Climbing Higher: Seeking God's Kingdom Together

Jun 22, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Seeking God with a Holy Appetite

A holy appetite is a deep hunger to know God, a longing that drives you to go beyond comfort and routine in pursuit of His presence. Zacchaeus, though wealthy and despised, was so desperate to see Jesus that he climbed a sycamore tree, risking embarrassment and ridicule. This kind of hunger is not satisfied with surface-level religion or worldly success; it presses in, stretches, and persists until it encounters the living God. When you develop a holy appetite, you find yourself willing to do whatever it takes to draw near to Jesus, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone or facing the opinions of others. God promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled, and He delights in meeting those who earnestly seek Him. [07:22]

Luke 19:2-6 (Christian Standard Bible)
"There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.' So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to step out of your comfort zone to seek God more deeply, even if it means risking embarrassment or change today?

Day 2: Turning from Your Way to God’s Kingdom

To truly find God, you must be willing to leave behind what is familiar and comfortable, turning away from your own domain and entering into God’s kingdom. Repentance is not just about feeling sorry for past mistakes; it is a decisive turning—leaving your own way and stepping into the rule and reign of God. This means surrendering control, letting go of your “little kingdom,” and allowing God to direct your steps. The invitation to the kingdom is for everyone, no matter your past or your status. When you turn from your way to God’s way, you discover a new identity, a new purpose, and a new joy that the world cannot give. [08:17]

Matthew 4:17 (ESV)
"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

Reflection: What is one “kingdom” or area of control in your life that you need to surrender to God’s rule today?

Day 3: God Seeks You Even as You Seek Him

While you may be striving to find God, the beautiful truth is that God is already seeking you. Jesus went out of His way to pass through Jericho, a place He did not have to go, just to meet Zacchaeus. In the same way, God pursues you in your brokenness, your hunger, and your need. He calls you by name, invites Himself into your life, and restores your true identity. No matter how lost or overlooked you may feel, Jesus is seeking to save and restore you. He wants to give you back what life and the world have tried to take away, and He delights in meeting you right where you are. [40:00]

Luke 19:9-10 (Christian Standard Bible)
"Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.'"

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to recognize that God is actively seeking you, not just waiting for you to find Him?

Day 4: Persistence and Commitment in the Face of Barriers

Barriers—whether they are people, circumstances, or your own limitations—will try to block your view of Jesus, but persistence and commitment are essential to overcoming them. Zacchaeus faced the obstacle of the crowd and his own short stature, yet he refused to give up. He found another way, climbed higher, and kept seeking until he saw Jesus. In your own life, you may encounter setbacks, shame, or discouragement, but God calls you to keep stretching, keep climbing, and keep looking for Him. Your commitment to see the King must outweigh your fear of what others think or the obstacles in your path. God honors those who persist in seeking Him, and He meets them with grace and breakthrough. [23:12]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What is one barrier—internal or external—that you need to push past today in order to pursue Jesus with greater commitment?

Day 5: God Restores Identity and Gives New Life

When Jesus calls you, He does not come to condemn or shame you, but to restore your true identity and give you new life. Zacchaeus was labeled and rejected by others, but Jesus called him a “son of Abraham” and brought salvation to his house. God wants to speak life into you, to give you back what has been lost or stolen, and to remind you of who you are in Him. No matter your past or what others have said about you, God’s word over your life is what matters most. He is the way maker, the restorer, and the giver of abundant life. [38:44]

Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)
"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'"

Reflection: What negative label or loss do you need to let God redefine or restore in your life today, trusting His word over you?

Sermon Summary

This week has been a time of great blessing and movement of God’s Spirit among us. We’ve witnessed new life through baptism, celebrated the faith of our young people, and seen God’s hand at work in our church family. While the world is preoccupied with politics and uncertainty, our eyes are fixed on the glory of God and the ways He is making a way for us, even when we can’t see it. God’s plans for us are good, and He is always working things out for our ultimate good, even when life feels confusing or out of control.

