Good morning. I need a remote. Thank you. Are we happy to be here this morning?
I didn't hear it. Are we happy to be here this morning? So if you are happy, say thank you Jesus. We can do that better.
Say thank you Jesus. You know why we are saying thank you Jesus? We have sang so many songs today. And one of my favorite is in Christ alone.
And it says, in his death I leave. In his death I leave. That was pretty. Have a last time for that we thank you.
Thank you for bringing us here today. We thank you for your law. We thank you for your kindness. Thank you for choosing to die for us.
You paid the debt and you paid it in full. We return all glory and honor to you. We ask you to join us this morning to speak to us. All this spiritual idea, greatest teacher, nobody teaches better than you.
We ask you to fall afresh of honor this morning. Teachers, open our mind, open our eyes. And I hope to see you in your work today. In Jesus' name, amen.
I have a topic on there. It's called the Two Seekers. And maybe you might want to give it a topic at the end of the day. At the end of the message, when I was preparing this, that was what came to my mind.
And we will be reading Luke chapter 19, verse 1 to 10. Luke chapter 19, verse 1 to 10. I would like to ask the question, anytime we hear about Zacchaeus, what comes to mind? Oh, wow.
So it's almost, you know, we are so used to that word, Zacchaeus, shut to the extent that it's almost like there's no tall Zacchaeus. Anyway, I have friends that are called Zacchaeus, like at all, so what. All these relative, I was looking at the average height for Canadians. And I discovered that the average height for men in Canada is five feet, 10 inches.
And for women, it's five feet, four inches. Interesting, right? In Nigeria, it's five feet, eight inches. And for women, it's five feet, four inches.
So women in Canada and Nigeria almost have the same height, so average height. That's interesting. So, and, um, does that mean anybody that is below their height is shot? Is that what I mean?
It's very relative, you know? I'm not going to consider myself as a whole guy. I'm only a puddle when I'm on my own here, standing beside someone, not as puddlers. If I have to find myself in the midst of NBA players, I am very shocked.
You know? So, yeah, so the two seekers. And this is one of the most complete stories in the Bible for me. It shows, it depicts a situation where hunger meets grace.
Someone's seeking, looking for Jesus. I even try to find him. I hope we can see that. So, I read, and I'm reading from N.L.T.
anyway. So, looked at the 19th, it was one to ten. Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus.
He was a chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but it was too short to see over the crowd. So, he ran ahead and climbed a six-month-week tree beside the road. For Jesus was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. Zacchaeus, he said, quick, calm down. I must be a guest in your home today. Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
But the people were displeased. He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner, the grumble. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus took me for the Lord and said, I will give half my wealth to the poor Lord. And if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much.
Jesus responded, salvation has come to this home today. For this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the son of man came to seek and save those who are lost. I believe this particular story was written down for you and I, so that we can take some lessons in here.
And let's look at the profile of these two seekers in this story. So, sicker number one, Jesus Christ, who is the son of God, a savior. What is his nation? He came to seek and save those who are lost.
And who is the sicker number two? Zacchaeus. What is the description? He is a short man, popular, very famous.
But profession, what he was doing is a famous guy and is the chief tax collector. And above all, he is very rich. The Bible described him as very rich. At that moment, he had one mission.
He wanted to see Jesus. Let's see how things played out and let's see the breakdown of the events. So, I will be talking on this event, as listed here. The first one is Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus.
Zacchaeus had a limitation. Zacchaeus sought for assistance. These are found Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus exactment versus people's displayer.
Zacchaeus repented and salvation came into Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man named Zacchaeus.
It was a chief tax collector in the region and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but it was too short to see over the crowd. So, he ran ahead and climbed a sicker number of feet tree. He decided to look for Jesus, was going to pass that way.
Zacchaeus was a rich man. It's interesting when someone does things to have everything. All of a sudden, the lost his dignity and was pursuing just one thing. It was well known, it was a powerful and successful man.
Well, in that moment, when Jesus was passing by, none of that mattered anymore. Why? Because he had a mission. He just wanted to see Jesus.
