Gratitude is the Attitude - Luke 17:11-19

Luke chapter 17.

Luke chapter 17.

Thank you.

Y'all hungry this morning.

Hope. So, you're new here. I said that most every Sunday by that. I mean, are you hungry to eat and feast upon the milk and meat of the word of God for our souls need? Luke chapter 17 verses 11 to 19. You can stay seated for this reading. The word of God tells us this the on his way to Jerusalem. Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice. Jesus Master have pity on us. When he saw, he said go show yourselves to the priests that they went. They were cleansed one of them. When he saw me, he was healed. Came back, praising God, in a loud voice, he threw himself at Jesus's feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, we're not all ten cleansed. Where the other nine has? No one returned to give praise to God except this Foreigner. Then he said to him rise and go, your faith has made you. Well, the word of God for the people of God. Thanks, be unto God. How many of you here today? Remember the show Duck Dynasty. If you had knowledge, whether it be Affinity or disdain, I'm sure. You may have heard of the show before. So I'm familiar with it. It's Louisiana family that made Millions by making duck calls and it's basically a modern-day real life. As much as reality, TV can be real life. It's a Monday real life version of The Beverly Hillbillies just wondering what do country people do with a lot of money. Now don't be bringing that up is because 10 years ago, I want a t-shirt at a youth party. I went to buy Duck Dynasty and on the back of the T-shirt, it has three different commands. If you will that are enumerated from top to bottom, the most important to least important, and those three things on the back of the t-shirts said, fear God. Love your neighbor hunt ducks. And it's true. When you think about it, that's the order upon which we, as Christians should live, it's firstly to fear God, then love our neighbor and then fill in the blank, whatever. It might be that you enjoy hunting ducks, eating, chocolates, watching a good basketball game, and you fill in the blank. Whatever you might enjoy. These are all good gifts from God, if we can be thankful for. But in the midst of those three came and I hope you see it's not just three commands but they're three opportunities there. If there's a write the command to hunt Ducks, there's the opportunity to actually hunt ducks on land before. You can love others, the opportunity is, we can have Fellowship interaction and relationships with other people. In the same goes with fear and God or loving God, it's not just, we are commanded to do this, but rather we have the opportunity to go before. God, to come to him with our request are thanksgivings, to confess our sins before him to be, made Anew, to be made clean. Know, whatever that third gift might be that food opportunity. That third to your item in your own mind whatever might be, I hope we can all agree upon the fact that nothing compares to the first to the ability to love. God, have a relationship with him and the ability to have a relationship and fellowship with other human beings. Those two things are truly the greatest gifts of God. What are passage today. We're introduced to 10 individuals who for all intents and purposes have not been able to do either of the first two at least for a while. And recently they haven't been able to have good fellowship with God or fellowship with other people. Because a text tells us and verse 12, At least 10 men had leprosy. The Greek word there simply is translated and in means various skin diseases. We don't know exactly what plagued their bond is, but we do know it was it was bad and there had to be exercised out of the camp. Leviticus chapter 13, some of that if that's infamously known as what curtails everybody from their Bible reading plan year after year. But Leviticus 13, verse 45 and 46. Tell us what the laws and customs were from men and women for anybody who had leprosy. The passage tells us anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes. Let their hair Beyond can't cover the lower part of their face and cry out, unclean unclean. As long as they have the disease, they remain on clean. They must live alone. They must live outside the camp. In present-day first century they must live outside of the town outside of the village on the outskirts of society. The socially and spiritually. These people had no hope they were cut off right socially. We can kind of grasp this. And in this world, we live in the infamous see disease that many of you may have gotten but you know that covid if you didn't know what that was, but you know that if somebody is sniffling has a cough as a little bit of a fever and they got goopy eyes droopy eyes. They just are not feeling well at all. What are you? Do, you go run and embrace them and have a good conversation with him know, keep your distance away from all these people. Imagine that kind of stigma of that, kind of distancing. Magnified by at least 10:20. 50 times. This is the type of attitude that Society had on these people. You won't want to go near these people. Socially. They were outcasts. This is even close family, right? Spouses children parents. If you had this disease, you are on the outside of Camp. There's no exceptions. I couldn't go and get a meal. Can I go to the grocery store? Nothing. No. Societal involvement or fellowship with others at all? But it's not just socially spiritually. These men were destitute because today we have the privilege of living in under the New Covenant. We have the privilege of knowing First Peter chapter 2, which is all about the priesthood of the believer, all believers, we can all directly go to God, ask for forgiveness because of all that Jesus did under the old Covenant, how did you have fellowship with God? You had to go to the temple, you had to go to the priest. You had to bring your sacrifice, has to be made right with God. And these men, these people, they could not do that, they couldn't have any fellowship with God. Practically speaking. So they were hopeless. God, do you hear my prayer? Because I haven't sacrificed in years. I still send. These men are hopeless. Are you see? The grace of God is a reality, a major spoiler alert for you. Jesus, heals is 10 men. But as is the case throughout the gospel accounts, every time we come across a miracle, a lot of times the Recollections the recordings of it aren't focused on the actual Miracle per se, but rather it's about what builds up to the miracle. And, most importantly, what happens? Then how do you live in light of the grace of God, that he shows to you, you go back and live in sin or do you actually serve Christ and follow him because it was Grace that he's shown you? They're here in Luke chapter 17, the focus. I believe that the text is kind of whittling it down. Give us something to think about the Texas, emphasizing the importance for you and I to live properly in light of God's grace. What are those lessons that we teach children from a very early age? Yo, if we use the phrase as parents, what do you say? Thank you, write. We treat each other. As soon as they can talk. Soon as they start understanding things, what do you say? Thank you? In this passage or here is kind of a reminder from God in light of all that. I've done for you. Not a few I am. How good? How gracious I am? What do you say? Thank you. I don't care if you're 5 or 15 or 50 or 85. This is a reminder that all human beings need to constantly be reminded of. That is a reminder to be grateful to be grateful to God. For all the key is know that he's done for us. so, A lot of all of that, that's the main point. The one point sermon for you today, and light of all that God has done for you, you are called and you must say thank you. The light of all that, let's walk through the text on packet. See how we arrived at that proposition that truth we must believe verse 11 text tells us now on his way to Jerusalem. Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. Immediately. God Almighty through Luke, the human author, we're reminded of why Jesus came into the world. Is he this phrase on his way to Jerusalem with his eyes? Set towards Jerusalem? This phrase actually is found first in Luke 9:51 Text tells us as the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 13:22 it continues. Jesus went through the towns and Villages teaching, as he made his way toward Jerusalem 13:33. Jesus himself says, I must press on today, and tomorrow, in the next day, for surely no. Prophet can die outside Jerusalem. And then we find it yet again and 17:11. Play Jesus did not aimlessly come into the world, he didn't randomly come and just randomly plop down into the region of Palestine. He that randomly go to town to town. Now he came for specific reason to go to Jerusalem. And reading the entire gospel account. We know what that means was packed into that. Cuz what happened at Jerusalem? The death, the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus came to teach absolutely came to preach. He came to do wonderful Miracles as well. It see in just a moment, but most importantly, he came to die to rise again to atone for our sins to give us eternal life through his resurrection. That's the main reason Jesus came to die. You might be wondering, what does that have to do with healing of leprosy in these 10 guys and Luke 17. Absolutely everything. Because this will see the end, the salvation of God is the greatest gift that you and I should be grateful for. Don't the techs continues. Jesus travel along the border between Samaria and Galilee two, diametrically opposed groups, the Jews. The Samaritans he was along that border. You don't know, particularly, which region he was in. There was close. None, the less, Then verse 12 and 13 as he was going into a village ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out the loud voice. Jesus Master have pity on us. See, we don't know exactly why Jesus was stopping here. We're going into that Village, maybe the disciples or himself, maybe they wanted a little snack. Maybe they're going to spend the night there in this Village are maybe going to see a friend or somebody. We don't know exactly why but none the less most likely on the outskirts of town, right? As they were going into the village and tells us. 10 men with Leprosy met him at all of them traveling together and you notice the precise wording. There, it says, they stood at a distance, right? They knew their place in life. They kept their distance and I called out in a loud voice. We don't know how far he was walking. Maybe it was 50 ft 100 ft, maybe a hundred yards away. We don't know what they wanted to get. This guy's attention because most likely they had heard of Jesus before. Because the word there when they said Jesus Master, the word Master, there is used at least eight other times in the past in this gospel. The seven other times that use it all used by disciples, the most likely these Ten Men somehow had heard about this miracle worker. This good preacher teacher guy walking around. And he always had this group of 15 as people always got a, trailing him, and following him. And he always Walks With Dignity. There's something different about this, man. We don't know what, quite how to describe in to see him off in the distance. They say, Jesus Master have pity on us. You notice what? I asked of him. That's as specific as they request God. Have pity on us. I didn't ask for specific healing or it's just Lord, please help me. How many view? How many of us can empathize with that sentiment at Harbor week, or discouraged or hopeless? You might be the only thing you can order out of your show is Lord help me. Show Mercy to me. Please just some just a little bit. Are you notice what Jesus did then verse 14. Text tells us that Jesus told him. Of course, she heard them, right. Jesus, hears and sees all He responded with a very interesting response and instruction go show yourselves to the priests. Very intriguing and three observations. About that. Why? It is Bruce Lee. Jesus does not immediately kill these men. It sometimes in the gospels, in the Bible, there is a miraculous instantaneous, Miracle recorded. It is Split Second and it's done. It doesn't happen here. We see Jesus don't show yourselves to the priest, the implication is, I think for you and I sometimes when God chooses to bless when God chooses to shower his grace upon you, sometimes he does. So through your actions, through your obedience, through your participation in the most, easiest example to think about it would be the salvation of the human soul particularly children, right? Or please save this child, of course God, it's all his work. God is the only one who can save and restore a soul. But how does he usually do it? What is the prescription and God's word? Raise them up in the Lord, teach them the truth. Raise them up in my grace so sometimes God's blessing his healing. His provision comes through our participation in obedience. No. Secondly. You notice. Where did Jesus instruct them to go go show yourselves to the priests. It didn't come and they were telling you go to your family, go back to your homes, didn't tell them, go to the bar, to go to have a drink to celebrate. So he said, go to the priest because yet again, we see, Jesus is true hard. It's hard to screw these people there their hearts that they might be made renewed and restored to God. Almighty is with the priest. As we explained earlier, that they have forgiveness of sin through there were through the sacrifices and Jesus is telling them go. What's most important now, you must be reconciled to God. Fellowship with God must be restored. Go see the priest. and then, thirdly, Instructions are just flat-out weird because of where he called him to go, but also their condition are these men were unclean. You only go see the priest if you're clean, not before. So, they had to act on faith, they, they couldn't see their bodies. Physically immediately and say, you know what? I'm clean, I can make it there. No Lord. Why should we go there? Like, we're still on clean. They're not going to accept this. We can't even get 5 ft within the gates of the town. Why would we even go close to the temple to the priests? Why would we do that? You're in the reality is for you and I sometimes I get a lot of the time. God's word, God's instructions may sound confusing. May sound weird, may sound hard and was Frank just honestly we not, we just don't want to do what he says for whatever reason, whatever. Excuse you can think of It's so important to always, always, always take God at his word, trust him. That what he says, trust his good character trust that he knows all things and trust that he knows what he's doing.

