[0:00] this morning and we hope that the Lord will bless us all young and old. It's good to see young people out this morning as well and to see middle-aged and old and may the Lord bless us and be with us as we meet around his word. We'll sing, we'll start singing this morning in Psalm 40, the Scottish Psalter. That's at page 259 in the Blue Book.
[0:25] Psalm 40. Many shall see it and shall fear and on the Lord rely. Down to the end of the double marked five, verse double marked five. In order none can reckon them to thee if them declare and speak of them, I would they more than can be numbered are. Psalm 40 in Scottish Psalter from the beginning.
[1:14] I waited for the Lord my God. I waited for the Lord my God, and patient pleaded me, and then to me he did.
[1:44] I waited for the Lord my God.
[2:14] I waited for the Lord my God. And on a row, he's at my feet, He's down the sea in my way. He put a new song in my mouth.
[2:43] Her God, Agnes High, we shall see it and shall fear and all for the night.
[3:10] O blessed is the Father just upon the glory in life, respecting all the Lord, our Son, as God as I to life.
[3:48] O Lord, my God, O many of the wonders, O Lord, my God, O God, the gracious thorns to us were found.
[4:19] O Lord, my God, O God, O Lord, my God, O God, and then come to thee, and speak of them, and thy good day, O Lord, and can be number one.
[5:05] O Lord, my God, O Lord, my God, O Lord, my God, O Lord, my God, can you hear me up there now?
[5:42] Is it on? Thank you. I'm going to say to you boys and girls here, I'm going to say this to young boys up here as well. I'm saying to the young people here in front of me and the young people here as well.
[5:54] So don't count yourselves out of this story, the older people. I'm sure some of you have pets do you have a pet? anybody got a pet dog?
[6:07] I'm going to talk about a pet dog that we had at home once my dad when he was old he got a pet dog a collie because my dad looked after sheep as I do do any of you have sheep as well?
[6:25] oh there you are and I'm sure there's plenty here who've got sheep dogs now this Ben was a sheep dog and a lovely sheep dog but you know he liked balls, footballs instead of sheep he wasn't well trained and I was staying in a place called Laxdale you know where Laxdale is?
[6:49] when you go up to town I used to stay there and I remember one day I got a phone call from my dad who was staying and I was staying Ben is gone missing now Ben is the dog he was going missing a lot of because he liked people he liked to follow people I'm sure do you have a dog like that that likes to follow people?
[7:10] does he like balls? he likes playing with balls yeah well there you are you know what I'm saying so he followed he was always following people he would go away with people but often or not we would get a phone call and say that he was outside the chip shop he liked to go outside the chip shop I'm sure he went out there because he liked the smell but he was also going to the hospital and he would be outside the hospital I don't know why he would go to the hospital maybe he was to visit some people there but he would sit there and we get a phone call your dog is outside the hospital sometimes he was outside the police station and we get a phone call from the police station he's outside but this day we did not get a phone call or anything so we didn't know where he was he was lost so we decided to go to go to the council we were told by the police to go to the council because when dogs are lost in these days the council took a note of it and they put them they kept them either in the police station or they put them down to the kennels and lo and behold they said well we went to the council and they showed us up they said we've got a photograph of a dog that's missing and sure enough the photograph when I looked at it there was Ben and he was down in Point Lighthouse now imagine now he didn't land up there he was put down there because he was lost but he was kept safely and when myself and my sister went down to pick Ben up we went into the the lighthouse and in the lighthouse they kept them in pens now our dog was never used to be kept in a pen so there he was looking so unhappy he had been lost and he was in a place he didn't like and he was
[9:02] I could almost say that he was crying do you ever see a dog crying well that dog I think was crying that day because he was lost and he was in jail that's the way it felt and you know what happened when we called him when he came out the lady went in opened the door guess what he jumped on top of me and then on top of my sister and started licking us everywhere he was delighted that he was found and he was going home and you know that isn't it think of that dog what a lovely reception we got of him he was absolutely delighted he was lost and he was found we're going to talk today about a little man in scripture anybody idea who we're going to talk to about today he's got a big name he begins with Z he begins with his name is Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus was lost he was lost up at three wasn't he and we're going to talk about him today but he was found and we find that he gave the same reception as old dog Ben gave that day he was found and boys and girls that's a story we're going to have today because we're going to see talk about
[10:22] Jesus Jesus came into the world to seek and to save those like you and me and all the daddies and the grandpas up here that were lost that's why Jesus came into the world to seek and to save that which is lost and when we're lost the best place we can go because we are lost is to go to Jesus and Jesus will save us as much as we loved to get Ben and as Ben loved to be with us so does Jesus today he wants you boys and girls to come to him because we're going to read a bit of scripture which says suffer the little children to come to me for such is the kingdom of heaven so you remember when you're young and when you're older I'm seeing older ones up there as well and when you're older you come to Jesus and you'll get a wonderful reception because he wants to save you we'll have a wee word of prayer shall we oh Lord our God we give thanks today that we have children here before us this day and we give thanks that our Savior
[11:35] Jesus loves the little children forbid them not he said for such is the kingdom of heaven and we ask that thou wouldst bless every single young person here young middle-aged and old that they would come to the Savior who says come to me while you're yet young oh Lord we ask that you would bless us bless the families bless the mothers and dads and be with them and bless all connected with them and be with us all we ask it in Jesus name Amen there you are boys and girls you remember Ben and you remember lost and found right thanks for listening you're a very good listener in this church here thank you very much for listening can I take this off before we continue we'll bow our heads in a short word of prayer oh Lord our God we again give thanks to you that this is where we are found that on this first day of the week we are found in your house and we ask you that you would bless us and help us as we meditate upon your word that you would give us an entrance into it be with the children as they go out into the Sunday school we ask bless the teachers and bless those who help them be with all who help in the cause here in Tolstown both here and the church beside us we ask that you would bless them as well oh Lord grant that you would come to this community in the power and influence of the
