["Pomp and Circumstance"]
You
Good morning and welcome. Let's find our seats take our song books turn to song
413
Song 413
413 let's see it out on the first
Oh
On the second
To the
Good morning want to welcome you to verity baptist church. We're glad you're with us this morning
Let's begin the service with the word of prayer. Let's fire our heads together. How many father lord?
We do. Thank you for allowing us to gather together today lord
We pray that you're blessed
The time that we have set aside for the preaching of your word lord
And we pray that you would meet with us and help us to draw close to you in jesus name
We pray. Amen
Turn the song 230
Two three zero
Heavenly sunlight 230 on the first walking in
Thank you
Five
Shadows
Never
Close
I
Sing it out on the last
Is
So
Amen, all right. Well, let's take our bulletins this morning
We'll look at some announcements
If you do not have a bulletin just raise your hand and one of our ushers can get one for you
If you need a bulletin just put your hand up and we'll get one for you the verse this week luke 16 10
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also
In much and that's a good verse there. We like that
If you open up your bulletin, you'll see our service times sunday morning service 10 30 a.m
And we're glad you're with us. Of course on sunday morning on the lord's day for church
Sunday evening service at 6 p.m
We do invite you to be back tonight for the evening service
The evening service is different than the morning service different songs that are sung
Different sermon that's preached just one more opportunity to be in god's house
With god's people under the preaching of the word of god, of course
And then our wednesday evening bible study at 7 p.m. We'd love for you to join us for the midweek service
If you look at our soul winning times
Our main soul winning times on saturday mornings at 10 a.m
And then we have additional soul times on thursdays fridays and sundays at 2 p.m
So if you'd like to go soul winning this afternoon
We'll have a time set aside for you to be able to
Do that if you're a first-time guest if it's your first time here at verity baptist church
We're glad you're with us
We have a gift we'd like to give you as you walk out of the church building this morning as you go through the main
Foyer or if you go out our secondary foyer, you'll see a little table set up and on that table you'll see
These little gift bags, please grab one on your way out as a gift from us to you for being our guest this morning
There are several resources in this bag that we'd like you to have
The one I like to highlight is this uh documentary that our church made it's called being baptist very well made very interesting
We think you'll like it want to give this to you as a gift
So please make sure you don't leave here this morning without grabbing one of these gift bags on your way out
And if you are a guest we'd ask that you please take a moment and fill out the communication card
Which is inserted in your bulletin if you need a pen just raise your hand and one of our ushers can bring you by
A verity baptist church pen you're welcome to keep the pen as a gift from us as well
And we're not going to do anything odd with your info
We would just like a record of your attendance
We actually would like to send you a little gift
But we need your information to do that
So please take a moment to fill the card out when we're done with the announcement
We're going to sing a song when we're done singing
We're going to receive the offering as the offering plate goes by you can drop this card in the offering plate
Or you can hand it to me after the service. I'll be standing at the main door greeting people on
The way out if you look at our announcements there. We of course are a family integrated church
What that means is that children and infants are always welcomed in the church service
We do not separate children from their parents for any reason
However, we do have mother baby rooms and daddy rooms available for your convenience
All of the rooms have comfortable seating. They have monitors set up so you can watch the service and listen to it
So if you're not sure where those rooms are, you can look at the back of the bulletin
It'll show you a layout of our church building
It'll show you where the mother baby rooms are where the daddy room is. It'll show you where the restrooms are
So if you have a child that's being distracting during the service or if you need some privacy
We would encourage you to please use the mother baby rooms as needed
And of course if you need to be baptized, please let us know we'd love to baptize you
The baptistry is filled the water is warm
And you can let us know on your communication card on the back of the card
There's a place for you to check off that you'd like information about baptism and we'll
Follow up with you and get you situated for baptisms if you look at the announcements and upcoming events
We of course are going through a series called journey with jesus
And it's a verse by verse study of the gospel of luke. We're going to continue that this morning and next week
We want you to know that is our worker appreciation sunday next sunday
Is when we take some time to appreciate all the volunteers
And workers here at verity baptist church, and we want to make sure that you are here for that
So don't forget about that sunday november 20th. Also. We have our annual pie social coming up on wednesday november 23rd
And that's of course at the wednesday
Night service after the service. We'll be enjoying
Some pie after the service. So if you can bring a pie we would appreciate that you can bake it
You can buy it whatever you'd like, uh, but we'll have pie after the wednesday service november 23rd
Of course, that's the wednesday before uh before thanksgiving and then of course
We have the turkey bowl coming up on thursday. November 24th. It is at 7 a.m. This is for guys that want to play
Football on thanksgiving morning. There is a sign-up sheets in the foyer
So please use those as needed music ministry dinner and training
Uh, this is a an evening for all of the musicians
Uh, if you're a song leader if you are an orchestra member or if you're a panist at our church
We need you to be at this music ministry dinner and training
Uh, you should have received a text message. You can rsvp through the text message or on your communication card, please
Make sure you do that and then of course choir today at 5 p.m
And children's choir at 5 15 in the playroom homeschool group. They've got pe class on thursday, december 1st
There's other things there for you to look at
Please don't forget to turn your cell phones off or place them on silent during the service
So they're not a distraction to anybody if you look at the back of the bulletin birthdays and anniversaries for the month of november
Uh, today is brother shaw's birthday. November 13th
And then this week we have a jude nel tescu and isaiah gonzalez's birthday on november 15th
Amelia gonzalez's birthday november 16th everly usher's birthday. November 17th
Brother jose and miss michelle cruz have an anniversary on november 17th. Weston. Chandler has a birthday on november 17th
And faith santos has a birthday on november 18th praise report money matters. All those things are there
For you to look at and I think that's it
For all of the announcements, so we're going to go ahead and sing the chorus of the week, which is the insert in your bulletin
And we will sing until then
As we prepare to receive the offering this morning my heart can sing when I pause to remember let's sing it out on the first
my heart
When I pause to remember
That's winding always upward
Oh
Good singing out on the second the things
They're borrowed
Is
Remember
Until
Joy
This
Is
When it's released
When
Until then
Until
Okay
Amen good singing while the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time
And let's go ahead and bow our heads and have a word prayer
Heavenly father lord, we do. Thank you for allowing us to gather together today
We pray that you bless the gift and the giver lord
We ask that you meet with us as we take time to open up your word and look at another portion of scripture together
In jesus name we pray. Amen
So
Turn your rivals to luke chapter 19
Luke chapter 19 if you do not have a bible raise your hand or not. She'll bring you one
Luke chapter 19 this morning. We'll read verses 1 through 10
Luke chapter 19
Just keep your hands up and an usher will bring you a bible
Luke chapter 19 the bible reads
And jesus entered and passed through jericho and behold there was a man named zachias
Which was the chief among the publicans and he was rich
And he sought to see jesus who he was
And could not for the press because he was little of stature