You noticed, what happened? As they went, they were cleansed. All ten of the men obey, all 10, or cleanse. But then verses 15 to 16. The great return. One of them when he saw, he was healed. Came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus feet and thanked him and he was a Samaritan.

the commentators that I've read and study this passage I think and it kind of agree that this man, most likely noticed his healing, his stored State, and went back to Jesus before he went to the temple. People, differ on that and we can talk about the details. But the point is it in the emphasis that Luke makes worse when he saw, he was healed, right? When he noticed when he told physically, when he felt relief, when he felt like with smooth skin that are Vino. Perfect Skin. Right? He went back. He came back to Jesus, he returned to Jesus, praising God, in a loud voice.

The moment he was healed, he did this. That's interesting to note in the gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John The Greek word that's used for return or and Ivy it came back, whatever your version might say came back, he returned to Jesus. That Greek word is used 22 different time. Twenty one of those times happen in the Gospel of Luke. So this is the theme of Luke. Yo just this whole concept of returning to God. Turning to God and repentance and following him. We see that here yet again the Retard turn to Jesus. Did you notice the precise wording? Again, it says praising God in a loud voice. The same loud voice and verse 13. That cried out for Mercy is now being used to give. Thanks for the mercy that was received. Lynn from verses 16 and 18. Right? Is that parenthetical the phrase there and he was a Samaritan. And then Jesus later, elaborate on that has no one returned to give praise to God except this Foreigner. I just convinced all of that. Basically, the person you would least expect to go back to God, to go back to Jesus is the very one who did further evidence in the Gospel of Luke that the salvation of God goes out to the least of these, the least, deserving, the most unclean, The Untouchables, the people that God cares about the most are the dirtiest, the most messed up and most broken. The reality is that all of us that's you and I the key is, do you acknowledge your Brokenness?

