About

SonSeeker Church

The name SonSeeker Church is derived from Luke 19:10 which says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost” (KJV).  I Peter 5:8 tells us to “be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (KJV).  It is easily observed that the devil (slanderer or accuser) is seeking lives to oppress, bring hopelessness, discouragement, illness, defeat, and bring sinfulness that only leads to stealing, killing and destroying (John 10:10).  We also know from John 10:10, Jesus says he has come to bring more abundant life.  Knowing that the Son of man (Jesus) is come seeking as well, and his seeking is to save that which is lost, the name SonSeeker Church is derived to be a called out people bringing, being sober (right minded about the things of God) and vigilant in bringing the message, Spirit, and hope in Jesus Christ to a lost and deceived world.  Since the devil is seeking, we want to let you know that the Son is seeking to be the Lord in your life.

Context

In chapter of 18 of the book of Luke, a rich man inquires, of Jesus, saying, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life” (Luke 18:18 KJV)?  Jesus spoke keeping certain commands, that Matthew’s account of this indicated that he indicates he kept those commands, bur Jesus  indicated something the rich ruler lacked.  Jesus told the man to sell all he had and give it to the poor and have treasure in Heaven (Luke 18:22).  Jesus was showing the man that he was guilty of the first commandment, as riches were a god before God. The rich man was sorrowful and would not follow Jesus.  As a result of the rich man turning away, Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:24 KJV).  Since the disciples thought that gain was godliness, they asked, “Who then can be saved” (Luke 18:26 KJV)?  Jesus, response was “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God (Luke 18:27 KJV)”

This passage speaks of a person who has their hope and trust in this world’s goods, being hard for them to come and follow Jesus and enter the kingdom of God.  Although it is impossible for man, Jesus says, it is possible for God.  This teaches that we, by our own efforts, cannot overcome the desires of our heart that lead us away from following Jesus Christ; however, God’s power can bring about salvation.  This becomes an important item of context, as we come into our text.  As we go to our text in Luke 19:1-10, we will see another rich man in the passage; however, we will see a different outcome.

Text (Luke 19:1-10)

As Jesus entered Jericho, we read about another rich man.  This is a man named Zacchaeus.  He was the chief among publicans (Luke 19:1-2).  Zacchaeus south to see Jesus, but because of his stature and the multitude of these pressing to see Jesus, he was unable, so he climbed into s sycamore tree to see Jesus as he passed by.  When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down (Luke 19:1-5).  Jesus said to him, “Zaccheaus, make haste and come down, for today, I must abide in at thy house”  (Luke 19:5).

As I consider the passages of the two rich men, the rich ruler and the rich publican, I notice some comparisons and contrasts in the events.  The following will show a comparison and contrast of the passages in Luke 18 and Luke 19:

First, both were rich men, and both came to where Jesus was.  Where we get a contrast is the difference between why each came.  The rich ruler came asking, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life (Luke 18:16 KJV)?  Zaccaeus, the rich publican came “to see Jesus who he was” (Luke 19:3).  The rich ruler focused on himself and obtaining knowledge about the sufficiency or lack in his own actions.  Zacchaeus came to get to know who Jesus and who he is.  We will observe that how one approaches Jesus can make a difference on how one responds to His call.

Secondly, we see Jesus’ call both to be with him.  The rich ruler Jesus called on him to sell all he had and come and follow Him.  Jesus told Zaccaeus to come down out of the tree, saying, “for today, I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5 KJV).  In this calling, Jesus addressed the issue of the spirit in each man.  For the rich ruler, his spirit revealed that he is trying to be saved through his own works.  He wanted to know what he needed to do to have eternal life.  He was confronted with his inability to keep the commandments, because when he was asked to sell all and follow Jesus, he went away discouraged, because he could not keep the first commandment of the decalogue, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3 KJV).  This revealed that the god, mammon, was before him.

