This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”What A Man Does\”, 5/29/2016

 

WHAT A MAN DOES

 

Luke 19:1-10

 

 

THE DIRECTION OF THE FATHER

V:1-2. ” 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.\”

1. Jericho was the first area conquered by the Israelites when they came into the

promise land.

1. The Israelites walked around the walled city under God\’s direction and with

one great shout, the walls fell down.

1. Jesus enters Jericho and finds a man ready for a change.
2. The name Zacchaeus means pure. He was far from being pure.

 

WATCH THIS

From the beginning of his life, God knew what He wanted Zacchaeus to become.

God directed his parents to name him what he would become.

 

1. Jesus used several adjectives to describe this man.
2. He was a chief tax collector.
3. He had authority over other tax collectors.
4. He use his position to rise up in the tax collecting ranks.
5. He was wealthy.
6. People in this position were known to defraud the tax payers.
7. They could access more than was due and pocket the excess.
8. He was in a hated profession.
9. People in this position were perceived to be sinners by the community.
10. Jesus put it on His agenda to make Himself available to Zacchaeus.

 

THE DRAWING OF THE FATHER

V:3-4. \” 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.\”

1. He was a short man, yet very resourceful.
2. He wanted to see the man who could make a difference in his life.
3. He was not to busy to make arrangements to see Jesus,
4. He couldn\’t see above the crowd, so He positioned himself above the crowd,

by climbing a tree.

1. He was determined to see Jesus.
2. It\’s not where you have been, but where you are going that counts to Jesus.
3. The first step in any spiritual change is the desire to see Jesus.
4. He didn\’t let his short coming stop him from getting to Jesus.
5. When you make time for Jesus, He will make time for you.
6. He climbed a tree to get above the crowd to get a clear view of Jesus.
7. He climbed out of the scum of his life to see Jesus.
8. He climbed up a tree to see real life.
9. The word \”see\” is the Greek word \”edio\” which means to Know.
10. This implies that Zacchaeus had heard about the salvation that

Jesus offered.

1. He was convinced in his heart that he needed Jesus.

 

THE CALL OF JESUS

V: 5-7. \” 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.\”

1. The world sees the outside, but Jesus sees the heart.
2. The world judges you by your sins and want let you forget your past.
3. Jesus covers your sins with His love.
4. Zacchaeus realized that he was so messed up that only Jesus could help.
5. He was convicted in heart.
6. He had a repentant heart
7. He was real about who he was and how he got to be where he was.
8. He had a sorrowful heart.
9. Zacchaeus came seeking Jesus.

 

WATCH THIS

1. Notice, It was Jesus who called Zacchaeus out of the tree.
2. Romans 8:30, \” And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he

also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. \”

1. The Father had prepared the heart of Zacchaeus to except the call of Jesus
2. No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him. John 6:44
3. Jesus made himself available to Zacchaeus.
4. They that seek Jesus will find him, Luke 11:9
5. When you abide in the Word of Jesus, He will abide in you.
6. Upon your confession of faith in Jesus, salvation is granted immediately.
7. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior should be a joyful occasion.
8. The Church may not accept your change, but God does.
9. You may have to convince the Church that you have changed by your works.
10. Anyone who looks down on your sins, have forgotten their sinful state.
11. Jesus is satisfied with your confession of Faith.
12. Through Jesus, Zacchaeus became what his name implied.
13. It is Jesus that purifies us with His Blood.

 

WHAT A MAN DOES

V: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.\”

1. He recognizes Jesus as his Lord.
2. The Roman government was Zacchaeus lord until he met Jesus.
3. The Roman government was his master until he met Jesus.
4. Jesus became the authority of Zacchaeus life.
5. A man takes responsibility for his actions.
6. A man confesses his sins before the Lord.
7. A man makes restitution for wrongs committed.
8. A man recognizes the time value of money.
9. Zacchaeus paid back fourfold his fraudulent gain.
10. A man recognizes that God blessed him, so he could be a blessing to others.
11. Zacchaeus promised to give half of his wealth to the poor.
12.   God blesses those who are generous in their giving.
13. A man put his trust in Jesus and Jesus alone.
14. Upon meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus droped his trust in his position and his wealth.
15. Upon meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus trusted Jesus.

 

THE DIVINE ELECTION OF THE FATHER

V:9. \” Jesus said to him, \”Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.\”

1. Salvation is not dependant on you being good.
2. Salvation is a gift from the Lord.
3. Your confession of faith activates the gift that God prepared for you before

the foundation of the earth.

1. Salvation establishes the relationship between you and the Father.
2. Abraham was considered righteous because he believed God. James 2:23
3. Abraham is the father of faith.
4. Zacchaeus was accepted into the body of Christ by his confession.

 

WATCH THIS

Because of Zacchaeus conversion to Jesus, the Israelites had an advocate in

the tax collector\’s office. Zacchaeus being the chief tax collector, knew the

abuse of this office and was in a position to stop it.

 

THE MISSION OF JESUS

V:10. \” For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.\”

1. Jesus did not come down from heaven to save the righteous.
2. Jesus came down from heaven to save the lost.
3. Jesus came down from heaven for the sins of the world.
4. Jesus did not come down from heaven for our physical well being.
5. Jesus came down from heaven for our spiritual well being.
6. The benefit of our fellowship with Jesus is our physical well being.

 

 

YOU SHOULD BE GLAD THAT YOU WERE CALLED OUT OF THE WORLD

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 WEST SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY

HOUSTON, TEXAS