Turning to Luke 19 and the story of Zacchaeus, we see a man who was willing to go out of his way—literally climbing a tree—to find God’s way. Zacchaeus was wealthy and successful by the world’s standards, but he was missing something deeper. His hunger to see Jesus drove him to overcome obstacles, embarrassment, and the opinions of others. This is the kind of holy appetite we are called to develop: a deep, persistent desire to know God, to seek His kingdom above our own comfort, and to be willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world if it means drawing closer to Christ.

To truly find God, we must be willing to leave what is comfortable and familiar, to repent and turn toward God’s kingdom. This means surrendering our own little “kingdoms”—the things we control and take pride in—and entering into God’s domain, where He is King and we trust Him to provide. The world offers us convenience and quick answers, but only God can work miracles, bring us out of darkness, and give us true life.

Zacchaeus’ story reminds us that God is not just waiting for us to seek Him—He is actively seeking us. Jesus went out of His way to find Zacchaeus, to restore his identity, and to bring him into the fullness of God’s love. No matter what obstacles, shame, or failures we face, God is ready to meet us, speak life into us, and give us back what the world has tried to take away. Our part is to say “yes,” to keep reaching, keep climbing, and keep seeking the King, knowing that He is already seeking us.

Key Takeaways

1. A Holy Appetite for God Developing a hunger for God requires intentionality. Just as Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, we must be willing to go beyond what is comfortable or expected, cultivating a desire for God that surpasses our appetite for worldly things. This holy appetite transforms our frustrations and anxieties into peace as we discover the sufficiency of God’s presence. [07:22]
2. Leaving Our Kingdoms for God’s Kingdom True spiritual growth demands that we leave behind our own domains—our pride, our control, our self-sufficiency—and enter into God’s kingdom. Repentance is not just turning away from sin, but turning toward the reign and rule of Christ in every area of our lives. Only in God’s kingdom do we find the security and provision our souls truly need. [10:30]
3. Persistence in the Face of Obstacles and Shame Life will always present barriers—whether from others, our circumstances, or our own limitations. Like Zacchaeus, we must be persistent, refusing to let embarrassment or the opinions of others keep us from seeking Jesus. God honors those who keep reaching, even when it means risking vulnerability or looking foolish. [23:12]
4. God’s Personal Pursuit and Restoration While we are seeking God, He is already seeking us. Jesus went out of His way to find Zacchaeus, not to condemn him, but to restore his identity and bring him into relationship. God desires to speak life into us, to give back what has been lost, and to remind us that we are His beloved children. [38:44]
5. Saying “Yes” to God’s Invitation No matter where we are—struggling, broken, or feeling far from God—the best place we can be is open and honest before Him. God is looking for those who will admit their need and respond with obedience. Saying “yes” to God’s invitation is the first step toward healing, restoration, and a life filled with His presence. [42:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:21] - Announcements and Encouragement
[03:21] - Scripture Reading: Luke 19
[05:23] - Going Out of Your Way to Find God’s Way
[07:22] - Developing a Holy Appetite
[08:17] - Repentance and Entering God’s Kingdom
[10:30] - Leaving Your Kingdom for God’s Kingdom
[13:26] - The Kingdom is for Everyone
[15:18] - The Sufficiency of Christ
[17:05] - The Limits of Convenience and Technology
[19:39] - Seeking the King, Not Just the Kingdom
[23:12] - Persistence and Overcoming Barriers
[26:59] - Holy Curiosity and Desire
[30:20] - The Power of God’s Spoken Word
[31:18] - Jesus Seeks Us First
[32:46] - Testimony: Bria Bird’s Story
[37:27] - God Restores What Was Lost
[40:00] - Jesus Seeks and Saves the Lost
[42:05] - Responding with “Yes”
[45:32] - Baptismal Certificates and Celebration
[51:28] - Communion and Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Going Out of Your Way to Find God’s Way”

Bible Reading

Luke 19:1-10 (CSB)
> He entered Jericho and was passing through. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Observation Questions

