All right, let's take our Bibles
and turn back to the book of Luke, chapter 19. Luke chapter
19. Luke chapter 19 verse 10 says this, for the Son of Man, Oh, what a precious title that
our Lord would humble himself, make himself of no reputation
as the servant of Jehovah, our surety. For the Son of Man is
come to seek and to save that which was lost. Now that declaration of our Lord
comes at the end of an event that's recorded in this 19th
chapter that took place in a city called Jericho. And it deals with the conversion
of a despised sinner. one despised by the Jews because of his profession. His
name was Zacchaeus. And it says in verse 1 of chapter
19 of Luke, And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now here we're told that the
Lord was passing through. He wasn't passing through without
reason. is doing exactly that which he
has agreed to according to God's covenant of free grace, everlastingly
purposing to save his elect and he's passing through and the
scripture says, and behold there was a man named Zacchaeus which
was the chief among the publicans. Listen to this, and he was rich. Now, I want you to notice the
emphasis that the Spirit of God puts upon this particular sinner.
It doesn't say that there was a man named Zacchaeus. It doesn't
say that. It says, there was a man named Zacchaeus,
a notorious man. He was the chief among the publicans. And you know what a publican
was. These were guys that worked for the Roman government. They
were Jews. They were tax collectors, but
they did more than just collect taxes. They kind of added a little
bit for themselves, you know. Kind of padded the taxes. Kind of got a little extra something
for themselves. And this man was chief. He was the chief. He was the
top. And he was rich. He was rich. He was made rich at the expense
of others. underhanded cheating ways. And
this man had, he was a publican, he was an official. He was an
official, had a job working for the government, working for the
Roman government. And really before men, especially
before God, he didn't have anything going for him. 1 Corinthians 1.26 says, not many
mighty, not many noble are called. I remember, I've told you this
before, I remember Brother Henry saying one time, he said, you
know there's not a whole lot of, you find not a lot, there's
some, but not a lot of real, real highly influential people. The way Henry said it was this,
he said there's not a lot of real, I mean, influential people
in government. I'm talking about big government
officials. Not a whole lot of really gorgeous
women or real, real handsome, handsome men. He said just not
many mighty, not many noble. That's the way he said it. James
2.5 says God has chosen the poor of this world. rich in faith. And then the Lord said, it's
easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich
man to enter into the kingdom of God. Well, you know, that
gets real restrictive, doesn't it? But how amazing that the Spirit
of God would bring to our attention this despised self-seeking, money-hungry,
God-hating government employee. This is exactly the kind of sinner
that the Lord came for. For the Son of Man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost. Now that's a... That's a horrible word. Lost. Lost. You know, if men believed,
if they believe that they're only as lost as their free will
will allow them to go, I can remember thinking, I hate to
have to admit this but I will, I remember thinking, I grew up,
I grew up, I've told you this, on false religion. And just,
I absolutely am honest. I remember thinking, what I'm
going to do, I'm going to do what I want to do all my life.
And then just before I die, I'm going to give my heart to Jesus. I'll have the best of both worlds.
Now you think, you say Marvin that's horrible. I'll admit it. I'll admit it. That was my mindset
that my salvation is in my hand. I can do what I want to, when
I want to, how I want to. And when I decide to settle this
thing up and make my peace with God, you've heard people, you
need to make your peace with God. Well, there's only one that
can make peace with God, and it ain't me. I'm gonna just do
this. This man was lost. How lost is a sinner? How lost? The Lord said the Son
of Man came to seek and save that which was lost. I'll tell
you how lost men are. They're lost by the imputation
of Adam's sin. Number one. For by one man's
disobedience, many were made sinners. But how lost, how lost
is a sinner found in Adam's transgression? How lost is he? Let me tell you
how lost he is. He's dead. He's dead. Men that are born in this world,
born in Adam, we all are, we're all born in Adam, we all come
forth from our mother's womb. We're sinners by Adam's transgression,
the imputation of that. We're lost and sinners by practice. Romans 3.23, all have sinned. It comes short of the glory of
God. The soul of the sinneth is what? Going to die. Now when you're dead spiritually,
and you're but for the grace of God, you're going to die eternally.
