Thanksgiving 2012: Give Thanks for His Grace!
Luke 17:11-19
A story is told of a man who was lost in the woods. Later, in
describing the experience, he told how frightened he was and how he had even
finally knelt and prayed.
Someone asked, “Did God answer your prayer?” “Oh, no,” the man
replied. “Before God had a chance, a guide came along and showed me the way out.”
Like that man, many people are blind to the many blessings that
God daily showers upon them. They awake to see the sun shining, and do not give thanks to God. They hear the birds chirping and see beautiful flowers and trees,
but they don’t give it a moment’s thought that God has given those blessings and given them
the senses to enjoy them.
They grumble about having to eat the same old cereal, forgetting
that many would gladly exchange places with them and eat anything for breakfast. They complain about their jobs, forgetting that many would be
grateful just to have a job or even to have the bodily strength to go to work. They complain about their lack of money, forgetting that they
spend more on entertainment each month than many around the world earn as their
total income.
Whether you are a believer in Jesus Christ or a person who does
not even believe in God, the fact is, God has blessed you far more than you realize and far more than
you deserve. It is important to understand how to respond properly to God’s
abundant blessings. To be oblivious to the fact
that God is blessing you or, even worse, to take credit for His blessings as if
you earned them by your own efforts, would be to slight God. The only proper response is to glorify Him from a thankful heart.
These two responses, the proper and improper, are illustrated for
us in this story of Jesus cleansing the ten lepers. Only one of the ten responded properly. He teaches us that …
We should respond to God’s blessings by glorifying Him at Jesus’
feet from thankful hearts.
Ten Healed of Leprosy
11 As Jesus
continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and
Samaria.
12 As
he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!”
16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?
18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
The original
thanksgiving celebration was held by the Pilgrim settlers in Massachusetts
during their second winter in America in December, 1621. The first winter
had killed 44 of the original 102 colonists. At one point
their daily food ration was down to five kernels of corn apiece, but then an
unexpected trading vessel arrived, providing for their severe need.
The next summer’s
crop brought hope, and Governor William Bradford decreed that December 13,
1621, be set aside as a day of feasting and prayer to show the gratitude of the
colonists that they were still alive.
We, like the Pilgrims, have a choice. In life there will always be those things
that we can complain about (the Pilgrims had lost many loved ones), but there
will also be much to be thankful for.
As our society
becomes increasingly secular, the actual “giving of thanks to God” during our
annual Thanksgiving holiday is being overlooked, leaving only the feasting.
May God grant
that He may find us grateful. That’s what today’s message is about…. We had better
enjoy it while we can! Secularism of the
world are after the Pledge of Allegiance; “In God We Trust”; Changed Christmas to Happy
Holidays, and take the Ten Commandment out of Law Courts, Prayers in Public
Ceremonies & Institutions; Thanksgiving Day can’t be too far behind!
So, what are we
thankful for these days? Most of the
time, our thanksgiving is for material and physical things. We are grateful for financial help and
physical health. Or, like the nine
men in our text, we are not that thankful…Our text presents
us with a man who shows us where the real cause for thanksgiving lies. It is good to be
thankful for the material and the physical, but there are some things more
valuable than that.
I would like to
examine this man’s story today and show you a man who is Thankful For God’s Grace. My prayer is that
God will help us to see the real reason or a more valuable reason for
thanksgiving.
11 As Jesus
continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria.
12 As
he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 1. Their Condition – Our condition
Leprosy: defiles,
distances, and dooms all who are afflicted by it!
In Jesus day it
was one of the most feared diseases of all. Leprosy starts
below the surface of the skin & spreads throughout the body. The persons skin turns white & flesh begins to deteriorate - &
visibly rot creating a horrible stench! Parts of the body
literally begin to fall off - or rot away –
Among the 61 defilements of ancient Judaism, leprosy was second only
to touching a dead body in seriousness. UNCLEAN. The Talmud
forbade a Jew from coming closer than 6 ft. of a leper, & if the wind was
blowing, the limit was 150 ft. - extremely
contagious. Distances.