What actions did Zacchaeus take to see Jesus, and what obstacles did he face? ([03:21])
How did the crowd react when Jesus chose to stay at Zacchaeus’ house? ([37:56])
According to the sermon, what did Jesus say was his purpose in coming? ([40:00])
What changes did Zacchaeus promise to make after his encounter with Jesus?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Zacchaeus was so determined to see Jesus, even though he was already wealthy and successful? What does this say about what he was missing in his life? ([14:21])
The pastor said that to find God, we have to leave what is comfortable and familiar. What might this look like in someone’s life today? ([10:30])
The sermon talked about “holy appetite” and a hunger for God. How is this different from just being curious or interested in spiritual things? ([07:22])
Jesus said he came “to seek and to save the lost.” How does this change the way we think about who is looking for whom—are we seeking God, or is God seeking us? ([40:00])

Application Questions

Zacchaeus was willing to risk embarrassment and the opinions of others to get closer to Jesus. Is there an area in your life where you feel embarrassed or afraid to be open about your faith? What would it look like to “climb the tree” anyway? ([23:12])
The pastor talked about leaving our own “kingdoms”—our pride, control, and self-sufficiency—to enter God’s kingdom. What is one area of your life where you struggle to let go of control and trust God? ([10:30])
The world offers us convenience and quick answers, but only God can bring true life. Are there “conveniences” or habits in your life that keep you from seeking God more deeply? What is one step you could take this week to develop a “holy appetite” for God? ([17:05])
Zacchaeus’ story shows that God is actively seeking us, not just waiting for us to come to Him. Can you think of a time when you realized God was pursuing you, even when you weren’t looking for Him? How did you respond? ([31:18])
The pastor encouraged us to be persistent in seeking God, even when we face obstacles or shame. What is one practical way you can be more persistent in your relationship with God this week? ([23:12])
At the end of the sermon, the invitation was to simply say “yes” to God. Is there something God is inviting you to do or surrender right now? What would it look like for you to say “yes” this week? ([42:05])
The sermon mentioned that God wants to restore what has been lost in our lives. Is there something you feel you’ve lost—identity, hope, peace—that you want to ask God to restore? How can the group pray for you in this area? ([38:44])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
“Dear God, thank you for seeking us and loving us, even when we feel lost or far away. Help us to develop a holy appetite for you, to leave behind what holds us back, and to say ‘yes’ to your invitation. Restore what has been lost in our lives and help us to trust you more each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Sermon Clips

“I want to invite your attention for a few minutes as we look at the subject, going out of your way to find God's way. Going out of your way. How many of you have ever been out of your way? Something pulled you out of your way. You were on a certain path, and then all of a sudden, you discovered that you were not going the way that you intended, but it worked out. It worked out.”

“As we look at this message today, there are several things I want to share with you, and one is developing what we call a holy appetite. A holy, everybody say holy. Holy. Appetite. Appetite. Some of you may not realize it, but as you get older, your appetite changes. Your taste buds change. They don't have the same savor, if you would. And so you have to develop an appetite for the things of God.”

“My question to you, do you want to find God's way? Are you that hungry that you want to discover something deep, something more, something powerful, something that will take you out of your own way and bring you into the fullness of who God is and what God can do for your life? I want that kind of appetite. I want that kind of desire in my life to be a God seeker.”

“People are hungry for money, hungry for prestige, hungry for all of these other things, but you need to hunger and thirst for righteousness. When you do that, I'm telling you some awesome things are going to happen with you. You're going to move to a level that you never thought you'd be able to get there.”

“There are two things that are essential if anyone is going to find God. Two things. Jesus said it when he introduced himself and he introduced the gospel. He said, repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Two things in that verse that are critical if you're going to find the kingdom of God for your life. One, you have to leave what you're comfortable with. You've got to walk away from it. You've got to turn away. That word repent means to turn.”

“You've now got to turn to the kingdom. You've got to turn to God's domain. You have to turn in a direction that invites you into the presence and into the control of God himself. Repent. I'm simply going to turn. Now I'm going to be drawn to something that is outside of me. I'm going to be drawn to something that is more powerful than me. I'm going to be drawn to God Almighty.”

“But Jesus said, if you want to experience God, you've got to leave your domain, and you've got to enter into this new kingdom. And people in that day, believe it or not, Jesus said, the violent take it by force. They were rushing to hear what Jesus had to say. They were so hungry because they were under the Roman occupation.”

