More Gratitude (7)

CALLED TO MORE

MORE GRATITUDE

Luke 17:11–19

June 28th, 2026

Introduction

You’ve heard this said here at Highpoint – GRATITUDE IS THE ATTITUDE THAT SETS THE ALTITUDE FOR LIVING.

I think that’s true.  It is true if you are down in the lower levels of the dark, critical, complaining, fault finding …that’s just an awful place to live  - get up!

You ever notice when you are on a plane, you get up…… it doesn’t matter what the weather was when you took off but when you get to 30,000, 40000 ft its sunny and beautiful and our lives can be like that every day if we live a life of gratefulness.

One of the greatest marks of spiritual maturity is gratitude. Gratitude recognizes God's hand in our lives and responds with thanksgiving. Yet, gratitude is becoming increasingly rare in a world that often focuses on what is missing rather than what has been received.

In Luke 17:11–19, Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one returns to express gratitude. This account challenges every believer to examine his or her heart. Are we among the nine who received God's blessings and moved on, or are we like the one who returned to worship and give thanks? Gratitude is the Attitude that sets the altitude for living!

The passage reads: Luke 17:11–19

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

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,[a] 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.”[b] PRAY

Today, we continue in our series “Called to More” let us consider the theme: "More Gratitude."

Now let me give you some backgroud: Leprosy is a horrible disease, we think of it as a skin disease and it was but the worse part of leprosy was that it affected the nerve endings in the skin, so you couldn’t actually feel things that you touched or run into.  It took away the pain sensors.  If you put your hand on a hot stove. Pain will cause you to pull your hand away so that the rest of your body isn’t just burnt.  Their sensation to feel pain had been taken away.  So what would happen is that they would bump into things and injure themselves and bruise badly, infection would set in and they will start to lose pieces of their bodies.  It was bad and it was contagious.  (SHOW PICS OF LEPROSEY) You and I have a disease worse than leprosy, and it is called sin.  And it does exactly the same thing as leprosy does, we lose our sensitivity to God and as a result it creates distance and makes us stand at a distance from God. So you and I are represented in this story is being separated from God.  Let’s find out what happens

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,[a] who stood at a distance…

 So they’ll see leprosy coming into a community and people would go running in the opposite direction, they needed to be isolated from other people. They were banished to lepper colonies (islands for just leppers) and if anytime they saw people coming towards them who were unaware they had to shout, UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN. 

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem on his way between Samara and Galaliee

That why it says at the end of vs 12 “They stood at a distance

13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” WOW!  They must of heard of him.  To call him master.The disciples must have been freaking out!  Go away we don’t want to live on that island in a colony! 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” 1: GRATITUDE GROWS THROUGH OBEDIENT FAITH Rearely was anyone ever healed of leprosy but if they were the law demaned that they go show themselves to the priest to get a bill of health.  Hey priest look, I no longer have the desease. They had to be inspected before he or she could be returned to society. There is something in this because Jesus just said go and show yourself to the prienst. Wait Jesus, aren’t we missing a step?Where is the healing part?

Look at this in the text: vs 14“Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed/Healed vs 14b

Jesus didn’t heal them instantly upon their request. He gave them a command that required movement. They had to walk toward the priest while still appearing as lepers.  They had to be moving in the direction of the miracle that they were longing for before the miracle happened.

This is the "Interval of Faith." Gratitude is often born in the act of obeying before we see the result. If they had waited to be healed beforegoing to the priest, they might never have gone at all.

Application: Often, we are waiting for God to "fix" everything before we give Him our gratitude. But this story teaches us to thank Him while we are on the way. True gratitude begins when we trust God enough to take the first step of obedience, even when the miracle hasn't fully manifested yet. It is to “See where God is at work and join him” ” And as they went they were cleansed. Vs 14 And Gratitude is the attitude that sets the Altitude for living!

2. GRATITUDE BEGINS WITH RECOGNIZING GOD'S BLESSINGS

Notice the thankful leper recognized what God had done for him.

The Bible says, 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. Notice not 10 of them, not six of them not three of them but ONE OF THEM!  When one of them see they were healed.  How many of them were healed? ____ How many turned back? _____ So 9 walked away, excited to be healed for sure! Excited for sure in their hearts, but did they say it?  No! (Extroverts) vs (Intoverts)(pensive, processors) - Weather your inclination is outward or inward or more expressive or more reflective. We all have the same duty, to express our thankfullness to God!  Here it is:  Gratitude is the Attitude that sets the altitude for living!