And he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was to pass that way
And when jesus came to the place he looked up and saw him and said unto him
Zachias make haste and come down for today. I must abide at thy house
And he made haste and came down and received him joyfully
And when they saw it, they all murmured saying that he was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner
And zachias stood and said unto the lord behold lord the half of my goods I give to the poor
And if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation I restore him fourfold
And jesus said unto him this day is salvation come to this house for so as much as he also is the son of abraham
For the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost
Let's pray
Father god, thank you for this day. Thank you for the opportunity to come together
Please bless pastor and the message. Let it bring glory and honor to you in the name of jesus christ. I pray. Amen
Amen
All right, we're there in luke chapter number 19
And this morning we of course are making our way through the gospel of luke verse by verse chapter by chapter
We're in a series entitled
Uh journey with jesus and we of course are on a journey with the lord jesus christ
We've been studying the life of christ through this gospel
Gospel of luke is probably the most comprehensive gospel in the bible regarding the life of the lord jesus christ
And this morning we find ourselves in a very familiar passage, especially if you grew up in church and we find ourselves looking at the story
of a character a very well-known story
Of a man by the name of zacchaeus if you're there in luke chapter 19
In verse one the bible says and jesus entered and passed through jericho. We saw last week that he had an encounter
He stopped to speak to a blind man in on his way into jericho now he's passing through jericho
We know that he is making his way we're going to talk about it tonight. He's making his way to jerusalem
He's about ready to enter jerusalem in what is known we'll learn about this tonight in the evening service as palm sunday
And he's going to present himself
As the spotless lamb of god to be sacrificed for our sins and as he passed through jericho
The bible says there in verse two and behold there was a man named zacchaeus
This is a very well-known story and it's an important story. It's really the last encounter of the lord jesus christ before his
Resurrection the last encounter that he'll have with an individual outside of jerusalem on his way to jerusalem
And of course if you grew up in church, you know the name
Zacchaeus when I was a kid growing up
We would of course have many lessons in sunday school about zacchaeus and we would sing about zacchaeus all the time
There was a little song about zacchaeus. Who knows the song i'm referring to the the children's song when I was a kid
We were saying zacchaeus was a wee little man a wee little man was he
He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the lord
He wanted to see and when the savior passed that way
He looked up in the tree and said
Zacchaeus come down from that tree for i'm going to your house today
For i'm going to your house today and we would sing that song and of course that is in reference to the story here in
Uh luke chapter 19 and that's pretty much the story so we can pray and be dismissed and i'm just kidding
There are some things we can learn about zacchaeus in this passage of scripture here
And i'd like to as quickly as possible break these down for you and give you some thoughts regarding
Uh zacchaeus this morning if you're taking notes
And I always encourage you to take notes on the back of your course of the week
There's a place for you to write down some things like you notice first of all this morning zacchaeus condition
Zacchaeus condition and of course the most famous thing we know about zacchaeus what he's probably
known
the most for
Is his short stature you're there in luke 19 if you notice again
Look at verse two and behold there was a man named zacchaeus
Which was the chief among the publicans and he was rich notice verse three and he this is zacchaeus
sought to see jesus who he was and could not for the press
He could not see who jesus was for the press the word press there is in reference to the the crowd the multitude
We know that jesus has been on his way traveling with a crowd of people and of course this will climax in
Jerusalem
Zacchaeus could not see jesus for the press notice the last part there verse number three because he
was little of stature because he was little of stature now the
Gospel writer of luke we know is luke the physician
and luke the physician is
Very detailed about his writings. He's given us probably more details in the gospel of luke than any other gospel writer
It's a comprehensive gospel on the life of the lord jesus christ and here he gives us this detail
About zacchaeus that he was little of stature. He was a
Short man, and I will say this I personally take offense to this
You know, I don't understand it kind of just upsets me
when I get to heaven i'm going to have a talk with uh, the apostle luke because
He he feels the need to throw this into the story
And you know what I want to say to luke is, you know
You don't tell us anything else about anybody else. You don't tell us the mary the the color of hair that mary had
You didn't tell us how big
Peter's nose was uh, you didn't you didn't tell us that, you know
You don't tell us that john had really big hands or small hands
You don't feel the need to tell us these things
But for some reason it feels the need to tell us that zacchaeus was short of stature
And this is what the story is known for right? Zacchaeus was a wee little man. He was a uh,
Short man, he was short of stature and he could not see the story
And obviously the reason that he tells us this is so that we understand why it is that zacchaeus is climbing upon a sycamore tree
in order to try to see the lord jesus christ, but I would like you to notice and I would like you to just
Give some thought to this keep your place there in luke chapter number 19. That is our text for this morning
Go maybe what to the old testament book of first samuel first samuel chapter 17 if you find
The one and two books in the old testament they're all clustered together first and second kings first and second chronicles
Uh first like a samuel, of course first second kings first second chronicles if you can find first samuel chapter 17. I do
believe that there may be
a spiritual
illustration if not an application regarding the height of
Zacchaeus the fact that he was short of stature
And let me maybe try to explain this to you a little bit and i'll do it as tactfully as I can
In the bible, uh height is associated
Uh with arrogance with ability. Yes. I know the short pastor is going to preach about uh, the sins of being tall
But I want you to understand and some of you had this coming for a long time
And
That god connects these tall these ideas of being
tall or being at bringing height and you may think i'm joking and and I
Half am but I want you to to notice this
God associates this idea of of height with ability
And oftentimes with personal ability comes arrogance
Let me just give you a couple examples and you can do what you will with it first. Samuel 17 looking verse 4
This was probably the most famous uh story of a tall person in the bible a man by the name of goliath, right?
First samuel 17 4 and there was and there went out a champion by the way
Let me just say this that phrase
A champion or that word champion. This is the only time it's used in the entire bible champion
Uh, it's an arrogant term to say i'm the champion right and there went out a champion out of the camp of the philistines
Notice named goliath of gath who's notice what is highlighted about this man, of course
he's a giant whose height was six cubits and a span and six cubits in a span would be
About nine feet nine inches tall. He's a called a giant for a reason
He's nine feet nine inches tall and he's highlighted here as a champion and what does he do?
He is filled with pride and arrogance luke, uh for first samuel 17 look down at verse number 10
Notice what the bible says about goliath and the philistines said I defy
The word defy means to challenge boldly or openly I defy the armies of israel this day
Give me a man that we may fight together. If you look skip down to verse number 16 same chapter the bible says and the philistines drew near
The philistine, excuse me referring to goliath drew near morning and evening and presented himself 40 days
So we have this uh giant right nine foot nine inches tall six cubits and a span
And what we see is that because of his personal ability?
