The difference zeal for Jesus can make

Introduction:  The grace to do what we are supposed to do

Luke 17:6-So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; wehave only done what was our duty.'”

-One of the things that we have to get rid of as professing Christians-is this pride to think that what we have done right should be praised by God or other people(or that we should see ourselves somehow elevated in comparison to others)

-Because Jesus sees everything that we have done “right” as a credit to His mercy and grace, in spite of what we have done wrong-in other words, Jesus is saying we don’t deserve anything for the grace/talent/insight, wisdom He’s given us, we are still unworthy because we didn’t earn it=Thankfulness to God’s graciousness

Psalm 127:1-Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

-So instead of boasting of what we are accomplishing or how things have “turned out” thus far-we should be humble in our hearts, and see that we are only doing what is required of us, as servants of God’s grace towards us

-this does not mean that we don’t encourage and praise the people in relationships and families who are doing what they are supposed to do-it just means that going to school, going to work, being faithful in relationships is something we are supposed to do, as Christians unto God!-(because if people stop praising you, why are you doing it? For people or Jesus)

-Why do I say this, because the zeal to do what is requiredof us, should come from Christ-the more we mature the less we need “outside stimulus” to push us to do what is required, that’s our duty from the heart to Jesus=humble&unworthy

Ex:  A older pastor zeal vs. his wife’s (his shared wisdom)-through what He has called me to lead, take care of, and overall do, the heart to do it comes from God, zeal to serve

-Because you cannot make people want to serve, help, sacrifice-their refusal to do so, is a lack of zeal, and heart to be united with you (or more importantly God)

The excuses, procrastination, or just “half-hearted” effort to do what is required is a heart issue towards God-This is the frustration with immaturity, b/c immaturity doesn’t think about unity, unless that unity is their agenda

 

Zeal will find a way, Excuses won’t

Luke 19:1-4-He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was,but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

-To be a tax collector, Jewish, and rich, Zacchaeus, was probably hated by the community; religious and common folks-this stigma alone, could have kept him from thinking he had any right to be involved with Jesus…

Ex:  yet this is how many people view the Church, thinking that because I am this person who is despised by the religious/society-I have no right to be seeking Jesus-(but that sentiment is anti-gospel, and anyone promoting that sentiment is anti-gospel)

–Ironically it is people like Zacchaeus who don’t care anymore about status and the riches of this world-and is seeking something more than what the world is offering, is who God is seeking after and wants for His purpose

(vs.3)-But notice that the desire in seeking Jesus, must have with it doing whatever it takes to see Him (here is the fight)-because if you say to me you desire to do something, yet make every excuse not to do it, you don’t desire it=lip service

-Zacchaeus had obstacles in his way that kept him from seeing Jesus-and it was obstacles he couldn’t change about himself, but he made provisions because he was zealous!,

Ex:  how hard do you work to accommodate limitations?-Zeal to finish or accomplish what God calls us to will cause you to pray, think hard, and be creative, because we plan, God finishes-Proverbs 16:9-The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

-Even when you lose zeal, go back to God& get it back, b/c some things you can’t afford to make excuses for-marriage, family, your career, your ministry…are all things I have had to pray for, that the Lord give me a heart to be zealous in

Romans 12:11-Do not beslothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,serve the Lord.

Challenge yourself, as a Christian, what obstacles are you allowing to keep you from seeking Jesus?-Because to say you have obstacles keeping you from doing what you shouldis an excuse.  (It is our lack of zeal for Jesus, that empowers our excuses to not do what we should)

 

Why Jesus wants us zealous

Luke 19:5-6-And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”  6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

-You have to know that it is Jesus who has called us to Himself, so anything godly that we desire-it is God wanting us to respond to what He put in us=grace

-Jesus looked up and called Zacchaeus by name in a tree-but it was Jesus who put the zeal in him, to do what it takes to be where He expected...(Zacchaeus had to overcome the obstacles-yet God gave him the grace not only to do it but want to do it!)-numerous biblical accounts of God initiating the grace for us to want to come to Him

Ex:  In essence when you are true worshiper your heart belongs to God-and He shapes it and molds it to do what He expects you to do=gracePsalm 37:4–Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

–Jesus not only notices Zacchaues, but fulfills the desire of his heart to come to his house-we know it is was his desire because he came out of the tree and received him joyfully!

