through 10. He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd, he could not because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sicklemore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw they all grumbled, he has gone in to be a guest of a man who is a sinner. And the key is stood and said to the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my does I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it for four, four fold. And Jesus said to him today, salvation has come to this house since he also is the son of Abraham, for the son of man came to seek and to save the lost. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and the hearing of his words. When I was a little boy, my mother would send us the vacation Bible school. Now I grew up in a very, very, very, very small rural place, okay? And vacation Bible school is probably not what you think it was. And we have a thanks wary like this, and dancing around in a video and stuff like that. No, we went over this lady's house. There was this old, old lady named Mrs. Hinton. And she was a, you know, very different lady. She's very different. And, you know, she walked around the community, you know, and she had a lot of cat. I mean, our house was filled with cats. And we would always tease that she had more cat food than she had any other food in her house. And that was probably true. But every summer, this little strange lady had vacation Bible school. Not in her house. We're going to go in her house. It was in her backyard. And she put these chairs out in her backyard and invite the kids from her neighborhood. And she invited us, but, you know, my mother sent us. Hey, we had to go. And so we would go and sit in her backyard. And she would tell us Bible story. She had these cards with these little songs that we would sing. She put up this stop sign. And it's a stop. And let me tell you what the Lord has done for me. Stop and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me. And she put that down and she put up the go sign and say, go and tell the story of the Christ of Calvary. Go and tell the story of the Christ of Calvary. I remember that. I remember Mrs. Hinton, because you never know, beloved. You never know the difference that your little face can make in the lives of others. That little lady didn't have much. And what she had, we made fun of all the time. And yet, today, I stand before you as a testimony to that lady's little strange face. Commitment to teach hard-headed kids the story of Jesus Christ. You never know. We learned many songs during VBS for Mrs. Hinton. Not only did we learn, stop, and let me tell you, but we also learned a little song about Zacchaeus. It's probably so many of you learned. Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he. He clamped up in a second more tree. For Lord, he wanted to see story of Zacchaeus. It's one of the more popular accounts in the Bible. One of the more familiar stories and moments, memorable moments in the life and ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It's a favorite story of Sunday school teachers and Bible story books. But it's important to understand, beloved, that the account of Zacchaeus is more than just the Sunday school life. It is more that's more to teach us than a vacation Bible school song. Now some deep, important fundamental truths found in the testimony of that kid. Truths that belong to life. Truths that belong to salvation. Truths I learned and Mrs. Hinton back yard and vacation Bible school. But even more important truths that still impact my life today. More important than they have ever been. Truths like seek the Lord. Seek the Lord. What does that kid have to teach us this more? The first thing, beloved, is to seek the Lord. What did I learn in vacation Bible school? Very simple. Stop and seek the Lord. That's what Zacchaeus did. He sought the Lord. Verses 1, 2, 3. The Bible says that Jesus entered into Jericho and was passing through and be home. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector and was rich and he was seeking to see who Jesus was. But on the count of the crowd he could not because he was small in stature. Now as we have been seen in this portion of Luke, as Jesus had been making his way to Jerusalem, the crowds were beginning to become massive. There were large crowds following Jesus everywhere he went and everything he did, all it did was just up the ante and more people followed him. Jesus walking down the road heading to Jerusalem. He was walking like a rockstar like the Beatles coming in the town like Michael Jackson, a Taylor Swift. People wanted to see Jesus. They wanted to get those tickets, but those tickets weren't really available. You can easily get a ticket to see Jesus because the crowds were so heavy. They were all around them, but Zacchaeus was determined. Zacchaeus, I'm getting me a ticket. I'm going to get me a ticket because I want to see this Jesus. Jesus has come to town. Jesus is passing by and Zacchaeus was not going to miss it. So he woke up that morning, determined that he was going to see Jesus. He had to be determined because nobody was going to help him. Nobody was going to help him see Jesus. Nobody was going to help him because he was a task collector. As a task collector he didn't have many friends. Nobody trusted him. He's considered a traitor, greedy, a thief, a man who made his riches the wrong way.
No one was going to help him. And even though he was rich, he wasn't going to be able to buy his way to Jesus. Money wasn't going to help him. Money wasn't going to make a way.
