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Published: March 24, 2013, 9:59 p.m.

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We\\u2019ve always belonged to Jesus.

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(Ephesians 1:4) (NLT) Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

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(Jeremiah 3:22) (NLT) \\u201cMy wayward children,\\u201d says the Lord, \\u201ccome back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.\\u201d \\u201cYes, we\\u2019re coming,\\u201d the people reply, \\u201cfor you are the Lord our God.

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Title of Message:\\xa0 The Searching

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(Luke 19:1-2) (NIV) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

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(Luke 19:3-4) (NIV) He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

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(Luke 19:5-6) (NIV) When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, \\u201cZacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.\\u201d So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

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(Luke 19:7) (NIV) All the people saw this and began to mutter, \\u201cHe has gone to be the guest of a sinner.\\u201d

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The searching:

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1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Have a past they\'re not proud of.

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2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Have a desire for something significant.

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(Luke 19:8) (NIV) Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, \\u201cLook, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.\\u201d

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(Luke 19:9-10) (NIV) Jesus said to him, \\u201cToday salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.\\u201d

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When the searching find Jesus they find:

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1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The future they hoped for.

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(Jeremiah 29:11) (MSG) \\u201c\\u2026I\\u2019ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I\\u2019m doing. I have it all planned out\\u2014plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.\\u201d

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2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The significance they longed for.

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\\xa0(Luke 19:6) (NKJV) So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.

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