[13:27] Holy Spirit for Paul may plant Paulus may water but it is the Lord himself that is to give the increase we ask oh Lord that you would remember those that are sorrowing again here this morning yesterday morning as well of death again coming into our families and we find ourselves here no strangers to death and to the finality of life oh gracious God that you would remember those who are sorrowing those who are places empty and homes and and as each death comes there many who have lost loved ones in the past are reminded again of those they loved in the world and are no longer with them oh Lord that you would help us to see the uncertainty of life itself we're not promised tomorrow that we make use of today and make use of the word of God today while it is still today that we would hear your voice bless us all we pray that you remember those that are laid aside and those that are lonely at home we commit them again to you and ask that you would comfort them with the comfort that comes from your Holy
[14:42] Spirit and remember all others who are laid aside whether in hospital or wherever you would bless them be with your servant here who is away on holiday at this time be with him and bless him bless those that hold his hands up that you remember the deacons and the elders and the adherents and all those oh Lord who are involved in the cause here that you would bless them and add to their number we bless you Lord for all your goodness to us lead us and guide us and bless us keep our feet from falling wash away our sins for Jesus sake amen we'll read now in God's word and the gospel according to to Luke gospel according to Luke at chapter 18 and as I said to the children we're going to look at Zacharias this morning and but before that I want to get the context in which we find Zacharias and especially when it comes to Jesus meeting
[15:53] Zacharias you could have some people could say that this is the the savior seeking the seeker and possibly you could say that in it but the context goes back to verse 15 of chapter 18 and we'll read through to the end of verse 10 in chapter 19 now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them and when the disciples saw it they rebuked them but Jesus called them to him saying let the children come to me and do not hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of God truly I say to you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it and the ruler asked him good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life and Jesus said to him why do you call me good no one is good except God alone you know the commandments do not steal do not bear false witness honor your father and mother and he said all these
[17:01] I have kept from my youth when Jesus heard this he said to him one thing you still lack sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me but when he heard these things he became very sad for he was extremely rich Jesus seeing that he had become sad said how difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God for it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God those who heard it said then who can be saved but he said what is impossible with man is possible with God and Peter said see we have left there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive many times more in this time and in the age to come eternal life and taking the twelve he said to them see we are going up to
[18:11] Jerusalem and everything that is written about the son of man by the prophets will be accomplished for and after flogging him they will kill him and on the third day he will rise but they understood none of these things the saying was hidden from them and they did not grasp what was said as he drew near to Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging and hearing a crowd going by he inquired what this meant they told him Jesus of Nazareth is passing by and he cried out Jesus son of David have mercy on me and those who were in front rebuked him telling him to be silent but he cried out all the more son of David have mercy on me and Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him and when he came near he asked him what do you want me to do for you he said
[19:17] Lord let me recover my sight and Jesus said to him recover your sight your faith has made you well and immediately he he entered Jericho and was passing through behold there was a man named Zachias he was a chief tax collector and was rich and he was seeking to see who Jesus was but on account of the crowd he could not because he was small in stature so he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was about to pass that way and when Jesus came to the place he looked up and said to him Zachias hurry and come down for I must stay at your house today so he hurried and came down and received him joyfully to be the guest of a man who is a sinner and
[20:23] Zachias 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 and Jesus said to him today salvation has come to this house since he also was a son of Abraham for the son of man came to seek and to save the lost Amen may the Lord bless that portion of his own truth to us we again go to the Scottish Psalter page Psalm 119 at verse 57 that's on page 404 of the blue book page 404 at verse 57 though my sure portion art alone which I did choose O Lord I have resolved and said that I would keep thy holy word with my whole heart
[21:24] I did entreat thy face and favor free according to thy gracious word be merciful to me I thought upon my former ways and did my life well try and to thy testimonies pure thy feet then turn a die I did not stay nor linger long as those that slothful are but hastily thy laws to keep myself I did prepare bands of ill men me robbed yet I thy precepts did not slight I rise at midnight thee to praise in for thy judgments right I am companion to all those who fear and thee obey O Lord thy mercy fills the earth teach me thy laws I pray these six verses Psalm 119 verse 57 thou might should portion art alone which I did choose O Lord the Lord should pour an heart alone which
[22:29] I did choose O Lord thy count is all that says the Lord were clean thy holy world but thy poor heart I did and fear thy face on river greed and grass treasury lord have seen o river and through and all her spirit and讓 her be like thy
[23:41] Did my life well right. How could I do still only to my feet in the rain alone?
