Luke 18:15-17 (NLT) 15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. 16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.
Luke 19:1-10 (NIV) 1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" 8 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." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
What we know about Zacchaeus:
1- A chief tax collector(A despised sinner)
2- He was rich
3- He was vertically challenged
A Childlike heart…
The Childlikeness of Zacchaeus- He Ran & He climbed a tree.
1. Curiosity
“Remaining curious about God is something we must maintain lest we become bored spiritually.”
Embrace mystery as an invitation.
Things that squelch curiosity:
1- Making excuses
2-Being a know it all
3- Looking elsewhere
2. Gladness.
“So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”
Joy reciprocates: joy carries joy, the joy of Jesus.
Luke 12:32 (NLT) It gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
Romans 14:17 (NIV) The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
“The lasting impact of our encounters will determined by how much of the joy of the Lord is present to carry them forward.”
He gladly gave up everything…..
Holiness that isn't happy isn't holiness.
Cultivating childlikeness
1. Position Yourself
2. Respond to the invitation
“JESUS IS INVITING HIMSELF INTO OUT LIFE.”
Psalm 36:7-8 (NLT) 7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights.
3- Posture Yourself
Embrace clean
Hebrews 8:6-13(NLT) Now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But when God found fault with the people, he said:(Jeremiah 31:31-34) “The day is coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the LORD. But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.
The Old Covenant:
1. A Specific People: From God, through Moses & to the Jewish People. The New Covenant is available to all people.
2. A Specific Purpose: To set Israel apart from others nations…
The law was glorious(2 Corinthians 3). Yet it's purpose was fulfilled.
Now It has become the Schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:24)
3. A Specific Period of time: Till God made a new covenant.
http://www.str.org/articles/how-does-the-old-testament-law-apply-to-christians-today#.WVj0sMbMzMU
4 TERMS OF THE NEW COVENANT
1. PERFECT
Hebrews 8:7-8(NLT) For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people…
“The old covenant was problematic because it was based upon human performance.”
“God requires righteousness…the law demanded righteousness Jesus fulfilled righteousness.”
Romans 8:4 (NLT) He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us….
The old covenant was simply instructional the New covenant is invitational.
“You can only become if you belong.”
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
2. PERSONAL
Hebrews 8:10 I will be their God, and they will be my people.
The Old Covenant is rooted in instruction the New Covenant is rooted in identity.
Song of Solomon 2:16 “I am my my beloveds and he is mine”
It’s personal.
John 1:17 (NIV) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
3. PROMISE FILLED
Hebrews 8:6 (NLT) The covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
Yahweh: The "covenant" name of God.
“When we we were sinful, sham full and corrupt HE IS STILL….
1. YHWH-Tsidkenu “the Lord our righteousness”; Jer. 23:6; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6.1
“When we are in need He is…”
2. YHWH-Jireh“the Lord provides”; Gen. 22:14; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6.
“When we feel overwhelmed and overcome he is…..”
3. YHWH-Nissi “the Lord my banner”; “Victory” Ex. 17:15; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6.
“When we are sick or diseased he is…”
4. YHWH-Rapha “the Lord who heals”; Ex. 15:26; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6.
When we are shaken and our world is crumbling around us he is…
5. YHWH-Shalom “the Lord is peace”; Judg. 6:24; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6
When we feel lonely and afraid and lack courage…
6. YHWH-Shammah “the Lord is there”;; Ezek. 48:35; Mal. 3:18; Ex. 34:6
4. PAID FOR
Hebrews 7:22 (NIV) Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant
Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.