There's some arrogance there and and here's what i'm interested
This is not the only time in in this book that this is highlighted go to first samuel 9 1st
Samuel chapter 9 look at verse 2 remember the first king of israel
His name was saul if you're familiar with saul, you know that he was not a good king
He started out good, but he ended bad now. I want you to notice what's highlighted about
uh about uh saul in the bible first samuel 9 in verse 2
The bible says and he had a son whose name was saul. This is of course talking about saul's
Uh father and we're about to be introduced to saul who will become the first king of israel
He had a son whose name was saul a choice young man and a godly a goodly
Excuse me, and there was not among the children of israel a goodlier person than he that word
Goodly or goodlier is a reference to appearance. He was a good looking young man
He his name was saul and he was a choice young man and a goodly
There was not among the children of israel a goodlier person than he notice what the bible says about him when we just got done
Being told how good looking he was how his appearance was good what's highlighted for us notice?
From his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people
So what's highlighted about saul the fact that he was taller than most people in fact people looked at saul
And they thought to himself that guy should be king that guy should be in charge
Why because from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people now
I realize some of you are thinking pastor
you're just saying this because you're short and you're bitter about it and there may be some truth to that, but
Let me
Highlight something else for you go to first samuel 15
Remember when saul goes back?
When saul ends up, uh turning against the lord, what is it that samuel says to saul?
What what were we told when saul started that he was a shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people
Then when he gets fired
When he gets fired as king, what is it that samuel says for samuel 15 verse 17 and samuel said?
when
thou
Was don't miss it little
When that was little in thine own sight
Was thou not made the head of the tribes of israel and the lord anointed the king over israel
And I want you to notice that god says hey saul you used to think very little of yourself
And when you thought little of yourself, that's when I promoted you but when you got when it got into your head
Wow, look at how amazing look at how wonderful look at his ability. He said you got a little too big for your own bridges
And look and again, I just want to point this out to you that this is highlighted throughout the story go to first samuel 16
first samuel 16
Saul gets replaced why because when thou was little in thine own sight
Was thou not made head of the tribes of israel the problem was that he was no longer little in his own sight god replaces
Saul with a boy named david
God sends samuel the prophet to the house of david to anoint david king. The problem is that david had several brothers
And god was going to tell they uh, samuel which one of the brothers it was that he was choosing as king of israel first
Samuel 16 6 notice what the bible says and it came to pass when they were come that he this is samuel
Looked on eliab so samuel gets there samuel knows he's there to anoint the next king of israel
but he doesn't know exactly he knows that it's one of the uh, sons, uh,
The brothers of david here, but he's not sure which one one of the sons of jesse
Not sure which one of the sons of jesse or which one of the brothers. Uh, uh, he's going to
Uh be the one that he anoints as king and notice what the bible says there
He looked on eliab and said surely the lord's anointed is before me
So he gets there and he sees eliab who's the eldest and he says this is the guy this has to be the guy
Surely the lord's anointed is before me. This is who god has chosen as the next king verse 7
But the lord said unto samuel look not on his countenance
Notice what god says
Or on the height of his stature
He said I don't want you to make the same mistake we made with saul
I don't want you to look at how tall he is. I don't want you to look at his countenance
He says because I have refused him
For the lord seeth not as man seeth for a man looketh on the outward appearance
But the lord looketh on the heart and here's what god is telling samuel. He's telling samuel samuel
I am not concerned with the man's height. I am concerned with the man's heart
He said david was a man after god's own heart
See saul had the height to be king, but he did not he did not have the heart to be king
and here
God says look not on his countenance or on his height of his stature. Now I bring this up to say this in the bible
height
Seems to be connected with this idea of ability
Which is not a bad thing. God has given everybody different abilities
But sometimes when people have a lot of ability they get arrogant as a result
Why is it that we are told go back to luke chapter 19 about zakiah's?
stature
It's because of this
He did not measure up
and and and the thought regarding the stature because
Height is associated with arrogance due to ability in the bible
But let me say this being low or being little is associated with humility to do your due to your own
awareness of your inability
And there's a lot of bad things about zakiah's and we're about to see about a lot of bad things
But one good thing that zakiah's knew was that he was short
Zakiah's grew up of course being short and was well aware of the fact that he was short
But let me just explain something to you
Spiritually speaking no matter how tall you may be physically
Spiritually speaking we all come short
Of the glory of god, isn't that what the bible says?
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of god
So we see first his stature that he was a short man and I want you to understand something
This is important to know not only because physically we need to understand why it is that zakiah's climbed up into a tree
but I think
luke is telling us this because
Zakiah's may have also had
Something else in his life due to his short stature and it's what's often referred to as a short man complex
Right zakiah's felt like he had something to prove you ever heard of a guy by the name of napoleon
Trying to take over the whole world why to he had something to prove
Notice what the bible tells us about zakiah's
luke 19 in verse 2
And behold there was a man named zakiah's now in verse 3
We were told that he was short in stature
But that's actually not the first thing that luke tells us about this man zakiah's the first thing
Before luke actually tells us about his short stature. He tells us about his superior status
Notice verse 2 and behold there was a man named zakiah's which was the chief
You see that that phrase there the chief
What does that mean? He was the boss?
He was the guy in charge
Which was the chief among the publicans don't miss it and he was rich
Now, please understand something when the bible says you're rich you're rich
Okay, it's not like that. He was like, hey look, uh, look how how you know
It's not like he is on on facebook trying to brag about how rich he is
No
This is the holy spirit of god telling us this man was rich and there are some rich people in the bible
So for the bible to tell us that zakiah's was rich. He must have been rich
It means the kids wasn't driving a prius. He was he was driving a bentley this guy. He he had a home and a summer home
He was the kind of rich he wasn't the kind of rich that went on vacation
He was the kind of rich that went on certain vacations depending on the season of the year
I summer in the aspens and I you know all these things. I mean this guy was rich. Why was he rich because he had
Climbed the ladder of his job. He was not just a tax collector
He was not just a publican which is what publicans are they're tax collectors. He was the chief among the publicans
What we're told about zakiah's I think it's very interesting we're told that he was short of stature
And we're told of his superior status
We're told that this guy
What he did
For whatever it's worth and what he did by the way was not good. We're going to see that here in a minute
But what he did for whatever it's worth he was good at it
When it came to being a publican, he was the best. In fact, he was the chief. In fact, they put him in charge
He was the one that ran the entire organization. He was the chief among the publicans
He was short of stature
and
He had superior status
Now, let me say this
His status was that of a sinful state
Notice there in luke 19 when the bible tells us that he was rich
I want you to notice how the bible tells us. He got those riches look at verse 8
And zakiah stood
And said unto the lord we're fast forwarding in the story a little bit
But I want you to see this
And zakiah stood and said unto the lord behold
Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor
And if I have taken anything from any man notice what he says by false accusation
I restore him fourfold now. Why does zakiah's feel the need to say, you know, if I've stolen anything by false accusation
I'm going to restore that. Why does zakiah feel the need to say that? Here's why because that's what zakiah's had done
So he does not get rich by being honest. He got rich by
extortion
He got rich by false accusation
See zakiah was a publican and we've actually if you've been on this journey with us with the lord jesus christ
We've learned a lot about the publicans on the way
I seem to think that jesus had a a soft spot in his heart for publicans because
Publicans come up in the story of the lord jesus christ a lot and what's always highlighted about them is not good
Let's just run a few verses real quickly. Luke, uh, you're there in luke 19 go to luke chapter number five luke chapter number five
Luke five and verse 27. Here's another famous publican
Of course zakiah's a famous publican. He's a chief among the publicans and he was rich
But here's another famous publican luke 527
And after these things he went forth. This is jesus and saw a publican named levi. Who's this?