[24:07] I do not stay nor linger long as those such love who love.
[24:25] But his glory I lost to thee.
[24:35] How could I do still only to my feet in the rain alone? I do not stay. I do not stay.
[24:49] I do not stay. I do not stay.
[25:03] I do not stay. I do not stay.
[25:17] I do not stay. I do not stay.
[25:31] I do not stay. I do not stay.
[25:45] I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay.
[25:59] I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay. I do not stay.
[26:12] ощ Buong that is in the Neurob Под but I took должness is in Utility Lord . But that is now, so I can isolating the person in the night. And I see when I went to Philippians 2. I do not stay. I do not stay in Yep. The book of Philippians 3 and the New England 2.
[26:24] If you are знаешь the общеad, I am to the glor textures. Thataleb is I idolatry. The book of Philippians 3 and 9, 13 facebook. People leaving Prayer 2 moving the world is loud. globalization. Because therefore, this is what and why it is mid- patterns. Monate may our transparent le fonts. We'll bow our heads in a word of prayer.
[26:36] O eternal God, we come. Depended upon thee and thee alone this morning. Without me, the Savior said to his disciples, You can do nothing.
[26:50] And we are helpless without thee, and without the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. And we come, asking that we would get more enlightenment in thy word, but above everything else.
[27:03] That we would see Jesus. That we would say, like others of old, did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us, by the way. And that is the desire of your people.
[27:16] And we pray, O Lord, that that would be fulfilled. And it is the desire of some here today who have come out to your house, seeking a word from yourself.
[27:27] O gracious God, we'd ask that these people would be blessed, and that those who have come out through formality, O Lord, that they too would be blessed, and that we would all be blessed, that we would come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
[27:46] Bless us, keep us. We ask it for Jesus' sake. Amen. Many years ago, there was a sailing ship that had left New York.
[27:58] It was heading across the Atlantic. But it went a bit north because it got into a storm, and floundered, and sank.
[28:10] On board was a New York businessman. He was held in high esteem by many of his workers.
[28:23] And when they heard the news that the ship had gone down, they were grieved, and they stopped work. In memory of him, and respect to him, they stayed off work for three days.
[28:36] They were mourning him. On Monday, the following Monday, they came back to work, and there was a telegram in front of, on the desk.
[28:51] And it had the word, saved. That's all that was written on it. Saved. Their companion, their boss, was one of the few that was saved on that liner that day.
[29:11] And because of that, when he came back to work, he put the telegram, he framed it, and he put it up on the wall of his office.
[29:23] And it was there, and anybody coming into the office would see the word, saved, in bold letters, reminding them of, the tragedy, but reminding them that he, had been saved.
[29:39] And if anybody, would have that, after our reading this morning, it would be Zacharias. I'm sure, and when reading through here, that Zacharias, was so thankful, that he met Jesus that day, that if there were telegrams, in his time, which there probably wasn't, he could quite easily have put, at least words, on his wall, saved.
[30:10] We're going to look at, three things, in connection, to this passage, in scripture. First of all, we're going to look at, the difficulty, in seeing Jesus.
[30:23] Then we'll look at, the determination, in seeing Jesus. And thirdly, we'll look at, the delight, in seeing Jesus.
[30:34] The difficulty, the determination, and the delight. First of all, we'll look at, the difficulty, in seeing Jesus. And there was difficulties, as we read, in, in Zacharias, seeing Jesus.
[30:49] First of all, there was the crowd. Notice that, at the beginning, it says here, Jesus entered Jericho, and was passing through, and behold, there was a man, named Zacharias, he was a chief tax collector, and was rich, and he was seeking, to see Jesus, but on account, of the crowd, he could not.
[31:13] So that's the first thing, that's the first difficulty, is the crowd. He could not. Now it's interesting, to notice that, why he came there.
[31:27] He came there, to see Jesus. Now, there's a clause, in there, to see, who Jesus was.