What's the least likely the one who receives the true for healing? That's where verses 17 and 18 coming to play. Jesus asked the straight question. We're not all ten cleansed where the other nine has, no one returned to give praise to God, except this Foreigner. We're not given the specific reasons of or details of where these other nine men were why they did not come back to Jesus. But I do know this much from the text from life. This is quite frightening and scary. When you think about it, it is possible to taste and see the miraculous yet not be transformed in your heart. That sticker that truth explains. A lot of attention going on in the gospels as you read them, it which is even a code a lot in this present day and age. We live in helping to hear or think or hear other. Say Lord. Give Me A Sign, just do a miracle in my life. Just do this one thing and then I'll believe you, then I'll obey you, then I'll follow you. But I need to something big right there in front of me and then I'll follow But your how does Jesus retort that attitude time and time again? Several passages in the gospels where the basic attitude of Jesus's, you don't need more signs. You don't need more miracles. You don't need more grace cuz I've been so great to, you're ready, but you don't need more Elvis. What you need is faith. What you need, our eyes, see the grace that I've already given you. What you need is a grateful heart to see and receive all that. I've already blessed you with because if you don't first, have a heart of faith, it doesn't matter how much I do. You won't be great. It will mean nothing to you in light of Eternity,

this is further, evidenced Further evidence for us of what Jesus focuses on, its the heart. It's on the inner condition of man, not the external circumstances of these people. We see that further and forced 19. Jesus said to him said to the Samaritan is healed, cleansed leper. He said to him, rise and go, your faith has made you. Well, Not just physically as physically. Of course, he was well, the other person, well as well, but spiritually, this man was made well, his gratitude, his faith is returning with praise God in loud voices with evidence of a changed renewed, heart that truly been grateful for the grace of God in his life. The Greek word therefore Madewell its word Sozo which means to save the deliver, the King James version. Renders it you've been made whole, your faith has made you whole you've been healed, you've been made well, receipt for you and I Here's, here's the main for this relate to me today, 2023. Jesus has been abundantly gracious to all of us. far more so than we give him credit for, or that we realize I've heard one Pastor say before, I think I could get this quote, right? We said something to the effect of know God is doing 10000 things in your life, blesses, you ten thousand ways and you today I probably only aware of three of those instances That is so true. The reality for you and I got it done so much for us if you want a detailed list, right? Some Heavenly holy homework for you read Ephesians chapter 1 or Romans chapter 8 later today, or this week, if you want a detailed list of how gracious God has been to his people. As it's literally enumerated list of all the blessings of God in the life of a Christian, In light of all of that, simple, simple question, what do you say? How do you respond to that? What is the proper response to this? God has been so merciful and kind to you. And I I just a little sampling. He has saved us from hell. Are we don't talk about how much, but God has saved us from Hell through Jesus. You saved us from Eternal death, in The Book of John, Jesus tells us that a Christian, the person who believes in him will never die. We've been saved from Eternal death. We've been saved from Rap, God has given us his holy spirit, he is presently living with us and around us in with his people. Do you give thanks for all of these things? You see his grace are you grateful for his grace? Langford, you This week, take some time. Probably a practice something you've done before but I encourage you to do it again. Specially a lot of the New Year, it's great time to do it. Use a bullet point list and reflect on all that God has done for you. Just the Classic. What are you grateful for? What do you think the four, if you don't want to write it down? Just talk about it right around the table. Talk about it with somebody. You love somebody, you know, a church member, what are you grateful for? What has God done in your life? What are the things that you have not said, thank you for in a while? There's one author says, I close with this. Is one author says. if you're grumbling in life, it's because you're not seeing Grace. But if you are grateful in life, it's because you are seeing Grace.

We see both of those instances. The constant truth is it, God is gracious. His Amazing Grace, never changes. It is never taken away from us until the second death. After while we're here on Earth, God's grace is still present with us. The simple question is, do you see it? You have eyes to see all that he's done for you. If you do as this one man, did this one leper? When he saw, he was healed when you see the grace of God in your life, particularly through salvation, through Christ, through all that, he's done for us, right? Jesus, on the way and was waiting to respond. That's what it's all about when you and I see this. What do you say? What should you say? What should we say? Every single day? Thank you.

Let's pray and then we'll close with the doxology.

Holy Spirit. We ask you now to do the impossible.

Terms of human standards. Human strength. Please take your Divine word. Press it. Deep into our hearts. Transformers, renewing sa cleanser.

Give us a Heart full of gratitude. Give us eyes to see. Your beauty. Give us our eyes to see the grace that you've lavished upon us.

Please help us more and more. Come to you. The SimpliSafe. Thank you.

Part from you, apart from your divine, blessing and hand, we have nothing, we are nothing. Give us contentment for all that. You've done.

Help us to spread this. Grateful Spirit, amongst our family and friends. And this church be known as a grateful Church. Maybe a light in this Dark World. It is so ungrateful to all that you are and all that you've done for us.

We ask these things and commit them to you, in Jesus name. Amen.

Will you stand and sing the doxology with?