Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. When Jesus comes to town, revival often follows. People are convicted of sin, restitution is made, and spiritual life flows where it never had before. Has Jesus come to your town? If not, would you like him to?
Please stay with us. From the Moody Church in Chicago, this is Running to Win with Dr. Erwin Lutzer, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. In learning how to follow Christ, we're with Zacchaeus in Luke chapter 19. finding out what happens when Jesus comes to town.
Pastor Lutzer, isn't that what happened during a revival in Canada back in the 1970s? Dave, that's exactly what happened. As a matter of fact, I did writing about that. Imagine a revival, a genuine one. Where in the middle of a church service young people get reconciled with their parents.
where stores don't understand why it is happening because people are bringing back merchandise that they had stolen? It was indeed an example of what happens when Jesus comes to town. And we see that, of course, in the life of Zacchaeus, a wonderful story, a true story. about what happens when God changes a life. I want to ask you a question today, all who are listening.
Have you ever considered becoming involved in the ministry of running to win? At the end of this message, I'm going to be giving you some contact info as to how you can become a part of what I like to call the running to win family. You see, we are a listener-supported ministry. and it's only because of people like you that this ministry can go around the world. For now, I want you to listen.
But I also want you to stay tuned after the message as I give you a challenge.
Okay. There were people who said they had been in the ministry or serving Christ for years and years who confessed that in the presence of the heat of revival their hearts appeared to them as being made of ice. As God began to take carnality, And began to show people what they were really like. It was as if God was taking people apart, He was dissecting them. One Christian worker said that when God began to zero His guns on me, it was as if He uncovered one clump of dirt after another.
And all of the secret sins that had been hidden all had to be dealt with. In the presence of Christ, there's always confrontation when Jesus comes to town. Thirdly, there is confession. I wish that we had in this passage of Scripture the conversation that Jesus had with Zacchaeus. Wouldn't that be great?
But we don't have it. But I know what Jesus talked to Zacchaeus about. After they sat down, and they had something to eat. Jesus looked him in the eye and said, Zacchaeus, you are lost. You're lost.
Now, why did I know that Jesus said that? Because it says in verse 10, when Christ was defending himself. Because everybody said, look at that, he's going with this great sinner to eat with him. When Jesus was defending himself, he said, the Son of Man, Has come to seek and to save that which is lost. And Zacchaeus.
was a lost man. And Jesus told him about God's love, and Jesus undoubtedly told him that he had to believe on Christ the Savior of the world, because Christ would soon die on the cross as a sacrifice for sin. And Zacchaeus, with his open, hungry heart, Believed. You see, that's why Jesus chose Zacchaeus. There were all kinds of people into whose homes Christ could have gone, and they would have fought him tooth and nail.
They would have said, My heart is my own turf, and I will not let you get through to me. But Jesus chose Zacchaeus because he already had what the ancients called an awakened conscience, a conscience that was sensitive to sin and to God. Zacchaeus got his relationship with the Lord straightened out, and then immediately he begins to think about others, which is always true whenever Jesus comes to town. He says in verse 8, Behold, Lord. Half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times.
as much.
Now that's amazing. Let me tell you why it's amazing because in Leviticus 6 it says that if you defraud anyone, if you are an extortioner, you have to pay back what you have defrauded, plus. One fifth. 20% more. That was the requirement.
Zacchaeus voluntarily says, Anyone that I have defrauded, I will repay him four times. We don't know where he would get the money from. Maybe he saved an awful lot that he had earned legitimately, but what he was saying is: I want to make things right with others. Did you know that that is the most obvious characteristic. of Jesus coming to town.
The reason that the secular press in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Carried a story about the revival. was because of the many people who were there making things right. Sears stores all over the country receiving people, going back and saying, you know, years ago I stole something from you and I'm here to make it right. Employees saying I cheated on my time cards. There was a woman who said that she received some money from an essay.
In a contest, but she had not written the essay.