[31:38] In the A.B., it says there, in the authorised version, it says, he sought, to see Jesus, who he was. So, when scripture, says something, there's sometimes, words that, come out to us.
[31:54] And as I was reading this, this word came out, who he was. Why did, Zacharias come there? He came to see Jesus, who he was.
[32:06] Was it just, out of mere curiosity? Or was there something else, underlying, why he came to Jesus, that day? Because it says there, was there a reason?
[32:20] Yes. He says, who he was. Had he heard, more than likely, he had heard. Did he hear, about the blind man, as Jesus went into, Jericho?
[32:32] Had he heard, about his teaching? Had he heard, about who he was, and what he was doing? More than likely, because, he had heard, of Jesus, he wanted to see him, for himself, who he was.
[32:48] He went that day, he left, his house, he left his office, possibly, he was at work, he was a tax collector, he was the chief tax collector, so on that day, he went, there, to that place, with one purpose in mind, and that was, to see Jesus.
[33:07] But you know, there was a barrier, and I, I get that, in the account as well, he was seeking, so he says, it says there, he was seeking, to see who Jesus was, but on the count, of the crowd, notice, he could not.
[33:22] And do you get a hint there, that there is a bit of a, how can I say, a sort of, disappointment, in Zacchaeus.
[33:33] He could not see him, because the crowd, he hadn't bargained, on the crowd. You know, I, I was looking, the reason I, I read the passages before, there was a barrier, to Zacchaeus.
[33:51] Notice, go back to, to what, the passage we read, if you can look, we're going to do a wee bit of a Bible study, here today as well, but I'm going to ask you, to go back as well, and you can do it later on as well. Go back to, verse, chapter 18, verse 15.
[34:07] Notice when, the infants, came to see Jesus. Look at the word. When the disciples saw it, they, rebuked them.
[34:19] People, people, was a barrier. Go then to, the blind beggar. Verse 39, of the same chapter, and those who were in front, of the blind man, rebuked him.
[34:38] They didn't want him to see Jesus. Look at these two. And here again, look at the verse, in verse 6, 7. When they saw it, that's the crowd, they grumbled.
[34:53] They grumbled. The crowd grumbled. It was a barrier. But friends, I don't see a barrier, in the rich young ruler, do you?
[35:07] Look at the, look at the passage, from 18, right down to, to, right down to 29. I don't see a barrier. I don't see it.
[35:19] But yet, in the other three cases, these people came to Jesus. There was a barrier, before them. And friends, that's the case with you and I.
[35:29] There can be barriers, between you and I, going to Jesus. And it can be, as legitimate as the people, in your own home. It can be as legitimate, as your friends.
[35:42] It can be as legitimate, as the people around you. Some of them, and the devil uses these people. The devil can use people, to stop you, from coming to Jesus.
[35:55] And you know, he even, he even used the church, of his day. They, you see there, they all grumbled, at Zacchaeus.
[36:08] In the case, with the children, it's the disciples, that are grumbling. And friends, that can be a barrier, to us. Those people around us, can be a barrier.
[36:18] The crowd, can be a barrier. But there's also a barrier, there's his condition. Look at it there. He was, again, we go back to, to the chapter, that we were, studying here, in verse three.
[36:31] Because he was, he could not, because he was, because of the crowd, and because he was small. His own condition. He was a small man. It was his own condition, because he couldn't see them, even if the crowd wasn't.
[36:44] He would have difficulty, in that. And friends, that can be the case, with you and me. Our own condition, can stop us, from going to Jesus.
[36:58] Do you ever find, friends, do you ever find, that you don't go to prayer? I'm talking to the believer, here today. Do you ever find, that you go, you don't go to prayer, because you're feeling so sinful?
[37:10] I know it. I feel, I sometimes, I sometimes feel, in my own heart, I go to try to pray, in a quiet place, on my own. I cannot, because of the distraction, of sin in my own heart, and the distraction, of what, of the world itself.
[37:28] Our own condition, and friend, you're here today, and maybe you're saying today, I can't go to Jesus, because I'm too sinful. I'm too old, I'm too, I'm too passionate, I've done this, I've done that, or I've done the next thing.
[37:42] He won't take me anyway. Oh, he's, he's him, look at him, he's living a good life. Friends, that can be a barrier. Our own condition, can be a barrier. But, there's also this, thing as well, and I believe, this was a barrier, to Zacchaeus, it was the critics, of his day.
[38:00] And there can be critics, and as I mentioned to you before, there can be critics, within the church. You're not suitable enough. You don't dress properly enough.
[38:13] You know, you've done this, and you've done that, and they're grumbling. They were grumbling, in Zacchaeus' day, that he was too much of a sinner. Friends, the church here I'm speaking to, believers here today, we've got to be very careful, that we don't discourage people, of who they are, of what they've done, and of their past.