Many people are not grateful because they fail to recognize God's goodness. They become so focused on problems that they overlook blessings. FAITH GROWS IN THE SOIL OF THANKFULLNESS

Two people walked through the same beautiful garden. One spent the whole time pointing out weeds. The other couldn't stop talking about the flowers, the fragrance, and the beauty. They walked through the same place, but one magnified the flaws while the other magnified the gardener. Gratitude doesn't deny life's weeds; it simply chooses to celebrate God's goodness.

The ten lepers had been living a miserable existence. They were isolated from society. They could not embrace their families. They lived with physical suffering and emotional pain. Yet in a moment, Jesus changed everything.

The one leper stopped and noticed the miracle.

How often do we overlook God's blessings because we are rushing to the next thing?

We pray for a job, then forget to thank God when we get one.

We pray for healing, then forget to praise Him when health improves.

We pray for provision, then become occupied with spending what He provides.

We pray for protection, then forget the countless dangers He kept us from.

Gratitude starts when we intentionally recognize God's goodness.

Psalm 103:2 says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

A grateful heart remembers. Gratitude is the Attitude that sets the altitude for living!

1: GRATITUDE GROWS THROUGH OBEDIENT FAITH

2. GRATITUDE BEGINS WITH RECOGNIZING GOD'S BLESSINGS

3. GRATITUDE REQUIRES A DELIBERATE RETURN TO GOD

The Bible says the healed leper "turned back."

This phrase is powerful.

While the others continued on their journey, this man changed direction. He interrupted his plans. He made a conscious decision to return to Jesus.

Gratitude is more than a feeling; it is a response.

Many people feel thankful, but true gratitude expresses itself.

This leper could have reasoned:

"Jesus already knows I'm thankful."

"I need to get home and see my family."

"I have important things to do."

Instead, he returned.

The difference between the nine and the one was not the miracle. All ten received the miracle.

The difference was the response.

God deserves more than occasional acknowledgment. He deserves intentional thanksgiving.

Every day we should take time to turn back:

Turn back in prayer.

Turn back in worship.

Turn back in praise.

Turn back in testimony.

The grateful believer never becomes too busy to thank God. Gratitude is the Attitude that sets the altitude for living!

4. GRATITUDE GLORIFIES GOD

The Scripture says he returned 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice,  (SOMEONE IS GETTING SAVED HERE NA SO?;  

Notice that gratitude is connected to worship.

Thankfulness is so much of a powerful thing that it transformes the one who is being thankful.  Gratitude is the Attitude that sets the altitude for living! Attitudes sour in a life that is closed to thankfulness. Soon selfishness takes over closing the life to better things. Reality one there is a lot to complain about. Reality two there is a lot to be thankful for. Psalm 107:8: 8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (KJV)

When God blesses us and we thank Him, He receives glory.

The healed leper did not quietly whisper his appreciation. He publicly glorified God.

There is something powerful about open gratitude.

Complaining magnifies problems.

Gratitude magnifies God.

When we constantly complain, we communicate that God's goodness is insufficient.

When we give thanks, we proclaim that God has been faithful.

Think about how many times Scripture commands us to give thanks.

"Give thanks unto the Lord." Psalm 136,

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving." Psalm 100:4,

"In everything give thanks." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thanksgiving is not merely good manners; it is worship.

Every testimony service, every praise report, every expression of gratitude glorifies God before others.

People need to hear what God has done.

Your gratitude can strengthen another person's faith. ILL: Go home get a piece of paper, write down if you need to the things that are difficult but write besides them the corresponding blessings and points of thankfulness that you have. Beging to run your mind not over the things you wish were, but rather the things that will be by faith and the many blessings you already have.

Gratitude is the Attitude that sets the altitude for living!

5. GRATITUDE PRODUCES HUMILITY

Verse 16 tells us that the man ----fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

So this guy comes back and mercy closes the distance and notice gratefulness always comes with humility he puts his face on the ground at the feet of Jesus.  This is a vertical act that chooses to worship rather than to wine about the circumstances in my life.