This is
A man who you probably know better by his other name matthew
He will become one of the apostles. He writes the gospel of matthew and he the bible tells us that he was a publican
So
I'll just just back on. Okay, but david doesn't like me preaching against saw people
Luke 5 27 and after these things he went forth and saw a publican notice named levi
Sitting at the receipt of custom and he said unto him follow me
When the bible says that he was sitting at the receipt of custom the word custom there means, uh taxes or
Government fees a publican was a tax collector now
Here's what I want you to understand being a tax collector is already not a popular job
In fact, i've never met anybody who when I asked them what do you do for a living?
They said to me, you know, I work for the irs no one's going to tell you that right because that's not a great job
I I mean, I don't know but I would imagine that all the irs agents when they tell people I work for the government
I work in the revenue
Internal
Service something like that
Being a tax collector is already not a popular job, but please understand this
in this culture
in this context
Not only was it not popular it was treasonous
To be a tax collector
In jerusalem in judia in jericho in juda in the first century
Means that you were working for the enemy
It means that you were on the payroll of the roman empire
It means that you were collecting taxes for the people who were holding you who were occupying your land. So a
Publican was not only a tax collector
Which if they were a tax collector for their own nation that already would not be a very popular
Uh job or a job that would get you a lot of positive recognition
But this man was a tax collector for the enemy
He was collecting taxes from the jewish people for the nation the empire of rome
Being a tax collector meant that you were being a publican meant that you were a trader
But it gets worse than that
Go to luke chapter 18
Not only is being a publican make you a tax collector, which is already bad
You work for the irs. You take my taxes
Not only it gets worse than that though because you're a tax collector for the
Wrong side the bad side the the enemy of the land the people that are occupying us the people that
Won't allow us to have our own king and our own
Government you're you're collecting taxes for the enemy. So not only only are you a tax collector, but you are a traitor
But
It gets worse than that. You say worse than trader. Yeah
Because these publicans were not only tax collectors. They were not only traders
But they were extortioners
Remember luke 18 we saw the parable
of the Pharisee and the publican
Again, I want you to notice that jesus highlights these people these individuals publicans a lot
Remember what the Pharisee said about the publican
Luke 18 look at it verse 10
Two men went up into the temple to pray
The one a Pharisee and the other a publican
Now we know that the that in this story
The Pharisee is the self-righteous one and the public is the one that gets saved we understand that
But I want you to remember what it is that the Pharisee said about the publican luke 18 11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. Remember the Pharisee. He prayed with himself about himself god
I thank thee that I am not as other men that I am not as other men are
And the context when the Pharisee says I thank thee that I am not as other men are
The context is in reference to the publican
Because there's only two guys there
Two men went up into the temple to pray a Pharisee and the publican the Pharisee is speaking to himself praying to himself
He's praying thus with himself and he says god. I think the that I'm not as other men are
specifically as this guy
Notice what he says. I think that i'm not as other men are extortioners
Unjust adulterers and then he says this or even as this publican
You say why would the Pharisee say
Extortioners unjust adulterers and even as this publican. Here's why because that's what the publicans were known for
They were known to be extortioners
Okay, what is an extortioner an extortion is the crime of obtaining money?
Or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority
See it's it's already bad that these guys are tax collectors and it's already bad that they're traitorous tax collectors
Collecting taxes for the other side, but what makes it even worse is that these people were extortioners
The way it worked in the first century was this
Rome told the publicans you need to collect
X amount of dollars and send that and give that as a payment for our taxes
But you can collect more than that. In fact, we don't mind you collecting more than that
We're going to allow you to collect more than that because we want you to be motivated
To collect what you need to get for us
So you need to get x amount of money for us for taxes
But you can collect above that as much as you'd like and anything you collect above that you can keep
This is why these publicans were known as extortioners
Because of the fact that they have the power and the authority of the roman empire to go to their own countrymen
And collect more taxes than were actually due so that they could take off the the the top
And take their cut and the bible says when it comes to publicans zacchaeus was the best
He was the chief among the publicans and then the bible tells us and he was rich
How do you get rich through extortion?
How do you get rich through being unjust?
How do you get rich remember the pharisee i'm thankful that i'm not as other men are extortioners unjust
Adulters or even as this publican
Go to go to luke chapter number three luke chapter number three, by the way
Let me just say this and I won't take the time to run all the verses
But you can study this throughout the bible and throughout the bible
You will find this phrase comes up this phrase that's used throughout the new testament and it is this publicans and sinners
Publicans and sinners
When they would accuse jesus of spending time with the wrong people
They would say he's spending time with publicans and sinners publicans and sinners
The term publican the phrase publican was used synonymously with the word sinner. Here's another phrase that's used throughout the bible publicans and harlots
publicans and harlots
I want you to understand that these tax collectors were despised and hated because not only did they gather taxes
But they gathered taxes for the roman empire from their own people and they were allowed to take
More than was owed to keep for themselves
So these people
They were hated
And just to give you another piece of proof
that this is
The story with the publicans remember when john the baptist we saw it already when we were in luke chapter three
Remember when john the baptist was preaching and the public the different individuals came and they asked him. What shall we do?
What shall we do?
notice the publicans asked the question and notice what it is that john responds luke three and verse 12 luke chapter three and verse 12
Then came also the publicans to be baptized and said unto him master
What shall we do?
So john the baptist was preaching in the wilderness the publicans come they get saved they get baptized
He baptizes them then they ask the question. What shall we do notice the response from from john and he said unto them?
Exact no more than that which is appointed you
Now, why did john feel the need to tell the publicans exact no more than that which is appointed you
Here's why because they were exacting more than what was appointed them
Because they were stealing from their own people because they were extortioners and here's what I want you to understand when it comes to levels of society
These publicans were as bad as it got they were the lowest of the low everyone looked down on them
You say why because they were tax collectors but worse than that because they were traders
But worse than that because they were extortioners
They were sinful people
And what's interesting to me?
Is that when luke feels the need to tell us the story?
of this man's achias
He tells us two things
That he was short of stature and that he had superior status
That he was short of stature and that he had superior status now
I asked a couple of men to help me with an illustration of this morning
I'm gonna ask one of them to come up ask brother jay if he would come up here and he's gonna help me with something
I'm gonna have brother jay come up here. This is brother jay
also known as saul
and uh
Brother jay is a good man. He's up here to help me
Here's what's interesting to me about the two things that we're told about zakias. We're told I want to stand over here if that's okay
We're told
That he was short
And we're told that he was rich
We're told that he was short and we're told that he was rich and here's the interesting thing about those two things
That those two things are relative
To comparison
I mean, is that true?