No one was going to help him. He couldn't buy his way. He couldn't bully his way to see Jesus. He couldn't bully his way because he wasn't a big man. He wouldn't be able to push the crowd back,
couldn't buy his way, couldn't bully his way, and nobody was going to help him. So what was he going to do? The Bible says he was determined and that determination led him to run. He ran in verse 4 on a head, but not only did he run on a head, the Bible says that he climbed up into a sicklemore tree so that he could see Jesus. But he knew that Jesus was passing by. What was he willing to do? How far was he willing to go? He was willing to do whatever was necessary. He was willing to do whatever was necessary. He made seeing Jesus a priority. Whatever else, whatever else was going on. That key is determined that Jesus was passing by and that key has had to see for himself, had see for himself. There were a lot of people out there, clamoring, clamoring around Jesus. There were a lot of people out there to see Jesus. There was that key is who found Jesus. He found Jesus because he was serious about looking. He was serious about looking. Whole lot of people in the crowd. Whole lot of people coming to see what's happening. Whole lot of people caught up in the excitement of the movement. That key is what's about the crowd. He wanted to see Jesus. And he was serious about it.
He sought the Lord. Ain't no way the truth of the matter is beloved. He ain't been paying attention to it. But Deon Sanders told you what it is. Deon Sanders said, I ain't hard to find.
Neither is Jesus. Jesus said, I ain't hard to find. I ain't hard to find as they have 55 and verse 6. The Bible says, seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord that he may have compassion on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. God says, I ain't hard to find. And you know what happens when you seek the Lord. The Bible says in Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29. When you seek the Lord, you will find him. If you seek him with your whole heart and with all your soul. Because he ain't hard to find. Those who would see Jesus would look for him. Those who would know Jesus would seek him. People claim to want to know the Lord. And yet at the same time are not willing to seek him. People, the question is often raised, what must I do to receive the blessings of salvation? Well, in order to receive the blessings of salvation, beloved, all you have to do is the same thing you do to receive the blessing of a job. Get up and look for one. Get up and look for one that kid got up and he went looking for Jesus. Because Jesus is hard to find. But he got up with looking. Did he have obstacles? Yes, he had obstacles. Did he have distractions? Yes, he had distractions. He was a man of small statue. But you know what? That didn't stop him. He was a man of a bad reputation. But you know what? That didn't stop him. He wanted to see Jesus. He wanted to get close to Jesus. He went to where Jesus was. He heard Jesus was in the area and that's where he went. He went to where Jesus was. Those beloved, those who want to get close to Jesus, you must go to where Jesus is. Where is Jesus? He's here. He's here, beloved. He's here. He's passing by. You want to see Jesus? You want to know Jesus? First of all, he's not on the movie screen. Okay? Just forget that. He's not on the movie screen. He's not staring in a television series. You want to know where Jesus is, beloved. You want to get close to Jesus. Then you must do like kids and go to where Jesus is. And you will discover Jesus ain't hard to find. Come to church because that is the place where he said he would do his building. He's there. He's constructing. He's building. He's working. You want to know where Jesus is? Come to church. You know what? He ain't hard to find. Come to the Lord's table. Come to the Lord's table. And there you will find the Lord every Sunday, serving his people, mercy, serving his people, grace, serving his people up, forgiveness. And there you'll look up and you discover he ain't hard to find. Come to his worth this morning. Come to the Word where you were here. Jesus saying things like come unto me. All you labor and I'll have you laden and I will give you rest. Come and hear Jesus say anyone who comes to me, I will in no way turn them away. Come and hear Jesus say, I ain't hard to find.
Wanna know him? Come picking. While he may be found. Call on him while he is near. Because he is here. He is here. Come to where Jesus is. You'll find him. You'll find him. Because he ain't hard to find. You know why? You know why Lord ain't hard to find? Because those who seek him. Because those who seek the Lord, you know what they discover? That Jesus was already seeking them. That's why ain't hard to find. That's the moment you get serious about seeking the Lord. You will discover that the Lord has been seeking you. He knew you were coming. That's what the song writer said. That's the song I can't see just this morning. I saw the Lord. And after what I knew, he moved my soul to seek him seeking me. It was not I who found old Savior true. No, I was found of thee. You seek the Lord, beloved. And you will discover that it has been the Lord seeking you all the time. That's how you'll find them. You'll find them. He'll make sure you find them. Because he's seeking you. The Lord is seeking you. That's what you learn from that kid. Not only do you need to seek the Lord, but you learn that the Lord is seeking you. In verse five, the Bible says, when Jesus reached the spot, the spot where that kid's was. The spot where that kid's had been seeking him. The spot where that kid's had went up the tree to see Jesus. The Bible says that when Jesus reached that spot, he stopped. And he looked up and he said, that kid, you come down right now. I'm hanging out with you today. I'm hanging out with you today. Beloved, listen to me. Listen to me. There can be no greater joy than to know that the Lord is here. But then to also know that the Lord is here for you. The Lord has come for you this morning. He has come because you are here. He has come for you. And notice, notice, notice that kid was there to see Jesus. Yes, that's important. But you know what's more important in that beloved that Jesus was there to see that kid. That's why he was there of all the people in the crowd. Jesus came to see that kid. He came to see that kid. How do we know that? How do we know that Jesus came to see that kid? Because he called him by name. He called him by name. Jesus knew his name and he called it. He called him out in a crowd. He called his name out loud. This was precise. This was personal. This was personal. I was preaching in Antigua one time on a week long revival. And I got to Antigua and we got off the plane and we come into the airport. We're a little airport and we had to go through customs. It seemed like they had everybody who had gotten off of every plane that day was in that customs line. I mean, that customs line was all the way outside the airport and it was taken all day as we were making our way through that customs line. And suddenly it came over the loudspeaker. It's reminiscent of Nikata here. Could you please come to the front of the line? The director of customs was an elder at the church. Why was preaching that?