So she tried to track down those who were responsible for it to make things right. I remember speaking to a man who said, I am a carpenter, and he said, I build homes with inferior material. And now he said, I have to go even to the bank and borrow money. I'm going to every one of them. To make things right, he said, Revival is costing me thousands and thousands of dollars.
I said, is it worth it?
So it's worth every penny. Just imagine what it is like to finally have the freedom and the joy of the Lord, a sense of absolute confidence that one is fully right with God and fully right with man. Of course it's worth it. Revival is always worth it. But all the price that some people had to pay.
the customs agents. between Canada and the United States were startled to find So many people coming and saying, you know, I crossed the border. And I lied about the goods that I had. People were saying, I'm willing to pay any price. I'm willing to make any sacrifice.
Everything is worth. Fully right with God and man. The Apostle Paul said, I have a conscience, he said, that is right before God and right. before man. And one of the things that happens in revival is not just making financial restitution, but families being united.
Parents who were so judgmental of their children because of the way in which their children dressed. You know, young people sometimes like to dress a little differently. Parents would get after them and say, you know, you can't dress that way. We attend church. You had better behave thus and so.
And it's not because the parent really loves the child, the parent is saying, Don't you realize that my reputation is at stake? And so, for all of these judgmental reasons, there is the tearing of emotions and the breaking down of relationships. You know what happened in revival? There were people who were reconciled right in the aisles of the church during meetings. As teenagers would go through looking for mom and dad, trying to find them so that they can get right with God and right with their parents.
That's what happens when Jesus comes to town. Jesus takes long-standing relationships of bitterness and anger and hatred, and He moves right in and He begins to take over all the closets that people have closed the doors to, and He begins to take charge. Is it any wonder that some people who prayed for revival rejected it when it came? They said, you know, we always thought revival meant that God was going to take the people who were sinners and He was going to close the movie houses and He was going to close the pornography shops, and now suddenly God begins with His very own people. And they said it's too uncomfortable.
to be in the white. of a holy God. There's always confrontation. and confession. Fourth, There is conversion.
Notice that Jesus said, salvation, verse 9, has come to this house. because he too is a son of Abraham. Christ wasn't saying, well, Zacchaeus, now that you've decided to make things right, you have been saved because of that. Believe me. That would be contrary to everything else that Christ taught.
It was in that private conversation with Zacchaeus that Zacchaeus understood that there was such a thing as a gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and by faith in Christ. But now, having been changed by the power of God, what he was saying is, I need to live out my faith. And isn't that your challenge? And isn't it mine? The conversion that says I need to live out my faith all the way, no matter what.
regardless of the cost. It's the kind of conversion that says, Oh Lord, I'm willing to give you my mind. One person said my mind was just like a drawer full of all kinds of unclean things and when when God really changed me said God just took the drawer and just dumped it upside down let all that junk fall out That's what God wants to do in your life. Those are the kinds of radical changes that God brings about when Jesus. comes to town.
Finally, there's commission. There's a commission. Notice that Jesus, here defending himself against the criticism of the Pharisees said, For the Son of Man has come. to seek and to save that which is lost.
So that people who in turn become revived spiritually. These people now. Transformed by the power of Christ, suddenly find that they are able to witness of Christ's power and they begin to seek and to save that which is lost. Just like the master did. Because when Christ comes to town, He takes the lips and the tongues of people.
That have never been able to share their faith, and suddenly they find from an overflowing heart, spontaneously it all spills out. how great Christ is. And what he can do in the lives of people who know him, receive him. and then obey him. No matter the cost.
