The Day My Life Changed | Rev. Andra D. Sparks

SERMON SERIES:“RENEWED”Speaker: Pastor SparksScripture: Luke 19:1-10; Psalm 51:10-12-Your age has nothing to do w/ how “advanced” you are in your spiritual walk-If you feel like life has been dumping on you, know that you’re not alone—AND—scripture is filled w/ people who had their fair share of issues!    A Renewed Spirit is a Clean Spirit (Psalm 51)        How clean is your spiritual filter? Sometimes, we feel detached & bogged down simply because our “filters” have too much junk in them        The more we allow “little things” to add up, the more—over time—we get clogged up    Jesus Initiates Conversation & Conversion (Luke 19)        In the story of the blind man sitting by the road (Luke 18) & Zacchaeus (Luke 19), what these two men have in common—despite their economic differences—is that religious folks tried to keep them away from Jesus        After having been looked down on his whole life (bc of his stature & profession), Jesus looked UP at Zacchaeus        The fact Jesus “came to that spot” (the tree Zacchaeus was in) signifies that Jesus knows—and can meet us—exactly where we are!        Jesus also honored Zacchaeus by calling his name; the name of a person who was looked down on all his life by others, was called by Jesus            Be careful trying to witness to folks when you don’t even have a relationship w/ folks; you trying to turn somebody on to Christ could actually have the opposite effect. Be relational, not confrontational    Sincere Change Requires Repentance        Zacchaeus was saved the second he dropped down out of the tree! Don’t make it more difficult than it has to be, all you gotta do to get Jesus is accept Jesus, and the second you do...you’re saved!        Zacchaeus made the personal decision to give away half his possessions bc he knew he’d gotten it by cheating folks! He made the decision to SHOW he was a new person!        Outward actions show inward change!Sermon Notes courtesy of Deacon Anthony Sparks