Would you turn back to Luke chapter
19? While you're turning there, tonight
I'm going to speak from Romans chapter 12, verse 11, where Paul
said, Be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving
the Lord. And I want to try to speak on
the subject being fervent. Would you read verse 10 of Luke
chapter 19 with me? For the son of man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost. I've entitled this message, The
Intention of Christ. The Intention of Christ. The Intention of Christ is utterly
unique. You and I intend to do many things,
don't we? But it's quite possible that
none of the things that we intend to do get done. But that's not
so of Christ. All he intends to do, he does. I love thinking about that. If you want to know what Christ
has actually done, find out what he intends to do. Because whatever
it is he intends to do, he does. The Son of Man has come to seek
and to save that which was lost. Now look back in Luke chapter
10 or not Luke chapter 19 verse 1. And Jesus entered and passed
through Jericho. And he had a reason for passing
through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named
Zacchaeus. Interestingly, that name means
pure. And he was pure. He was purely
evil. There wasn't anything else to
him. The scripture says he was the chief among the publicans,
and he was a wealthy man, a rich man. Now a publican, you know,
was employed by the Roman government to get taxes from those under
Roman rule. In Jerusalem, he would get taxes
from all the Jews, and he would overcharge them, and he had men
employed by him, thugs, to make sure he got what he wanted. These
publicans didn't just up and get their money. They had to
have some help because everybody knew what they were doing was
wrong, and they had thugs employed in order to make sure they got
their money, and this man was the chief among the publicans.
And like I said, publicans and sinners, publicans were worse.
This was a despised and hated man. He was a powerful man. He was short, we know, but he
was still a very powerful, hated, despised man, the chief among
the publicans, and everybody just boiled whenever they saw
him. They would see his wealth and
his riches. Can you imagine how angry you
would be if someone unjustly took money from you and enriched
themselves and nothing you could do about it? Now you can imagine
just how despised this man was. He was the most unpopular man
in Jericho. Verse three, and he sought to
see Jesus who he was. Curiosity, I imagine. He probably heard a lot about
the Lord Jesus Christ and about his miracles and the things he
could do, and he'd like any... Wouldn't you like to see a miracle?
Of course you would. Wouldn't you like to see him
perform some kind of glorious act? Of course you would. He
was stirred on by his curiosity. He wanted to see Jesus who he
was. Now, I love that. Salvation begins in our experience
when we really want to know who Jesus Christ really is. That's
when the Lord is working on someone. Now it might have started out
with idle curiosity, who knows, but he sought to see Jesus who
he was, verse three, go on reading, and could not for the press because
he was little of stature. Now, when I think of Zacchaeus,
I think of somebody about like Danny DeVito. You know what he
looks like. He's real short. And there's
no way he could see over the press. He couldn't see over the
people. He ran around trying to move this way, that way. He
couldn't see who Jesus was. And he wanted to. So he ran ahead. Now, whenever somebody really
wants to know who the Lord Jesus Christ really is, the first thing
they find out is that they can't. He could not. you find out you're
too little of stature. He's way above and beyond you. And you just cannot, you lack
the ability to see who he is. So what did he do? In verse four,
he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him,
for he was to pass that way. Now, I love thinking about this.
This wealthy man runs and climbs up into a tree like a little
boy would so he could get a better look at what was going on. There
he is. He knew the Lord was going to
pass that way. And he's up in a tree looking down, waiting
for the Lord to pass so he could get a glimpse of it. Verse five. And when Jesus came
to the place, He looked up and saw him and
said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today
I must abide at thy house. I like the way the Lord says
this. I don't see an invitation here, do you? He said, Zacchaeus. He called him by name. You know,
the Lord calleth his own sheep by name, the scripture says.
He didn't invite himself. He gave Zacchaeus a command.
And can you imagine how shocked Zacchaeus must have been when
he heard his name called? I've never seen him before. How
has he known my name? He was dumbfounded. But the Lord
knows his sheep, doesn't he? Zacchaeus, make haste. Come down, for today I must abide
at thy house. Now, Zacchaeus was one that Christ
came to save. Zacchaeus was one of the elect. Zacchaeus was one that Christ
would die for. And the Lord went through Jericho
after this specific man. And it's my prayer that he's
after a specific man or woman today. Zacchaeus. Now this is what we call the
effectual call. Zacchaeus. It's a personal call. Zacchaeus. It's a hastening call. Zacchaeus, make haste. Now if
you can hold off, the Lord's not calling you. When the Lord
calls you, you'll respond and you'll respond immediately. Zacchaeus,
make haste and come down. It's always a call down, not
a call up. It's a call down, down from your
self-righteousness and your pride and your arrogance. Come down.
Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must. It's a necessary call. The only
reason he must do something is he must do his father's will.
Make haste, come down, for today I must abide. It's an abiding
call. It's a call that is always there. I must abide at thy house. I love the power of this call. And you know what proves that
it's the effectual call? Verse six, he made haste and
he came down and he received him joyfully. Now that's what
happens when Christ calls somebody. They make haste. They come down
and they receive him. joyfully. They hear the gospel
as gospel, as good news. He made haste. He came down and
he received him joyfully. Verse 7, And when they saw it, They all
murmured, saying that he was gone to be guessed with a man
that is a sinner. A man devoted to sin. A man preeminently sinful, especially
wicked, stained with certain vices and crimes. This was a
wicked man. How could this be right? Now
this is the same word. Peter used to describe himself
when he first found out who the Lord is. He said, Lord, depart
from me. I'm a sinful man. You don't want to have anything
to do with me because I am a pre-eminently sinful, wicked, stained man. There's nothing to me. Now that's
what they said about Zacchaeus. They said, what is the Lord doing? I'm sure everybody despised Zacchaeus. I can imagine when the Lord stopped
and looked up and said, Zacchaeus, everybody looked up with Him
and said, there's Zacchaeus. What's he doing there? That wicked
man. Honey, look, there he is. That's Zacchaeus. What's he doing
up in that tree? They all hated him. And they
murmured, he's going to be a guest with the worst man in town. The most evil, wicked, self-serving
man in town. He's going to be a guest with
a man that is a sinner. Now thank God this accusation
they made of our Lord is true. He is the friend of publicans
and sinners. Aren't you thankful? He is the
friend of sinners. Then drew near all the publicans
and sinners for to hear him. They wanted to hear what he had
to say. Let me quote a scripture that
I quote real often. See how it sounds to you. This
is a faithful saying. And it's worthy of all acceptation. Everybody in this room ought
to jump for joy at this sound that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners. And I'm so thankful for the absence
of an adjective there. It doesn't say to save believing
sinners or repentant sinners or elect sinners or regenerate
sinners or no description except for this, sinners. Would that be you? If it is, my dear friend, he
came to save you. That was his purpose in coming.
He came to save every sinner that sees themselves to be a
sinner. You know, not many people do, but he came to save sinners. Now verse eight. And Zacchaeus stood. He'd come down from that tree.
And he stood and said unto the Lord, behold, Lord. Now remember, he wanted to see
who Jesus was, didn't he? He found out he's the Lord. Zacchaeus now knows this. Jesus Christ is the Lord. Now, what does that mean? The
owner? The one who has the power to
decide, the one who has control, that's what the Lord is, the
one who is in charge. Now, that's who the Lord Jesus
Christ is. He's the one who is in absolute
control of everything, everybody, and every event. And right now,
you are in His hand. And He can do with me or you
whatever He's pleased to do. You see, He's the Lord. He's
the Lord of creation. He, as an act of His will, spake
the universe into existence. He's the Lord of Providence,
that means He controls everything that takes place. There's one
reason why you're here this morning. It's because He purposed it.
Now did He know you would be here? Of course He did, He purposed
it. And He's in control of everything. Most especially, He's the Lord
of salvation. That means if you're saved, it's
up to Him. It's not up to you, it's up to Him. You're in His
hands. Have you ever learned what the
leper did? Lord, if You will, Lord, if you
will, you can make me clean. I can't make myself clean. I
can't make you do it. It's all in your sovereign hands. He found out that he is the Lord. And look what he says in verse
eight. And Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord,
the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I've taken anything
from any man by false accusation, I restore him Fourfold. Now, the Lord didn't tell him
to do any of this, did he? The Lord didn't say you need
to give half your goods to the poor and restore every body you
ripped off. He didn't say anything like that.
But Zacchaeus does something that
he'd never done before because the Lord had done something for
him. And this came out of his heart. This is what he wanted
to do. He did love men's money. Now
he loved men because God had done something for him. And he
stood and says, Lord, behold, the half of my goods I give.