You know that in Canada there were more than 5,000 teams. They gave up counting after 5,000 because nobody could keep track anymore. But there were more than 5,000 services held by laypeople, just going from church to church, and that's the way the revival spread all the way through Alberta and British Columbia and all the way down the line, going from church to church, telling that Jesus is as good as his word and can be believed. You say, well, don't people already know that? They know that here But they are so filled with disappointments and hurts and defeats and carnality and self-will that they've never experienced it.
down in their heart. And they know it and they love it and they say, Oh, how I wish that I could just Just be yielded to Christ and live differently, but just I can't, I don't know where to begin. And what they need is a ray of hope. They need somebody to be able to say, I'm a sinner just as great as you, with the same struggles as you, but Jesus is sufficient. To take long-standing family feuds and dissolve them by his power, and to take anger and hostility and roots of bitterness.
and sensuality. and Jesus can put them to death in faith. If we are willing to meet him, no matter the cost. That's what God does when Jesus comes to town. You say, well, wouldn't it be wonderful if Jesus were to come to Chicago?
Maybe we ought to pray and uh Tell him where Chicago is so that he can come. Yes, it'd be wonderful. Do you know that maybe Jesus is already in Chicago? As a matter of fact, I know he is. And do you know what God does when He wants to change a city?
He always begins. with his own people. God isn't going to suddenly change city hall and change all those who work in the Sears Tower. or at the John Hancock building. He is not going to come down in mighty power and revival power so that sinners are smitten with conviction on the streets.
That has happened in history. But let me tell you how it happens. It happens when sinners are confronted by loving. Holy, spirit-filled Christians. And that's what happens when God comes to town.
He always begins with his own people, and then, having begun there, he works out. to the community. and to the city. I know that all of us want Jesus to come in a special way to the city of Chicago. He's here.
We want him to come in a special way. But do you know that I don't think Christ will? I may be wrong, but I don't think he will. Until he comes to you and he comes to me and says, Are you willing? No matter the cost.
No matter what's involved. Are you willing to say flat out? I'm following Christ. Regardless. You know, it was Billy Sunday, whose funeral, incidentally, was at this church many years ago, who said, quote, one spark of fire.
can do more to prove the power of gunpowder than a whole library written on the subject. And isn't that true? One spark of fire. That powder explodes. people become convinced.
of the explosive nature. of the gospel of Christ. What about you? You know, this past week I've been so concerned about many of you who perhaps. Even come to Moody Church week by week by week.
And you may not even be believers. You've never received Christ as Savior. And every time you hear me speak, you harden your heart. and you become very indifferent. What about that?
You know that we learned this past week how quickly a person can just. suddenly go into eternity. And what about you as a Christian? Are you living with things in your life that you know right well that if God ripped everything apart and showed you who you were, that this would be displeasing to Him, but you've rationalized it? Jesus today.
Is inviting you and me to say. Why don't you open your life to me no matter the cost? Why don't you fully be right. To give up everything that is not pure and holy and righteous and good and just. And follow me.
If you agree, let's pray. Our Father, we are aware that revival. Is God's finger pointed? at us. And we know today that by your blessed Holy Spirit, as you came and sat with Zacchaeus and looked at him, and analyzed them.
So you have come to sit beside us You have looked into our hearts. and your tender eyes have told us what you have seen. We thank you for the transformation that you brought to this man. But oh, how we long that that shall be multiplied hundreds of times here in Chicago. May there be a mighty transformation.
And we pray for the people at Moody Church. for the staff and the elders, for all of us who are here. Oh God. Do not let us alone. We pray that you might not let us get by with anything.
Let us not alone. until we have been confronted by you. in honesty and humility. In Jesus' name we pray. Oh man.
Yeah. Um Well, my friend, this is Pastor Lutzer. Let me ask you this question. Are you willing to confront anything that Jesus brings to your attention and to deal with it? Are there things that you are hiding?
I pray that God will give all of us the grace. to be totally honest. No matter the cost. And I want to emphasize that the ministry of running to win goes around the world because of people just like you. This is a listener-supported ministry.
I'm holding in my hands a letter from someone who says, Your messages have brought me back from despair. and depression. We are so grateful for the many people who do support us, people who pray for us. I want to give you a challenge. Would you investigate it?
Would you consider becoming what we like to call an endurance partner? You say, Well, Pastor Lutzer, I need some info.
Well, here's what you can do. Go to rtwoffer.com. rtwoffer.com and when you're there you click on the endurance partner button. Or you can call us at 1-888-1. two one eight ninety three thirty seven.
