BEING GRATEFUL
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) The 10 lepers
i) 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-18 NIV)
1. What does Jesus trying to teach us?
#1) The attitude of gratitude
a) People who had leprosy were required to try to stay away from other people and to announce their presence if they had to come near. Sometimes leprosy went into remission. If a leper thought his leprosy had gone away, he was supposed to present himself to a priest who could declare him clean (Leviticus 14). Jesus sent the 10 lepers to the priest before they were healed - and they went! They responded in faith, and Jesus healed them on the way. Is your faith in God so strong that you act on what he says even before you see evidence that it will work?
b) Jesus healed the 10 lepers, but only one returned to thank him. It is possible to receive God's great gifts with an ungrateful spirit - 9 of the 10 men did so. Only the thankful man, however, learned that his faith had played a role in his healing; and only grateful believers grow in understanding God's grace. God does not demand that we thank him, but he is please when we do so. And he uses our responsiveness to teach us more about himself.
c) Not only was this man a leper, he ws also a Samaritan - a race despised by the Jews as idolatrous half-breeds. There was deep hatred between Jews and Samaritans. The Jew saw themselves as pure descendants of Abraham, while the Samaritans were a mixed race produced when Jews from the northern kingdom intermarried with other peoples after Israel's exile.
d) Once again Doctor Luke is pointing out that God's grace is for everybody.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we would be grateful to God for all the blessings we have so far enjoyed.
i) 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. (Hebrews 12: 28 NIV)
The End ...
0. Introductiona) The 10 lepers
i) 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-18 NIV)
1. What does Jesus trying to teach us?
#1) The attitude of gratitude
a) People who had leprosy were required to try to stay away from other people and to announce their presence if they had to come near. Sometimes leprosy went into remission. If a leper thought his leprosy had gone away, he was supposed to present himself to a priest who could declare him clean (Leviticus 14). Jesus sent the 10 lepers to the priest before they were healed - and they went! They responded in faith, and Jesus healed them on the way. Is your faith in God so strong that you act on what he says even before you see evidence that it will work?
b) Jesus healed the 10 lepers, but only one returned to thank him. It is possible to receive God's great gifts with an ungrateful spirit - 9 of the 10 men did so. Only the thankful man, however, learned that his faith had played a role in his healing; and only grateful believers grow in understanding God's grace. God does not demand that we thank him, but he is please when we do so. And he uses our responsiveness to teach us more about himself.
c) Not only was this man a leper, he ws also a Samaritan - a race despised by the Jews as idolatrous half-breeds. There was deep hatred between Jews and Samaritans. The Jew saw themselves as pure descendants of Abraham, while the Samaritans were a mixed race produced when Jews from the northern kingdom intermarried with other peoples after Israel's exile.
d) Once again Doctor Luke is pointing out that God's grace is for everybody.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we would be grateful to God for all the blessings we have so far enjoyed.
i) 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. (Hebrews 12: 28 NIV)
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