“That's what the kingdom of God is for. And even an unlike group called tax collectors, publicans. I didn't say republicans. I said, but publicans. They were hated. They were despised. By the way, if you label yourself by a political party, then you're probably missing out on the kingdom. I don't let anything qualify the kingdom. Are y 'all here? It's always kingdom first. It's always God first. It's always Christ Jesus. It's always his domain, not mine.”

“This world ain't my home. I'm just a passing through. Clap your hands, all you people. So Jesus is inviting people to come into the kingdom. And here comes this publican. And he says, I want to see who this man is offering this kingdom. I want to see who he is. But he had a problem. Now, not only was he a tax collector, he had grown rich. I mean, this dude was walking and talking in money. This man had it going on.”

“But his fellow Jewish members hated him. Thought he was a traitor. Even members of his own family called him everything but a child of God. You traitor. You got nerves. Stand up in my door and tell me you're doing this for Rome. You're doing this for yourself. After all, he was filthy rich. He had everything. But he was missing something. He didn't have God.”

“And you know why I'm all right? Because I'm in the kingdom. If I were in my own world, I'd be sweating. I'd have some problems right now. But, Larry, we got a different king, right? We've got a king called Jesus. And whatever I need, I'll tell my king about. And my king says, I'll supply all your need according to my riches in glory.”

“In our need, this generation, and every generation, if we're going to find God, we got to go out of our way. Three things about Zacchaeus that he had to realize. He had to be committed. And notice I said, see hyphen king. We would call it seeking, but it's not just an object that you're seeking. It's not just more money that you're seeking. It's not just acceptance that you're seeking. You are seeking a king.”

“What is it that would get us there to where we seek a king? Well, it's usually when our life gets out of control, right? You all would agree. When your life gets out of control, especially as you get older and you can't control your health the way you used to. Right? Some of you found yourself in situations, relationships, where things were going south, and you said, wait a minute, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. That's not the way I want it to go. And now you're looking for something.”

“In life, it's not about height. It's not about width. Things in life can become barriers to you. On your job, you're going to run into folk that you never thought you were going to run into. Sometimes in family situations, you're going to run up in what we call a brick wall. And you're trying to strain to see the king. That's all you want to do. To be able to say, I see the king.”

“But you know what? Here's what I want you to do before you leave here today. Vow to yourself, I'm not going to give up. I'm going to keep stretching. I'm going to keep looking. I can't be tall, but I can be persistent. When you're standing on this side and you're looking at the need in front of you and you know that God is right there to meet your need, be persistent. Say to yourself, I'm committed that I want to see the king.”

“Second thing you've got to do, you've got to get past the embarrassment. How many of y 'all folks have ever been embarrassed? Let me tell you what embarrassment. Y 'all don't know embarrassment. One Christmas, my parents dressed me up. I was looking sharp, but I didn't have any two front teeth. So do you know what Ms. Blank's, my elementary school teacher, I ain't got nothing against elementary school teachers. I don't have anything against Ms. Blank. But she got me up on stage and had me sing this song, All I Want for Christmas is my two front...I ain't think I was running. Sure, I wanted a BB gun and a bicycle.”

“Life is going to put you in some places where you're going to have to go through some shame. I'm going to preach to you in just a second, but I want you to realize that life will put you in a place where people will make fun of you. I know a lot of the people, a lot of the younger people, you face that now. Even the thing about being on Facebook and you friend somebody, but next thing you know, you told a friend, now they're telling your business, and all of a sudden, you get embarrassed. It hurts, doesn't it?”

“You can't let shame and embarrassment keep you from that path and from where you need to go in life. Because God is a way maker. I said God is a way maker. Amen, somebody. Get out of your way. Get out of your way.”

“That holy appetite means that you've got a hunger for the things of God. Moses is a classic example of somebody who said, I want God. First it starts with what we call this curiosity. He saw a burning bush. Bush set on fire. Little did he know that God set the bush on fire. Some of us need a revelation in our life. Maybe the Lord needs to light us up and let us know he's there.”

“But you know how kind and how gentle Jesus is? He simply knocks on the door. Revelation 3 and 20, it tells us, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Whoever opens the door. I will come in and suck with him and he with me. But you've got to have an appetite. You've got to have a desire. And I'm telling you, I've got a desire to see Jesus. Do you have that same desire today?”

“Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. So he climbed the tree. Some of y 'all might not realize it, but you up a tree now. One thing ain't getting up a tree, another thing ain't getting down. But there he was. How do you get up a tree in life? You put yourself in a vulnerable position where if it doesn't work, you're going to look like a fool. That's what I call commitment.”

“Only you know what the Lord has done for you. Only you know how far he's brought you. Only you know how good he's been to you, how kind and gracious the Lord has been in your life. If you want to praise him, don't worry about who's looking. I'm up a tree called praise. I believe in giving God praise because he is worthy.”

“Everything that is in existence is because of the spoken word of God. God spoke in the beginning and said, let there be light. And guess what? There was light. But now God is wanting to speak to us individually and want us to not have just light but life. John 1 and 6 says, in him was life, and the light was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness, but the darkness did not understand it.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, life is only found in Jesus Christ. And what I'm telling you right now, while Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus, Jesus came all the way to Jericho to go out of Jericho. Why did he do that? He didn't have to go through Jericho. It was considered a cursed town. But he went through Jericho because guess what? He was looking for Zacchaeus.”

“You can be doing so well today. And in a split second, your whole life changes. She suffered two strokes. Young people, don't say it never happened to me. It could. I pray it doesn't. But either way, if it doesn't happen to you, you're going to have your own problem to deal with. Now you see why Zacchaeus was so hungry. He was at one of those desperate moments.”

“You got to get to that place where you say in your own mind and in your own heart, only God can help me with this. I'm in trouble.”

“But it's not about how to fall. It's how to get back up. Won the 300 -meter hurdles. When she got to the end, she realized how far. Everybody say, how far? The Lord had brought her. He brought her from a mighty, mighty long way. And you can say to yourself, I was up a tree or I was in a valley, but God picked me up. The Lord turned me around. He placed my feet on solid ground. Shout yes, somebody.”

“If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, where would I be? You wonder why I get so excited. I've been up a tree. I've been down in the valley. But God brought me out. I've been in trouble. I've been hurting. Almost gave up. But the Lord made her way out of nowhere. You can say the same thing in your life.”

“God wants to speak in your life. He wants to speak into your life. Not to tell you how bad you are, how cursed you are. Now, if he wanted to do that, he could easily take your life. He wants to give you life.”

“Jesus said to Zacchaeus. First he spoke to him and said, Zacchaeus, hurry up and come down. Hurry up and come down. I've got to stay at your house. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You ain't got to stay at this man's house. This is a sinner. This is a publican. Jesus said, it is necessary. Why was it necessary? He had to give him his identity back. He lost his identity. He said, this is the son of Abraham. And I came to give him back something that the world had robbed him of.”

“In our life, sometimes he'll do things to remove things, but then he'll give you back double for your trouble. I feel like shouting up here. What you've got to do, start reaching. Start climbing. Start saying to God, Lord, I'm not so much worried about people seeing me. I want to see you. I really, really need to see you.”

“For the son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. Did you get that? Zacchaeus was seeking. But Jesus said, no, no, no, no, no, no. So, I'm seeking you. I'm trying to find you so that I can save you. Bring you out. Bring you to a safe place.”

“Are you in a good place right now? I'm not talking about inside this church. Mentally, spiritually, maybe even physically. Are you in a good place? Are you saying, Pastor, no, I'm struggling. I'm struggling. How many of y 'all like me would agree that you're struggling with something? But you're really trying to get to a good place. You're trying to get, not that everything would be easy. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about where you don't have in your mind, I want to give up. Anybody need that? God, you're in the best place that you could possibly be because Christ Jesus is looking for you.”

“He says, I'm looking for people who are brokenhearted. I'm looking for people who are hungry. I'm looking for people with tears in their eyes and have said, I've done everything I could. I don't know what else to do. Christ Jesus says that he's looking for you. He wants you to come over to his kingdom. Let him have that dominion in your life.”

“You may have been a Christian for dozens of years. I'm not talking about becoming a new believer. I'm talking about trusting God's work. That he can help you. Go out of your way. Go out of your way today. And simply tell him yes.”

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