One of the most
brutal aspects of the disease is that there was a break down in the nervous
system, which causes a Leper to not
feel pain. Nothing warns
them when water is too hot or a hammer handle is splintered. It was a horrible
way to Live & Die. Doomed.
It is a clear
picture of sin and its effects on humanity! Sin- defiles us- All have sinned: Rom.3:23. It distances us: Your sin have separated you from relationships
w/ other people and most esp.w God. It dooms us: Wages
of sin is death
That Hardship or
Difficulty can end up being a WINDOW of OPPORTUNITY for the Lord to work in
Hearts that are hard
WORD SPREAD -
That Jesus was able to Cleanse people of this incurable Disease. They had heard about
Him somewhere! There were many recent reports of Jesus' miracles: Perhaps Bartimaeus; Woman with issue; bowed woman;
Jairus’ daughter; Demoniacs, blind, fed multitudes, etc.
So these men
were EAGER TO SEE JESUS. When He was in view, they began to cry out for MERCY
13 crying
out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
2. Their Cry / Our Cry
They cried out in
faith – “Master” = “Chief Commander” They recognized
His power and His authority to heal. They did what the
helpless/ sinner needs to do!
Note :Importance
of Crying out to the Lord - Especially for MERCY: The Lord SEE'S & HEARS those who
cry out !!! Sometimes the
Lord - sits waiting & watching for us to come to that Place of Brokeness /come to the END
OF OURSELVES. We must come to that
Place where we are no longer leaning on our own Strength - we have no strength
Left & SO WE CRY OUT TO HIM
Cry out to Jesus,
He is the only One Who has the power to deliver the lost person from his sins! John 14:6; Have you called on Him?
As
they went / they stepped out & as they did the Cleansing took
place. HERE MAKE NOTE OF
2ND POINT - note The IMPORTANCE OF STEPPING OUT IN FAITH!!!!
Picture the Scene - these 10 walking along perhaps even
discussing their disappointment - because He didn't just touch them. Yet believing
that something was going to happen - because why else would Jesus send them to
the Priest. Somewhere along
the Journey - one looks at the other - YOUR FACE HAS CLEARED UP " SO
HAS YOURS. One by one - the
Leprosy DISAPPEARED - (I can see them sprinting toward the Priest
AS THEY WENT : SO often we have the TENDENCY TO SAY Lord
if you heal me then I will start walking
He answers that
is not how I am going to work this time in your life - You start walking &
then you will see the Healing
NEED A MIRACLE IN
YOUR MARRIAGE? Husband You start
Loving Your wife -- and watch what happens -
- watch a miracle unfold. Wives Start -
giving your Husband the LEADERSHIP in the home that the Lord wants him to have
- Watch what happens .Watch how he RISES TO THE OCCASION
CHRISTIAN YOU
STEP OUT IN FAITH & SHARE W/ THAT PERSON THE LORD HAS PLACED ON YOUR HEART . Invite them to Church & watch what the
Lord does !!!!
Now here is an
important thing that I have Learned about the Christian life. The Lord will
often lead us to step out in faith. We need to obey. Then leave the
HOW / the WHAT / the WHEN / to HIM !!! -
What mean by that ?
LISTEN: So often our problem is THIS/ when we sense
God's leading we think He is going to work in such & such a way
I have learned
the importance - whether
dealing w/ ministry or my life personally the importance of hearing clearly
from the Lord . Getting CONFIRMATION - & then stepping out in faith - &
Leaving the Results to Him - I am always
surprised - LORD I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO DO THAT !!!!
So they acted in
Obedience to the Word of the Lord in stepping out in faith & the cleansing
came. It is just as
true today when men & women act upon the Word of the Lord & put feet to
their faith that the Lord delivers them.
14 He looked
at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
3. Jesus’ COMPASSION – they/we deserved nothing!
They were all
under a death warrant! but when they met
Him, they met grace! As soon as they
turned and obeyed the Lord’s command (Lev.14), they were healed! Every sign of
their disease disappeared from their bodies! That is what
Jesus does for all that come to Him! Meeting Jesus
changes everything. What it means for
a sinner!
- Forgiveness from Defilement
- Reconciliation & A new life from being Distanced.
