December 9, 2012

God sent the Seeking Savior to earth at Christmas!

When Jesus comes seeking He:

Knows what you hope and He knows where you hide AND He knows where you hurt:

^"A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy", V. 2

Verse 2 gives two reasons why Zacchaeus was hurting:

 

1) He was a chief tax collector = traitor or sell out – which meant he was despised and an outcast.

 

The Romans knew better than to try to collect taxes from the Jews, so they recruited Jews to do the collecting for them among their own people. So it is easy to understand why a tax-collector was hated. Zacchaeus was and he knew it!

 

2) He was wealthy = he was a legal thief – that brought shame and loneliness

A Jew who agreed to collect taxes from his own people for the Romans was required to collect a certain percentage fo them but above that amount he could charge whatever he wanted above that amount. It was a lucrative business! In fact, it was sanctioned stealing!

Verse 7 shows an insight into how he was regarded by his neighbors – “sinner”

 

"All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

 

The fact is, he WAS a sinner. He was a greedy thief and everyone knew it.

No one wants to hurt. No one likes to hurt and while much of his pain was self-inflicted it was hard to live with.

 

I would imagine all of us were hurting when Jesus came seeking for us. And like Zacchaeus, most of our pain was self-inflicted but it was real and we needed some relief.

It is good to know that Jesus knows where each of us hurt when He comes to us. That is why He gave out the invitation:

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 

Deep down pain - the pain in your heart and mind and spirit - doesn't just go away. It doesn't get better on its own. In fact, it normally gets worse for several reasons. One, we tend to nurse it and rehearse it which causes it to hurt more. Second, pain often prompts us to push Jesus away thus preventing Him from bringing the healing that only He can bring.

When Jesus came seeking for Zacchaeeus, He met Zach at the point of his pain.

Jesus is waiting - seeking - to meet you at the point of your pain.

Will you meet Jesus there this morning?

December 8, 2012

^"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10

The seeking Savior knows what you hope.

We saw that in yesterday's post.

Today I will show you that Jesus knows where you hide (v. 4)/

 

Zacchaeus knew he was a sinner and sin brings shame and fear. So, when He was confronted by the Son of God – like Adam and Eve – he hid.

 

But Zacchaeus didn’t realize he couldn’t hide from Jesus. Jesus already knew about his sin and his shame. In fact, that is the very reason Jesus came!

 

Not only did Zacchaeus not know he couldn’t hide from the seeking Jesus, He didn’t have to! Even though Jesus knew all about his sin and shame He loved Zacchaeus with an unconditional love!

 

Jesus stopped, looked up into the tree where Zacchaeus was hiding and called him by name, “Zacchaeus! Come down here! I came to see you.”

 

The same is true of you and me! We can’t hide our sins from Jesus. But the truth is, most of us where hiding when Jesus came seeking. But Jesus calls us out of hiding so He can forgive us and take away the sin and shame.

 

^“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  I John 1:8-9

 

“Confessing your sins” means you “agree with God about your sins”. In other words, you “come out of hiding” with your sins. He knows – you agree!

 

Are you hiding sin in your life?

 

Is there something you should confess?

 

 

 

 

December 7, 2012

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. ⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’”⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”  Luke 19:1-10

 

Christmas proved the love of God beyond any doubt when God sent His Son, Jesus to be the Savior of the world.

 

God proved that He is serious about sin because Jesus came to conquer the power of sin and satisfy the penalty it demands. We saw last Sunday that God hates sin because He loves people and sin destroys people.

 

In this Scripture text, Luke tells you that God loves you because He sent Jesus to seek those who are lost. You were once lost. God is serious about seeking

 

This story of Zacchaeus is perhaps the classic illustration of Jesus in the role of the seeker. Over the next several posts I want to show you four inspiring insights of the Seeking Savior.

 

1) Jesus knows what you hope, v. 3

2) Jesus knows where you hide, v. 4

3) Jesus knows where you hurt, vv. 2, 5, 7

4) Jesus knows when to help, v. 9

 

Zacchaeus was a lonely and miserable little man. So when he heard Jesus was coming to his town hope arose within him. "If this Rabbi was Who they say He is maybe I will have a chance. I need to make sure I meet Him when He comes."

