Be the One

Intro

Good morning River City! Happy Thanksgiving!

When I was in college I would visit people in my church. I would just drive over and hang out for a few minutes, see how they were doing, pray with them, etc. Well there was a couple named Ruby and Nick. They were an awesome elderly couple I loved hanging out with them. I would visit them for church during college. Me and the pastor would take turns visiting shut ins and some of the older folks in the church.

They would tell me, “Joe we play the lottery because God told us that we are going to win, become millionaires. When we win, then we will tithe and give to the church and help Gods kingdom.” Until then their focus was on buying those tickets.

Very sweet people, but very wrong in this.

You see they had cornered God. God we will trust you, we will give offerings and praise and tithe, after you bless us with millions.

God if you do A, then we will do B

Now we all do this at times, but there is great danger here. Why?

It goes against scripture.

There is zero faith in that statement. Without faith God often does not work in our situations.

Look at Jesus in Nazareth. He went there wanting to do great things, but they refused to believe Him.

Matthew 13:58 ESV

And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

If God doesn’t find faith, He often doesn’t move. He is always looking for someone to simply believe.

Trust Me!

Luke 17:11–19 ESV

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.”

We Serve a gracious and Merciful God.

Our God has so much mercy on the lives of these ten lepers. He sees them coming, hears their cry and has compassion.

Jesus commands them to go and show themselves to the priests. While the lepers are on the way, God heals them.

What a great God we serve! So much compassion.

Jesus sees people in need and he calls them to an act of faith.

You see you would show yourself to the priest if you were cleansed. But these lepers were not cleansed yet. Jesus was calling them to to walk to the priests in faith, that by the time they arrived they would be clean.

The Same God that met the lepers that day will meet you here today. The same compassion that met them that day, is here to meet you this day.

The only question you have to ask yourself is, Am I willing to take a step of faith with Christ?

If you are willing, truly willing. Not just in words but in heart and in deed. Christ will meet you. He always does.

His grand compassion however is not met with grand adoration. 90% of those healed went their way. the one that did not, wasn’t even a Jew. He was a Samaritan. Samaritans, hated Jews.

You can see what the Holy Spirit is doing. This Samaritan is healed by a Jew. Jews don’t touch Samaritans, yet this one healed him. This Jew is different. Go worship Him, He is God.

Why didn’t the 9 return with the one?

Gratitude is not found in a Miracle.

It is built in relationship.

These 10 Lepers were all healed, but only 9 went their own way after the healing. Why? Why wouldn’t they return to Worship God?

If they didn’t live lives of gratitude prior to the healing, why would the healing suddenly rewrite their character?

If your heart is given to ingratitude, a physical healing, financial provision, whatever will not fix it, because what we need it a new heart.

See we naturally think, if God does A then I will praise Him.

But if you are waiting for God to do something for you before you will praise Him then you have already missed it.

You see whether He does anything for you or I, He is Worthy. By His very nature, He is worthy.

But we assume, though we will not admit it. that we must receive to give praise. But my friends, God is so magnificent that we should be praising Him all day long.

Do you worship God now? Do you praise Him in your life now? If you and I are so immensely blessed, which we are. and we do not praise Him. Why would adding one more treasure to the heap change anything?

See my friends nick and Ruby had placed their hope and joy on the ever illusive lottery winnings. Not on Jesus.

Had they placed their hopes on Jesus. They could have had joy beyond measure. But that required a step of faith. Tithing and walking in obedience toward God, offering praise and worship as He commanded.

But so many people will live and die, in a perpetual state of want and longing, when everything they long for is found in Christ.

Not in a relationship, not in physical health. Certainly not in wealth, but in the abiding place of worship with our King.

You Can Be the One! Walk In the Blessing!

Luke 17:17–19 ESV

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.”

Only one returned to “give thanks” to God for the miracle.

What happened to the others? We don’t know? But God does! Perhaps, they ran home to tell their family. Perhaps they found a job? Maybe they were questioned by the priests? WE do not know the reason. the Only thing we know is that giving God praise was not their priority.

Ok, give a little grace maybe? but while it was not the nines priority. It certainly was Gods priority. He expected praise! He deserved Praise.

God has been Good to you and I!

Have we given Him the praise and worship He deserves. The answer is obviously No.

This Week, Be the One!

Psalm 107:1 ESV

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

He is Good. Now! Right where you are! Yes in that impossible situation. Amidst the pain and the hardship. God is good! He is faithful. His love Still Endures!