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Thinking Clearly About A Change of Heart

Clear Thinking, part 8

Luke 19:1-10

I. Introduction – Since the beginning of Lent we’ve been on a journey to “clear thinking.”

A. We began by making the bold assertion that the Bible has something helpful to say about the struggles we face everyday.

1) And if we are to make good decisions in the midst of those challenges we have to change the way we thin.

2) Romans 12:2 tells us “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

B. We began by looking for clear thinking about our relationships, our problems, our stress, and our finances.

1) Last Sunday we talked about thinking clearly about spiritual growth.

2) Today is the final sermon in the series, part 8.

a) For those of you who are looking at your notes from last Sunday where it says “Part 5” and are getting confused. Here’s why:

b) Part 6 was “Thinking Clearly about Jesus.” {Holy Thursday service}

c) Part 7 was “Thinking Clearly about the Cross.” {Good Friday}

C. Today, on Easter Sunday, let’s get to the point of Easter quickly. Jesus wants to change your heart.

1) When everything you thought might bring you happiness leaves you unfulfilled.

2) When the goal given your life’s work to achieve is suddenly met and you have a bad taste in your mouth.

3) When you look in the mirror at the end of the day and you don’t like what you see, you don’t like what you’ve been; you don’t like what you’ve become.

4) You say to yourself, “How can my life possibly change?”

D. You need to stop, take a deep breath, and clear your thinking!

1) Let’s look at a story from the New Testament that will help us do just that.

2) It’s the story of Zaccheus and it’s found in Luke 19:1-10.

II. This story is very compelling, and made more so by a statement Jesus makes one chapter earlier. “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

A. It’s going to be hard for prosperous, self-reliant types to enter the Kingdom.

1) Entering the kingdom happens on God’s terms, not on ours.

2) We can’t make it happen, but we can stop it from happening. It’s hard to let God change our hearts.

B. I can think of at least three reasons why:

1) The first is pride.

a) The Bible says that if we’re to enter God’s Kingdom we have to have the humility and simplicity of a child.

b) A child knows that it is dependent on someone else and isn’t ashamed to call out for help in its time of need.

c) But as we grow older we often grow proud and it’s hard for us to admit that we need help with anything or from anyone.

2) The second is false security.

a) When things are going well, we have this false sense that all will continue to go well.

b) And if things change for the worse, we can find our way out of it.

c) “I’m covered,” we say. “I’m secure.” Why do I need God?

3) The third is a false sense of righteousness.

a) It goes like this, “If I’m so bad, how come everything is going so good?”

b) “What do you mean I need something fixed or changed in my heart?”

C. For all these reasons, changing our hearts is hard to do. But that is exactly what Jesus desires.

1) Let’s look at Jesus’ encounter with Zaccheus in a little more detail.

2) I think will discover that Zaccheus was a victim of all three of these examples of muddled thinking.

3) And then let’s ask ourselves, what clear thinking about heart change looks like.

III. I must be open to the initiative of God.

A. Be open to the notion that God might be pursuing you.

1) Zaccheus knew that Jesus was coming to town and went out looking for him to meet him.

2) Only to discover that Jesus found him; was looking for him all along.

a) Jesus stopped, looked up, and called Zaccheus by name!

b) Jesus, it seems, was intentionally looking for Zaccheus.

B. That’s the miracle of grace.

1) Before you ever thought to go on a search for God, God went on a search for you.

2) Before you ever imagined acknowledging him as you Lord and Savior, he died on a cross for your sins.

3) And rose this day to give you the promise of the resurrection.

C. It’s clear that Jesus honored Zaccheus’ openness to God. I think Jesus was pleased by it.

1) This is the Jesus you should know.

2) When you get to the place where you realize some things need to change; that your heart needs an overhaul – you discover that he’s ready to go home with you and start the reconstruction!

D. Perhaps you’ve come to this place today and you’re beginning to realize that Jesus wants a place in your life and in your heart.