As we consider the call of Jesus to Zaccaeus, as a chief among the publicans, this was a man despised of the people of Israel.  This is a man that was looked on as a traitor.  Even as Jesus called on him to come down from the tree and was to be guest in his home, the crowd said, “he was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner” (Luke 19:7).  With the rich ruler, the issue with his wealth was achievement, and what you need to do to earn what you get.  For Zacchaeus, his wealth was what he had in place of acceptance and love.  His wealth gave him security and worth.  This he did not find from others.  When Jesus called him to come down and invited himself to Zaccaeus house he was offering acceptance and fellowship.  This is something he was not accustomed to receiving.  By the self-invitation, Jesus was saying that Zacchaeus may be a sinner, but Jesus is ready to accept him before he does anything and have communion with him.  In this case, Zacchaeus accepts the offer.  Although Jesus, previously, indicated that it was hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, but he also said, things that are impossible for man are possible with God.  Instead of being defensive and rejecting Jesus’ invitation, like the rich ruler did, Zacchaeus welcomed him and his life was changed.  He no longer needed his wealth to give him security and wealth.  He found greater riches in belonging with Jesus.  After accepting Jesus invitation, he repented of his injustice and made restitution by saying, “Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore it fourfold.  His spirit changed and now he was no longer wanted the deceitfulness of riches, but the riches off the kingdom of God.  Jesus response to this regenerated life was “This day is salvation come to this house” (Luke 19:9 KJV).

Topic (Luke 19:10)

Although it was the rich ruler that came to Jesus with his inquiry, and Zacchaeus came to Jesus to see who this Jesus was, Jesus points out who was seeking whom.  Jesus makes the statement “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10).  In this statement, Jesus uses the term Son of man.  This is a title that comes from Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV) which says, " I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”  This is a Messianic prophecy of God becoming flesh.  This was understood at Jesus trial when he used this scripture and title to answer the high priest who asked, “… tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus saith unto hum, Thou hast said:  nevertheless I say unti you.  Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven (Matt 26:64-65 KJV).  After that the high priest referred to this as blasphemy and the Jesus was worthy of death.  This accusation of blasphemy was His using the title from Daniel to respond to the high priest in the affirmative that Jesus in, indeed, the Christ the Son of God.  Philippians bring this truth out, as well.  Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV) says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:   And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”  Jesus use of the tithe Son of man states that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14a).  It indicates who was doing the call.

Now that we understand who is giving the invitation, the remainder indicates why the invitation is that is to seek and to save that which is lost.  As we look at the rich ruler and the rich publican, we see two men who trusted in themselves.  One through efforts to gain riches and the other to reject fellowship to gain riches.  They both had security in self and riches; however, they were looking for more.  They both came to Jesus, because they were lost.  Whether that was what they lacked or what did others know about him.  They were lost, because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 KJV).  Jeus indicated that although they came to Him, it was because he was already there.  He indicated that he was the seeker, because he came to seek and to save that which is lost.  The bible tells us “there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God (Romans 3:11).  For that reason, Jesus is there to reveal himself.  He gives the invitation, because he is the seeker to those who do not understand. He reveals himself to those who are lost.

The name SonSeeker Church

The name SonSeeker church is derived from the passage and the topic found in Luke 19:10 (KJV) that “… the Son of man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost.”  It is a play on words as there is a term for people who look to get out in the sun as a sun seeker.  In this case they are seeking the to get more of the sun which is already there.  In the context, we see two individuals who were seeking the Son of God; however, just like the sun is there ready to shine its light on us and provide warmth and enjoyment, The Son of man is already there to enlighten us and provide the fellowship with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Primarily, the name SonSeeker is because Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost.  In I John 3:8 (KJV) we are told “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”  The name of the church is related to its function.  That is to enlighten our world that Jesus is the Christ.  He is the Son of the living God, and that by believing on Him, you might have life.  The mission of the church is to show forth that though doubt and unbelief, bondage and oppression, sickness and pain. Hurt and fear, Jesus is there to save, deliver, fill, and provide peace and joy.  The mission of the church is to proclaim Spirit and truth for a deeper walk with the Lord Jesus, Christ.  To know that He is always there, and just like the call to the rich ruler and rich publican, Jesus has an invitation to all to no longer trust in your efforts, but to just follow him, and to not feel alone in this world unless you are yoked with it, but he is there to receive you and we can enjoy sweet fellowship with Him.  The name SonSeeker Church is because, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.”  The church is to minister the Jesus Christ is there inviting you and seeking your desire to come out and be with Him.