Now this is getting lost now. We're lost in spiritual ignorance. How lost is that? Well, let me
tell you something. You ever get lost in the woods? You're not lost in total understanding
and light of where you are. I can tell you, you know what
you're lost in? You're lost in ignorance. You don't know where
you are. Ephesians 4, 17, 18 says, This
I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth
walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind,
having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life
of God through the ignorance that is in them. because of the
blindness of their heart. How lost are we? Adam's transgression,
dead trespasses and sins. Lost in ignorance. I'll tell
you how lost we are. Continue it. We're lost in arrogant
pride. Lost. The Pharisee stood and
prayed thus with himself, God... Every time I read that, I think,
now you think about what he's saying. He's talking to himself. All free will, that they're talking. Again, if I'm going to make my
peace with God just before, where am I putting my confidence? My
decision. My life. The Pharisee stood and
thus prayed with himself, God I thank thee that I'm not as
other men are extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this public
One like Zacchaeus. I'm glad I'm not like him. And if that sinner, lost, is
not rescued by the grace and power of Almighty God, I tell
you how lost he's going to be. He's going to be cast into the
bottomless pit. Cast into the bottomless pit. You say, how long did it take
to get to the bottomless pit? I don't know. But obviously there's
no bottom to it. The bottomless pit. Behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus.
And he was chief among the publicans. And he was rich. And he was lost. He was lost. And Zacchaeus was said to possess
a desire to see Jesus. That's what the third verse says.
And he sought to see Jesus, who he was. Well, obviously he didn't
know who he was, but he sought to see him who he was. He could
not for the press because he was little of stature. Oh, what a hope. I think to myself, when I read
that passage of scripture again, read this passage many times,
you have too. And when I read it, I thought, he sought to see
Jesus. You know what happened? Do you
want to know what I think when somebody comes in here and I
don't know who they are? Never seen them before. They
come in, they just sit down. And I'll introduce myself to
them. You know, Kevin, the first thing I think, this first thing
I think, oh, what if this is one of God's
elect? What if the Lord is providentially brought here? What if? What if?
You know, I know often they don't stay, I know that. But it doesn't
change the fact when they come, I think to myself, what if? But here was a man of prevenient
grace, grace before grace. He sought to see Jesus, who he
was, but he couldn't because he was little of stature. But again, by the grace of God,
his curiosity was such that he wanted to see. Maybe he heard
this man who some say is a deceiver. That's what some say. Some say
he's a good man. Some say that he said that he
was the Messiah, the Son of God. That's what he'd heard. And he's
coming this way. So Zacchaeus, he sought to see
Him, who he was. He couldn't for the press, because
of people. He was little in stature. Scripture
says, verse 4, And he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore
tree to see Him, for he was to pass that way. He was prompted
to think in his mind, this is the best place for me to position
myself. This is a prime spot right here.
I get up here. I'm not going to be hindered
by people that's taller than I am. And he's going to get up
in that tree. And it, I don't doubt one second,
it never entered his mind. that this was going to be the
place where before the foundation of the world, Almighty God had
ordained. This is where you're going to
be. Just like that woman at the well, Sychar. At noon, the Lord
must needs go through Samaria. And it never entered his mind,
this is the place where God's going to meet me. Never thought
about it. Here again, how many times? You
know, somebody come, they sit, you're praying for them. Lord,
if it please you, have mercy. Lord, please have mercy. Oh, but how graciously, how powerfully
the Lord places His vessels of mercy exactly where they must
be, under the sound of the gospel, putting them in that place where
they must hear the truth. They must hear the gospel, the
power of God and salvation. And it never enters their mind
that God ordered their step. They think all the while, this
was my idea. I thought this. That's what I
thought. I decided. Verse 5 says, and when Jesus
came to this place, he looked up and saw him and said unto
him, Zacchaeus, now listen to this, 14 words, 14 words, 14
words spoken by our Lord to this man right here. And with those
14 words, Spirit of God broke this man. Zacchaeus, my sheep, hear my voice. I call
them by name. You think this man ever met the
Lord? Nope. Want to know who he was? The
Lord knew him. Loved him. Zacchaeus, make haste
and come down. For today I must abide at thy
house." Here was that place where mercy met this sinner of God's
choosing. He looked up and he saw Him.
saw the one for whom He had eternally stood as surety. This was one
given Him by the Father before the foundation of the world. Can you imagine when Zacchaeus
heard Him call His name? Zacchaeus! Come down. Make haste. And the scripture says in verse
6, and he made haste, and came down and received Him joyfully. The Lord of glory had placed
His hand by the hole of the door, like in Song of Solomon 5. You
remember how the Lord had come and He, well just turn there,
you know this. How the Lord was going to call
His own and she started giving Him excuses Song, Solomon, chapter five. I sleep, verse two, but my heart
waketh. It's the voice of my beloved
that knocketh, saying, open to me, my sister, my love, my dove,
my undefiled, for my head is filled with dew and my locks
with the drops of the night. I put off my coat. Here's the
excuses. Boy, do we not have them. How
shall I put it on? I've washed my feet. How shall
I defile them? My beloved put in his hand by
the hold of the door. I read on that and said, that
was the lock. He just reached in there and unlocked it. Unlocked
her heart. She knew it. She knew it. Oh,
how prone we are to wander. How prone we are to forget. How
prone we are for excuses, excuses, excuses. He just put his hand
in there. And she said, it's my beloved.
