Fullness of Life

Luke 17:11-19.

15Then 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 eucharisteo. 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?”

Thanksgiving is an extension of our belief in Jesus.

What we see here, in this passage, is a replica of other stories and teachings in the Bible. It is the theology of God’s grace, which is accepted through the practice of eucharisteo, via belief. We see that the lepers fully believe they are healed. They see their healing, they feel their healing, they believe they are healed, and they go and show it (to the priest). But, instead of showing their belief to Jesus, for Jesus, in Jesus, they show it to others without so much as a thank you.

But one leper gets it. He turns back, falls on his knees, confesses his belief in Jesus through thanksgiving and praise, and shows Jesus that he has received God’s grace. This leper, not only believed that he is healed and received the healing, but by his actions, we read that he believes in whom he has been healed.

His thanksgiving for his healing was a confession and an affirmation of his belief in Jesus.

Atheism of the heart

Although the passage does not directly state the others were not made well through their faith, it is implied. The nine lepers responded with their lips, the one leper responded with his heart.

We tend to shy away from this word, atheism. In today’s church it is an old school word that fails to resonate because the word is heavy with irony. By definition atheism is to not believe in God. However, to not believe in something, by its nature implies you actually do believe in something – you believe in not believing. It’s an old school theological riddle.

Atheism of the heart is to know of God and to choose not to glorify Him as God. It is to accept His grace, his healing, his provision, his goodness in our life, but never acknowledge they come from His hand.

In an atheistic heart there is no obligation to show a response for what God has freely given. There may be a belief in a God who freely gives, there may be an acceptance of His gifts, but there is no expressive response to His gifts.

● The boils that have overcome and crippled my body may be removed as a free gift, but I will not acknowledge in my heart who did the healing and offer a response.

Atheism of Life

Few passages expound on an atheistic heart like this passage in Romans, written to the early Roman church by the Apostle Paul.

Read Romans 1:20-23.

Here we read that there is no excuse for not recognizing the work and wonders of God in the world and our life. To do so, is to choose an atheistic heart and live an atheistic life. It is to receive God’s mercies and refuse God the thanks: for although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened.

How did their atheistic lives mimic their atheistic hearts? They did not honor Him or give thanks. They chose not to receive and respond to God’s grace. Therefore, they exchanged God’s grace for backward lives, full of sin, and pain.

Read Romans 1:24-32.

1. An atheistic life trades an attitude of gratitude for a me, mine, and myself mindset.

Living a life without gratitude, is to choose not to practice our faith and become a petri dish for sin.

There are many sins we choose:

Spite

Pride

Opportunities to participate in evil

Envy

Hate

Deceit

Malignity

Whispering (Grumbling)

Backbiting

Abhorrence of God’s ways and people

Slander

No love for our neighbor

We know we are living a life of gratitude when the fruits of the Spirit freely flow through us.

Read Galatians 5:22-24.

5:22 And those who belong to Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (ESV)

A believing heart has crucified the passions of the flesh (Romans 1:24-32) and lives out of the mercies of God.

Where does crucifying the passions and desires of the flesh begin? With a response of gratitude to God (Romans 1:20-21) for his mercies. And from this place of gratitude, we find a strength to choose God above ourselves, a distaste for things not of God, and a desire for His gifts in our life (the fruits of the Spirit).

CLOSING

Assess your life for moment:

Have any of the sins mentioned taken root in your life?

Do you regularly receive God’s grace?

And, in return, do you practice gratitude?

Does your life resemble an atheistic or a believing heart?

If you are feeling the Holy Spirit tug on your conscience, consider what your life may look like if you added gratitude? Imagine, if instead of spite and frustration your life was filled with patience and joy. Imagine instead of anger over that broken relationship, you replaced the pain with kindness.

If you began practicing gratitude, what sin would you trade? Which fruit of the Spirit would you see as a result?

Imagine your life, your relationships, your home, your mental health… if you chose gratitude.

Gracious gratitude is not limited by life’s circumstances. In all stages of life, it’s possible to choose gratitude.

Pastor: Consider ending this passage in one or both of these ways. First, offer an opportunity to fully receive God’s grace and live life fully. Second, give ways in which your body can practice gratitude, together and/or individually.

Finally, make this personal to you and your congregation. End with a prayer gratitude;

● Specifically mentioning God’s graces in your congregation and celebrating them.

● Name names, name opportunities, events, births, and celebrations of life.

● Name moments of grace that you see take place that your body does not necessarily get to mention.

Let this series on gratitude, end with a service of gratitude.