How to change your How to change your worldworld

 1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.

4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.

5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

ZacchaeusChief tax collector for the town of

JerichoRichWorked for RomansJewShort

InterestedSeeking

Jesus knows:

Where we are

Who we are

What we need

Zacchaeus’ response:Change of heart/lifestylePublic declarationGave his treasure away

How much are we willing to give up?

How much are we willing to change?

Luke 19:1-10

God Does Not Play Favorites

Zacchaeus would not be a likely candidate for conversion

We must understand that God is God, and we are not!

Peter realized this concerning Cornelius – Acts 10:34-35

Pride Will Block Our View of Jesus

He says with difficulty will the rich enter Heaven – Matt. 19:23-26

To truly serve Him, He must come before all else

Are you willing to humble yourself?

We Must Climb Above the Crowd

Our goal is to be in Heaven – Col. 3:1 11 If then you were raised with Christ, seek If then you were raised with Christ, seek

those things which are above, where Christ those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.is, sitting at the right hand of God.

It’s not possible to “fit in” with the crowd and try to please the Lord – Matt. 5:14-16

Thus action is required!

Being Invited is Joyous

Zacchaeus received Him gladly

Christ called Zacchaeus by name; He does the same for us today!

Our Actions Prove Our Faith

Zacchaeus was thought of as a sinful man, but his actions speak otherwise

Even when he did sin, he repented & repaid according to the law – Ex. 22:1

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.

Conclusion

We today are human, just as Zacchaeus. None of us is perfect, yet we are called by God.

How shall we answer His call? How greatly do we desire to see Jesus?