Obviously, i'm a short guy
If you're wondering just to answer the question because you're not paying attention. You're just thinking about this all the time. I'm
Five foot four and a half inches tall
All right, don't don't take that half for me
And brother jay brother jay is six feet tall
Now it would be easy for brother jay to to obviously physically he could look down on me
But he could also just look down on me and say look at that short guy, right?
I mean look at this guy proud arrogant just like tall people are
But here's the thing about height
That it's relative
Because brother jay is very tall to me. In fact, most people are very tall to me
But
You know that there are other people that could make brother jay feel short. That's another
Man in our church to help me out brother joe. Would you come up here?
Brother joe is six feet tall. Oh, excuse me. Brother jay is six feet tall brother joe
However, let's get goliath up here
Is six foot three
And brother joe
Could make brother jay feel short
Because here's the thing about height. It's relative
And and and here's the honest truth
I could call my good friend pastor aaron thompson
from shirt foundation baptist church
Who's six foot eight inches tall and have him stand next to brother joe and brother joe will feel short
Next to pastor thompson who towers over him by five inches
Here's what's interesting is that height because look some some people there are some people not a lot
But there are some people that could make me feel tall
And there are some people that make me feel short
But there are other people that make the people that make me feel short feel short
And there are other people that make the people that make the people that make me feel short short make them feel short
You say why because height is relative to comparison
You can always find somebody and pastor thompson
Feels very tall everywhere he goes but he goes if he goes to an nba basketball players convention
He may not feel that tall
Because it's relative height is relative. Here's the interesting thing wealth is relative
You might feel like i'm a pretty I mean i'm pretty successful person
I mean have you seen what I drove in?
Compare what I drove into what everybody else drove look at that parking lot. I got the nicest car out there
Look at look at that the house. I live in that's the nicest house in this church
Look look at this and look at that and you might feel very rich around poor people
And you might say well look i'm very rich till a guy by the name of bezos walks in
Till a guy with the last name buffett walks in
Right
Till the guy with the last name gates walks in then all of a sudden you're like, oh i'm broke i'm poor
Because the interesting thing is this that both height and wealth are relative to
Comparison someone may be taller than you, but there's probably somebody who's taller than them. Let's give these guys a round of applause. Thank you
Here's the point that i'm making
Zacchaeus was short
And maybe that compulsion to prove something caused him to want to strive for a superior status
But here's what's interesting about zacchaeus
What's interesting about zacchaeus and what we learn about zacchaeus is this that though he was short and though he was rich
The bible says he was searching
Look at verse three luke 19 verse three and he zacchaeus
Sought to see jesus
Who he was?
I want you to understand something about zacchaeus zacchaeus was rich
It's like he was wealthy. It's like he has had money. It's like he has had climbed the corporate ladder
It's like he has had gone up the social economic
Staircase zacchaeus was as far as his height. He might have been short
But as far as his status he was superior he was up there. He had made it
Let me tell you something those things will leave you empty
And what matched zacchaeus's physical height was his social economic height and it is this that no matter how high you soar
You'll always come short
No matter how successful you are, they'll always without jesus. There'll always be something missing
You say i've climbed i've i've i've success I have wealth I have I have gone as high as I can
But you still come short
Without jesus you still come short
None of those things will fulfill
None of those things will fulfill the hole
In your heart
None of those things will give you
The purpose you need
It's like he has had a big house
It's like he was a small man with a big house
But you know the problem with zacchaeus he had a big house and no one to invite to
You
I mean he had a big house, but that's all he had
He he he had he he he didn't have any friendships he didn't have any relationships
He didn't have anything every we walked down the road and people looked down on him physically
And
spiritually
Because he was a traitor
Because he was a tax collector
Because he was an extortioner
It's like he has had a big house, but he had no friends. It's like he has had a big house
But nobody that loved him. It's like he has a big house, but nobody that respected him
Some people you know, it's it's it's it's it's poverty richness
or rich poverty
Some people let me tell you something. Some people are so broke. Some people are so broke. All they have is money
Because
like height
Wealth
Can always be compared to someone who has more
And like height
Climbing the social ladder climbing the business ladder going higher and higher in life
Will always leave you feeling short
So we see
Zacchaeus's
Condition. What was it his short stature?
his superior status
But in both areas something was missing and in both areas he continued to come short
I'd like you to notice secondly this morning
Not only do we see Zacchaeus's condition
But we also see Zacchaeus's conversion
This guy gets saved
Notice what happens here in our story luke 19 verse 3
and he
Zacchaeus
Notice his desire. He sought to see jesus who he was
He was interested
He wanted to see jesus. We don't know why he wanted to see jesus, but I could imagine if I had to take a guess
Most people were not nice to publicans. Most people did not respect
Publicans most people did not like publicans. Why because they're tax collectors. Why because they're traders. Why because they're extortioners
Zacchaeus must have been really in awe
when he heard
That jesus had chosen 12 disciples and one of them
Was a man named levi
a publican
I mean when the stories went out about the parables of the lord
Jesus christ said that jesus told a story of two men that went up to
A temple one a Pharisee who in that culture would have been the hero one a publican who in that culture?
Would have been the zero and yet jesus turns that on its head and in his parable and in his story
The pharisees the villain and the publicans the hero the publicans the ones that get sick that must have intrigued the kids
When zacchaeus heard that jesus would spend time with publicans and sinners that he preached the gospel to publicans and harlots
When zacchaeus must have heard these things it must have intrigued them that there was somebody out there
Who might love him
And he sought
To see jesus who he was
And could not for the press
Because he was of little stature
So the bible tells us I love this story
Mainly because the hero is a short guy
But also because just the way the way we see
zacchaeus
All of these stories are placed here for a reason they're within their context for a reason if you remember we just got done
I mean we just talked about it not that long ago the parable of the pharisee and the publican
And in that parable when jesus tells us about the pharisee who trusted in himself and the publican who lowered himself humbled himself
Smote upon those his breast and said be merciful to me a sinner in that context
Jesus says that if we are going to enter the kingdom of god, we must do it as children
We must humble ourselves like a child. It's interesting to me that when uh, zacchaeus has the opportunity
He hears that jesus is coming into jericho and he wants to see jesus. He starts acting like a child
Look at him luke 19 verse 4 and he ran
Isn't that what kids do?
I mean i've got six kids and sometimes they just they run for no reason
I mean, what were you sitting at home?