 

In verse three you can see that once Zacchaeus arrived at the place where Jesus would be passing, he discovered that being diminutive in stature he was unable to see over the crowd. And for the moment his hopes were dashed.

Determination and desparation can inspire creativity and Zacchaeus climbed a nearby sycamore tree to get a better view of the approaching Lord. Where once he had hoped to be seen by the Messiah, now he was just hoping to be able to see Him. And from his lofty perch he was able to get a great view of Jesus.

Much to Zacchaeus' surprise, as Jesus was passing by the sycamore He stopped, looked up at Zacchaeus and calling him by name said, "Come down immediately! I need to go to your house today!"

Zacchaeus couldn't believe his good fortune! This was so much more that he could ever have hoped for! This famous Rabbi wanted to visit with him in his own home! He scurried down the tree!

God understands your hopes and dreams. You want to be a good person. You want to be happy and have significance. You want your life to matter. You want to have the peace of knowing you are right with God. You want the assurance of Heaven when you die. Those things can only be found in a relationship with God.

Whether you realize it or not, God knows that only through Christ can you have those hopes fulfilled. Only through salvation can your fondest hopes be met. That is why He sent His Son to seek and save those who are lost - and those who have lost their hope.

Christmas proves that God's love is serious!
 

 

 

 

 

December 6, 2012

^"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Ephesians 1:3-6

 

"We love because he first loved us." I John 4:19

 

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Rev. 3:20

 

What a blessing to have a God who seeks you!

 

Most of the false gods, past and present, are gods who remain aloof and detached from their adherents. In some instances, there are gods who are vengeful and vindictive. They delight in being unapproachable.

 

Not your God! Not my God!

 

Our God, the God of the Bible, wants to be known and has a deep desire to know you! He has used all of His vast might and power to make it possible for you to know Him and to be known by Him.There is nothing more He can do - except seek us and call us to Himself.

 

And, He does that constantly! Like the Prodigal's father, God stands daily on the road home hoping to catch a glimpse of you heading toward Him. As in the Garden, God comes seeking you so you can walk together in communion and fellowship!

 

Our God, your God, came in the Person of His Son, Jesus born in a manger in Bethlehem on that first Christmas "to seek and to save those who were lost".

 

Just think about the most Holy and powerful Being in all the universe - the very Creator of this universe - has a passionate desire to know you and seeks you for a personal spiritual relationship!

 

Contrast that to the petty pagan gods worshipped by others. What a glorious difference!Pagan gods make unrealistic and burdensome demands on their people that change on a whim and offer no guarantees. Our God sought us, continues to seek us and comes to our door seeking a relationship with us!

 

What a God!

 

The question is, "Will you be found by a seeking God?"

 

"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 5, 2012

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

You know you can believe God loves you because He proved His love by sending His Son, Jesus!

Jesus proved His love for God AND for you by leaving Heaven, coming to earth, living an obedient life, dying for your sins and then arising from the dead to conquer death.

John 3:16 reveals God’s Perfect Plan For Helping Imperfect People Get Into A Perfect Place For Eternity!

It is only because of this perfect plan for imperfect people that any of us have hope of spending eternity with Him!

God loves us!

Jesus proved it by coming to be our Savior!

So what is your part in this perfect plan for imperfect people?

BELIEVE!

What does it mean to truly believe?

BE PERFECT IN YOUR DESIRE

“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

 ^“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38

If an imperfect person like you, wants to get to God’s perfect place for eternity, you must desire God more than you desire anything else!

You must realize that life is supposed to be about Him NOT about you!

God will cannot be your God if you desire anything more than you desire Him. Whatever you desire more than God – that is your god!

You must desire God more than you desire that next cigarette or that next drink or the next high. You must desire Him more than money, more than possessions, more than power, or popularity or position. You must desire God more than any other relationship.

If you say you believe in God but you don’t desire Him more than anything – you don’t believe.

That is what it means to believe! It means to choose God as your chief desire EVERY TIME!

Does that describe you? Do you desire Him more than anything?

If you don’t desire Him more than anything else, you don’t believe like He wants you to believe.

That’s what it takes for imperfect people to get into His perfect place!

