Zacchaeus the Publican

TEXTLuke 19:1-10

INTRODUCTION:

A.      FAVORITE BIBLE STORY FOR YOUNG & OLD.

B.      GREAT LESSONS - IN A MOMENT, THE REST OF THE STORY.

I.      THE STATURE OF ZACCHAEUS.

A.      PHYSICALLY SMALL.

B.      SMALL IN THE EYES OF HIS BRETHREN.

          1.       He was a publican( Luke 18:9-14;  5:30 ).

          2.       Yet publicans were more receptive( Luke 15:1 ).

          3.       Humility and meekness essential( 1 Pet.5:5-6;  Mat.11:27-28 )

II.     WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO SEE JESUS( Luke 15:1 ).

A.      FINDING JESUS TAKES A GREAT EFFORT( John 5:39 ).

B.      IS IT WORTH THE EFFORT?( Mat. 13:44-46 ).

C.      THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY( Rom. 12:1;  Luke 13:24 ).

III.    JESUS ABODE WITH ZACCHAEUS.

A.      JESUS WILL ABIDE WITH THOSE WHO OPEN THE DOOR( Rev. 3:20 ).

B.      GOD WANTS NONE TO PERISH( 2 Pet. 3:9 ).

C.      BUT SALVATION IS NOT PASSIVE( James 1:22 ).

IV.   ZACCHAEUS REPENTED.

A.      A PUBLICAN - 1/2 TO THE POOR - RESTORE 4-FOLD!

B.      WHAT IS REPENTANCE?  metanoeo, "a change of mind or purpose."

          1.       New Creatures( 2 Cor. 5:17;  Col. 3:9-10 )RADICAL!

          2.       A change of perspective & goals( Rom.12:9;  Col.3:1-3 ).

          3.       A change of heart=>action( Luke 6:43-45;  Col. 3:9-10 ).

          4.       Restitution( Luke 19:8;  3:8 ).

C.      ACTIVE! SIN MUST CEASE!( Rom. 6:1-2,  17-18 ).

D.      THE RESULT IS SALVATION( 1 John 1:6-7 ).

CONCLUSIONJESUS CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST.

A.      ALL HAVE SINNED( Rom. 3:23;  6:23 ).

B.      WHAT HAVE I DONE ABOUT MY SIN?

C.      WHAT CAN I DO?( Acts 2:38;  8:22 ).