Grateful Faith: A Path to Wholeness

Luke 17:11-19

This last week we have begun a Social Media campaign for 30 days of Thanksgiving.

I appreciate everyone who has been interacting with the posts.

If you can like, comment and share the posts, it will help us reach more people on both Instagram and Facebook.

I am doing this, not just to grow our reach…that’s important to get the message of the gospel out, but more so I desire for more and more people to understand the impact of gratitude.

This time of year is a great time to bring it to focus, because of the holidays that are coming up.

But if we would just learn the impact of giving thanks in our daily lives, we would truly change our lives.

In the passage we read this morning we see Jesus travelling with His disciples.

He has been teaching for the last few chapters.

This section of Luke is sometimes called Jesus’ Travelogue to Jerusalem.

From Luke 9:51-19:27, we see Jesus travelling with His disciples toward Jerusalem where they will need to witness Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

So Jesus is building the disciples by teaching them about the kingdom of God: the influence, power and authority of God in creation.

As Jesus travelled toward Jerusalem, He came across ten men who had leprosy.

When they saw Jesus, they cried out for Him to have mercy on them.

Lepers were commanded by Law to quarantine themselves to prevent the spread of the disease.

They lived as outcasts.

They were not allowed to interact with people in society.

They had to cry out, “unclean, unclean” as they came upon someone to warn them that they had this disease.

But now, recognizing Jesus’ power to heal them, they cry out for mercy, and healing.

First, this morning, notice with me that...

I. They All Came to the Right Place

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Here in verses 12 & 13, we see that ten lepers lifted their voices to Jesus, asking, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

These men, outcast and hopeless, knew where to turn in their hour of need.

This very act alone shows the faith and humility that these men had. They knew where to turn for help.

This is quite an example for us.

We need to be sure that we are turning to God in times of need, not to others.

A. Recognized Their Condition

The lepers were acutely aware of their condition.

They knew they were outcasts, unable to heal themselves, and in need of a miracle.

Leprosy was not only a painful physical disease but a social one, leaving them cut off from society, family, and religious life.

Like these lepers, we too need to recognize our own condition, whether it’s a physical, emotional, or spiritual need.

Recognizing our needs humbly before God is the first step toward receiving His help.

Sometimes our struggles with sin, hurt, or broken relationships can leave us feeling isolated, like outcasts.

Acknowledging our limitations brings us to the place where God can work in us.

we must humble ourselves before God, if we ever want to find help from Him.

Psalm 51:17 KJV

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

B. Realized Who to Turn To

...Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

These ten lepers, despite being shunned by society, had enough faith to turn to Jesus.

They recognized Jesus as the only one who could show them mercy and heal them, so they cried out to Him, “Master.”

The word translated Master is the Greek word ep-is-tat’-ace it means: to stand over. One set over, a prefect, master, as a king, a commander of a ship, military officer

This title reflects their understanding of Jesus’ authority.

In our own lives and struggles, it’s easy to turn to earthly solutions or other people before turning to Jesus.

Do we turn to other things for help or healing, or sometimes even just comfort in time of struggle.

Social Media

Alcohol

TV or Movies

Romance Novels

Nicotine

Shopping

But the lepers remind us that Jesus is the one we should come to first and foremost.

Whether in times of trial or in our daily walk, recognizing Jesus as our ultimate source of help and healing is the only way we are truly going to be helped.

Jesus said...

Matthew 11:28 KJV

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

If we want true rest from our heavy burdens, we are going to have to come to Jesus with them.

C. Requested Mercy Humbly

...have mercy on us...

The lepers didn’t demand healing; they pleaded for mercy.

They recognized that they were in need and that Jesus alone had the power to help them.

Their plea for mercy was an acknowledgment of Jesus’ compassion and power.

When we come to Jesus, we too need to approach Him with humility.

We need to recognize that every good thing comes from His grace and mercy.

We do not deserve His help any more than these 10 lepers did.

Humble faith, not entitlement, brings us closer to Him.

Yes, we have been given the privilege of coming boldly before the throne of God in time of need,

Hebrews 4:16 KJV

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We have an awesome privilege to be able to walk right up to the throne of God as His children, however we still ought to come in humility, knowing that we are not worthy of being there.

Coming to God humbly in prayer can help us cultivate gratitude, just as these lepers showed faith by asking for mercy, not assuming they deserved it.

D. Came Despite Their Circumstances

Even though the lepers were outcasts, they overcame the obstacles of social rejection and physical suffering to come to Jesus.

They were desperate, but they acted in faith despite their limitations and the shame attached to their condition.

We may feel unworthy or distant from God because of our struggles or past mistakes.

However, like these lepers, we should remember that Jesus welcomes us despite our circumstances.

