08/09/2026
Sunday service- 6 September 2026
Sermon preached by: Bishop Selowa
Scripture reference:
Luke 19: 1-15
Title: Play your part so that you can obtain what belongs to you
The Bible tells us that there was a wealthy man named Zacchaeus who was willing to see Jesus. Willingness starts within you. No one is going to give you willingness. Even if you want someone to progress in life, if that person does not have the willingness to progress, you are wasting your time on that person.
We have seen parents waste money on their children by sending them to expensive schools because they have the willingness to see their children become somebody in life. But if their children do not have the willingness themselves, they are destroying themselves. They are putting their will on someone who does not have it, and sometimes that can even destroy you.
Zacchaeus was willing to see Jesus after he heard about Him. In our lives, when we become interested in something, our willingness will make us find a way to reach that place. For example, if you are a child, every time you go outside the church, you may see cars parked outside. But if you do not have the willingness or desire to have a car one day, you will not have an interest in looking for a way to get one.
If you do not see the beauty of the big houses around you, you may never develop the willingness to have a big house in your life. Even if we pray for you, we may be wasting our time because there is no willingness within you.
What Are You Interested In?Why are people of today not interested in people who are doing good things in life? Why can't they hear how other people progressed in their lives?
No one here is interested in Googling how other people managed to reach where they are today and studying how they progressed. We should learn from people who are doing well. We should be interested in understanding how they got there, what they did, what decisions they made, and what sacrifices they made.
Zacchaeus Recognised His Obstacle. Zacchaeus was a short man, and he wanted to see Jesus. He realised that there were tall people around him. In other words, he was willing to see Jesus, but there was an obstacle. It wasn't only the tall people. He also realised that he had another problem: he was too short to see over the crowd. But Zacchaeus did not complain about this! He did not say, "These people are too tall. They are stopping me from seeing Jesus." Instead, he realised that he had another strength: he could run. So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree so that he could see Jesus.
My question to you is:
What is making you remain where you are now? Don't be too concerned about other people. Be concerned about what is stopping YOU from reaching where you are supposed to be.
Don't always worry about other people blocking you from reaching a certain place. Look at yourself. Search yourself. Identify your problem before you start blaming other people. You will never read books if you do not have a desire to become a teacher. You will never study if you do not have a desire to become a doctor.
Zacchaeus did not tell people to lower themselves because he wanted to see Jesus. He did not care about the people who were blocking his view. He found another way.
A learner may realise that the thing blocking him or her from becoming a doctor is mathematics. It is then up to that learner to do something about it. After school, they can ask the teacher for extra lessons. They can study harder. They can practise. Search for your problem before you start blaming others. Examine yourself. Search for what is within you that may be stopping you from having what you want.
If you don't identify your destiny, you are not going anywhere. And if you don't know where you are going, you won't know which way to get there. Zacchaeus knew that he was short. What is it that you know is an issue in your life? What is your weak point?
Find Your Destiny. God is always around you, and there is an object, person, opportunity, or situation that can help you reach your destiny. The moment you discover your destiny, God has already placed things around you that can help you reach it. Even inside the church, you can find your destiny helper. But you may not recognise that person because you don't have a clear understanding of your destiny.
You need to know where you are going. Your Choices Matter. Remember, every day you are moving closer to death. Life can be divided into three things: Birth, choices, and death. You are born, you make choices, and eventually you die. Anyone who does not make good choices may remain poor until they die.
Sometimes your parents won't be able to help you. Sometimes it doesn't only need your parents' support; it needs YOU!There are places your parents will not be able to pay for you to reach. It needs you. You must work hard. You must make choices. You must take responsibility for your life.
Use Your Strength. Work hard so that people will recognise you. When Zacchaeus was on top of the tree, everyone could see him. When you recognise your weakness and work on yourself, the people who know you will recognise the change in you.
People spent time with Jesus, but He did not go to everyone's house. Yet He went to Zacchaeus' house because Zacchaeus positioned himself. If you can use your strength very well, people will recognise you. Why? Because you used your strength to overcome your weakness. You will shame the people who said you would never make it in life. You will overcome the things that were once obstacles in your life.
Remember, you cannot become a champion without overcoming the obstacles that stand in your way. Zacchaeus knew he was short. Some of you know that you are slow learners. Some of you know that you forget easily. Some of you know that you are short-tempered. You know your weaknesses. So why can't you overcome them? Know your weakness and work on it.
We will pray for you. We will fast with you. But if you don't know your destiny and you don't take action, we may be wasting our time. Christians are very good at praying, but sometimes we pray without taking action.
The Bible teaches us that faith without works is dead. God can give you opportunities, but He has also given you a mind.
Use what God has put in your mind.
Ask God for what you want, and then work towards it. Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ." Ask God what you want, and work on it.
Change Your Family's Story. Jesus said to Zacchaeus: "Today salvation has come to this house." Through your hard work, you can change your family. You can put respect on your family name.
You can change the story of your family. You can change the way people see your family. You can change the way people see you. No one thought Jesus would enter the household of a sinner, according to the people around Zacchaeus. But Zacchaeus positioned himself.
When you position yourself, people will ask themselves:
"So even good things can happen to the poor?" Regardless of where you come from, God can change your life.
Use What God Has Given You. Christians are sometimes very good at praying, but they don't act. God has given you a mind, and it is up to you to use it. Use what God has put in your mind Don't only pray for change. Work towards change. Ask God for what you want, and then work on it.
Prayer
Dear God,
Please change my mind. Change my ways of seeing things. Fix the way I do things. Change the friends that I have.
I have a problem with blaming others. Please help me change.
In Jesus' name,
Amen! 🙏