He's not saying this so other men would hear and try to pump
up himself. He's speaking to the Lord. The
Lord Jesus Christ is now his Lord. He says, Lord, behold,
the half of my goods I give to the poor. Anything I've taken,
if I've ripped off anybody, I restored fourfold just the way the scripture
says to do it. Now look how the Lord responds to this. Verse
9. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this
house. Now why did he say that? What
comes in your mind when you think of the Lord saying this? I mean,
Zacchaeus goes from a Publican up in a tree, down to saying,
Lord, behold, the half of my goods I give to the poor. If
I've taken anything by false accusation, I restore it to fourfold.
You think, well, they're salvation. Is that what you think? Well,
if it is, you thought wrong. You thought wrong. Remember when
the Lord said, today, I must abide in thy house? Salvation,
me. That's what the Lord said. This
day, salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is salvation. This day is salvation come to
this house for as much as he also is a son
of Abraham. He's a real Jew. That's why I've come to save
him. He's a real Jew. He's a son of
Abraham. Now turn with me for a moment
to Romans chapter nine. Romans chapter 9. Who are the
children of Abraham? Verse 6. Not as though the word
of God have taken none effect, for they are not all Israel,
which are of Israel. Neither because they are the
seed of Abraham are they all children, but in Isaac shall
I seed be called. That is they, which are the children
of the flesh. These are not the children of
God, but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise
at this time will I come and Sarah shall have a son. And not
only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by
her father, Isaac for the children being not yet born. neither having
done any good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to
election, might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger, as it's
written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Now, who
are the children of Abraham? They're not physical Jews. Somebody
says, I was born in Israel. I'm a true Jew. No, you're not.
It's the children of the promise. the elect, not those who were
born Jews after the flesh, but those who were born Jews after
the spirit, those who have been given a new heart, those who
have been given faith in Christ. I love what Paul said in Philippians
chapter three, verse three, he says, we are the circumcision.
We are the true circumcision. We're the true Jews, which worship
God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
in the flesh. Are you a Jew? Do you worship
God for who He is, and you know the only way you can worship
Him is by the Spirit of God, and you rejoice only in Christ
Jesus? Not in yourself, not in your
works, and you have absolutely no confidence in the flesh. My
flesh, your flesh, or anybody else's flesh. Flesh is flesh.
Now that's the true Jew, the one who's truly been born of
God. And the Lord says regarding Zacchaeus, this day salvation's
come to this house. I've come into this house because
he's a true son of Abraham. He's a true Jew. Verse 10 of
our text back in Luke chapter 19, four. Now remember, the title of this
message is The Intention of Christ. For the Son of Man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost. Now here we have the intention
of Christ. He tells us what he intended
to do. The Son of Man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost. Now, I love the way the Lord
refers to himself as the Son of Man. Do you know he calls
himself by that title more than any other title? That has something
to do with his love for man. The Son of Man. What a name for
the Son of God. The Son of Man. The Son of Man
is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Now, he announces his intention
in coming. And I want you to remember, whatever
he intends to do, he does. Now, you and I may have many
intentions. You may have intentions for this afternoon. Might not happen. I mean, I know
what I'm intending to do this afternoon. I'm intending to watch
a silly football game. It's not silly to me. It's important
to me. But I intend to do, but that
might not happen. That might not happen. There's
all kinds of things that could stop that. But anything the Lord
intends to do, He always does. Always. You see, He doesn't lack
the ability to make sure whatever He wills comes to pass, because
He's God. And whatever He intends to do,
He does. And He said, the Son of Man,
here's my intention, He came to seek and to save that which
was lost. Now, most people believe He intended
to save everybody. That was His intention. He came
to save everybody. Now, do you get that from the
scriptures? Can you find that in the scriptures where his intention
was to come and save every son and daughter of Adam? Well, he
said in John chapter 17, verse nine, I pray for them. I pray
not for the world, but for them, which thou hast given me. for they are thine. He said to that Syro-Phoenician
woman, I'm not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Now he did not intend to save
everybody. Never was his intention. He said, I lay down my life for
the sheep. And you must admit, that if he
intended on saving everyone and didn't, to some degree, he failed. Somebody says, well, I don't
mean that. Well, what do you mean then? What do you mean?