It's interesting to know that in that story Zacchaeus had everything as a short man. Yet, something was still missing. And when he finally realized that, he didn't hold back. He didn't let his pride, position or public opinion stop it.
He didn't wait for the crowd to go past. He didn't complain about the height. He hacked it. He moved.
James chapter 4 was 8 to 10. A couple of months back, our brother, brother Warren, shared with us here. I'll say it's tight to draw in there to God. James chapter 4 was 8 to 10, says, come close to God.
And God will come close to you. Watch your hands, you sinners. Purify your heart for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Another version says, you don't mind it.
Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and debrief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and it will lift you hope in honor.
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus Christ. Despite everything he had, it still feels like something is missing. He didn't wait. It wasn't the nagging of feeling, can I, will I, will I, he hacked it as it was?
And he moved towards Jesus Christ. If you are listening to me this morning and you are ready yet, to give your life to Jesus Christ, come as your. Zacchaeus didn't wait to have that perfect mind. Even though it will never have been that, he hacked it.
He had everything, he was like, in, in a year and a long way, he called it the big guy because he had everything. He hacked it. He didn't think twice. He didn't doubt himself.
He went, I want to see his face. Okay. But, I think I was ahead of myself. But Zacchaeus had a limitation.
And we all know his limitation, right? He was too short. Another version said, another version said, he had a small structure. So, what this means is that your willingness is one thing to see Jesus, but you don't have what he takes.
Your good work. We spoke about good work this morning. It's not sufficient. Look, 19 verse 3 says, he tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but he had a problem. His height. His physical structure became a barrier. It was too short to see over the crowd.
In that moment, his limitation was magnified, not because it was new, but because of what he was trying to do. The crowd didn't help either. He was surrounded by people and their size is blocking his view. Zacchaeus had no chance of seeing Jesus unless he did something different.
Zacchaeus had a limitation, so do we. The Bible says in Romans 3 verse 3, for everyone has sinned, and we all fall short of God's glorious thunder. Everyone, everyone. Romans 5 verse 12 says, when I done sinned, sin entered the world.
I done sinned, brought debt, so debt spread to everyone. Why? Because for everyone sinned. I want those to take notes in this story.
Zacchaeus's limitation was called from acquiring wealth. It's interesting, as shot as he was described, that wasn't the limitation for him to acquire wealth, to acquire status. Everything is God. The fact was described to have succeeded in life, both socially and financially.
But when he came to sinned Jesus, that's when he felt his limitation. Zacchaeus did something that we all can learn from. He acknowledged his limitation, and he refused to let it stop him. When I was going through this, it dropped in my mind that this means sin.
Jesus clearly, sometimes, it requires more than our desire. It takes humility and movement. It means recognizing what is getting in the way and doing something about it. One of my own personal struggles is staying above the crowd.
It doesn't mean I want to be better than I'm aspiring to be better than everyone. No. It's just I am persistently finding a way to decide myself from destruction. Distorted views, opinions, and chaos that comes with the crowd so that I can have a lesser focus on Jesus Christ.
Zacchaeus needed to do something different so that he can have a focus on Jesus Christ. He had a mission to see Jesus Christ. The reality of life is that the crowd still gathers today, and if we don't rise above it, we will lose the sight of Jesus. Hebrew 12, verse 1-2, says, Therefore, sins we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses.
To the life of faith, let us trip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us home, and let us run with endurance. The race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus. The champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Because of the joy of waiting in him, he endured the cross disregarding his shame. Now he is seated in the place of corno besides ghost throne. Jesus had the focus. And what was this focus?
To redeem us from our sin. Not his own sin, he never sinned, he knew no sin, but our sin. He refused to be distracted. And that's what we can handle later as well.
Let's keep our eyes on him. Let's take a float of all the distractions, all the distorted views, all necessary arguments, and people are high on Jesus Christ. Zacchaeus had a limitation. He acknowledged it.
And he did something about it. Zacchaeus sought for help. Now, he knew it was short. He needed to do something about it.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sick hammer of fig tree beside the road. For Jesus was going to pass that way. That was strategic, right? In businessman, very strategic.