[38:31] We've got pasts, friends, that we're ashamed of, some of us. But we've still got to come to Jesus, that's why we're here, and this is the case here. So he was there, there was barriers, to him coming, to Jesus.
[38:44] And that's the same, with you, and with me. And I said to the children, we're lost, in a lost condition, as lost as Zacchaeus was. Oh, Zacchaeus was a crook, we have no idea, about that.
[38:55] But he came. And he came, to the right place, at the right time. And I tell you something here, for your encouragement, you're in the right place. Not because, Colin McClain is preaching, but because, you're in the gathering, of the Lord's people.
[39:13] The other place, is the place, that we should be in, is in this Bible. Why? Jesus is in two places, here this morning. He's in his word, and he's, with his people, in the gathering, that's his promise.
[39:27] Search the scriptures, for in them, you will find me, he says, to the people searching him. And he's in his house, he's that promise. Where two or three, are gathered together, there am I, in their presence.
[39:40] So you've got that as well. So there it is, there was the barrier, but yet, the difficulties, that he had, he had to overcome them. Secondly, the determination, in seeing Jesus.
[39:59] You see, he had these barriers. He was a wee man. He was his publican. People despised the publicans. There was a crowd, preventing him, from getting to Jesus.
[40:15] But yet, he was determined. Look at what he did. First of all, it required effort. You know, some people say, you don't need to put in effort.
[40:29] But you did, you made an effort here, to come to church. Some of you dressed up. And it's good to see that. It's good to see you, making an effort, coming to church. It's good to see you, in God's house.
[40:41] So he has made an effort, that day. Look what he did. Verse four, look at it. He ran. He ran, and climbed a tree.
[40:53] Now friends, that requires effort. He ran. He did not stay there, and just, folded his arms, and said, well, if he passes by me, I'll take that.
[41:12] If he comes my way, at least I tried. No, he didn't. He actually ran. And this is what he says.
[41:24] He says, he's putting in effort. And friends, that's the same with you, and with me. It will require an effort. We're not to sit back.
[41:38] And I hear it so often, with my friends, and you hear it as well. Well, if I'm to be saved, I'm to be saved. You know, let's be honest. Look at this person. Look at that person.
[41:48] If I'm to be saved, I'll be saved. That in itself, is in one way correct. In one way, because we have nothing to do, in the salvation of our own souls.
[41:59] But, we have the responsibility, to come to Jesus. Jesus is going to say, not to say it, on the judgment day. And we're all going to, the judgment seat, of Christ.
[42:12] We're all going to say there. We're going to be judged, according to deeds, done in the body. And some of that deeds, is not sitting down, and saying, if I'm to be saved, I'm to be saved.
[42:25] You've got to make use of means. You've got to make use of prayer. Right, friends. Have you ever prayed? Have you ever really prayed? And I believe, most of you will have done that.
[42:38] At some stages in your life, I believe you, are doing that today. You're praying, before you come out, and you say, oh, I wish that God would bless this day. I wish I could, could be saved. And you pray to God.
[42:50] Friends, don't give up. Don't give up. Thomas Watson, in his writing, says, one of the Puritans, he says there, prayer, he says, is the key of heaven.
[43:02] The spirit helps, faith, to turn this key. That's a, I thought that was a wonderful. It says prayer is the key of heaven. The key to heaven.
[43:14] The spirit, the Holy Spirit, comes into that prayer, and helps, turn the key. See, you can't turn it to friends. When you found it to yourself, you can't turn it.
[43:25] We depend on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is going to turn, the key of faith. By taking that, by taking that, going to God in prayer. Hudson Taylor, great missionary to China, wonderful book.
[43:38] If you ever get a chance, to read the book. It's quite a big book, but read it. I seem to be dipping, in and out of it all the time. He's a wonderful man, Hudson Taylor. He said, he used to, at such a busy day in China, he was finding, that he wasn't getting time, to pray, and to meditate.
[43:55] This is what he, this is what the author says. He says, he was so busy during the day, that he made it, his role to rise, each night, at two o'clock, in the morning.
[44:07] Two. Watch until four. Two o'clock, till four. He's there, suffering all he does, on the mission field.
[44:20] And he's, he's there, at two o'clock, he'll get up, at two o'clock, in the morning, till four o'clock, and then he went to bed again, till light, arose in the morning. What a man. Where are we?
[44:32] Where are we? I'm not just saying to myself, where am I? Where am I? When I think of that, where is my prayer life? Where is my meditation? My going along quiet?
[44:44] Oh friend, make sure you have time, time to pray. It might be the smallest. I was thinking that this morning, I was speaking, to the prayer meeting in the morning, that last, yesterday, I was going to pray, and I couldn't pray.
