Pastor David Koop

When we are bold enough to allow Jesus to come over to our house for supper, our home and our community will never be the same. 

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1. He had a great spiritual appetite.
   Luke 19:3,4
   He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.
   
   Matthew 5:6
   “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
   
   - Money and power did not satisfy his spiritual hunger.
   - We all have a sycamore tree to climb if we want to see Jesus.
   - If we say “I can’t seem to find time for devotions.” This is a hunger problem, not a time management problem.
   - If we don’t feel spiritually hungry it may be because we have taken things into our minds and hearts that act as spiritual suppressants.
   
   John 6:35
   Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.
   
   
2. He responded quickly to receive Jesus into his house.
   Luke 19:5,6
   When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
   
   - Jesus wants to come into our world. He wants to move in. He is an amazing guest.
   
   John 14:23
   Jesus replied, “All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them.
   
   
3. The grace and mercy of Jesus prompted the changes in his life.
   
   - It causes the self righteous crowd to get upset.
   
   Luke 19:7
   But the people who saw this began to express disapproval. They said, “He went to be the guest of a sinner.”
   
   - It caused him to turn away from his corrupt nature and choose God’s nature.
   - His motivation was not for a strategic tax benefit or estate planning.
   
   Luke 19:8
   Later, at dinner, Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Lord, I’ll give half of my property to the poor. I’ll pay four times as much as I owe to those I have cheated in any way.”
   
   1 John 4:19
   We love Him because He first loved us.
   
   Romans 2:4
   Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
   
   - It caused the intersection of the rich and poor to take place.
   - The T.Stenner Group reported that the number one concern of the rich in Canada is that they might lose their lifestyle.
   - How did the choices Zacchaeus make change his lifestyle?
   - Note he called Jesus “Lord”. This means that Jesus was now Lord over his money and possessions. It was Jesus who said in Matthew 5:42 “Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don’t turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.”
   
   - It caused him to see who he really was.
   - Zacchaeus’ parents had named him: “pure.”
   - When he experienced the goodness of God he finally became what he was born to be. The law didn’t make him pure, it was God’s undeserved favor.
   
   Luke 19:9,10
   Then Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “You and your family have been saved today. You’ve shown that you, too, are one of Abraham’s descendants. Indeed, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save people who are lost.”
   
   Has salvation come to your house?
   Salvation is rooted in a response to God’s acceptance of us despite our shortcomings.