3, 10, and 1

Psalm 121 / 2 Kings 5 / Luke 17 / 2 Timothy 2

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

It’s not about you, or fairness - Naaman (2 Kings 5)

Physical healing always points to a higher healing

Matthew 9:5 “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?”

Naaman’s illness was not his choice

Nor is our lot, our suffering, our sin

Naaman’s cure was not his design - The 3

Is it fair that we must breathe oxygen to live?

Psalm 121:1 “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?”

Be Thankful - The 10 Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)

Leprosy = physical disease + ostracism

Jesus’ solution was immediately effective

Where are the nine?

The Christian paradigm is that we worship, give, work not out of obligation or in an attempt to gain God’s favor, but BECAUSE He has given us His favor; out of gratitude and love!

So I ask… not just where are the nine, but where are the tens, the hundreds, the thousands that ought to be in church pews this morning?

Where are those who have by their words said that they have been healed, carried, saved, but by their actions and absence from the gathering of the church?

Or maybe the better question for us who are gathered, is how do we keep being like the one?

How can we ensure that we don’t forget what the Lord has done for us? How do we keep our hearts thankful? humble?

Work to not be ashamed - 2 Timothy 2:14-19

Be a Bible Student

2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

Make sure your life reflects your profession

2 Timothy 2:19 “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.””

The Lord knows who are His

Psalm 1:5-6 “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

The Good News

God is never confused on who is saved. He knows who are His. If you are in need of that initial healing of the leprosy of your heart, He stands ready, willing, and able to provide!

For all who have believed unto salvation; for all whom God has begun a good work, He will bring it to completion.

That is to say, that He stands ready to enable, equip, empower you and I, all who are in Christ, to fill us with thanksgiving, and reason for it, to stir up a desire within us for His Word, and then to lead us in and by it. He is present and desiring to give you the escape and the freedom from slavery to sin!

Church Family, God is a healer of body, mind, and soul. He delights in healing, restoring, and leading! What’s more is that He will for the rest of our lives help us to walk the paths of righteousness. How can we be anything but thankful?