[44:58] And I'm quite honest with you, last night, two o'clock, or three o'clock in the morning, I couldn't sleep. And I tried to say, the Lord's Prayer. Our Father, which art in heaven.
[45:12] You know that I'd forgotten it. I had to get up, and read it. How you ever had that? When you just don't have words to pray.
[45:25] And that's the case. Oh friends, sometimes we don't have words, but we have this one. God, be merciful to me, the sinner. God, be merciful. And if you don't have a prayer, the Lord's Prayer is a beautiful prayer.
[45:37] It's got everything in it. It's all we need. There was this, there's that prayer, and there's, the other thing that there is, the effort is, time. Time in the Word of God. Instead of the Christians, of Berea, remember, at Paul's time, when he was going around the churches in Asia, there was a place in Berea, I think it's north of Thessalonica, north of Greece.
[46:02] They were there, and they received, he says, the Word, with all readiness, all gladness. They loved the Word. All readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily.
[46:15] Whether these things were so, they searched the Scriptures daily. Oh friends, are we ever found in the Word of God? Is it our use to be found daily? Daily in the world.
[46:26] And don't we find ourselves so short? In this day, which seems as if it's running away with time. Do you find your time? It's running away with us. I speak to people who have retired years ago, and you know what they say.
[46:41] A week is going by like that. Do you find that? It's going by. How many can use, that's the effort as well. And then there is the attendance, as we have it, at the means of grace.
[46:52] He was in the right place there, friend, and he came to the right place. But finally, there is this, the turning away from sin. And you know, that's, that's a lifelong battle, isn't it?
[47:08] It doesn't just happen in a day, it happens daily. However you find yourself, I was listening to an old man in prayer this morning, and he was lamenting over the fact that he was in the mid-80s.
[47:20] And he was saying that, as he said in his prayer, the prayer, he says, the sins I used to detest years ago are coming back into my life. You feel that? You find that, friends?
[47:32] Coming back into our lives. Oh, friends, it's so, it's such a battle. It's such a battle. The question is, are we willing to give the effort?
[47:43] That's the question we have. Zacchaeus ran, Zacchaeus climbed, Zacchaeus went to the right place. He made the effort, but it also requires this. He escaped.
[47:55] It requires he escaped. Look what he did. Look what it says. It says, again, I see the word of scripture in verse 4. So he ran on ahead. Look at that word.
[48:08] Ahead. You've got the crowd there. You've got the road coming out, just as you would coming out of Tolstah. Just as you go, go out past the road of Tolstah, going to back.
[48:20] He knew that he was going out that road. So what he did was, he ran ahead of them. And he went up a sycamore tree. He went away from the crowd. He went away from them, friends.
[48:31] He went ahead of them. And that's what we have to do as well. He ran ahead. There is a time, friends, that we're feeling ourselves, we're caught up in the world. We're caught up with people.
[48:42] And we can be. That's easily done. Christ says to us, come out from among them. And be you separate. Come out. We're to do that. He had come away from the crowd.
[48:54] He had gone ahead of them. Jimmy Black was a bus driver in Glasgow, just outside us, many years ago. He had been converted many years.
[49:04] He was going towards retirement. He got saved at a convention in Glasgow. And he didn't stop since the day, that was about 40 years before that.
[49:15] He didn't stop talking to passengers. As the bus, as he was driving the bus. And he would tell them about Jesus. And one night, a group of boys jumped on this bus.
[49:27] They had been for a night out. Into a pub. And they were going home. And he was going to take them home. And one of them said to him, Jimmy, give me a ticket to heaven.
[49:39] They were just walking. Give me a ticket to heaven. A wise old Jimmy says, yes, he says, I'm sorry boys. I can take you as far as the cross.
[49:52] When you get to the cross, it then becomes a matter between you and the Lord Jesus Christ. I can take you to the cross. And then, it becomes a matter between you and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[50:08] What a wonderful reply. I can take you to the cross. Friends, there's nothing we can do here, but take you to the cross this morning. And then, it becomes a matter between you and Jesus Christ.
[50:22] Zacchaeus was going to find that out. He was up at three. And he had to go. He was in the right place. But you see, it required, and this is the last one and this one, expediency.
[50:34] It required effort. It required escape. It required expediency. You see, he ran. He ran. It required him to rush.
[50:46] He went on ahead of them. Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he is passing by. He's passing by today. He's coming this way.
[50:57] He was thinking. He's leaving Jericho. I heard that he had come into Jericho. I heard that he went through Jericho. He's leaving. He's going away. He's going towards Jerusalem. He's going to return this way.
[51:09] I must see him. I need to see him. This is what he's saying to himself. It requires me to be in a hurry. It requires haste. It requires expediency.