Somebody knew my name. I don't know about you, beloved. I don't know about you. How do you would feel in the midst of a crowd that somebody would call your name and move you to the front of the line? That kids would move to the front of the line because this was precise. This was personal because salvation always is. Always is. Always is. God calls your name, beloved, and you move to the front of the line. It's what he says in Isaiah chapter 43, verse 1. Fear not. I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. So God does. It's personal. It's personal. Jesus calls by name in John chapter 10 and the good shepherd calls his sheep by name and they follow him by name by name. There are no accidental or incidental saints. Salvation is not a coincidence. Jesus was not Jesus didn't just happen to be in your neighborhood. And so you just happen to get saved one day. No, beloved. Your salvation was on purpose. He called your name. Just like he called Lazarus from the dead. The Lazarus come forth. He calls you by name. Just like he called Abraham. Just like he called Jacob. Just like he called Moses. Just like he called Peter. Just like he called Martha. The Lord calls by name and your salvation is on purpose. And that's why it's secure. Did you hear what I said? That's why it's secure. Cause he didn't save you by accident. Save your purpose. He called you by name. People get married and then soon after when for some whatever reason they don't want to be married anymore. You know one of the first things they say. Well, I think I married the wrong person. But beloved, that's how the sinful fickle human mind might work. But thank God that that's not how the eternal sovereign omniscient mind of God. It doesn't work that way. God doesn't say oops. I called the wrong person. All of a sudden you fall into sin and you fall into despair and all of a sudden Jesus said, oops, I saved the wrong person. No, beloved. This is precise. This is personal. This is on purpose because not only did he call his name, but he went to his house. He went to his house.
That he has come down immediately. He said, I must stay at your house today. The Lord doesn't just seek you and call you, beloved, but he comes to stay. He comes to stay. The promise of God to his people. The great promise is that I am with you. I am with you. When you're down and alone, God says I am with you. When the odds are not in your favor, God says I am with you. Jesus doesn't just call his sheep. He's with the sheep. He's with the sheep. John 14, if anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my father will love him. We will come to him and make our home with him. That's what Jesus does. He doesn't just say he comes and he abides. He abides. He stays. He walks. He communes. He sucks. Revelation chapter 3 and verse 20. Behold, the Lord says, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him and he with me. So Jesus does. He comes. He saves and he stops. He stops with his people. He abides with his people. He becomes their guest. He becomes their guest. You know, they accuse Jesus. They accuse Jesus of being a guest of sinners. Or who else would he be a guest of, beloved? Who else could he possibly be a guest of or be a guest of sinners? And the good news is that Jesus is the best guest of sinners could ever have. The best guest of sinners could ever have. Do you know what they also accuse Jesus of? They accuse Jesus of being a friend of sinners. He's a guest of sinners. He's a friend of sinners. But he is the best friend of sinners could ever have. That kiss was a sinner. Jesus was his guest. And not only did that kiss find a guest that day. But he also found a friend, a friend, a friend. That kiss was a sinner. And you know what, beloved? Every sinner needs a friend and there is no friend like Jesus. No, not one. Did ever a saint find this friend forsaken? No, not one. Or a sinner find that he would not take him. No, not one. He knows that he is his name, me. It means pure and innocent. Pure and innocent. His parents named him pure and innocent. They had eye hopes for the boy. They lifted that little baby laying there and they had the highest hopes of all. How pure, how innocent has to be that kiss. My parents have had hopes for me. You know what my name means? Priceless one. Anthony means priceless one. They missed the mark too. No worries, no worries, beloved. Jesus didn't go to Jericho looking for a pure and innocent.