But he withdrew himself. He knows how to get her attention.
Oh, but the Lord knows how to get the attention of this sinner
right here too. Back in Luke chapter 19. He came
down, the scripture says, and he made haste. and received him
joyfully. Received him in his heart because
the Lord gave him a new heart. When he received him joyfully,
he received him willingly, happily, joyfully. Received him in his
heart and going to receive him joyfully in his home because
the Lord says today, I must abide with you. I'm coming to your
house. But as soon as that happened,
as soon as Zacchaeus made haste and came down and received them,
verse 7, and when they saw it, who? Well, they that were around
him, those that were in the press, those in the crowd, I'm sure
some publicans just like him. When they saw it, they all murmured
saying that he was gone to be the guest with a man that's a
sinner. Now, I doubt if the publican
said that. They didn't see themselves that way, but the other people
did. This man's going home with a sinner. You don't have any
idea who you're talking to. Don't be surprised when the world
and its false, work-centered, man-elevating religion hates
you and the God you know and love What happened to Zacchaeus
was nothing short of a miracle of God's grace, and they despised
him for it. Despised the Lord for it, and
despised his people for it. 1 Corinthians 2.14, the natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they
are foolishness unto him. Neither can they know them, but
because they are spiritually discerned. Only the Lord can
teach a sinner, a lost sinner of the truth. He gives him a
new heart. He gives him a new spirit, a
new mind, a new attitude, new ears, new mouth, new eyes. And they see him, they hear him,
they know him. Here was a rescued sinner, lost
sinner plucked as a bran out of the fire. And now he loves
the one he didn't even know. And without any regard for all
of the murmuring that was going on, the scripture says, and Zacchaeus
stood, verse 8, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half
of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have taken anything
from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Immediately,
this man had a new heart. Money wasn't his God anymore. Prestige wasn't his God anymore.
The Lord was his God. Behold, Lord! Called out of the
darkness of sin and unbelief, and unashamed now to be associated
and numbered with God, the true and living God, and His people.
You know the reputation that's had in all communities, where
the gospel of God's grace, free and sovereign grace, it's like
that's here, it's like that in Danville. Believe me, I'm telling
you, the church in Danville is not Not well beloved in the community
because of what they preach. No gospel preacher experiences
that. But here, this Zacchaeus was
set free and he was generous and liberal with his money. And if I've cheated anybody,
I want to make it right. I want to get it right. God's
people are not driven. by fear, threat of the law. He didn't do what he did for
a temporal reward. You know how some people are. They say, I'll give, Lord give
me back. And if it's given, the Lord's promised that out of right
spirit. He didn't do that. He just gave. Where a new heart is found, I
was going over the fruit of God's spirit. There shall be love.
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness. When I saw that goodness,
benevolence. God's people, they're not stingy
people. They're not. I've told people
all over this world. Katie Baptist Church is one of
the most giving churches I've ever seen in my life. Just free. Faith, meekness, temperance against
such, there is no law. That is, there is no law of condemnation
because that fruit is wrought by the Spirit of God in those
who are now indwelt by the Spirit of God. And the Lord was then
pleased after He had called this sinner out of darkness. He was
pleased to give the reason for all that was beheld, not only
by Zacchaeus, but all those around him. He said in verse 9 and 10,
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this
house. Salvation himself. Remember that
Simeon holding the little infant Christ. He said, Lord, now receive thy
servant unto thyself. Peace, mine eyes have seen your
salvation. This day, I say Christ has come. This day Christ has come to this
house, or so much as he also is a son of Abraham. One that who has received like
precious faith like Abraham. There was a lot of sons of Abraham
by natural lineage, but that's not what the Lord is talking
about. One that has been shown mercy, compassion, grace, and
believed God. For the Son of Man has come to
seek and to save that which was lost. Here was one of God's elect. He was coming through a city
named Jericho. Doesn't say anything about anybody.
He's passing through Jericho. Big city. Big city. There was
war. It was one man. One man. It's
been spoken of today. It was found to be, by the grace
of God, made to be holy and without blame before God in the person
of Christ. In love. One chosen unto salvation,
the scripture says in 2 Thessalonians 2.13, through sanctification
of the Spirit, being made holy, set apart by God's Spirit. But
that word sanctification means holy, holy, made holy in Christ. Sin dealt with in the person
of the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ being made sin for His people. That they might be made the righteousness
of God in Him. God Almighty saves Sinners. Lost sinners. Notorious sinners. By His graces. Amen. I pray God
bless us to our hearts for the Lord's glory and our good. Amen.