Having realized this limitation is sought for help. Sinas needs help. And that's what Jesus Christ came to give us. Give us, brother.
It came to help us. To return us back to the presence of our father. To give us life. And to give us abundantly.
Now, let us look at the significance of the Cicamot tree. Zacchaeus. The Cicamot tree. And this is my thoughts.
The Cicamot tree. Add to essential qualities if we pay attention to that. One is the position of the tree and its coordinates. Both qualities reflect what we are called to embody.
This tree was strategically placed strong enough to hold someone seeking Jesus. And it played a quiet but pivotal role in Zacch's transformation. Our lives can be like this tree. We've been positioned by grace.
Standing firm in truth and helping others rise above the crowd to see Jesus clearly. Jesus is alive and is still passing by. He is still seeking the lost and as believers. We have a responsibility, not just to rejoice in our own salvation, in our salvation, but to participate in his mission.
Our role is not passive. Like the Cicamot tree that Zacchaeus climbed, we have been positioned and equipped in Christ for your reason. At chapter 1, verse 8 says, You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be my witnesses.
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and still the hand of the heart. As believers, I think that should be our mission statement. Witnesses. So here's a question.
Here are questions. Now it's what reflects in heart. Now that we have found the truth through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the question is what are we doing with this? Are we making intentional efforts in our daily lives to help others see and find the truth?
Or are we making it harder for them? By how we speak, how we live, and how we treat people? This is a question we have to ask ourselves. It's our Christianity only visible on Sundays and fades into ambiguity from Monday to Saturday.
Sunday, Sunday, Christian. The amazing thing for me here is how God decided to bring the city camo tree in the picture. Quiet, but very important in your story. If God can use a tree, it can use you too.
We have the road to go out there, to live a life that is going to win souls into the kingdom of God. You have embraced, you have been positioned for that. When we say positioning, by virtue of your walk, where you walk, your family, your neighborhood, we have a road to play. Zachars needed help.
And you found it through the city camo tree. To do something, to achieve this mission, a lot of people have the one to see Jesus. And you know what? It's interesting how people observe us when we are not even conscious of that.
They know you're conscious of that church on Sundays. They can even describe your Bible when they have moments with you. Do you make it easier for them to see Jesus? Or you make it harder?
Or you even confuse them with your attitude? Now, Zachars found Jesus. That's five. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zachars and called in by name.
Zachars, he said, quick, calm down. I must be a guest in your home today. It's interesting that Jesus didn't see a man. He saw Zachars and he called him by his name.
The man tells us everything about Jesus. He knows your name. He knows your story. It's not ignorant of your past, your pain or your struggles.
It's not ignorant of your reputations. And it's not intimidated by your sin or impressed by your success. He's very intentional about you. He's very intentional to save you or so and give you his inner future.
He called him by his name. Zachars didn't squeeze his small notes and he passed it in. No, no. He saw him.
Zachnolek is effort and rewarded him. It's interesting sometimes when people walk up to me and call me by my name. It gives me this moment of, oh, you know me. Okay.
That looks, it makes communication easier at that point. They'll say, hey, you, what's the name? This time around, Jesus says Zachars. Calm down.
He knows it. He knows you too. And when I was reading this, it flushed through my mind. All the people in the Bible that God sent a message, likes of Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Yiddian, named Moses, none of them actually introduced themselves first to God and say, hey God, my name is Moses.
Why? Go call them directly by their name. And that gives me something. It knows you by your name.
And it's very, very intentional with you if you were given a chance. Zachars had a mission, one mission to see Jesus. But it's interesting to see here that Jesus had a great mission to save Zachars. And if you look at this scenario, this situation, isn't this what gospel is all about?
Matthew 11, 28 to 30. Then Jesus said, calm to me. All of you, all of you, is not discriminating. All of you.
Ooh, I weary and carry heavy bodies and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you. It's the greatest teacher.
Because I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke, it's easier to bear and the body I give you is light. It's still passing by and it's still calling. If you can hear me, if you can hear me, if you just feel alive, you still have the opportunity.
Call on him, he will answer you. Now, something happened immediately. Jesus acknowledged Zachars on that tree. Says, Zachars quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement.
