Our Favorite Attiude Should be Gratitude

Intro

Luke 17:11-19

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

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Historical Context

Samaria & Galilee

Samaria and Galilee were both heavily Gentile areas. The people there would have been regarded as outsiders, foreigners to the covenant of God.

Leprosy

these gentiles got this skin disease that made them unclean according to jewish law

they had to be isolated from the city and from people

a mycobacterial infection that was regarded as intractable and incurable

This is all they knew

The difficulty in their life caused them to become outcasts

Ten Lepers Cry Out

Matthew–Luke Comment

how they do not think themselves to be worthy of receiving healing; they know their only hope is mercy.

Go to the priest..

Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII Ten Lepers Cleansed (Luke 17:11–19)

This seems a strange command, but the meaning is clearly this: “The priests have condemned you as lepers; then, if you believe that I can heal you, and am healing you, go and show yourselves, that they may see that you are healed”

Matthew–Luke Comment

when lepers are healed of their disease, the priests make the final pronouncement about their healing. As the ten men are going, they are all cleansed and healed, symbolizing their restoration to the community.

Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII Ten Lepers Cleansed (Luke 17:11–19)

Two things were absolutely needed:

1. Faith in the WORD of Christ (v. 19).

2. Obedience to the WILL of Christ.

If they had waited till they felt better before they went, they never would have gone. It is while we believe and obey that we enter into life.

10 Lepers

They only wanted the miracle and not the healer

You only call someone because you want something from them

Turboman Gift Illustration

eucharisteō

to give thanks ; Describes the act of giving thanks.

its not something you think about, but it’s a response in action

20  Showing gratitude has to do with appreciating benefits received and expressing that thankfulness to others. True gratitude evidences itself by bringing joy to others and alleviating their discomfort.

Carol Kent

A New Kind of Normal (2007)

Carol Kent

Donut

Is it whole or missing something? It’s complete, but is it missing anything? No! Because the donut is supposed to have a hole in it.

Like us, we can focus on the donut and everything God has given us or we can see the hole in the donut and say what we are missing in life.

In actuality, we are made whole and have everything we ever need in Jesus

3 Qualities of Gratitude...

#1 Small steps of faith

Psalm 105:1 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!”

Share a time

#2 Spiritual Response to our situations

Acts 16:22-25 “Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Many athletes show gratitude to God when they do something good, like hit a home run, score a touchdown, or win a race. Former Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Stover has learned to give God the glory even in defeat. During the first quarter of Super Bowl XLIV, Stover made a 38-yard field goal and promptly pointed to the heavens, giving God glory for his achievement.

Of course many players do that. However, in the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, Stover missed a 51-yarder. Once again, he pointed to the heavens. That action didn’t escape notice: “CBS announcer Jim Nantz made note of the action, lauding Stover as a ‘spiritual man,’ grateful for divine blessing in success and failure, victory and defeat.”

The Bible teaches us to give glory to God in all we do, not just if it is successful. God receives much glory when we praise him and remain faithful, even when things do not go the way we would like them to.

Colossians 4:2 “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”

Your thankfulness affects other people

Your thankfulness can be the gospel for someone to know

#3 Humility

Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII Ten Lepers Cleansed (Luke 17:11–19)

The healing mercy of Christ not only made this Samaritan very thankful, it also made him humble. “He fell on his face at His feet.” Humility and thankfulness are characteristic of those saved by the grace of God.

English Standard Version Chapter 17

33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it

The Hope is This

Perhaps one reason it is God’s will for us to be thankful is that it is good for us. A 2009 study again showed that being thankful can improve your life. At the University of California, Davis, professor Robert Emmons said, “Those who offer gratitude are less envious and resentful. They sleep longer, exercise more and report a drop in blood pressure.” Emmons is the author of the book Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier, and an earlier book that describes gratitude as a “new science.” Brenda Shoshanna is a New York psychologist who agrees. “You can’t be depressed and grateful at the same time,” said Shoshanna, the author of 365 Ways to Give Thanks: One for Every Day of the Year. “It makes a person physically, mentally, in every way healthier.”