When we come to Him with open hearts, He never turns us away.

He encourages us to come to him...

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Bring your every burden and shame to Jesus knowing that He lvoes you and his compassion and faithfulness never ends.

We often sing the song “It Is Well” in church. The author Horatio Spafford wrote the song during the greatest tragedy of his life.

After losing everything in the Chicago Fire, Horatio sent his family accross the Atlantic Ocean ahead of him while he finished some important business. During that voyage the ship sunk, and he lsot everyone except his wife. He received the news by a telegram from his wife saying only two words, “Saved alone.”

On his journey across the Atlantic in the very spot where his daughters had plunged into their watery graves, he wrote the words,

“When peace like a river attendeth my way When sorrow like sea billows roll Whatever the lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, It is well with my soul.”

After losing his daughters in a tragic shipwreck, Spafford did not turn away from God in bitterness; instead, he turned to Jesus. This song has stood the test of time standing as a beautiful testament to the peace he found in Christ during his suffering. Spafford came to the right place in his time of need—he turned to Jesus in faith, even amid profound loss. His story reminds us of the healing and comfort we find when we come to Jesus.

II. They Were All Healed When They Obeyed

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

When Jesus told the lepers to go and show themselves to the priests, they were still visibly afflicted.

The healing didn’t happen until they obeyed and acted in faith.

What a great truth!

This teaches us that God often works in response to our obedience, even when the outcome isn’t immediately clear.

Let’s look at three aspects of obedient faith:

A. Faith is Tested in Obedience

The lepers were healed only after they obeyed Jesus’ command to go.

They could have doubted, insisting on seeing proof of healing first, but instead, they acted in faith, trusting that Jesus’ instruction would lead to their healing.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1 a wonderful definition of faith.

Hebrews 11:1a KJV

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Often, we are called to step out in faith, trusting God’s promises without yet seeing the outcome.

For us, this could mean trusting God through difficult financial situations, health challenges, or relational struggles holding on to our faith that God will help us.

Our faith is shown by our willingness to obey even when we don’t fully understand or see immediate results.

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” – Oswald Chambers

Perhaps you should consider areas in your lives where you may be hesitant to trust God fully.

I want to challenge you to take that first step in obedience, believe that God will provide in His timing.

“Obedience is the key that opens every door.” – C. S. Lewis

B. Obedience Brings Blessing

…as they went they were cleansed.

The lepers’ healing came as a direct result of their obedience.

As they went, they were healed, showing that God often waits for us to take steps of faith before He reveals His blessings.

Their obedience brought physical healing, and for the one who returned to give thanks, it also brought spiritual blessing.

John 14:23 KJV

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

If you will love God and keep His words Jesus promises to be there with you, and abide with you.

What a promise, Obedience truly does bring blessings!

It just goes to show that Obedience to God’s Word brings spiritual blessings, peace, and a closer relationship with God.

For example, when we follow God’s teachings on forgiveness, we experience freedom and healing in our relationships.

When we give generously, we experience God’s provision.

Obedience may seem challenging at first, but it leads to deeper blessings.

We all need to examine our lives for areas where we may be resisting God’s commands.

My friends, God’s blessings are worth it!

If you will just humbly and fully surrender to God’s will, you will see the blessings of God on your life.

“Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God, trusts God; and he that trusts God, obeys God.” – Charles Spurgeon

C. A Thankful Heart Draws Us Closer to God

The one leper who returned demonstrated that thankfulness is more than just an expression; it’s a response that draws us nearer to God.

By returning to thank Jesus, he received not only physical healing but also a spiritual healing.

Jesus noted that it was his faith that made him whole (v. 19), implying a deeper, soul-level healing.

We are commanded in the Psalms to:

Psalm 100:4 KJV

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

In today’s world, many receive blessings but forget the source.

By cultivating a thankful heart, we recognize God’s hand in our lives, which deepens our relationship with Him.

In times of difficulty, choosing gratitude can help us see God’s faithfulness and bring us closer to Him.

Think about blessings that you may have taken for granted.

“When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” – G. K. Chesterton

I want to encourage you to spend time in prayer this week, specifically thanking God for each of these blessings.

In the 1800s, the renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon was walking through the countryside with a friend. They came across a barn with a weather vane on top. The weather vane had the words “God is love” inscribed on it. Spurgeon asked his friend, “What do you think that means? Do you think God’s love is as changeable as the wind?”

“No,” the friend replied, “it means that no matter which way the wind blows, God is still love.”

In this same way, whether we are in seasons of abundance or trials, we can trust that God is good and worthy of our obedience and gratitude.

When we respond with obedient faith and a thankful heart, we draw closer to God, just as the one leper did.

III. Only One Chose to Give Thanks

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Here in Luke 17, only one of the ten lepers returned to give thanks to Jesus, demonstrating a heart of gratitude.