My wife and I were sitting at the couch having some coffee and talking or whatever and our and our children
And you know, especially our little ones they just run around
I mean literally just running from one wall tag the wall or other wall tag the wall
Well, and my wife and I just you know, we're getting exhausted just looking at it
I'm, like what's the point of this game? And she's like, I don't think there is a point in this game
And they're just running for no reason just running and we're like i'm like, I don't know if this homeschool thing is working
Kids just run
You know, we look at it and I think to myself man. I wish I had that energy
I might take a nap just after watching this thing
They run, Zacchaeus ran
And he ran, why did he run? He ran before
Before what? Before the crowd because he goes to where Jesus is and he's trying to see
Jesus, but he can't we've already made the point because he's short of stature and he can't see the crowd
So he gets this idea and he says i'm gonna run as Jesus is coming down the road. I'm gonna run before he ran
Why'd he run?
Maybe because he was excited
Maybe because you know, why do children run? They run because they're excited
They run because they're excited and they run because they're gonna get spanked
Maybe Zacchaeus ran because he was excited or maybe Zacchaeus ran because whenever he got near a crowd people started hitting him
Kicking him out there goes Zacchaeus
And he ran before but notice notice the childlike faith of Zacchaeus and he ran
Before and then he does something else that's a little childish and climbed up into a sycamore tree
He climbs up a tree
He climbs up a tree. Why?
Because he wanted to see Jesus to see him to see who Jesus for
He was to pass that way and I want you to understand something in the story that this little man Zacchaeus
He had this desire to see Jesus
And I think that something might have attracted Zacchaeus to Jesus
This idea that Jesus was kind to publicans that Jesus loved publicans that even publicans
Could get the attention of Jesus
It's interesting to me that Zacchaeus thought
That he was looking for Jesus
He runs ahead of the crowd
He climbs up into a sycamore tree and he perches there like a little bird waiting to see Jesus pass by
that way
But notice what happens in our story verse five
And when Jesus came to the place
I want you to just put yourself in the story
Who we have Zacchaeus up in a tree?
He sees the crowd coming down the road. He says Jesus is about to come
I just want to get a look at this guy. I just want to see what this guy looks this was before internet
This was before pictures. This was before newspaper articles
Yeah, I just want to see you this guy this is Jesus who who tells stories of publicans and loves publicans except publicans
He gets up in the tree and he wants to just see Jesus notice what the bible says
He just wanted to see for last part of verse four for he was to pass that way
He just wanted to see Jesus pass by
but as Jesus passes by
Jesus stops
And
When Jesus verse five came to the place
Came to what place?
to the place where the sycamore tree was
Came to what place?
To the place where Zacchaeus had climbed up to see Jesus when Jesus came to that place
And here's the thing the bible is about to tell us that he looks up
But in order for Jesus to look up he had to stop to look up
And I don't know this the bible doesn't say this I will just say that this is maybe my my opinion
But when Jesus stopped right under his tree, it makes me wonder what it is that Zacchaeus was thinking
Because remember Zacchaeus has a short man complex
He was a short of stature, but his superior status. I mean Zacchaeus must have been very proud of himself
You know how it is whenever you're going through a situation your mind is thinking a lot faster than the situation
Which is occurring as Jesus came down that road he's coming on that way and then he stops right there
He stopped Jesus. Zacchaeus just wanted to see Jesus pass by but then Jesus stops right there and for that half a second when
Jesus stopped under that sycamore tree. I wonder if Zacchaeus in his superior
Arrogance his superior status. I wonder if he thought to himself man. Look at me. Don't I know how to pick him?
I mean Jesus didn't just stop at the he he needed a break. He didn't just stop at any sycamore tree
He stopped at my sycamore tree
I'll tell you what I didn't get I didn't get to the place where I am in life by just climbing any old sycamore tree
I mean i'm the chief of the publicans when I pick a tree I can pick them
I always want to see Jesus pass by
But now Jesus has stopped. He's taking a break
I get a real good look at this man Jesus and when Jesus came to the place
But then I want you to notice the bible says he looked up
He looked up this must have been odd to Zacchaeus you say why
Well, you may
Not understand this
You never lived the life of a short man
Just the struggle is real, you know
But we're not used to people looking up to us
Zacchaeus was used to people looking down to him
They looked down to him physically
They looked down to him emotionally
They looked down on him socially
They looked down on him spiritually
This short man has ruined our lives
He's built up his wealth built up his money built up his status at our expense
He's a tax collector and worse than that. He's a trader and worse than that
He's an extortioner and he's ruined our life. I mean think about Zacchaeus was the the ancient world version of uh, uh, Bernie Madoff
Taking people's wealth and taking people's life savings taking people's uh earnings
The bible tells us in luke 19 5 and when Jesus came to that place he looked up this must have surprised Zacchaeus
This must have surprised everybody because generally speaking I can tell you short people aren't just hanging out in trees
And
This crowd is going with Jesus walking with Jesus. Stop. Why is he stopping? He looks up. What's he looking at?
And then Jesus says this
The bible says in luke 19 5 and when Jesus came to that place he looked up
And saw him saw who Zacchaeus and said unto him
Zacchaeus
That must have surprised Zacchaeus
I mean Zacchaeus is up there. He they've never met
Zacchaeus doesn't even know what Jesus looks like
in fact
Zacchaeus is up in the tree because he just wants to get a look at who Jesus is and Jesus stops with his tree
Looks up and says Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus. It must have startled him for a second at the realization that he knows my name
He knows who I am
He knows who I am he knows where I am
Nobody would guess that Zacchaeus the chief of the public is Zacchaeus with the biggest house in the neighborhood
Zacchaeus with all his status with all his wealth with all his achievements is up in a tree
Running and climbing trees like a child
But he not only knew where Zacchaeus was he knew who Zacchaeus was
Here's what's interesting
That those Zacchaeus thought that he was looking for Jesus the reality is that Jesus was looking for Zacchaeus
This is why Jesus says at the end of the story luke 19 look at verse 10
For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost
See you you might have thought oh I was searching on youtube when I saw this documentary and that's why I came to this church
I saw this video or someone invited me or a friend said I should come check it out
And you might think that you are on a search for something you were on a search for Jesus
But let me tell you something the reality is that we love him because he first loved us
And he came to this earth to die on the cross for our sins
And you might have been under the impression that you were searching for Jesus
But the reality is that Jesus was actually looking for you
And Jesus knows who you are
And Jesus knows where you are
And Jesus knows everything about you
And that day
The bible tells us
Jesus looked up at that tree
And he said Zacchaeus make haste and come down
For today I must abide at thy house
He said what happened in that house? We don't know the bible doesn't tell us
But here's what we do know Zacchaeus got saved that day
Look at our verses again Luke 19 5 and when Jesus came to the place
He looked up and saw him and said unto him Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today
I must abide at thy house and he Zacchaeus made haste and came down notice the bible says and received them joyfully
Zacchaeus must have been happy. Nobody's ever asked to come to my house
Nobody nobody ever comes
to see me
He he came and received them joyfully and at the end of the story the bible tells us luke 19 verse 9
The bible says and Jesus said unto him this day is salvation come to this house
Zacchaeus got saved
I don't we don't know what happened in that house if I had to guess
Jesus said so here's let me explain something to you for all have sinned and come short of the glory of god
I don't know. Maybe jesus quoted john 3 16 to him. I know the god the new testament was not yet written
Whatever jesus said jesus got him saved
Now oftentimes there is a confusion with the stories that he is and I want to I want you to help I want to help
You understand it
And so when we interpret stories in the bible, we must always interpret stories based off clear statements
People often try to create these new doctrines based off stories, but let me explain something to you
We should interpret stories based off. Here's a a a bible study
Principle we go with the clear statements in scripture not with stories
The thing about the story is that jesus heads into the house with zacchaeus
And the next time we see zacchaeus verse eight
The bible says and zacchaeus stood and said unto the lord behold the half of my goods
I give to the poor and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold
And people try to use the kids to teach a workspace salvation
That zacchaeus got saved because he gave all his money to the poor
First of all, we don't know what conversation was had in the house with jesus
But here's what we do know that salvation is not by works of righteousness, which we have done
Here's what we do know that for by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves
It is the gift of god not of works lest any man should boast
Here's what we do know you don't earn your salvation
So salvation is not of works
You say well, what do you do with this?