I want to thank the many of you who support this ministry with your prayers. And with your gifts, Together, we are making a difference. And for those of you who have never considered the challenge of becoming an endurance partner, let me give you that contact info again. Right now. Go to rtwoffer.com.
That's rtwoffer dot com or call us at one eight eight eight two one eight ninety three thirty seven. It's time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor Lutzer a question about the Bible or the Christian life. When and how is a person saved? One of our many running-to-win listeners has a whole series of questions on the subject. They ask, Can a person be saved without realizing he is saved?
when a person realizes he is not worthy, but in his heart lives by Christian principles and loves others, might he be saved without knowing it? First of all, let me say I find your question a little bit confusing, because A person who is saved generally knows it. And uh the person that you're talking about here who doesn't know that he's saved, is he even concerned about being saved? Is it a matter of him having doubts, or is it a matter of him giving no thought to the question whether or not he is saved?
So here's the bottom line. when we are saved, we really do know it. You know, you're talking about someone who apparently feels to be unworthy to be saved. That's another equation. I don't want to muddy the water here, so let me simply uh summarize it by saying when a person is saved, almost always they know it, not only because of the facts of the Gospel, but the Holy Spirit of God ministers to their spirit.
As Paul says in Romans chapter 8, and we cry out and we say, Abba, Father, there is a connection there. Secondly, a person who is saved wants to know that he is saved. He doesn't just go through life living by Christian principles and hope that everything is going to turn out okay. He is concerned about his salvation because he knows that his eternal destiny is at stake in this scenario.
So I would say that the person that you are talking about Who doesn't know that they are saved? Should get saved. And then they would know that they are. Pastor, the listener goes on to ask this: Do you have to say the sinner's prayer in order to become a follower of Jesus Christ? The answer is no.
I mean, it's not a formula, it's not a prayer. In fact, speaking of the sinner's prayer, which I interpret to mean God be merciful to me a sinner, People have been saved. using all kinds of words. and the converse is also true. many people have prayed the right words, even the sinner's prayer.
and they aren't saved. What saves us is that transfer of trust, and that can be expressed in many different ways. And if there's someone listening today and you don't know whether or not you are saved, Remember this, that if you believe that when Jesus died on the cross He did all that ever will be necessary for you to stand in God's holy presence, and you embrace that, and you accept that, acknowledging your own sinfulness and your cleaving to Christ, you will be saved. and almost certainly You will know it. And then our listener's final question, Pastor.
What is meant by the book of life? You know, in the book of Exodus, it talks about the book of life. And Moses says, Blot me out of the book of life. I don't think that that is the Lamb's book of life. That is really the book of the living.
And apparently in those days there would be towns, and certainly this happened among the twelve tribes of Israel. They had registers of people who were alive. and after they died they blotted their names out of the book. the Registry, the Book of Life. When you get to the New Testament, what you discover is a reference to the Lamb's Book of Life.
Revelation chapter 13 regarding the beast, it says, Everyone on the earth worshipped him, except those whose names were written from before the foundation of the world in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Now that book contains the names of those who have believed on Jesus.
So that is the Lamb's Book of Life. Everyone in the sense that I have described They have their name in the book of life. The question I conclude with today is: Is your name in the Lamb's Book of Life? Thank you, Dr. Lutzer, for all those answers to those questions.
If you'd like to hear your question answered, you can. Just go to our website at rtwoffer.com and click on Ask Pastor Lutzer or call us at 1-888-218-9337. That's 1-888-218-9337. You can write to us at Running2Win 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60614. Many runners seek the glory of Olympic gold, but Christians running life's race have a different motive, to please Jesus.
They want to advance his kingdom and bring people to know him personally. Join us next time on Running to Win as we learn how to implement the primary mission of Jesus, to seek and to save that which was lost. Thanks for listening. For Pastor Erwin Lutzer, this is Dave McAllister. Running to Win is sponsored by the Moody Church.