-What are some things you desire to receive from God, or have God do?-But because it hasn’t, or seem to take awhile, you have lost your zeal to pray for it, or even do it?-(some things we lose zeal for because it hurts to think about-b/c we then get expectations and to have those unmet is to rehearse pain)

–But we must be careful that are expectations or hopes don’t become what we worship-because zeal for God is a zeal for Him in a relationship, that we trust He knows what is best for us, so I don’t lose zeal b/c I am not getting what I want–

Ex:  this is the definition of maturation in relationships, namely faith-that we love God and people for who they are, not what we can get from them, or how they make us look, or anything that makes us use peopleinstead of love them

This is the beauty of what we are seeing between Jesus and Zacchaeus in highlighting the essence of zeal in salvation-that it’s not a “stale mate” of my wants versus what God wants, Jesus was drawing Zacchaeus to do whatever it took to want what Jesus wanted=one heart united in worship

Conclusion:  The necessity of zeal to keep your faith

Luke 19:7-10-And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.  10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

-Zacchaeus is so zealous to see Jesus, that he is oblivious to the people who are grumbling (probably b/c he was a fraudulent Jewish tax collector wanting to see such a godly man)-but zeal for God shouldn’t be determined by people; who they think you are or think how God should respond to you

Ex:  think about when you are truly zealous for something, that desire will not allow you to be detoured away-for example something you like to eat, you’ll drive a ways to get it and ignore ridicule when you are zealous for it!

-That is why zeal for the Lord is so important, because without it-we don’t have the courage to do what is right, even if people around us are grumbling

–It is the lack of zeal that makes us followers instead of pioneers, trailblazers, and influencers for the gospel-but it’s not about trying to be those things, those things come from being zealous for Jesus

Revelation 3:15-16-”’I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!  16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth…19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

God rebukes us for our lack of zeal because we cannot lead and hold up a standard for His glory-when a desire for Him is absent…think about how crucial this is in the family, as a student, etc

Two practical things we can do to combat this lack of zeal:

1)  Be honest about what you are “loving” more than God; some of us want affirmation from our family; spouse, children, friends, etc. more than God, (and aren’t honest about it b/c we’re ashamed)-so anything that brings conflict you avoid at the expense of your heart and soul=repenting is the opportunity to recalibrate our hearts to Jesus, so we can be zealous

(vs 8)-Zeal not only caused Zacchaeus to overcome excuses to not see Jesus-but also made him humble himselfto do what was right by God; (he gave to the poor that he had no compassion for-and also restored money to people he defrauded=zealous and repented)

2)Like Zacchaeus fix the things that you can, take responsibility for your part in any conflict/strife-Matthew 5:9-“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

-When we as Christians easily fall in and out of strife with people, it is an indicator of our lack of zeal for Jesus!-because we are to strive for peace, and go to the lengths needed to make for peace, if we can help it, to not do so is pride-too prideful to get right with Jesus and be a peacemaker=lack of zeal

(vs 9)-Notice that when Zacchaeus out of zeal made things right, Jesus affirmed that salvation has come to his house-in other words the lifestyle of Zacchaeus displayed a person living who had genuine faith in Jesus (fruit=proves salvation)

–Challenge yourself with this passage of Zacchaeus regarding family:  Are you making excuses as to why you are not zealous for Jesus as a spouse, parent, child, etc.-Are you doing what is necessary to be zealous for Him?  Or are you casually allowing your light to go out?

Like a relationship that corrodes, it is the lack of zeal to do what is necessary-pride kills an open heart to unite, so God must renew the heart to want what He wants for us