Zachars was happy. So this means that whatever Zachars had in terms of wealth, dignity, status, prior to that time, it's not sufficient. It doesn't make him happy compared to what he just found. In great excitement and joy.
For people where this glist, I hope you know this guy. I think you said you knew everything. You should have known this guy. You should have known this guy.
You should have known this guy. You should have known this guy. You should have known this guy. It's always collecting our money.
And they passed a judgment, which is interesting. He has gone to be the guest of a notorious cenae. Wow. It's interesting when cenae called another cenae.
That brought something in my mind. And it's human self righteousness versus the will of God. The will of God stands. And what is will?
Second Peter, three, verse nine. He says he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repaint. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to be through repaint. And when I was trying to dig into the mini of self righteousness, I found a very interesting definition.
He says it's a form of arrogance that stems from an exaggerated sense of homes, of ones own virtue. You have to exaggerate it first. It means you are not even true to yourself. Morality or correctness, self righteous individuals often feel to recognize their home flaws and shortcomings.
Focusing instead on the perceived feelings of others, their righteous. And what about your own son, that? And what do the Bible tells us? Even if you want to boast, do it in Christ.
You don't have what it takes. There is a kind of joy that works and not fully explained. A joy that explodes when you find Jesus. Or rather when he finds you.
I know that joy. And I'm sure people around here know the joy as well. And it's not just emotional. It's heavenly.
Jesus once said, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God. Over one sin who repents, that's Luke 15, that's 10. And that was Zacchios felt, a glimpse of evan celebration on heart. But hold on.
Not everyone joined in the joy. It seems there is a self-righteousness syndrome in the here. While Zacchios was rejoicing, the crowd was grumbling. That means while evan was celebrating, the people were criticizing.
This moment reveals a deep truth in my thought. And when Jesus touches your life, your joy may confuse or offend others, especially those who think you don't deserve it. And what those people, these self-righteous ones. But the good news is that God is not taking a poll before saving you.
Grace doesn't wait for crowd approval. Zacchios was joyful, not because it was perfect. But because it had been seen and called by Jesus, despite its past. If he stands to, verse 8 to 9, says, God saved you, rise grace, when you believe.
And you can take credit for this. It's a gift from God. Salvation is not your reward for the good thing we have done. So no one, none of us can boast about it.
In time is far going. Now Zacchios repented. He encountered something and he repented. Verse 8, meanwhile, Zacchios stood before the Lord and said, I will give half my wealth to the poor Lord.
And I have cheated. And if I have cheated people on the attack, I will give them back four times as much as I can. One of the books I stumbled on during the giveaways in our, in somewhere around the kitchen there was a book written by Keith Green. I love that book so much.
It's called A Cry in the Wilderness. Very, very direct. It doesn't pamper. It goes through.
And I love the way it talks about repentance. It means recognizing the pain and destruction I was seen as caused. To God, to others, and to ourselves. It's not just about feeling sorry, but about pointing away from sin and choosing to live a life that is pleasing to God.
This is what Zacchios demonstrated. Zacchios in just say, I am sorry. It took action. Repentance is not a movement of emotion.
It's a movement towards transformation. A preacher wants to add that our many books are for information, but only one book is for transformation. I guess we book Bible. All the other books I just want information.
Bible is for transformation. You want to get transformed today. Read your Bible. Like brother, you may be saying, if you can read, blog and listen.
Blog and listen while you walk, while you are watching. It helps. A repentant hat feels the weight of sin, not just emotionally, but spiritually. At chapter 17, restate, to chapter 21, we just finished the book of hat in our men's Bible study.
This particular chapter I was where Paul was in Antens and saw how invested the people had into idols. If you go to verse 32, it says, God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times. But now it commands everyone everywhere, everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to Him. Why?
Because He has set a day for judging the world with justice. By demand, He has appointed and He proved to everyone who this is by raising Him from the dead. Zachios repented. We can see the series.
First, He wanted to see Jesus. He found Jesus. Jesus acknowledged Him. No, sorry.