Story of zacchaeus who stood and said unto the lord behold lord the half of my goods
I give to the poor and I have taken any if I have taken anything
Uh from any man by false accusation. I restore him fourfold
He said i'm going to give half of my riches to the poor and then i'm going to go back
And anyone that I stole from by false accusation i'm going to restore them not just what I stole
Not just twice as much which is what the law required, but i'm going to give him fourfold
You say how do you explain this in regards to salvation? And here's what I want you to understand go to uh, roman's chapter number two
In fact, you know what go to ephigians ephigians chapter two
You're there in luke you go past romans past first second gryndians belatians ephigians
ephigians chapter two
Let me help you understand something salvation is not of works
Zakehia's selling all he had was not an act of salvation
It was an act of discipleship
Because you remember in the previous step remember i've been i've been saying this over and over to you
As we study the gospel in its context verse by verse moving our way through the gospel
We understand why it is that these stories are are put together. They're gathered together for a reason
We talked about it last sunday morning in luke chapter number 18 with the story of the rich young ruler
The rich young ruler thought he was saved
And jesus knows he's not saved but jesus says okay if you are saved then let's go to the next step which is discipleship
He says come follow me sell all your riches and give it unto the poor and come follow me
And he was unwilling to do that and jesus was highlighting to him
It's not that you weren't willing to to to do that
That's not the reason you're not going to go to heaven
It's the fact that you are a sinner and you love your money more than you love god
And I want you to understand something. You're not as good as you think you are
Here was that kids he's already saved but he's willing to do in discipleship
What this uh rich young ruler was unwilling to do sell all that he had and follow jesus
It was an act of discipleship
But I understand uh, I thought salvation was not of words. Are you there any fusions too?
Look at it verse eight, you know the verse for by grace are you saved through faith and that notice these words not of yourselves?
You don't save yourself. There's nothing you do that produces salvation
You don't repent of your sins to be saved. You don't turn over a new leaf to be saved
You don't get baptized to get saved. You there's nothing you do for salvation. It's not of yourselves
You say why it is the gift of god salvation is a gift that god gives you you don't earn a gift
You don't pay for a gift a gift is given to you
Verse nine not of works
lest any man should boast
Because if you and I earned our salvation we would boast about it
We would brag about it like the rich young ruler. I've kept all these from my youth up
I'm, so good. I think i'm gonna go to heaven
But please understand something about salvation
Though it is true that salvation is not of works
So
The purpose of salvation should be the key words should be to is to lead us to good works
It's interesting to me that in the two the probably the two quintessential verses about salvation not being of works
Ephesians 2 8 for my grace is safe through faith and that not of yourselves
It is the gift of god not of works the same man should boast after those two quintessential verses
Paul says this verse 10 for we are his workmanship
Now look you're not saved by works, but when you got saved god started working on you
We are his workmanship created, uh in uh in christ. Jesus notice his words unto good works
Which god had before ordained that we should walk in them?
You say well pastor you're saying somebody's not of works, correct?
Why are you saying that if there aren't works and we're not saved I didn't say that
Because romans 4 says he that believeth
It says that if you have no works
And to him that you know, i'm just going to quote it wrong. So let's just look at it
If you want to look at it romans 4, let me just make sure I quote it correctly to you
Romans 4
Verse 4 now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt
Look if you work for it, then it's not grace
Because if you work for it, then it's not free and that's what the word grace means free
Look at verse five but to him that worketh not
This guy did no works
But believe it that's the faith. What did this guy in romans 4-5 do he worketh not?
But believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness
It's counted for righteousness
So is it possible to believe and have no works according to romans 4-5? Yes, it is
And can you get to heaven with no works? Yes, you can go back to effusions
You know, then what is this workmanship stuff? What is this created unto good works that we should walk in them?
Here's the point you're not saved by words and you don't have to have works to be saved
But god does want to produce works in your life
That's not salvation. That's discipleship
This is why philippians says to work out your own salvation
The bible says to work out your own salvation for it is god which worketh in you both to will and to do
Of his good pleasure working out your own salvation doesn't mean that you're working for salvation. You already have it
It's already in there. You're already safe. God wants you to work it out
God wants it to come out. You say what if it doesn't you're still saved
But
The purpose of salvation that is not of works is that it might produce works in you go to effusions 4
effusions 4
What we have with zacchaeus is a peculiar situation
Which happens but is not common and it is this
Zacchaeus both got saved and got right with god on the same day
He got saved and began to walk with god on the same day began to be a disciple of jesus on the same day
That doesn't always happen. In fact that almost never happens
I think one of the reasons that we're told the story of the kids because it's so peculiar
Most people get saved and never walk with god
Never go down the road of discipleship never deny themselves take up their cross and follow him
Most people that get saved never do that and the few that do usually it's after a long time
They get saved and they got to come to verity baptist church and they got to hear this short preacher
Preach at them and hack at them and tell them you got to read your bible. You got to read your bible
You got to read your bible. You got to pray. You got to be a soul winner
You got to do this. God wants you to do this. God wants you to forgive
God wants you to see mother and after a long time people are like, uh, I guess i'll read the bible
That's the average christian
But there are some christians and i'll tell you, you know, i'm married to one of them
my wife
My wife got saved at the age of 17 and the day she got saved her life changed
I mean literally she got saved and instantly was three to thrive sunday morning sunday night wednesday night
Instantly was reading her bible praying and a soul winner within a couple of weeks talking at the door
That's rare
I could use a few more of those
That's that's that's not normal
That's a rare thing, but it happens. You know, who else had happened for the apostle paul
You know what has happened for that kids, you know who it it doesn't happen a lot though
Most people are too stubborn and too proud
Most people need to get beat down by life
before we start
Doing what the bible says
Don't be confused that kids did not give away his goods to get saved. He gave away his goods because he was saved
You said what's the lesson here's the lesson that god saved you look look look, please understand this please get
Jesus loves publicans
They're tax collectors he says I love them
They're traitors. He says I love them. They're extortioners. He says I love them
I came to seek and to say that which was not they that are holding not a physician, but they that are sick
But let me tell you something when jesus saves you he does not save you to keep you a
publican
He does not save you to keep you a traitor
He does not save you to keep you an extortioner
He wants to change your life
He saved you that he might begin to work in you
We are his workmanship created in christ. Jesus unto good works that we should work in them
He wants to transform you
You say why did why did it's like he does give away half his goods and please people, you know
They get nervous. They're like am I gonna have to give away all my goods?
