The Attitude of Gratitude (3)

Fullness of Life

Over the Past couple of weeks we’ve been discussing that attitude of Gratitude. We looked at what your gratitude is and what it isn’t, but this morning I want to chat with you about the fullness of Life you can have when you make the attitude switch.

Luke 17:11–19 ESV

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Now this is in interesting recount for many reasons. First because it shows the power of gratitude which we will get into, but second and probably the most odd and countercultural thing you can find in the bible is that 10 men were standing together. One of those men were Samaritan. If you know anything about Samaritans and Jews they are like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. They are like Steeler fans and Raven fans. They are like oil and water. They just don’t mix.

The Reality is

1. Misery Loves Company

Misery often transends hate. Nothing brings people together like having a common enemy.

Proverbs 16:29 The Living Bible

29 Wickedness Loves Company—And leads others into sin.

If you want to know if you love misery look at the company you keep. The attitude you find in your friends will often be the same attitude you carry around. No one wants to be happy by themselves and no one wants to be miserable by themselves.

But here you have 10 men of faith. How do we know they all had faith?

they knew who Jesus was.

Luke 17:13 (ESV)

13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

The terms Master is the same term Peter uses in Luke 5:5 and means chief commander. They knew Jesus was is command of life and death, disease and healing, sin and restoration. They knew because they likely heard the stories and the believed.

How do we know they believed?

because the healing didn’t occur until there was first obedience.

Luke 17:14 (ESV)

14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

They weren’t healed until they acted upon Jesus’ command. If anything other than obedience was in their hearts they wouldn’t have been healed and made well.

Here’s the issue: If they had faith before they met Jesus why weren’t they healed until Jesus showed up?

Your faith must be activated in the presence of Jesus to be healed.

What most preachers won’t tell you is that you can believe in God and still run away from God. You can have faith in Christ, while running from His presence. I remember when I ran away from home moved in with my girlfirend and her lesbian parents. one was a wicken and hated me. She constantly was casting demons of torcher and despite being on the run I would grab oil and anoint all the door ways to protect myself from the evil she was conjuring. I had faith. I would call down the name of Jesus for protection, but I wouldn’t let him heal my heart. I wouldn’t let him heal my reason for running. The same is true with the prodigal son. When he was in the pig pit, He knew of God. He knew his father had a kinder heart and would treat him better. But it wasn’t until He got into the presence of God that his heart started to heal. Some of you maybe seeking healing from one thing or another, but until you get into the presence of God your faith cannot be activated to make you well. When we cross the bounds from faith to Praise. When we cross over from faith to thanksgiving. When our faith is activated by the presence of God it will stir an attitude of gratitude that will ignite a deeper healing than you could have asked for.

Luke 17:16 ESV

16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

All 10 were physically healed, but only one came back to praise God.

10 were ordered to go see a priest and only 1 became a priest.

Psalm 116:12–19 (ESV)

12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,

14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

Only one was thankful. Two weeks ago we talked about positioning ourselves in the favor and blessing of God through our thankfulness and praise and this Samaratian man did just that.

The Samaritan man gave a sacrifice of thanksgiving and he went from being a foreigner to a Priest.

Luke 17:18–19 ESV

18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Literal translation: Your Faith has Saved you

He was already healed, so what was Jesus talking about? The Samaritans attitude of Gratitude took his physical healing and made it spiritual. The Samaritan man found salvation.

Why do some believe and yet aren’t saved? Because they never entered a place of thanksgiving. They never entered a place of praise. It’s one thing to know Jesus is Lord it’s another to rejoice in Christ’s Salvation. It’s one thing to know God exists its another thing to worship at his feet.

The bible tells us that an ungrateful heart is fertile soil for all kinds of sin.

Romans 1:21 ESV

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

One day every tongue will bow and confess Jesus Christ is Lord, but yet on that day many won’t find salvation. There is a difference between knowing of God and Believing in His ability to save and that difference is shown in our attitude. That difference is shown in our gratefulness. It’s dangerous waters when you start taking advantage of God and just expecting him to do things.

All 10 believed and where physically healed. But one believed and found eternal life. This Thanksgiving season lets remember all that Christ has done for us and let us find within ourselves and attitude of Gratitude and and attitude of praise.