Roughly 20% is due to nutrition and environment. In a nutshell, it is possible to be born in circumstances that can be interpreted as a disadvantage or limiting. Zacchaeus was born into a situation that he didn't have control over. He inherited his small stature from his parents. It was in the blood. You ever feel like you inherited some stuff that you didn't ask for? Fortunately for him, he was about to get a blood transfusion. No matter what you inherited, no matter what circumstance you were born in. No matter the environment you were brought up in that has limited your opportunity. Your current limitation can’t withhold a future transformation. It doesn't matter what you were born with, the blood of Jesus is all you need! When you are born again, old things are gone all things are new. The blood of Jesus carries the DNA for your purpose! Divine dialysis removes your paralysis. ; ;

FROM THE CROWD

when we view Jesus from the crowd we can't see Him past our shortcomings.

The crowd has finally caught up with Zacchaeus. He can't quite make Him out. It's too crowded, he's too small. It's possible to be in the crowd following Jesus but not see Him for yourself. You can go through the motions but you know you have not had a true encounter yet. It's possible to be somewhere but never show up. You can attend every service, serve, attend a group, lead worship and even preach the Word; but sometimes you hit a season where you feel like you're just another person in the crowd.

What do you do when you feel stagnated in your journey? You're on the worship team but the God you see others respond to, seems to be vacant in your life? You come to yourself. The prodigal son was at a point where he could no longer see anything good in his life. He came to himself. In other words, he made a decision that I am meant for more. Perhaps the greatest distance you will ever travel won’t take place in your geography, but in your mentality. () I will go to my father! Maybe that’s something we need to consider, I going to take this to my father.

Prayer and the Word is equivalent to intimacy in a marriage...the seed of God's Word is planted in the womb of your heart where prayer produces purpose. Salvation is a marathon so we must stay hydrated with God's presence!!! ; ; ;

Prayer and the Word is equivalent to intimacy in a marriage...the seed of God's Word is planted in the womb of your heart where prayer produces purpose. Salvation is a marathon so we must stay hydrated with God's presence!!! ; ; ;

Running (get ahead of it)

His need to see Jesus exceeded his comfort. Though he was in the crowd, it wasn't good enough. Though he heard of Christ and undoubtedly heard about blind Bart being healed. Being in the crowd wasn't good enough. The same crowd that hushed Bart are the same ones that will block you from seeing Jesus. Sometimes being in a crowd will silence your praise and keep you from really Christ. Zacchaeus knew if he stayed in the crowd, he would stay in bondage. Sometimes you just got to get ahead of the crowd! What do you need to get ahead of in this season? I believe a large percentage of our frustrations could be mitigated if we prepared; or got ahead of it. When my kids were smaller, it was so exhausting because we were all over the place because of the sports. We decided that going forward, we are going to get ahead of it. What is required? Energy, finance, and time. It’s amazing how doing your best to answer those questions on the front end helps you to get ahead of your frustration. Preparation paves the way to peace. Where there is a lack of preparation, there is an abundance of panic. God hasn’t called us to live panicked lives. What do you need to get ahead of going into the next year? Don’t spend your energy being exhausted and frustrated about things you’ve decided. Do your best to get ahead of it.

Climbing (rise above it)

Climbing

I can imagine how it looked, Zacchaeus climbing a tree. I'm certain the crowd, people in the town saw this little guy climbing up a tree. I'm sure they were saying, what is he doing? I am sure many thought it was childish. Jesus said, we must have childlike faith in order to see the kingdom. When it comes to seeing Jesus, we must run from something's and rise above something's; elevate your perspective. Our vantage point can be blocked by crowds, our limitations, you name it. To see eternity, we must look beyond the temporary. What are you willing to give up to gain everything? You've got to rise above where you are to see where you're going.

FROM THE TREE

when we view Jesus from the tree, it purifies our life

From an elevated vantage point, Zacchaeus finally could see Jesus. More importantly, Jesus could see Him. Though all knowing, though all seeing, Jesus wouldn't have seen Zacchaeus unless he made himself seen. Zacchaeus was seen because of the tree. When Abraham dwelled in Canaan, seeds were planted, this tree grew and endured the weather, the Canaanites, philistines, Babylonians, Greeks and Medes and Romans and here it was in position for Zacchaeus to stand on. There are seeds that have been planted in you for this very night. Seeds of purpose, seeds of promise, seeds of healing, seeds of deliverance. Tonight, those seeds will mature and allow Jesus to see you where you are!!!

Salvation

Jesus sees Zacchaeus and calls him by name, goes to his house and saves his entire family. The importance of Jesus calling him by name can be overlooked. The name Zacchaeus means pure. It's interesting to note that Jesus called "pure" prior to repenting. When Jesus sees you, He sees you for what you will become, not for what you are. He called Abram, Abraham before he had one child! Your identity isn't locked in what you do, it's found in the one you believe in. Zacchaeus repents. Repent means to turn away from. When you have an encounter with God, you will turn away from things that used to have you turned out. Repentance is not a requisite of salvation, it's the result of it!

Jesus wanted to come to Zacchaeus’ house today. We often has great plans but can sometimes miss the timing of it. What does Jesus want you to do today?

Photosynthesis

Is the process where carbon monoxide, which in high doses can be poison, and converts it to oxygen. Trees when exposed to light absorb carbon dioxide and omits oxygen. It's an inconvenient truth that the ozone layer is depleted by pollution. We exhale poison, trees absorb it and converts it to the oxygen that we inhale. The cross absorbs the poison of our sin and omits the oxygen of salvation. Zacchaeus stood on a tree that provided life. It absorbed his sin and gave him life.