Luke 17:12-19 etc. – EVIDENCES OF A THANKFUL HEART
We want to remind you that there are various ways that we can show our appreciation to the Lord for what He has done. There are outward ways of expressing an inward, thankful heart.
We have experienced one way of showing appreciation this evening, the Thanksgiving service. In the Gospel of Luke we want to see 3 men who showed their appreciation for Jesus healing them in 3 ways. Tonight we will look at
ONE WHO WORSHIPPED – Luke 17:11-19
Vss. 11-12 – Ten men were very sick. They had leprosy. It was a disease that ate at the skin, and made one an outcast according to Jewish law.
Because they were outcasts, they stood afar off.
We had a problem like these lepers that was fatal.
It made us outcasts before God.
The problem was our sin.
Vs. 13 – These men had the right idea. They called on the Lord Jesus to have mercy on them. They really had no other hope.
Like these men, we needed mercy. We were dead in trespasses and sins. The only one who could help us was the Lord Jesus, because it was Him who died for us. Like these lepers, we needed to call on the Lord in order to be saved. Romans 10:17 says, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Vss. 14 – These men were told to go show themselves to the priest.
In order for them to get back into society, they needed for the priest to pronounce them as “clean.” They took the step of faith to show themselves to the priest, taking Jesus at His word, and as they went, they were healed.
Our healing for salvation was similar. We took God at his word, that he would save us, if we believed, and He did exactly what he promised. John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Vss. 15-16 – I think each man saw that he was healed.
However, only one of them turned around, worshipped God, and gave thanks.
What happened to the others?
I think that they were so busy wanting to get back to their lives, that they forgot to say “thank you” and to worship God.
Here is a great reminder for you and I. How thankful are we for what God has done for us.
Our sins have been forgiven.
We have a home in Heaven.
We have the Holy Spirit.
We have answered prayer.
We can’t lose our salvation, if we are truly saved.
We are truly loved of God!
Shouldn’t we, of all people be giving praise and adoration and thanksgiving to God?!
1 Timothy 1:12-17, Revelation 5:9-12
This thanksgiving season should be one of worship for those of us who know Christ personally. We have reason to worship and praise God!
Vss. 17-19 – There was 90% more cleansed than were actually giving thanks. I wonder if this percentage is true for us who are saved? What percentage of us who are saved are truly thankful?
Let us make sure that we are among the ones who return to give thanks.
We do not like it very well when people fail to give thanks for what we’ve done. Imagine how God must feel!
ONE WHO WALKED LUKE 18:35-43
Vs. 43 – Bartimaeus followed Jesus after being healed.
He also worshipped God as a result of his healing.
Bartimaeus reminds me that a truly thankful person is someone who will walk after Jesus. Because of what Jesus has done for him in saving him, he will walk after and with Jesus. Luke 9:23-24, John 15:1-7
ONE WHO WITNESSED LUKE 8:26-39
Vs. 39 – Notice where the man was sent – to his own home.
It meant going back to the people who knew him “when”.
It meant going back to the people who knew him best.
We are the ones who can best reach the ones we love.
We are the ones who can best reach the ones we know best.
We are the ones, who should show our appreciation for what the Lord has done for us, by telling others. Psalm 107:2, 1 Peter 3:15
EVIDENCES OF A THANKFUL HEART
ONE WHO WORSHIPPED
ONE WHO WALKED
ONE WHO WITNESSED
