From the desk of Steve Shultz:
I love the beginning quote in this word: "I've got to see Jesus!" We should be excited about our first love, Jesus Christ like that! This word will get you excited and passionate with desperation to see Him.
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Hope Reeder:
A Desperate, Lovesick Determination to See Jesus
"I'VE GOT TO SEE JESUS! I DON'T CARE what anyone says! I have to see Him! I can't wait another day, not another minute! GET OUT OF MY WAY! I've got to get to Him! I've heard how He's changed people's lives. I've heard how He heals people! I've heard people say they are never the same once they've seen Him! I'LL DO ANYTHING! If I could just see His face! I'll do anything! I've heard He is coming! So get out of my way! I've just got to see Him! Now!"
Clearly illustrated by a man showing such determined desperation to see Jesus, Zacchaeus was one most likely who experienced the beginning of passionate FAITH stirring in his heart, like never before! After hearing the amazing reports and testimonies of others, he was determined to grab hold for himself an experience all his own! He was determined to see this "move of God."
He "Sought" to See Jesus
Despite his known position not just as a tax collector but as Chief Tax Collector in the city (Luke 19), despite his wealth, the pleasures and comfort enjoyed by wealth, here was a man who apparently found his heart empty and lonely and he was willing to risk everything to find what he was missing.
He wanted change and he was going after it! Hearing the testimonies of others saying they found peace through Jesus, joy, mercy, forgiveness, or that they were healed and, most importantly, changed by seeing Jesus, he was so stirred that he got in a determined way to see for himself. So determined to see Jesus, he forgot everyone around him. Willing to "look like a fool" in front of a crowd, he climbed high up in a sycamore tree to see Jesus! Nothing and no one was going to stop him!
The Scripture says he "sought" to see Jesus (Luke 19:3). He sought after, required, found it a vital necessity, a requirement, to see Jesus, but he could not because there was a crowd and he was a small man. Even though he was small in stature, he made a big decision. He made up his mind! He was determined to press through the crowd for the prize! Zacchaeus wanted the vantage point! By running ahead of the crowd and climbing a tree, he did something that even he did not know would attract the Savior to him! He unleashed the burning fire, a desperate, determined, lovesick passion to see Jesus face to face. Jesus had no other option but to notice.
Jesus Always Spots a Lovesick, Determined Passion
Did Jesus take notice of Zacchaeus? Scripture says, Jesus "looked up and saw him." Zacchaeus "sought" so diligently to see Jesus, Jesus diligently saw him! (Luke 19:5) And...He not only called him out by name in front of this crowd, Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, come down, for I am coming to your house today!" Jesus took notice that Zacchaeus, a well-known businessman, had come out from his busy day, out of his tax office, to come to see Jesus. Now Zacchaeus was going to get to be with Jesus all alone! Just he and Jesus! What an honor and such a privilege!
That Jesus would call him out by name amazed him so much that it awakened his senses and he realized Jesus was much more than he had heard, way beyond his wildest imagination or dreams! In a crowd of people, Jesus spotted his determination and he called him out and said, "I am coming to your house!" Jesus always spots a lovesick, determined passion! Jesus gave Himself to this passion and Zacchaeus had time alone with Jesus! This became his own personal experience, a move of God that came to his house and filled his house (temple)!
Don't Give Up Until You See Jesus!
What about you? Are you ready for change today? Ready to give up the noise of the crowd? Does the crowd (in life) have you pushed back in, maybe even into shame or guilt? Like Zacchaeus, maybe you have felt small, inferior, self-conscious or even have had a low self-image. Maybe you are just sick of all the noise around you.
How long has it been since you felt this burning fire, this lovesick, determined passion to see Jesus? So many voices, so many people, so many distractions in the crowd of life. Well, no matter what dark place or busy place you've been in, or are in, Jesus will more than take notice of your determined passion to see Him. He is ready to come to your house and fill your house (temple) today. In fact, He may be at your door!
All you have to do is open the door to your heart today and let Him fill your house with His Presence. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from. Don't let anyone or anything stop you from getting into His presence! Why not now? Go ahead, take five! Take ten! Take an hour! Take a day! Run to Him like Zacchaeus when you feel such a drawing! Go ahead...run! Forget everyone around you. Run like Zacchaeus did! Press through the crowd! Get ahead of the noise! Take the vantage point and get above the circumstances. Do whatever it takes! Get there! Drive there! Fly there! Do like Zacchaeus did, get away from the office and run and climb up into the highest vantage point there is, face-down before Him. No one else around! Time alone with Jesus just you and Him. What an honor and a privilege!
Rest assured, Jesus will meet you right there! He is calling your name now! He wants to give Himself to you! He wants to come to your "house" (temple) and be with you and fill your house. And when He does, you will never be the same again! Don't give up, or get up, until you see Jesus! He is at your door of your heart now. Go ahead...open the door of your heart right now and let Him fill you with all that you need. He promises, He will come!
Fill Me Once Again, Lord, with Your Spirit!
Let's pray. Pray this prayer with me:
In the name of Jesus, right now we speak to every mountain, every obstacle, every noise, that has hindered me and I say, get out of my way! I have made up my mind! I am determined to go after more of Jesus! I want to see Jesus! God's Word is true and tells me in John 14:13 "Whatsoever you ask in My name, that will I do. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it!" So in the name of Jesus Christ, right now I say let Your Spirit come and be poured out upon me now! Give me a fiery, burning, lovesick, determined passion to see You, to be with You, Jesus! Draw me, Lord, to You! Separate me unto You. Help me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind!
Show me Your face, Lord, like You did Moses! Ruin me like You ruined Isaiah when he saw You and said, "I am undone (ruined) for my eyes have seen the King!" Ruin me like You did Job when he saw You and said, "I have heard of You by the hearing of my ears but now my eyes see!" Fill me like You did the woman at the well when she saw You and believed! Make me blind (to the crowd around me) that I might see You like Saul on the road to Damascus!
Lord, I want to see Your face, Your beauty, Your greatness! Lord, I want to see Your glory and mercy! Your wonder! Amaze me again, Lord! Pour out Your Spirit on me afresh, anew! Oh God, give me a fresh, new, lovesick determination to set my gaze on You alone! Draw me, Lord, and I ask You to come to my house, come to my temple, and fill me with Your presence as You did Zacchaeus! Fill me once again, Lord, with Your Spirit! Let me burn with a desperate, fiery, lovesick determination to run after You today, and always!...in Jesus' holy name! Amen.
Hope Reeder
Praise Alive Ministries, Inc.
Email: hope@hopereeder.com
Hope Reeder does it with God's grace: Psalmist, Conference Speaker, Preacher, Pastor, Teacher, Recording Artist, Missionary, Wife, Mother. Residing in Charlotte, NC with her husband Roger, they together are co-founders of Praise Alive ministries, Inc., The Upper Room Food Bank, the TV program 'Make His Praise Glorious!' and Co-Pastored Praise Alive Worship Center. Hope has traveled extensively both nationally and internationally for more than 25 years. Hope is a lover of the Word and unquenchable worshiper! Spirit-filled and inspired by the Holy Spirit, Hope truly sets the atmosphere ablaze in the midst of prophetic worship and apostolic preaching. Hope is a graduate of Tomlinson Bible College and further studied Old and New Testament at Lee University. Away from public ministry, the Reeder's spending time together with their family is the interest they hold dear.
