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Part 1: Jesus Encounters the Powerful

JESUS’ ENCOUNTERS

PART 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Luke 19:1-10

HOW TO COME TO JESUS:

1. PUT ASIDE YOUR PRIDE AND DIGNITY.

“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.” Luke 19:1-4 (NIV)

“And He said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

2. DON’T LET THE CROWD KEEP YOU FROM JESUS. 

“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.” Luke 19:3 (NIV)

“All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’” Luke 19:7 (NIV)

3. YOU HAVE TO WANT A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.

“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.’ So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’” Luke 19:5-7 (ESV)

  • Experience the order of grace – first salvation and then life change.

“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.’” Luke 19:8 (NIV)

  • Jesus’ grace will always really change you.

“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 19:8-10 (NIV)

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

  • Have you opened the door of your life to Jesus?

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS: 

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This Week’s Reading Plan and Podcast:

  • YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan:
    “Lost - The Story of Zacchaeus” (5 Days)

  • Podcast: “Jesus Encounters the Powerful: Zacchaeus”  

Jesus' EncountersDr. John Gerlach