Now he didn't go to Jericho looking for a pure and innocent. He went to Jericho seeking and saved lost. He caused that he is his name, not because that he is a pure and innocent. He caused that he is named because that he is a sinner and he was lost. And Jesus is the best friend, a sinner or a lost person ever had. He did not come to serve the righteous or to suffer the holy. He came to cause sinners to repent. He came to save the lost. He came to Bible says in John 15 and 13 to lay down his life for his friends. And who are his friends? His friends are the lost. His friends are the unrighteous. His friends are sinners who desire to be saved. You know what was that case with him? In the vacation bottles who I've found a friend or such a friend, he bled and died to save me and not alone the gift of life but his own life he gave me. That's what he found. He found that he who seeks the Lord finds that the Lord is already been seeking him. And you know what happens with those whom Jesus seeks? He finds them and they get saved. That case saw the Lord soon discovered that the Lord had already come seeking him and all those whom the Lord seeks. He says, when Jesus didn't just go to that case at house, the Bible says that he also brought salvation with him. So Jesus said unto him in verse 9, today, today's that case, today salvation has come to this house. You know, I've done it in this message and it is fun. We are calm. We commonly do it. We speak of salvation in terms of finding the Lord. He found Jesus. She found religion. And I get it. I understand the Norman Clature. I know why we speak in those terms but the reality is this beloved Jesus wasn't lost. That case didn't find Jesus. It is Jesus who was there seeking the Bible says seeking to save the Lord. That's why he came into the world to seek and save the Lord. It is seeking and saving the Lord. He brings the Lord into a new life. Changed. Changed. That's what I am. Changed. Nobody. Nobody who seriously seeks the Lord. And therefore it's sought by the Lord and it saved goes unchanged. What a salvation change. What it is is change. We are not told how long that case and Jesus met in this house. We don't know how long Jesus stayed with that case. We are not told the nature of the conversation. That's transpired between Jesus and that case and that case itself. All we know is that after spending time with Jesus that case was different. Something changed. Something moved on the inside.
Something changed. That case was changed. Like Ebony's or Scoot. Scoot woke up on Christmas morning. Changed. Except beloved. This wasn't a dream. This was Jesus. That case went into that up into that tree. One man. He came out of that house. A different man. Changed. Changed. This is what the grace and the mercy of God does, beloved. It changes you. It changes things. Changes things. Changes where and how you spend your money. Changes things. Changes how and where you spend your time. Changes things. Changes with whom you spend your time. Changes things. Bible says any fees in chapter 4 verse 38. Verse 28. The grace of God comes. Let the thief no longer steal but rather let him labor doing honest work with his own hands so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let the thief steal no more but now let him give. Let the liar lie no more but now let him speak the truth in Christ. Let the hater hate no more but now let him walk in love. Let the boastful boast no more in themselves but now let them boast in the Lord. This is the change. This is the change that comes over those who are in Christ. That case was different. He was still rich. He was different. He was still rich but now he would no longer boast in his riches. This is what's different. This is the difference in being the disciple of Christ. Listen, beloved, becoming a disciple of Christ does not mean if you're rich now you have to become poor. Becoming a disciple of Christ doesn't mean now if you're successful now you have to be unsuccessful. Being becoming a disciple of Christ doesn't mean if you're wise now or suddenly you have to become a fool. No, being a disciple means that your trust and boast is no longer in those things but now you trust and boast in the Lord. So Jeremiah said, Jeremiah 9, verse 23 and 24, that says the Lord. Let not the wise man burst in his wisdom. Let not the mighty man boast in his might. Let not the rich man boast in his riches but let him who boast, boast in this that he understands and he knows the Lord when that kid walked out of that house. His boast was in Jesus. That was the difference that Jesus made. No more boasting in your riches. Now I'm not boasting in Jesus. How do you know? Because I'm given the thief with no longer steel but now he's going to give. The boastful will no longer boasting themselves but now they're going to boast of Jesus. The hater will no longer hate but now they're going to walk in love. Now there's a difference in knowing Jesus. Before I want to stop and tell you all about me but now I want you to stop and let me tell you of the Christ who died for me. I want to stop so I can tell you about the Jesus who set me free. That kid was a wee little man and a wee little man with me. He climbed up in a thick and more tree. The Lord he wanted to see. When he climbed up in that tree, he climbed up one man. He came down a different one because of Jesus and now his trust is in the Lord and in the Lord alone. Once he did this morning, how are you seeking the Lord? Beloved the Lord is here and he is seeking you and he ain't hard to find. That's fine. Heavenly Father
thank you Heavenly Father. We thank you for the testimonies that he is for the testimony of all those vacation Bible school workers, wee little ladies who pray and give their time so that children might know you. We thank you for all that you do way seen and unseen for your wonderful marvelous hand making difference in the lives of your people. Thank you for seeking us this morning, given us hearts and minds to seek you. You place our trust in you this morning and because you have colors that's the Jesus. Thank you. Thank you. Jesus, name me.