Withholding Nothing

Intro: You are looking to board an airplane you have to pass the security protocols. You have to empty your pockets. You have to remove liquids over a certain size. You may try to get all you can to go through the check point. You are wondering if you need to take your shoes off or your watch or earrings. To ensure you get through you withhold nothing and just take them off to go through. There is a chance you think this watch is safe and you can go through and the alarm goes off and you have to pass through the second time. If you just took the watch off you would have made it through. Why do we withhold some things? We do not want to let go of control. Scared we will loose something that is not replaceable. Whatever the reason we need to see is this holding us back from getting where we want to be? It may be that we see this from different point of views.

Transition: You know where you want to go and how you see yourself. Others may see you as a terrorist and a problem as you have go through so much with the security. It is based on someones perspective.

From different point of views.

People know you and see you in different ways. Some judge you because of your past and some will judge you for who you can become. It is like being seen from different point of views.

Jesus sees us for the good that is in us. Others point of view is of the bad and evil we have done. Zacchaeus is introduced to us by his past and we look into his future. We find Zacchaeus who wants to see Jesus an in return we see Jesus wants to see him.

Luke 19:1–5 NLT

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Luke 19::1-

Desire to know Jesus.

We have to seek after him.

We must learn to be humble ourselves to get in his presence.

It was not dignified for the rich to run let alone climb a tree.

Zacchaeus was willing to be foolish to see Jesus.

We must desire to follow the way of Jesus.

Jesus gives the invitation

When we are invited by Jesus we should not resist his call. We should not dodge his call like a telemarketer or bill collector.

We should be open to receive and respond to the invitation of Jesus.

Luke 19:5 NLT

5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Luke 19:

We should be open to receive and respond to the invitation of Jesus like Zacchaeus.

Luke 19:6 NLT

6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.

Joy in being welcomed by Jesus.

There is Joy in being in the presence of holiness.

We can have joy in our brokenness in the presence of our healer.

We have joy knowing where we are is not where we will stay.

Joy in knowing Jesus seeks to have fellowship with us.

Jesus seeks to better us and not leave us where we are.

Others may judge you and look down on you.

Jesus came to save the lost.

Luke 19:7 NLT

7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

Luke 19:7

Do not let the views of people detract from how God sees you. Surrender to the Word of the Lord and allow the Word to convict your heart as you submit to his holy and pleasing will.

Withholding noting.

Zaccheus is moved to make right what was wrong in his life. He shows fruit of repentance. John was preaching repentance and baptism in the wilderness. Tax collectors viewed as sinners wanted to know how to change.

Luke 3:12–13 NLT

12 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”

Luke 3:

Zacchaeus is in the presence of Jesus and shows his change of heart.

How has Jesus changed your heart?

Luke 19:8 NLT

8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

Luke 19:8

He will not withhold to give back what will make right.

He was only required to repay one fifth of the loss (20%).

Leviticus 6:1–5 NLT

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the Lord. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud, 3 or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin. 4 If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, 5 or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed. On the same day you must present a guilt offering.

He wanted to not withhold what is right.

He is looking to give to be right with Jesus.

He understands he wants to give and not withhold what we could.

He goes above and beyond.

He no longer wants to be who he used to be in his life.

Give all and know who Gave you all!

Jesus gives all to us and withholds nothing. Jesus sees his heart and comments on his action and responds to the crowd to know of his inner change being expressed outwardly.

Luke 19:9–10 NLT

9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Jesus was welcome in the house and therefore salvation was in the house.

Obeying the Law of God shows us to be children of God.

Jesus Came to save the lost!

We have a person who is looking for us as we should be looking for him. Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus not knowing Jesus was looking for him. What a joy to know that God is looking to redeem us and restore us in right relationship with our creator.

Do you know where you are?

Seek to be found by the Lord.

You are not lost you just have not looked for Jesus.

Let go to what is holding you back.

Seek higher ground to get in his presence.

Open up your heart to allow Jesu to live with you!

Jesus is coming your direction.

Jesus is coming back again in our direction. We need to be ready to receive him. He has left us instructions in his Word. We are to submit to his Holy will and serve one another in love. Showing the amazing grace of God in our life as we share the gospel with others of the redemption of man kind through the Son of God. Let us surrender to the Lord like Zacchaeus and be open for eternal fellowship with the Lord.