Intentional Gratitude/Evidenced Based Thanks (EBT) - 11/28/2021

Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes November 28, 2021 Intentional Gratitude Evidenced Based Thanks (EBT) Proven, demonstrated, verified, substantiated . . . Luke 17:11-19 11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, 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 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Daniel 6:10 Daniel in the Lions’ Den Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 1 START HERE: This week marked the commemoration of Thanksgiving in America [and through a little more research, I’ve learned that it is celebrated in a few other countries as well]. We all know that Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks. That’s right “Giving Thanks”. But at issue and of great concern for me regarding giving thanks is to whom and for what are we “giving thanks”? When it comes to God’s Children, it would seem that this question of “giving thanks” would be a “no brainer”. In fact, I think it’s safe to conclude that every child of God knows that we should possess a heart of THANKs to God, not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day! Nevertheless, with closer analysis (and with a little bit of research), it has been revealed that people in general, including Believers, have begun to wain (or wax generic) in their expressions of offering THANKS for the things of life – both tangible and intangible. The problem is not that of giving thanks, but being intentional and precise about what “you” are thankful for and to whom. Sure, it’s OK to say – “I’m Thankful”, but it’s another thing to be purposeful and deliberate in your expression of gratitude. That’s why I’ve entitled today’s message: Intentional Gratitude ~ Evidenced Based Thanks (EBT) Intentional Gratitude ~ Evidence Based Thanks (EBT) What is it? It is to identify something specific and significant to give thanks for or to express gratitude for. To identify with something specifically related to God’s hand in one’s life and living. 2 What it is not? General or generic thanks for a lot of everything and a bunch of nothing. Turn with me to Luke, Chapter 17, verses 11-19. Our lesson with begin there but may well end up in the lion’s den or close. 11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, 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 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” In this passage, we see 10 lepers who appeal to Jesus for mercy or deliverance from their dreaded disease of leprosy. We see their desperation in verses 12 and 13 . . . they “stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 3 No doubt, they had heard about Jesus’ healing power and now. He has brought the revival to their town. So, in deep desperation, they begged Him to do something for them. He did! Verse 14 says: 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. This is the turning point where their expression of thanks and gratitude either remains generic or becomes INTENTIONAL and EBT … evidenced based. Look at the evidence for yourself. This represents the times we live in as well as the hearts of men and women, including Believers who have [for one reason of another] taken their blessings for granted. And, although “thanks” is expressed, it’s often done in an obligatory patronizing way. To go to the priest fulfilled the requirement of the custom and the Law. Nine out of 10 lepers followed the way of “doing what was expected of them”. But Jesus was attuned to something far more intentional – that which stemmed from a WOKE and conscious heart. Thanksgiving is likened to giving thanks because custom says to do so once a year. And, although Believers offer thanks to God as a matter of “routine” and conviction – sometimes, that expression of gratitude is flat and compulsory – like the 9 lepers. Today the challenge is to stop and take specific notice of one, two or ten blessings the Lord has bestowed upon your life over the past 24 months. Invariably, counting back 24 months places everyone Pre-Pandemic where life was different. But in the past 19 or 20 months – life has been clearly defined by the dictates of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Yet, through it all, God has been faithful. For many people, including 4 Believers, the pandemic season has been one of the most prosperous and blessed season of their lives. Nonetheless, regardless of our assessment of the past nearly two years – is there any room to offer God direct thanks for His grace, faithfulness, and care of His children. If your answer is YES, then, God deserves some EBT – Evidenced Based Thanks. That’s what the 10th leper offered in verse 15 . . . 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, 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. Do you see the intentionality of Intentional Gratitude which is Evidence Based Thanks? This kind of thanks is deliberate, attentive, and specifically focused. The 10th leper when he saw he was healed, completely delivered from his sickness, he did four things: 1. He returned, [This is the difference between taking blessings for granted and offering half-hearted thanks vs. remembering the One from Whom blessings come from. This is also a sign of evidence based thanks. He returned to the Blesser for the Blessing bestowed upon him]. (Do we practice the same intentionality or are we lazy). 2. He glorified God with a loud voice [He unabashedly and publicly honored God for his specific healing blessing] 3. He fell down on his face at His feet, [He worshipped the Creator and not the creature. ] 5 4. He gave God thanks. [He demonstrated an attitude of gratitude to God alone who deserves all the credit. It is He who we must never wax lazy in offering our thankfulness, acknowledgement, and praises. Jesus is paying attention to us. He is taking note of our attitudes and awareness of who He is and how He takes care of us. He takes note as to whether we are offering thanks because we’re expected to, or because we are truly grateful and aware of specific evidenced blessings He has bestowed upon our lives . . . our families, our finances, our health, our development in Him. Listen to what Jesus has to say in verses . . . 17-19 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” So much significance in this bank of Scripture. Jesus questions the details surrounding the 10 lepers. In verse 17, He asks, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? The question for us is “Were you ever knowingly blessed by the Lord. Do you know the specific blessing? Did you ever acknowledge that specific blessing? Or, Are you one of the NINE? Second set of questions, verses 18 and 19 . . 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” 6 The moral here is that the one who least would be expected to give thanks is the one who gives the highest attitude of gratitude – a Samaritan considered a foreigner. Finally, Jesus makes a distinction of between what occurs when lackluster gratitude is expressed when the evidence is clear that the blessing is from His hand contrasted with when intentional blessings from God’s hand are acknowledged and appreciated. The bonus blessing is that you don’t have to be relegated or confined by customs (that which is dictated by a set of rules), but that you and I can “Arise, and go forth knowing that it is faith in Jesus Christ that brings Intentional Gratitude ~Evidenced Based Thanks (EBT) Most finally, as God’s children we are encouraged to do two things: Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah Psalm 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: END 7