The Desire of Ages--61--Zacchaeus

[Beacon]

"Beneath the appearance of worldliness and pride was a heart susceptible to divine influences. Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus. The report of One who had borne Himself with kindness and courtesy toward the proscribed classes had spread far and wide.
 
"In this chief of the publicans was awakened a longing for a better life."

Only a few miles from Jericho, John the Baptist had preached at the Jordan, and Zacchaeus had heard of the call to repentance. The instruction to the publicans, "Exact no more than that which is appointed you" (Luke 3:13), though outwardly disregarded, had impressed his mind. He knew the Scriptures, and was convicted that his practice was wrong."

"Now, hearing the words reported to have come from the Great Teacher, he felt that he was a sinner in the sight of God. Yet what he had heard of Jesus kindled hope in his heart. Repentance, reformation of life, was possible, even to him; was not one of the new Teacher's most trusted disciples a publican?

Zacchaeus began at once to follow the conviction that had taken hold upon him, and to make restitution to those whom he had wronged."

The story of Zacchaeus should remind us of our great need to be compassionate even to the ones who may, on the surface appear to be beyond the reach of the Gospel Message. The way that Jesus related to him warmed his heart which made it possible for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction about his lifestyle and aroused a strong desire to Confess, Surrender, and make a strong commitment to live the Christian Life. What do people in the world and in the church see and hear when interacting with US? Does our conversation and lifestyle attract or repulse??

At all times we must remember, Jesus came to seek and save the "Lost"  Both in the church and in the world.

[Beacon]

"Only a few miles from Jericho, John the Baptist had preached at the Jordan, and Zacchaeus had heard of the call to repentance. The instruction to the publicans, "Exact no more than that which is appointed you" (Luke 3:13), though outwardly disregarded, had impressed his mind.

"He knew the Scriptures, and was convicted that his practice was wrong."

"Now, hearing the words reported to have come from the Great Teacher, he felt that he was a sinner in the sight of God. Yet what he had heard of Jesus kindled hope in his heart. Repentance, reformation of life, was possible, even to him; was not one of the new Teacher's most trusted disciples a publican?"

"Zacchaeus began at once to follow the conviction that had taken hold upon him, and to make restitution to those whom he had wronged."

Jesus is today still sounding the invitation to come and experience the joy and peace of His forgiveness. But this is a Limited Time Offer and will close at the end at the close of our probationary time.  There will come a time in the near future when Jesus will say close His intercessory ministry in the courts above and declare...

"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Revelation 22:11

Dear Friends...Do not listen to the lies of our enemy, Satan. He will tell you that you've got lots of time before you need to surrender to Jesus, but the truth is none of know when our life on earth will end. Please, Do Not Delay! Come to Jesus while the door of mercy is still open.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!

What is repentance, and from whom does it come? The Bible gives the answer: "Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31). Repentance is the gift of God through Christ, and is the power of God to confess and forsake sin so that the life is transformed by beholding the loveliness of Jesus, leading to entire surrender of the whole heart so that all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in the life without one missing while the character is brought into harmony with all the light of truth known and understood! As Jesus said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

"No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven." {The Desire of Ages, page 555, paragraph 6}

May we truly have heaven in the soul today by having Christ in our hearts as an abiding Friend! Jesus is all in all when we are in harmony with Him!

[Dorine]

"The Christian in his business life is to represent to the world the manner in which our Lord would conduct business enterprises. In every transaction he is to make it manifest that God is his teacher. "Holiness unto the Lord" is to be written upon daybooks and ledgers, on deeds, receipts, and bills of exchange. Those who profess to be followers of Christ, and who deal in an unrighteous manner, are bearing false witness against the character of a holy, just, and merciful God. Every converted soul will, like Zacchaeus, signalize the entrance of Christ into his heart by an abandonment of the unrighteous practices that have marked his life. Like the chief publican, he will give proof of his sincerity by making restitution. The Lord says, "If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; . . . none of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: . . . He shall surely live." Ezekiel 33:15, 16.

Whether we own our own business or work for another, God has given instruction for the Christian. It even covers those who like ourselves are retired. Are we honest when it comes tax time? If we are given more change at the store than it should be do we keep it and go on or do we make it right? This covers every area of our lives. Honesty in everything is required of God. A converted Christian will never try to 'get one over' on anyone. The heart warming story of Zacchaeus will teach all the power of grace of Jesus to transform a selfish heart into a generous, honest, happy and giving soul.

[Philip T]

  Zacchaeus had been overwhelmed, amazed, and silenced at the love and condescension of Christ in stooping to him, so unworthy. Now love and loyalty to his new-found Master unseal his lips. He will make public his confession and his repentance.
     In the presence of the multitude, "Zacchaeus 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.

Amen Pastor Sean, Brother Bacon and Sister Dorine.

This should be our response to Jesus love, we should feel overwhelmed that he came to earth as one of us, lived a sinless life, died and shed His blood for us. We should be overwhelmed with love for Him, willing to surrender all to Him in obedience, confess our sins to him and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. The whole cluster.

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Phillip!  God wants the whole heart and nothing less. He does not forsake us when we sin, but neither are we in a converted, sanctified state. As all have shared this morning, we are to be holy. Yet, how often to we hear from the pulpit or read in our books or periodicals that we are holy when fully surrendered to God? Why don't we? Because there  is no conviction that we are holy when fully surrendered. Yet, we all see this is clearly presented in today's reading and throughout Scripture. When truly converted, we are holy, wholly sanctified, wholly surrendered to the will of God. Self is buried under by the indwelling Spirit. And as Brother Phillip has shared all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in the life as long as we retain our intimate connection with Christ. Then we are partakers of God's divine nature and set free from the lust that is in the world.

But no sooner did Zacchaeus yield to the influence of the Holy Spirit than he cast aside every practice contrary to integrity.   
     No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven.   
     The Christian in his business life is to represent to the world the manner in which our Lord would conduct business enterprises. In every transaction he is to make it manifest that God is his teacher. "Holiness unto the Lord" is to be written upon daybooks and ledgers, on deeds, receipts, and bills of exchange.

Notice that "The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct."  Yet this is a popular teaching in the church, that the righteousness of Christ does cover unconfessed and unforsaken sins.