Well, here's the thing. No, but if you're worried about that, maybe you should
Because here's the thing about a transformed life go to ephesians 4 real quickly
God saved you to change you
He loves you the way you are
But he doesn't like you the way you are
Yeah
Ephesians 4 22. I just want to I just want to point this out real quickly. I know i'm out of time
Ephesians 4 22
That you put off concerning the former conversation. That's the old lifestyle
the old man
He said I want you to put off the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the people lost
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. I want you to start thinking differently than you've been thinking
I want you to put off the former conversation the old lifestyle the old way of man
Life the old man. I want you to be renewed in the spirit of your mind verse 24
And that you put on the new man. I want you to become somebody new. I want you to become somebody different
I I want i'm not trying to reform you i'm trying to transform you
If any man be in christ, he is a new creature all things have passed away behold all things have become new
And that you put on the new man, which after god is created in righteousness and true holiness
You say but what what does that look like because that just sounds like pastor talk that sounds like spiritual talk
What does that look like practically here's what that looks like practically verse 25 wherefore putting away lying
Speak every man true
You say what does a transformed life look like here's what a transformed life looks like
the compulsive liar
The compulsive liar you say when does the compulsive liar stop being a liar?
Do they stop being a liar when they stop lying? No
They don't stop being a liar when they stop lying they just start they're just a liar who at that moment
For whatever reason maybe because of the context of the situation is not able to lie
Say when does a liar
Stop being a liar when they become honest
I mean look at it Ephesians 4 25 wherefore putting away lying speak every man true
See when it comes to counseling and discipleship the work that my wife and I do
In in in trying to help people
We're not trying to tell the compulsive liar now. Look you got to stop lying
I know you want to lie you in your heart you want to lie you want to just keep lying
But you got you can't you got to resist the the urge to lie. That's where we start. That's where we start
But that's not the goal. The goal is not to get the lives to stop lying
The goal is to become take the person who's dishonest the person who's a liar to make them an honest person that doesn't want to lie
Honest person that doesn't want to lie
Ephesians 4 28 look at it. Let him that stole
Steal no more
When does a thief stop being a thief when they stop stealing? No, they might stop stealing because they got thrown in prison
But as soon as they get out of prison, they're going to start stealing again
Because the the act of stop
Of the fact that you stop stealing doesn't make you not a thief let him that stole steal no more
Here's when a thief stops being a thief but rather let him labor
When does a thief stop being a thief when he stops stealing and he starts working for what he has
But rather let him labor working with his hands
Notice the thing which is good that he may give
When does a thief stop being a thief when they start working for what they have and when they start being generous for what?
They have you say why because those are the two things that are opposite
To stealing that he may give to him that needeth
You say why does that kids have to give his money away because the way he got it was through covetousness
And extortion
So you have to make those two things, right?
He said i'm going to become a generous person
Give give away the half of my clothes. Let me help you with something whatever sin you're struggling with
You said I got a temper. I can't control my temper is out of control
Okay, then. Here's what you need to start doing you need to start doing with people who don't have a temper do
Because you don't get control of your temper by i'm really angry, but I want i'm just not gonna say i'm gonna bite my tongue
I'm gonna bite my tongue now. You have to start there
But we want to get to the point where you don't have to bite your tongue because you're just not the person who would say
those things
You say what is the story of zakias the story of zakias as they transform life
We see his condition. We see his conversion and then we see his contrition
and
The bible says in romans 2 4
That the goodness of god leadeth thee to repentance
Not for salvation, but the goodness of god the grace of god what happened was that something happened in life
It's a gift where jesus loved him and cared for him and accepted him
And then the goodness of god led him to repentance
And he became a different person
I'm, just here to tell you something
God doesn't just want to save you. He wants to transform you
Go back to luke 19. We're done. We'll finish up luke 19
Here's the story of zakias
It doesn't matter who you are and how far you've gone obviously we're not talking about reprobates
The story of zakias it doesn't matter who you are and how far you've gone
You're i'm a tax collector. He says i'll take you
I'm a traitor. He says i'll forgive you i'm an extortioner
He says I want to come to your house
I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door
I will come into him and sup with him and heal with me
Jesus says I want to save you and I want to fellowship with you and I want to transform you
And jesus said unto him
luke 19 9
This day salvation come to this house
For as much as he also is the son of abraham
For the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost
Jesus
No matter who you are god can change you
He can transform you
So, how do I do it spend time with jesus?
You can't spend time with jesus
What did jesus do he went to his house for supper?
You can't spend time with jesus and not have him change your life
Let's bow our heads and i'm going to pray. Heavenly father
What do we thank you?
Thank you for the story of zakias
Thank you
And really it's just the story of a transformed life
It's the it's the success story of the great commission
Somebody got saved and they got discipled and as a result of discipleship as a result of them spending time with jesus their life
was changed
Lord I pray you'd help us
I pray you'd help us to change many lives
I pray you'd help people that aren't saved help us to get them saved
And people who are saved help us to
Get them to fellowship and spend time with jesus
To sup with jesus
Because he will transform their lives
We love you
In the matchless name of christ we pray
Amen
We're going to have brother matt come up and lead us in a final song. Just want to give you a couple of reminders
First of all, don't don't forget that. We've got church tonight at 6 p.m. We'd love for you to join us
For the sunday evening service and if you've uh, I said this on wednesday night, but if you've ever wondered why
Jesus would tell people after he healed them
Or did some miracle. He'd tell people not to tell
Everyone else you ever wonder why jesus did that?
We're going to talk about that tonight and answer that question for you
We're going to look at a story of jesus triumphant entry into jerusalem
And then of course, I want to encourage you to be back with us next sunday
And I want to encourage you to invite a friend bring somebody with you
Invite somebody to church if there's anything we can do for you
Please let us know we'll have brother matt come up and lead us in a final song
We're gonna song 138
Song 138
138 on the first
So
And I
See
I
Heard
My
Oh
Since
So
My
God
Is
Oh
Amen good singing before we leave here if anybody has questions about salvation church membership or baptism pastor will be at the door
He'd love to talk to you or direct you to suit to someone who's training to talk about that and ask brother
Matt, would you close the prayer for us?
Me
Amen
So