While all were healed, only one experienced the fullness of God’s blessing through a grateful response.

This one man’s gratitude offers three powerful lessons about the value of giving thanks.

A. True Gratitude Is Intentional

True gratitude is a conscious choice, not an automatic response.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are commanded...

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

No matter what circumstance you find yoruself, we need to give thanks.

Like the leper, we must be intentional in our thankfulness to God.

Despite life’s busyness and challenges, choosing to pause and thank God for His blessings draws us nearer to Him.

This means taking time to count our blessings—both big and small—and acknowledge that all we have comes from Him.

The old-time hymn writer Fanny Crosby had that choice to make. I’m sure when she learned that her sightless world was the result of a doctor’s foolish mistake, she was forced to deal with wondering “what might have been.” The hot compresses her physician had employed to cure her eye infection at six weeks of age had only succeeded in scarring sensitive tissue. His act had rendered her permanently blind.

Few of us know what it’s like not to see–not being able to describe the color yellow, or distinguish a loved one’s face in the crowd, or navigate a city block or street crossing simply by spotting obstacles and watching the traffic. What if even the simplest tasks of pouring your breakfast cereal, or counting change, or sorting the laundry required the intently focused attention of your hearing and touch? We forget to be thankful for the blessing of sight.

Yet Fanny Crosby, writer of more than eight thousand hymns, enough to fill fifteen complete hymnals stacked one on top of the other, enough to cause her publishers to resort to ascribing to her multiple pen names to make her output seem more believable, saw things another way.

She was thankful for the blessing of blindness.

At eight years of age, she composed this bit of verse, a poem not all that mature in grammar perhaps, but likely more mature than some of us ever become, even in old age:

Oh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world contented I will be, How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t, So weep or sigh because I’m blind, I cannot–nor I won’t.

Imagine being able to say, as Fanny Crosby did, “I could not have written thousands of hymns if I had been hindered by the distractions of seeing all the interesting and beautiful objects that would have been presented to my notice.” As she wrote in her autobiography, “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for the dispensation…I thank Him.” For blindness.

B. Gratitude Must Be Expressed

It’s not enough to feel grateful; we must express it.

The leper returned to Jesus, loudly praising God and falling at His feet.

For us today, expressing gratitude can take many forms: worship, prayer, sharing our testimony, and acts of service.

When we thank God publicly, it strengthens our faith and becomes a testimony to others.

Psalm 95:2 KJV

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, And make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “When we bless God for mercies, we prolong them. When we bless God for miseries, we usually end them. Praise is the honey of life which a devout heart extracts from every bloom of providence and grace.”

Spurgeon’s words remind us that expressed gratitude turns our focus from ourselves to God, allowing us to see His hand in every situation.

C. Gratitude Deepens Our Relationship with God

When we live with gratitude, we draw closer to God and deepen our relationship with Him.

The leper who returned received more than physical healing; he received spiritual wholeness.

In the same way, our gratitude opens the door for greater blessings and a more profound experience of God’s presence.

Practicing gratitude brings spiritual growth and peace.

Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who survived a Nazi concentration camp, spoke a moment of gratitude during her imprisonment. She and her sister Betsie thanked God even for the fleas in their barracks, despite the terrible conditions. Later, they learned the fleas kept the guards away, allowing them to hold Bible studies without interruption. Corrie’s gratitude deepened her reliance on God, and He revealed His protection in unexpected ways.

Conclusion

The one leper who returned to give thanks teaches us valuable lessons: gratitude must be intentional, expressed, and is a powerful way to draw closer to God.

As we give thanks, we too can experience spiritual healing, joy, and a deeper relationship with the Lord.

As we prepare for communion, let’s reflect on the example of the one leper who returned to give thanks, recognizing that true gratitude is not just about the words we say, but the posture of our hearts before God.

Just as the leper came back to Jesus with a heart of worship and thankfulness, may we come to the communion table with the same spirit, humbly acknowledging all that Jesus has done for us.

The bread and the cup remind us of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice—the healing He brought not just for physical ailments, but for our souls.

In a way, we are all like those lepers, once separated from God because of sin, but healed and restored through the blood of Jesus.

As we partake, let’s not be like the nine who went on their way without returning to give thanks.

Let us be intentional, grateful, and mindful of His sacrifice, realizing that this table is a place of remembrance, a celebration of grace, and an invitation to draw near to God in worship.

So today, let’s approach with a heart full of thanksgiving, acknowledging that we owe everything to Christ who, in His mercy, has made us whole.

Let us remember, give thanks, and commit ourselves anew to live out our gratitude in obedience to Him.

Could I ask the gentlemen to come forward and prepare the table for communion.