[51:23] This is the time. I get that feeling in this account of Zacchaeus. that Zacchaeus was in a hurry. Once he saw the crowd.
[51:34] Once he realized he couldn't see him. He ran ahead and climbed up a tree. Jesus of Nazareth was passing by and he wanted to see him.
[51:47] Oh, friends, Jesus is passing by today. I was in a conversation recently with a man still living.
[52:06] He was telling him many years ago or he's going back probably 40 or 50 years ago. He was coming after having a few pines down in Stornoway. He was coming home on the bus which is about five of them.
[52:18] And they got off in the upper call. Village in upper call. And they got off at a house. And three of the boys said, oh, we're going into what it says, Shani's house.
[52:31] Shani was a godly man. They wanted just to go in to visit him and there was a gathering. He had a few people in. And the five boys who had just come home went into, three of them went into the house.
[52:45] And this is what he said to me. Three went in. Two of us didn't. I was the one that didn't go in. One of them. He says, three of them got saved that night.
[53:00] Straight out of the pub. And they got saved that night. And he was in tears telling me. And I was in tears listening to him.
[53:11] Because he was genuine. He wished he had gone in. But he hadn't. Time had passed and I don't know. I really don't know where he stands today.
[53:23] I really don't. But it was with sadness he told me the opportunity was there. Zacchaeus made sure his opportunity was there.
[53:35] And then finally there's his delight in seeing Jesus. Verse 5. He says, 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 tonight.
[53:55] It was personal. It was personal. He named him. He looked up into that tree they had never met before.
[54:08] Never met. Jesus knew him by name. Ah friends Jesus knows you by name. I could shout out your names here.
[54:20] I know some of you. I could shout your names out. And he's saying to you tonight today come down I must abide at your house.
[54:34] What is your answer? Zacchaeus could have said no. Zacchaeus could have said no. Couldn't he? Quite easily. Zacchaeus could have said I'm too ashamed of the crowd seeing me.
[54:49] Is that stopping you? I think it's stopping many people from going to the prayer meeting here during the week. That's why it's not crowded like it is to dear.
[55:02] He could have said they know me they're critics of mine but no it was a personal he knew him by name. There was a family in Ireland a number of years ago the family were converted even to the children but the dad wasn't the father wasn't and there was a little girl of that the youngest girl she would always speak to her daddy about Jesus she would always ask her daddy if he would come to church with her on Sunday daddy you come to church with me but he wouldn't go no time and there was a convention on the week Monday to Friday and every night she would ask him daddy will you come to and he said to her about Tuesday Wednesday oh I'll come anyway
[56:03] Friday came and she came to him again he decided to go to appease her and she took him by the hand and led him to the church and as she came to the church door into the porch door she was holding his hand and she went to his back and she pushed him into the church and she said here is daddy Jesus save him what theology here is daddy save him what theology that she knew she couldn't do it but Jesus could I don't know that daddy was converted but she took him to church it was personal but it was also plain simple come down what is more simple than that come down nothing complicated is there come down come to me nothing complicated about that friends is there come near me come to me oh what a saviour what a saviour oh friends you're far away from the saviour you're far away from a person who is just so wonderfully lovely and we cannot really understand it come near to me he says to saviour very last person you would have thought of that he would say to come down come near to me oh friends we can complicate the gospel and maybe you're here and you're complicating the gospel it's the simplicity of the gospel come unto me that's all he says and then there was this thirdly there was this it was pressing saviour hurry and come down for today
[57:59] I must abide at your house it was to be a hurry you see Jesus had an appointment where was he going he was going to Jerusalem Jerusalem was the next place you read on in the words he goes to Beth Ridge that's Bethany outside Bethany and then he makes his way up to Jerusalem and then he's taken and he's taken to Calvary it was a pressing time they had to make haste he says and come down make haste and come down make haste and come down there was a preacher one time walking on his way to church and as he was walking on his way it was during the week just going into the church he had an office in the church and he saw a man staggering they went to help him and in his arms the man passed away died but he knew the man he sometimes attended the church but he knew his wife so he went by he went he called the emergency services emergency services came and they took away the man the man had died and he the preacher went and he went straight to the woman's house and he knocked and he told her he went in and spoke to her and this is what she said you know it was just three weeks ago that he had a check up in the hospital and he was told by the consultant that day that he was perfectly fit and well now he is dead he was perfectly fit and well now he is dead oh how often that happens friends our days are not in our hands tomorrow we may not be here it's a time for haste make haste and come down but it was also powerful look at the effect and we haven't got much time here to look at this
[60:01] Zacchaeus received the Lord Jesus so he hurried and came down and received him but there is this he received and in doing so he received the promise first john chapter 12 first john 12 yes john chapter one i should say at verse 12 but as many as received him that's jesus to them gave he power to become the sons of god even to them that believe in his name he received him but the second thing about that Zacchaeus rejoiced to receive him look at him he received him joyfully he received his heart was full it was flooding over he was flooding over here was the savior going past and he received him joyfully but there was this in it as well he repaid so he received him he rejoiced and he repaid look what he did