The Samaritan was the only one to return.  The other 9 were Jews.  Sometimes those who think they are the most 'insiders' to the Kingdom (the nine Jews) are the most entitled, while those who feel like 'outsiders' (the Samaritan) are often the most grateful." Gratitude is often highest in those who realize they had the least right to expect a blessing.

Gratitude humbles us because it reminds us that everything we have comes from God.

Pride says, "I earned it."

Gratitude says, "God gave it."

Pride says, "I deserve it."

Gratitude says, "I am blessed beyond what I deserve." Ever Ask Pastor Junior how he is doing?  What’s his response?

The thankful leper understood that his healing was not something he achieved. It was a gift of divine mercy.

When we truly appreciate God's blessings, we become humble.

We realize:

Every breath is a gift.

Every day is a gift.

Every opportunity is a gift.

Every provision is a gift.

Every victory is a gift.

Humility and gratitude walk hand in hand.

The more grateful we become, the less prideful we become.

Ill I’ve been invited to many graduations this season. One of the things I look for in the valedictorians speech is are they listing their accomplishments, or are they being thankful. Thankful for their parents who sacrificed, their teachers who believed in them, thankful for their friends and mentors stood beside them, and God who opened every door. Gratitude reminds us we didn't arrive here alone.

Gratitude is the Attitude that sets the altitude for living!

1: GRATITUDE GROWS THROUGH OBEDIENT FAITH

2. GRATITUDE BEGINS WITH RECOGNIZING GOD'S BLESSINGS

3. GRATITUDE REQUIRES A DELIBERATE RETURN TO GOD

4. GRATITUDE GLORIFIES GOD

5. GRATITUDE PRODUCES HUMILITY

6. GRATITUDE DISTINGUISHES THE FAITHFUL FROM THE CROWD

Jesus asked a penetrating question: 17“Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Ten received.

Only one returned.

Ten experienced God's power.

Only one expressed gratitude.

This reveals a painful reality: grateful people are often the minority.

Many people want God's blessings.

Fewer people want to honor God after receiving them.

The nine lepers were blessed, but the one grateful leper was distinguished.

His gratitude set him apart.

The world is filled with people who feel entitled. They believe blessings are owed to them.

But believers should be different.

Christians should be known as grateful people:

Grateful in abundance.

Grateful in difficulty.

Grateful in success.

Grateful in waiting.

A grateful spirit shines brightly in an ungrateful world.

GRATITUDE IS THE ATTITUDE THAT SETS THE ALTITUDE FOR LIVING.

7. GRATITUDE LEADS TO A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

The story concludes with a remarkable truth.

The thankful leper received something more than physical healing.

Jesus said in verse 19: 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well. The Greek word for "made you well" (or "made you whole") is the same word used for "saved." The nine were healed (cured of a disease), but the one was saved (restored in spirit).

If you only come to Jesus for what He can do for you (healing, provision, jobs), you are like the nine. You get the blessing, but you miss the Savior. When you come back to worshipHim, you move from being a beneficiary of His power to a child in His presence.

All ten were cleansed.

Only one experienced a deeper encounter with Christ.

The nine received healing.

The one received healing and fellowship.

The nine received a miracle.

The one received the Miracle Worker.

This is one of the greatest rewards of gratitude.

Grateful people draw closer to God.

Thanksgiving opens the heart to deeper intimacy with Christ.

Those who continually thank God become more aware of His presence, more sensitive to His voice, and more dependent upon His grace.

Gratitude transforms blessings into worship and miracles into relationships. Gratitude is the Attitude that sets the altitude for living!

Conclusion

The story of the ten lepers presents a question that still echoes today:

"Where are the nine?"

God is still blessing. God is still healing. God is still providing. God is still protecting. God is still saving.

But are we returning to give thanks?

Let us cultivate more gratitude—gratitude that recognizes God's goodness, gratitude that returns in worship, gratitude that humbles the heart, gratitude that glorifies God, and gratitude that draws us closer to Jesus.

And when God looks upon our lives, may He find hearts that are continually saying:

"Thank You, Lord, for all You have done."

GRATITUDE IS THE ATTITUDE THAT SETS THE ALTITUDE FOR LIVING.

Amen.