Reference

Luke 19: 1-10
Changed Forever

Pastor Shannon Watterson continues sharing our impact in the world. Sharing three stories from the bible of peole whose lives were changed forever! Two guys that missed the mark and one guy who figured out how to change his life and will impact our life today.

First up is Absolom.

2 Samuel 18: 9-15

Who was Absalom? He was King David, the giant slayers, son!

He was handsome, popular, and loved by his father the King. He was known for his beautiful flowing hair.

2 Samuel 14: 25-26

The problem with Absalom was his vanity and pride. He thought he would be a better king than his father and started to get people on his side.

We must be very careful in life when we think about making an impact and leaving a legacy. God does not reward vanity and pride. God rewards humility.

James 4: 6

As the kings son, Absalom had privileges that others did not, but he wasted those by looking to exalt himself even more.

We have been given the privilege of being in the family of God. Are we working in humility to serve our Savior or working to build for ourselves a small kingdom?

Romans 14: 12

Absalom could have been King some day. He was a child of the King and probably was the most likely to inherit his fathers crown. He wasted his potential by sowing discord that ended up costing him his life.

Jesus told us how to make an impact in HIS kingdom which IS our inheritance:

Matthew 6: 19-12

It’s about our heart! Pride and Vanity can creep in if we don’t focus our motivation on eternal things. In our church, we must remain HUMBLE. It’s not about a single person who’s leading, preaching, teaching, or serving - It’s about Jesus!

Be careful with your heart. Guard it from pride and vanity. We will reap what we sow.

Next up is Judas.

Here’s our next warning today. We can KNOW all about the truth and want to make an impact in the world and yet we can still reject Jesus. Doing GOOD is not enough. We can work so hard to make a difference in the world that we can forget the ONE who made the difference in us!

Matthew 27: 3-5

Judas was there when Jesus preached the good news of the gospel, he was there when Jesus healed the sick and raised Lazarus from the grave, He was there when Jesus walked on water. But, he still missed the mark and missed the truth of what Jesus was saying.

He thought that his plan was better. Personally, I believe that Judas thought he was doing the right thing. I think he thought that if he put pressure on Jesus by having him arrested that Jesus would rise up and physically conquer the Roman army, remove the religious leaders and become the next great King of Israel. BUT that was his plan. Not God’s plan.

We must be careful in our planning that it aligns with God’s strength and not our own.

Jesus’ words had been preached around Judas for three years, what did he hear?

John 3:16

John 6: 47

John 5: 24

Luke 9: 22-24

Jesus came as God in the flesh to save ALL of humanity. Not just an earthly kingdom. He gave his life as a sacrifice to save us all.

Judas didn’t like that plan. And by doing so, he rejected Jesus and salvation.

Here’s a truth you need to hear. There is no other way to be saved, reject hell, and have victory in this life and the next other than by submitting to the will of God for your life.

You must decide if Jesus was the Son of God. You must decide if Jesus is a Savior or just a man. You must decide if serving Him is worth losing your life.

Can you say this today?

Galatians 2: 20

Living for Jesus is dying to our own plans and ambition. Have you done that today?

So, let’s move on to our last guy today. You’ll like this guy more than Absalom and Judas because he made the right choice.

Remember we HAVE a choice. We can choose pride, vanity, our own plans, or we can receive Christ and live our life surrendered to His will which makes us servants of all.

Our last story is of Zacchaeus.

Luke 19: 1-10

So, Zacchaeus was hanging from a tree to see Jesus! He had heard about Jesus because at this point Jesus was famous because he was healing everyone and teaching about God in such a new way. Jesus was fulfilling all the prophecies and Zacchaeus just wanted to catch a glimpse of him.

I think the Holy Spirit gives each person a desire to learn more, but it’s up to the person to want to know more about Jesus. I am convinced that it’s up to us to come to Jesus in faith, confess our sinfulness, and start down the path of our understanding. But it always starts with an uneasy step out into the water of Faith.
How does this work? Well, today, you’ve heard the truth from the Word of God. The Spirit of God could have spoken to you about your pride, vanity, or trying to live life according to your plans instead of surrendering to Jesus.

This is how Jesus put it

John 6: 44

You see, you thought you came here today by your own choice, but I’m telling you that you are here today by the GRACE of God. He allowed it, and I believe He wanted you here to hear this message. He is calling you closer.

Jesus calls and we have a choice to respond in faith. This is how ALL sinners are saved. Zacchaeus was a sinner. He cheated people to make a living. You might say you’ve never cheated people, but I would say there are other things that have made you fall short of the God’s holy standard.
Jesus called to Zacchaeus knowing all about what kind of man he was, and Zacchaeus was CHANGED FOREVER.
There is NOTHING better than knowing that all the mistakes we’ve ever made have been forgiven and are like water under a bridge.

Here’s what you get if you surrender your life to Jesus today:

2 Corinthians 5: 17

Ezekiel 36: 26

Matthew 12: 33

Zacchaeus was saved when he placed his faith in Jesus as the only way to have his sins forgiven. But then he decided right then and there that he was going to change they way he lived.

I know that there are three types of people in the room here today.
Those who already know all this stuff about Jesus and have said a prayer in a service before, but their life is not changed. They continue like Absalom trying to make an impact motivated by pride, or they are like Judas trying to accomplish his own plans. Both lead to death. Jesus requires more than a prayer. He requires FULL surrender to His way of living. You need to get right with Him today.
The second group is the group who have never said a prayer to accept Jesus and they might even be a little confused or even questioning what it’s all really about, but something inside you today has been touched and you want to step out in faith. I want you to trust in Jesus today.
The third group is like me. You’ve been saved, you know the truth, but you need to go deeper in your walk. You need to trust the Lord in new ways. You MUST press in and stop allowing the enemy to have voice in your walk.
I want to impact the world for Jesus. But we can NEVER do that until we are all right with Jesus.
Here’s my invitation to you today. I am going to ask you to take a step of faith by surrendering your life to Jesus again this morning. You can do that by coming to this altar or kneeling at your chair, or sitting if you can’t kneel. But I want you to physically respond to Jesus today.

Zacchaeus had to climb down the tree and so must we. Jesus is here, he is ready and willing to meet you as we pray. You can be changed forever.