- Salvation & Eternal life from being doomed
15 One of
them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise
God!”
16 He fell to
the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a
Samaritan.4. A THANKFUL CONVERT
Man’s/ Our Realization
Man’s /Our
Rejoicing
His Realization – He realized 2 things. 1. He had been
healed, and; 2. He came back
and thanked Jesus for what He had done for him.
His Rejoicing – He kept on praising the Lord! If it ever dawns on us all that the Lord has
done for us, we will be hard to handle! He is worthy of our praise! But, we are far behind in that
department! We need to take
the time to be thankful for His grace in our lives .
NOTE THE WORDING
-He glorified God, and fell down on his face at HIS feet, giving HIM thanks. (very interesting
wording) Here He is seen accepting Worship
17 Jesus
asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?
18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
5. An Unthankful Heart
CREATIVE MEMORIES
-Photo Album for Recording those special family events / Pictures sayings
BOOK of
REMEMBRANCE - Well the Lord is doing a similar thing - w/ us in Heaven - when
we give thanks / when we talk about the Lord
- Question How big is our Creative Memories
Book going to be in Heaven?
Can you hear the
heartbreak in the voice of Jesus as He says “but where are the nine”? There should have
been ten men bowing in thanksgiving instead of one. All ten had
experienced God’s compassion and love in healing them.
THE LORD NOTICES THOSE WHO DON'T. He asks Were
their not 10 ? Where are the other NINE
Although this was
supposed to be such an important part of Jewish Life - it is the SAMARITAN -
WHO CAME BACK. So often it is
those who should be the most thankful that are the Least. Jesus at the Home of Simon the Pharisee - Harlot - / washed feet - Jesus took note that Simon didn't "He who has been forgiven much loves much!!!"
WHY DIDN'T THEY
SAY THANKS?
Obviously, we
will never know for sure what these men were thinking. As I have reflected on
this story it seems to me there was probably one of three reasons that the nine
did not return. Maybe they were being cautious. Maybe they wanted to see
if the healing was going to "take".. Maybe they intended to say
"Thank you" as a later time. Maybe it just hadn't sunk in yet.
Maybe it was just a coincidence that they
experienced a healing after talking to Jesus. Maybe they were getting better
already and that is why Jesus just said "Go to the priest." Maybe
they were just "Lucky". Maybe there was nothing to thank but fate . .
..
Now, before you
shake your head at how these men could be so ungrateful . . . ask yourself . .
. have you ever
done the same thing? You are sick and
got better and you gave all the credit to the doctor, your rehab program, or
your determination . . . not God. You get through a
hard time and proclaim that things have finally "run their course" You get a
promotion and are sure it is due to your hard work. Your believe that
your children are good because you are a "good parent" How many times
have we thanked our "lucky stars" rather than the Lord? How many times
have we concluded that we have "earned" the good things we have?
You see, when you
think about it, we are really not much different from the lepers. We receive
blessings on every side and often take them, enjoy them, and never give God
thanks for them.
19 And Jesus
said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
6. GRACE after grace.
Jesus saw far
more than their outward condition; He saw the
deepest needs of their hearts. He wanted to do more than heal their bodies! Many think they need money, health, things,
etc. Jesus knows we
need salvation!
Something
happened in this man’s heart as well as in his body. Ten got new
bodies; one got a new heart!
V.19 HE WAS MADE
WHOLE !!!!! The others were
cleansed but this man was saved
He didn't just
find a NEW LIFE - no more LEPORSY - He found a SAVIOUR - They had missed
the opportunity to deepen their elation by giving thanks. Matthew Henry
says that the grateful man received more than the other nine because gratitude brings
benefits in this world and in the world to come. The nine had
their cure; the one who gave
thanks had his cure, plus a relationship with Jesus.
He was thankful
for grace! And another grace was given
to him. Don’t break His
heart, be thankful for the great things He has done in your heart!
This
Thanksgiving, let's remember that we are all the recipients of God's goodness.
Note:
Resource article adapted from the following people: Alan Carr , RoB
Salvato, Steven Cole, Rev. Bruce Goettsche, Ray Pritchard, Greg Allen, & Deborah J. Thompson
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