<TITLE>05. Par 15-18</TITLE>L-15 Just for a little text, and I know we can't keep this too long, but I'd like to speak to you just on a little subject, or a little drama (if I could have your attention for a few moments.), and it's found in the book of Luke, 19th chapter, the 4th verse:
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him: for He was to pass that way.
It must have been a terrible night on the little fellow; he couldn't rest. He would toss from one side to the other side of the bed, because he--he happened to live in a strange day, very odd, because the church and the message that was going forth was at ends with each other.
You see, he was an orthodox, a Jewish believer. And it came that in that day there had been a--a rumor of a Nazarene Prophet, One called Jesus of Nazareth, which was claimed to be the Son of Joseph, a carpenter.

L-16 And it must have been very strange how the people felt in those days, that a Man Who came along with a supernatural ministry, that was absolutely contrary to the Jewish belief. They didn't believe in such a thing. They thought all the days of these things had passed with Moses, many years ago, and not spiritual minded enough to know that God remains the same, and that they were at a junction of time.
So it must have been very hard on him, because he believed what he's preached at, and was forbidden by the church to attend any of such meetings, that this Prophet was holding. And there was all kinds of talk about this Prophet.

L-17 And so, he had a restless night, for his wife, Rebekah, she was a believer of this Prophet. She attended the meetings, and she had told him many strange things that had happened, which he consulting his priest, said, "Now, that's nonsense. There's just no need of believing nothing like that, Rebekah. We belong to one of the finest churches there is in the country. Our synagogue is the greatest. And here I am, a businessman of this city; my name is Zacchaeus. And I own the greatest restaurant there is in this city. And I have the greatest business, and we're respected people. Therefore, it's not ethical for me to degrade my prestige to dip myself down into a group like some fanatic Prophet, as you would call Him, Who is going about, which none of the priest or rabbi's will have anything to do with. And in my position as a businessman, it would hurt my business, if I become associated with such a thing. And Rebekah, it would be better for you, if you just discontinued your following this so-called Prophet."

L-18 This got on Rebekah's heart, so you see, she begin to pray for Zacchaeus. Though him being a businessman, very much in the world, and the church league, yet she thought that if this Prophet was what He said he was (the Son of God), that she wanted her husband to believe on Him. That's a real true wife. Every businessman should have that type of wife, that would pray for him. Don't criticize him; just pray for him. That's the best way to get Him to Christ.
And you know there's something about it, when you pray for someone real sincerely, you know, it--it kindly makes them restless. I don't know whether you ever had an experience of that or not. But God begins to move in answer to prayer. Sometimes a husband becomes more irritable than ever, but just remember, God's answering prayer. He knows how to do it.
A man has to come to the end of his rope sometimes before he will recognize... Or maybe God has to lay him on his back, sick, hurt, until he will look up. But God has strange ways of doing things, but His ways are always right.


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