[61:09] Zacchaeus stood and said to the lord behold he says verse 8 that's after the lord has been in his house you know do you ever wonder what happened when Zacchaeus took him to his house so i was reading this i was thinking to myself maybe i'm my imagination is going wild as it does as i get older maybe and i was thinking about they go and sit down and have a cup of tea i picked you it does probably an afternoon because he's come through and he's met with he's met with the blind man he's come through jericho so maybe it's about the afternoon around an afternoon cup of tea Zacchaeus may have had a wine i think he did did he have children i don't know but anyway he spent the day the time with him jesus had the time to spend time with this man friends he's got the time to spend with you never think for one minute that the lord jesus christ doesn't have time to spend with you no matter who you are no matter what you've done he is here but anyway and then and you know another thing i'm just going to pass on i know time is running he never the savior never mentions
[62:29] Zacchaeus's sin to him did you notice he never ever mentioned about his money that he's taking friends that's when you come to the savior don't think that you come to the savior and the savior is going to bring up all the muck of your life he doesn't do that he receives sinners joyfully he receives he says i came to seek and to save the lost and he's not he doesn't bring up anything about Zacchaeus's life amazing isn't it amazing see about repentance it was immediate with Zacchaeus didn't it watch that you don't fall into the trap that you have to go and start putting sacrifice on your foot and say that you must repent and my repentance is incorrect friends his repentance was immediate and he then said i'm going to sell all the goods that i've taken i'm going to repay and not only am i going to pay he went further than he had to he repaid fourfold he was going to get rid of all his money to nothing to him so that's just what he repaid there he was there what a change in the life of instead of taking he was giving notice all things passed away all things new for him and friends that's the way salvation is it's new today i'm thinking that this morning today sachias is in heaven no doubt whatsoever that right he's in heaven and being here son of man came to seek her to say that which was lost he's in heaven and i think he would say two things i know they're hymns but i'm going to mention them there are some lovely hymns he would have this hymn i sought the lord and afterward i knew he moved my soul to seek him seeking me it was not i that found o saviour true no i was found of thee you see the more you look at it jesus did not need maybe i should say he did he did there was a must needs there was a must needs for him to go through jericho that day but that's weird thing he could have missed out jericho jericho was a sort of on the side street as if you would be going for instance if you would go you didn't need to go to stornoway you don't need to go to gress you know you could go straight the saviour did as it were went into gress because there was at the end of that not within it we don't know some people say that there was no he didn't meet anybody in jericho i don't know and i'm not going to say that he didn't or he did quite possibly did but he went through jericho and it was on his way out of jericho he didn't need he wasn't but yet he did need because outside jericho at that specific time sagias would be up to three this is something else that sagias could say i found a friend oh such a friend he loved me ere i knew him he drew me with the cords of love and thus he bound me to him and round my heart still closely twine those ties which not can sever for i am his and he is mine forever and forever i found a friend oh friends can you say that can you say that about yourself is jesus
[66:29] your friend if he is you too can say you too can be like sagias you can rejoice you can receive him joyfully oh friends that every one of us every single soul here would know what that joy is and the joy that is to come who can tell it may he bless this word to us just a short word of prayer lord lord god we give thanks for the news the good news of the gospel oh lord god how much we bring so much of ourselves into it and we don't explain we cannot tell the simplicity of it jesus christ came into the world to save sinners and those that come to him he will never cast out oh we bless that that has been the case and will be the case till the end of time bless us all and all connected with us we commit to your care and keeping be with us here in the evening be with mr mccaskill as he comes with the gospel and bless us all lead us and guide us this week we ask all for jesus sake amen we conclude by singing psalm 32 of sing psalms psalm 32 and sing psalms from the beginning how blessed the one who has received forgiveness for his sin whose sins are covered from god's face whose debt is cancelled in god's grace there's no deceit in him we'll do down to the end of verse six these four stanzas to god's praise psalm 32 and sing psalms page 38 in the sing psalms book how blessed is the one who has received forgiveness for his sins stand to sing bsalm Oth
[68:42] Blessed along, beautifulалies者, For fear, total CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS
[69:59] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS When I confess you pardon all my sins So let the Godly pray to you
[71:02] While you are to be found To even with the sleeping house A mighty water shines in path You'll keep and stay on high We'll just read the doxology in Jude Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling And to present you blameless Before the presence of his glory with great joy To the only God our Saviour Through Jesus Christ our Lord Be glory, majesty, dominion and authority Before all time and now forever Amen