BE PERFECT IN YOUR DEVOTION

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24

Being devoted to God means you give yourself, your life to obeying Him, obeying His Word (The Bible) and pleasing Him above your own pleasure.

Perfect devotion means every time you your desires come into conflict with His desires you choose His desires.

That is what Jesus did! He was devoted to God, His Father, and God wanted to redeem the world from sin. For that to happen, Jesus would have to leave Heaven, come to earth and humble Himself into a human being. Then, as a human being He devoted Himself to obeying God.

Do you think He WANTED to be beaten and spat upon? Do you think He REALLY wanted to suffer on a cross? He endured those things because He was devoted to God.

A believer must devote himself to obeying God and doing God’s will.

That is how imperfect people are able to get to a perfect place for eternity!

Does that describe how you believe?

BE PERFECT IN YOUR DECISIONS

This is where belief really becomes practical as well as powerful.

For imperfect people to get to a perfect place forever you must make every decision based upon His desires and His will.

Believing in God means you make all your decisions according to what pleases God.

Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Joshua said, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

Decisions result in actions and attitudes and have consequences in your life and family

Believers ask before making decisions ask, “What does the Bible say?” Or, “What would Jesus do in this situation?”

Does that describe your faith? Is that how you express your belief?

Christmas demonstrates that a Perfect God has a perfect plan for imperfect people to get into a perfect place for eternity! But it requires imperfect people to believe and believing means – "Be Perfect In Your Desires, Be Perfect In Your Devotion and Be Perfect In Your Decisions".

God loved!

Jesus came!

You MUST believe!

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December 4, 2012

 

Yesterday I talked about Christmas as proof that God loves you because He is serious about sin. He hates sin because He loves people and sin hurts people.

This Sunday I will talk about how God proves His love because He is serious about seeking. That got me wondering if the Bible talks more about God seeking us or about us seeking God. I haven't found a definite answer yet but I suspect He is the greater Seeker.

A lot of the basis for God seeking us is from stories in the Bible about specific people, or groups of people (mainly Israel).

 

Most prophets in the Bible, God has to pursue to do his work and to give a message to his people. Think about Moses. Moses denied his ability to speak and be a leader of God's people, but he pursued Moses until he was convinced of God's plan for him. In the story of Jonah God wants Jonah to be a prophet to the people but he runs away. He keeps running while God pursues him to the point where he finds himself on a boat in the middle of a storm and Jonah comes to terms with God's plan. Through God's seeking of Jonah (as a prophet to the people, and thereby seeking his people), he sends a fish that swallows him and puts him back on shore.

In the New Testament Jesus sought out most of those who became His disciples. He sought the woman at the well. He sought Zaccheus.

Jesus told several stories about a lost coin, a lost sheep, and a lost son that were desperately sought.
 

As far as verses go this is what I found just quickly when I came across this question.

 

Luke 19:10 - "And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those who are lost."

 

Romans 5:8 - "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

 

John 6:44 - "For people can't come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead."

 

Proverbs 8:17 - "I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me."

 

Luke 11:9-10 - "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks."

 

While some of the verses talk about us seeking God, it also shows that God is right there when we seek him. He is seeking us by providing the answers and knowledge we're looking for right in front of our noses.

And it is true because of Christmas!

December 3, 2012

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!" Romans 5:12-17

 

Jesus was born to be the second Adam!

Why would He want to do that?

Because the first Adam blew it big time!

The second Adam had to undo what the first Adam did.

The first Adam was hand-crafter by God. Therefore, he was created with a sinless nature so He could walk with God.

 

The second Adam was concieved by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin, therefore, He was born sinless. Not only could He walk with God, He came from God and was in fact, God in the flesh!

 

The first Adam was placed in Paradise and enjoyed a personal intimate friendship with God every day - until he rebelled and was expelled.

 

The second Adam was in Paradise but left it to come to earth. He gave up His paradise to suffer and die in our world in order to regain access to Paradise for you and me!

 

The first Adam was perfect but sinned because he wanted to be God.

 

The second Adam WAS God but became man - albeit a perfect man - for one reason, so He could die to atone for our sins! He had to be sinless so He could take our sins upon Himself!

 

Christmas is about the arrival of the second Adam! The second Adam means a second chance!

 

The good news of Christmas is that God is the God of second chances! Jesus proved it!