Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in the sycamore tree, for the Savior he wanted to see. And as the Savior came walking by, He looked up in the tree. And he said, Zacchaeus, you come down from there, for I’m going to your house today. For I’m going to your house today.

Zacchaeus was a big man

There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There

was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. New King James Version 1 Samuel 9: 1 -2

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. ” New King James Version 1 Samuel 16: 7

“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. ” New King James Version John 7: 24

Zacchaeus was a big man How do you think God saw Zacchaeus

It Takes A Big Man To Reach Upward

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short

stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. New King James Version Luke 19: 1 -4

It takes a big man to climb upward • How humbling it must have been • We all have an upward call from God – Philippians 3: 13 -15

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ

Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. New King James Version Philippians 3: 13 -15

It takes a big man to climb upward • How humbling it must have been • We all have an upward call from God – Philippians 3: 13 -15 • We have an upward call to heaven – Hebrews 3: 1

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, New King James Version Hebrews 3: 1

It takes a big man to climb upward • How humbling it must have been • We all have an upward call from God – Philippians 3: 13 -15 • We have an upward call to heaven – Hebrews 3: 1 • We have an upward call to be like Jesus – Romans 8: 28 -29

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. New King James Version Romans 8: 28 -29

It takes a big man to climb upward • How humbling it must have been • We all have an upward call from God – Philippians 3: 13 -15 • We have an upward call to heaven – Hebrews 3: 1 • We have an upward call to be like Jesus – Romans 8: 28 -29 • We have an upward call to be like God – 1 Peter 1: 15

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, New King James Version 1 Peter 1: 15

“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. New King James Version Matthew 23: 11 -12

It Takes A Big Man To Reach Upward It Takes A Big Man To Recognize His Need For Jesus

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house. So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it,

they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner. ” New King James Version Luke 19: 5 -7

It takes a big man to recognize his need for Jesus • He needed Jesus because he was a sinner • Pharisees did not recognize their need – John 9: 39 -41

And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we

blind also? Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see. ’ Therefore your sin remains. New King James Version John 9: 39 -41

It takes a big man to recognize his need for Jesus • He needed Jesus because he was a sinner • Pharisees did not recognize their need – John 9: 39 -41 • The rich tend to trust in their riches – 1 Timothy 6: 17 -19

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. New King James Version 1 Timothy 6: 17 -19

It takes a big man to recognize his need for Jesus • He needed Jesus because he was a sinner • Pharisees did not recognize their need – John 9: 39 -41 • The rich tend to trust in their riches – 1 Timothy 6: 17 -19 • We must trust in God not self – Proverbs 3: 5 -8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. New King James Version Proverbs 3: 5 -8

It takes a big man to recognize his need for Jesus • He needed Jesus because he was a sinner • Pharisees did not recognize their need – John 9: 39 -41 • The rich tend to trust in their riches – 1 Timothy 6: 17 -19 • We must trust in God not self – Proverbs 3: 5 -8 • Jesus is the only source of eternal life – John 6: 67 -69

Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away? But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. New King James Version John 6: 67 -69

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. ” New King James Version Acts 4: 12

It Takes A Big Man To Reach Upward It Takes A Big Man To Recognize His Need For Jesus It Takes A Big Man To Restore Ill Gotten Gains

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. ” New King James Version Luke 19: 8

It takes a big man to restore ill gotten gains • Restore anything he didn’t get honestly • Old Testament demanded restitution – Exodus 22: 1 -7

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. “If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. “If the sun

has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft “If theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore

double. “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. “If fire breaks out and

catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. “If a man delivers to his neighbor money

or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. New King James Version Exodus 22: 1 -7

It takes a big man to restore ill gotten gains • Restore anything he didn’t get honestly • Old Testament demanded restitution – Exodus 22: 1 -7 • New Testament also – Luke 3: 7 -13

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. ’ For I say to you that

God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So the people asked him, saying,

“What shall we do then? He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise. Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what

shall we do? And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you. New King James Version Luke 3: 7 -13

It Takes A Big Man To Reach Upward It Takes A Big Man To Recognize His Need For Jesus It Takes A Big Man To Restore Ill Gotten Gains It Takes A Big Man To Repent Of Sin

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. New King James Version Luke 19: 9 -10

It takes a big man to repent of sin • He recognized and repented of his sin • Jesus statement shows he repented • Repentance is not easy – Hebrews 12: 14 -17

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there

be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. New King James Version Hebrews 12: 14 -17

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for

yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to

those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to

everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. New King James Version Romans 2: 4 -10

Be a big enough person ØNot to judge by appearance ØTo reach upward ØTo recognize your need for Jesus ØTo restore ill gotten gains ØTo repent of your sins