He wanted to see Jesus. He acknowledged His limitation. He found Jesus. Jesus acknowledged and rewarded Him.
He repented. Let's go to the real deal. Salvation came into Zach's house. A couple of times I've been lost in my own thought.
What a perfect gift to humanity. What a perfect gift. Some people would say children. Some would say my career.
It depends on how you are feeling. I don't remember when that question was asked. But in the real sense, as believers, the perfect gift to humanity is Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ gives us one thing.
It's a salvation. That's it. That's the most perfect gift. If you say children, well, I don't know.
Your children are not going to live with you for the rest of your life. I am a child of someone. I remember when I wanted to live Nigeria. My dad was doubting like, you're not going to do it.
And two weeks ago, the reality dawned on me. That is that it's actually living me. Wow. So your best gift, my leader one day.
You have to take it as your best gift is your child. You will live. You have to live their own life as well. One thing that is the most complete gift is the salvation.
The finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of power. We did not contribute. And the only thing we contributed was our sin. Nothing.
And you know what? There's nothing we can do to reduce the significance of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. It's just for us to believe. First Peter, verse one to nine.
The reward for trusting in will be the salvation of your souls. You trust him enough to enjoy the salvation that Jesus Christ brought to humanity. Psalm 91, 14 to 17. My time is off.
This is one of the most common signs in my house. Psalm 91, everybody knows it. Although I already know it in your back. So, but that's 14 to 17.
It says the Lord says, I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer. I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation. I will rescue those who love me. When they call on me, I will answer.
You don't need to wait for anything. Call on him today. He will answer you. The truth is, it's still passing by.
It's still sick. It describes one mission. And it mentioned it in that story. It says he has come to seek and save the lost souls.
If you are still doubting about your position in Christ, call on him today. It's still passing by and it's still seeking and saving. This is my last slide. It says, for this man, as shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.
As shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. I would like to read Galician's chapter 4, verse 21 to 30. For the context, I have to start. Sorry.
Galician's chapter 3, issue 3, verse 1 to 7. Oh, foolish Galicians. Who has cast this spot rising to the Galicians. Who has cast on evil spell on you for the meaning of Jesus Christ's death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross.
Let me ask you this one question. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not. You received the Spirit because you believed emphasis on belief.
You believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new life in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your whole human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing?
Surely it was not in vain, was it? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and walk miracles among you because you are very law? Of course not. It is because you believed the message you heard about Christ.
Now, verse 6, this is where the answer lies. In the same way Abraham believed God and God counted in as righteous because of his feet. The real children of Abraham then had those who put their feet in God. For this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.
Jesus helped us to expand what Zacchaeus did at the moment. And he was able to release it. With the kind of feet Abraham Abraham had in God. So, if you want to check, if you are still the son of Abraham, check your feet.
Is he wavering? If he is wavering, maybe you need to look for your father. If you look for your lineage. Abraham puts his feet in God.
And if you are a real child of Abraham, that is the kind of fit God is looking for as well. Abraham 11, verse 6, it says, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that hearing what? Those who sincerely seeking.
And this is why I say this is one of the most complete stories to me in the Bible. Zacchaeus believed it's soft. For Jesus' face. He acknowledged his limitation.
It wasn't perfect. So do we. It's soft for him. Jesus found him.
And you rewarded him with his salvation. If you are listening to me. Or anywhere you are, you are in this message. And you are yet to give your life to Christ.
You don't need to wait. He is not intimidated by your sin. As a matter of fact, his willing, his seeking is even running towards you. What are you waiting for?
Run towards him as though he is the Savior. He is still passing by, still looking for lost souls. Thank you. Let us pray.
Father, we thank you for this moment. We thank you for your word. We pray that you help us to understand who you are. We pray for people that I yet to know you.
We pray that you touch their hands. We pray that you help them to see you, to find you. You do not want anyone to be destroyed. You want everyone to repair it.
We pray that all our souls will find you. Thank you, have a last time, Father. And we pray as believers will continue to grow in you. We continue to know you more.
You continue to help us in our daily lives. Thank you. Thank you. In Jesus' mighty name we pray.
Amen.