Under the Ocote Pines
Last Sunday I preached under the pines in the mountains of southern Honduras to a church that gathers under this specie of pines that are abundant in the mountains of Honduras. There we met as a church to proclaim the name of Jesus and to encourage the people coming with a message from the Bible about Zacchaeus the Tax Collector.
This fellowship of believers needs a church roof that we hope to build when the time is right. We believe that God has already placed a burden on the heart of someone who will fund this project. I am presently working on the plans of what a roof will look like and how we’ll build it. Great mission trip idea.
When I arrived at the site, I had to step aside much like Joseph did with his brothers when they returned to purchase more grain from him. I wept to see the simplicity of these people and their willingness to come such large distances to hear the Gospel. One lady said she had walked two hours to get there. What faith was exhibited.
I was deeply moved and plan to return shortly to continue our work there. If you are interested, you can follow my 8 points that I originally wrote for this message. However, due to the simplicity of the people, I broke it down to 3 points and I actually should have made it a bit simpler than what I actually taught.
- Zacchaeus was the Chief Tax collector and Wealthy. In the eyes of Rome, the provinces were to carry the heavy weight of administering the Empire. Judea was in the province of Syria and every man was to pay 1% of his annual income for income tax. But that was not all, there were also import and export taxes, crop taxes (1/10 of grain crop and 1/5 of wine, fruit, and olive oil), sales tax, property tax, emergency tax, and on and on. It was actually a Roman official (censor) who was ultimately responsible to Rome for collecting the revenue of the province, but he sold the rights to extort tax to the highest bidders.
- Zacchaeus was a Publican and looked upon as a great sinner. See Luke 18:9 – 14 for story of Publican and the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted†Luke 18: 14
- Zacchaeus was a short man. We all have disadvantages in our lives. He took the initiative and climbed up in to a Sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus. If he had been tall, maybe he would have fit into the crowd but being small he ran ahead to climb the tree.  He turned a disadvantage in his life into an advantage!
- Jesus said, “Come down and I’m going to your house today†Jesus came to seek those needing help and not those thinking they had no need.    Zacheo welcomed him gladly. Revelation 3:20.
- The Crowd began to mutter and complain because Jesus was going to the house of a sinner.
- Repentance of Zacheo resulted in him giving half of his possessions to the poor and he said that  if he have cheated anyone he would  repay him 4 times the amount
- Salvation came to the house of Zacchaeus.
- Jesus came to seek and save those people who are lost.
-  Are you lost? Do you feel you need to be closer to Jesus Christ today? Please send me an email that you can find under the contact us heading. May God give you the courage to do so!
Humbly Submitted,
Mateo
