Coming Back, Week 4: The Searching

We’ve always belonged to Jesus. (Ephesians 1:4) (NLT) Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. (Jeremiah 3:22) (NLT) “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God. Title of Message:  The Searching (Luke 19:1-2) (NIV) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. (Luke 19:3-4) (NIV) He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Luke 19:5-6) (NIV) When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. (Luke 19:7) (NIV) All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” The searching: 1.    Have a past they're not proud of. 2.    Have a desire for something significant. (Luke 19:8) (NIV) 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.” (Luke 19:9-10) (NIV) Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”   When the searching find Jesus they find: 1.    The future they hoped for. (Jeremiah 29:11) (MSG) “…I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” 2.    The significance they longed for.  (Luke 19:6) (NKJV) So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.