Grace Changes Everything

Matthew 5:16 NIV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

God's grace changes everything!

 

Luke 19:1-10 NIV

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 

Luke 19:4 NIV

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

 

They put aside their pride, and they captured their wonder.

 

Matthew 18:3 NIV

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

What does it look like to change and become like little children?

1. Running, climbing, shouting, reaching, and digging after Jesus!
2. Being desperate for Jesus.
3. Being filled with wonder and awe at all your Father can do.

 

You can’t reach someone beyond your reach.

 

Luke 19:7 NIV

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

 

God's grace changes everything!

 

We have to deal with the fact that Jesus loves sinners.

 

Luke 19:10 NIV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 

Luke 19:5-6 NIV

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

 

God's grace changes everything!

 

How do we experience God's grace?

I. Get past the crowd.

 

Get past the perspective of the crowd and accept the invitation of Jesus.

 

Matthew 23:27-28 NIV

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

 

How do we experience God's grace?

I. Get past the crowd.

II. Put feet to your faith.

 

Luke 19:8-9 NIV

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

 

Change is a result of love.

 

How do we experience God's grace?

I. Get past the crowd.

II. Put feet to your faith.

III. Take Jesus home.

 

Luke 19:5 NIV

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

 

Jesus was declaring to Zacchaeus: I'm coming in!