At the table IV the Blessing

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named . He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were . “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back times as much!”

Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man[a] came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)

This fig tree has a symbiotic relationship with a specific fig (Ceratosolen arabicus) that pollinates its flowers inside the fruit. In regions where the fig wasp doesn’t live, such as parts of the Middle East, the tree had to be hand-pollinated—a process known as .

In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. Matthew 21:18-19 (NLT)

Don’t eat without tasting and don’t feast without !

We must be willing to the painful realities of those we fellowship.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Romans 12:14-16 (NLT)

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Luke 19:8 (NLT)

Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of . For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:9-19 (NLT)

Blessing Ingredients: Identity – – Prosperity

Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9 (NLT)

Week One: Someone in our

Week Two: Someone from our space.

Week Three: Someone in our .

Week Four: Someone in our .

Week Five: Someone outside the .