If he intended to save somebody and that person didn't save,
he failed. He didn't get the job done. He
didn't do what he intended to do. But his intention was to
seek and to save that which was lost. He came to seek. He came to save
that which was lost. Lost. You know, all men were
lost in Adam. All men. All men are lost by their own
practice, by their own sinful conduct and the sins they commit. But not all men are lost. Have
you ever been lost? Lost. You can't find God. You can't
find your way back to God. You've got no way to come. You're
sinful. You're evil. You can't get to
Him. You don't know where you're at.
You don't know how you could be saved. You don't believe you
can be saved. You're lost. You're lost. Lost. Well, if you're lost, if you
cannot save yourself, if you can't get to God and you don't
know how to get to God, you're lost. If you are lost, Christ
came to seek and to save you. He did. I guarantee it. No, God's Word, Garrison teased
it. No, Christ says He came to seek
and to save that which was lost. Now, like I said, a lost man
sees no way for him to be saved. He can't be saved by his works.
He sees the myth of free will. He has absolutely nothing to
bring to the table. He's lost. He's a lost sinner. He can't find his way back. That's
the person Christ came to save. Did he do it? Matthew 1.21 says, Thou shalt
call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now here's what a lost man needs.
He knows it. A lost man knows he needs to
be saved from his sins. My sin is my problem. Not your
sin, my sin. I need to be saved from my sins. I can't save myself from my sins.
I'm lost. I'm helpless. Here I am. Well,
Christ came to save His people from their sins, and that's exactly
what He did on Calvary's tree. His intention was to save His
people from their sins, and that's what He did when He said, It
is finished. Every single one of His people
were saved from their sins. Now, are you lost? You know what? When I'm thinking
of it, when I read these words, the son of man came to seek and
save that which was lost, I want to be lost. How about you? I want to be a lost person. Because
if I'm a lost person, that means Christ's going to find me. He
came to seek and to save that which was lost. I think of David's
words when he ended Psalm 119, I've gone astray like a lost
sheep. Seek thy servant. Seek me and
find me. Now, I Googled. What's it mean to be lost? What
do you do when you're lost? If you're lost in the forest,
in the woods, and There's five things that you do when you're
lost. So the most important thing is
realize you're lost. Realize you're lost. And the
second thing you need to do is try to get attention. Help! I'm lost! Save me! And this is very interesting. If you're lost in the woods,
The only direction you should move is downhill. Go down. Go down. Go down. Am I low enough? No. No. Go down some more. And find shelter. That's what you ought to be looking
for is shelter. Find shelter, and when you find
that shelter, don't move. Stay right there. Now, are you lost? Well, here's where you begin.
I'm lost. I'm lost and I can't find my
way out of this. I'm in a mess. I'm helpless.
I'm lost. Cry for mercy. God, be merciful
to me, the sinner. You know, that's something that
does get his attention. Anytime someone truly cries for
mercy, God hears. Now, when you cry for mercy,
merit's out of question. You know that's over with and
you know it's his to give or withhold. You don't come demanding
mercy, you come crying for mercy. And you always move down. The
way up in the kingdom of heaven is down. down and you're seeking
the shelter of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, that I may be found
in him so that when God sees me, all he sees is Jesus Christ. When the avenging angel was moving
through Egypt that night, you remember what God said to do? He said, you take the blood of
a perfect lamb with no blemish and you put it up over the door
of the house. And you get in the house. Now
that blood speaks of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now
there's shelter. And God said, when I see the blood. Not when I see your faith or
your repentance or your serious desire for mercy. Not when I
see your works. When I see the blood. What's the one thing God was
looking for? The blood. When I see the blood,
I will pass over you. Now, if I were you, I'm speaking
to myself, too. I'd get in that house and I'd
stay there. May the Lord be pleased to do
as he intends to do. We know he will. And I pray that
he saves some lost sinner. Lord, I've gone astray. like a lost sheep. Seek thy servant,
for I don't forget thy word. Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's name that you would make every one
of us lost so that we might be sought and
saved by you. Lord, drive us out of our false
refuges. Cause us to see our lost estate. Cause us to cry out for mercy.
Cause us to make haste like Zacchaeus and come down. and cause us to
find shelter in my son and give us the grace to stay there. I
bless this word for Christ's sake. In his name we pray. Amen.