1) This is God saying, “I want a relationship with you.”

2) God moves near to us in Jesus and asks for an invitation in.

a) He doesn’t care what you’ve done. He doesn’t care who you are.

b) He comes to you and wants you to bring him home.

c) That’s the way heart change works: God draws near to us in Jesus.

3) I don’t think its coincidence or happenstance that your hear this morning.

a) I think God knew that you would be here and is drawing near to you and calling your name.

b) Do you feel that gentle nudging this morning? If so, you might be surprised that Jesus would do that.

c) You might be surprised that God’s love and God’s grace are that amazing.

E. Which leads us to point number two.

IV. I must believe that God loves sinful people.

A. Many of you are saying, “There goes Pastor John stating the obvious.” But it’s not so obvious to all of us.

1) Verse 7: “The crowds were displeased and they grumbled.”

2) Most people don’t understand what you see as so obvious.

3) They couldn’t understand how Jesus could be so free with the love of God.

B. Here’s the thing: God did not send Jesus into the world just to make good people better.

1) Jesus said so he, “I came to seek and save the lost.”

a) He came for people like you and me who have wandered far from God.

b) He came for people who know that they’re sinful, but long to see God anyway.

2) Jesus came to make sinful people, holy.

a) And He can do that when we recognize our spiritual need and understand that God loves us in spite of our sin.

b) That’s what drove Zaccheus to climb that tree – he recognized his spiritual need.

3) Think about it. What else would bring Zaccheus out into this crowd on a day like this?

a) Spiritual hunger. Spiritual famine.

b) It was an admission that Zaccheus needed Jesus.

C. Is that a tough admission for you to make? That you may need Jesus?

1) Zaccheus’ problem was not money.

2) Zaccheus’ problem was that there was a hole in his life and he tried to fill it himself.

a) He tried to fill that hole with money and prestige.

b) He could have used any number of things, but that’s what he chose.

3) What do you use to fill that hole?

a) Money, work, home, car, what is it?

b) Or do you pretend the hole isn’t there?

D. Zaccheus recognized his need for Jesus and then went searching.

1) You want to think clearly about Jesus changing your heart?

2) Here’s what the Bible has to say: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13.

3) Why did Jesus make Zaccheus the focal point of his day? Because he saw a man who was seeking Jesus with all his heart.

V. I must never give up hope.

A. If you took a poll in Jericho that day with one question: “who is the most unlikely person in your city to have his life made new?” I think the vote would have been near unanimous! Zaccheus.

B. Be careful! The story of Zaccheus teaches us that we can never give up – on ourselves or someone else.

1) There’s a cartoon with two caterpillars walking along a leaf as a butterfly goes by. One caterpillar looks at the other and says, “You’ll never catch me up in one of those things.”

2) This church is full of people that just 3 years ago, 5 years ago, a few months ago, would have said; “You’ll never catch me in church.” “You’ll never catch me giving my life to Jesus.”

3) And then suddenly: metamorphosis. Heart change.

C. Who are you about to give up on?

1) A spouse, a child, a co-worker, a friend.

2) Or are you about to give up on yourself?

D. Don’t give up.

1) God truly loves you. Just as you are. He’s knows you better than you know yourself and loves you anyway.

2) He’s waiting for you to give him the opportunity to prove his love to you.

3) Are you ready?

VI. Conclusion – That’s what this day is about. Easter.

A. It’s about God showing you in the most dramatic way possible that he loves you no matter what.

B. It’s about God wanting more than anything to have the chance to prove that love to you. It’s about him waiting for your invitation.

C. So, are you ready for a change of heart?

1) Are you ready to admit that you can’t get it done yourself?

2) Are you ready to come looking for Jesus?

3) Are you willing to give him a chance with your life?

D. I believe that Jesus is calling some of us by name today.

1) I believe that for someone, Jesus is making you his sole agenda for the morning.

2) He wants to enter your life and recreate your heart.

3) I hope that voice is clear for you this morning.