THANKFUL IN CIRCUMSTANCES
“And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” — LUKE 17:12-19
THANKFULNESS ALWAYS OPENS DOORS. UNGRATEFULNESS CLOSES DOORS.
THANKFULNESS IS ATTRACTIVE. EVEN JESUS GAVE THANKS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
OBSERVATIONS FROM THIS PASSAGE
LEPROSY IS A TYPE OF SIN – NO SENSE OF TOUCH
SIN SEPARATES US FROM WHOM AND WHAT WE LOVE. “STOOD AFAR OFF” VS. 12
ONLY THE ONE WHO RETURNED TO GIVE THANKS WAS PRONOUNCED “WHOLE”
THANKFULNESS IS RARELY PART OF OUR HUMAN NATURE
THANKFULNESS
WHEN YOU BUY A COMPUTER THEY HAVE A WAY OF “BUNDLING” SOFTWARE. IT WILL PROVIDE ALL THAT YOU NEED TO BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. GOD HAS ARRANGED THAT THERE BE A BUNDLING OF TRAITS THAT TOGETHER PRODUCE WHOLENESS IN A BELIEVER’S LIFE.
A THANKFUL HEART PRODUCES GOD’S WHOLENESS
WHOLENESS IS NOT JUST AN OUTWARD THING
VS. 19 “THY FAITH HAS MADE THEE WHOLE.”
EVERY BELIEVERS GOAL: CHRIST-LIKENESS
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” — ROMANS 8:29
NINE LEPERS WERE CLEANSED, ONLY ONE WAS “MADE WHOLE”
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” — LUKE 17:19
THE 4 NEEDS OF MAN: WHOLENESS
1) SECURITY: TO KNOW YOU ARE TAKEN CARE OF
2) ACCEPTANCE: TO KNOW YOU ARE LOVED
3) PURPOSE: TO KNOW WHY YOU EXIST
4) IDENTITY: TO KNOW WHO, AND WHO’S, YOU ARE
FAITH BRINGS FORTH THANKFULNESS THAT RESULTS IN WORKS
“But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” — JAMES 2:18
THE GRATEFUL LEPER CAME BACK AND THANKED HIM
RELIGION: KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD, WITHOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD
THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THANKFULNESS AND WHOLENESS
A THANKFUL HEART PROMOTES GOD’S WELLNESS
VS. 14 - “GO SHEW THYSELF TO THE PRIEST…”
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE HATEFUL WHEN YOU ARE GRATEFUL.
LEPROSY = SICKER THAN I WANT TO BE
LEPROSY: (LEV. 14)
IS A TYPE OF SIN
LEPROSY IS THE LOSS OF FEELING. (SIN NUMBS, AND DUMBS OUR SENSES)
DAMAGE TO THE BODY IS CAUSED BY THE NEGLECT DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF PAIN. PAIN IS AN INDICATOR THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG, NEEDS ADJUSTING OR CORRECTED. (LONELINESS, ISOLATION, AND SEPARATION.)
CLEANSING OF A LEPER IS A TYPE OF SALVATION
HE IS BROUGHT TO THE PRIEST
THE PRIEST MEETS HIM OUTSIDE THE CAMP
THE PRIEST TAKES TWO CLEAN BIRDS
ONE BIRD IS KILLED IN AN EARTHEN VESSEL OVER RUNNING WATER
THE SECOND BIRD (ALONG WITH THE SCARLET CLOTH, THE CEDARWOOD, AND THE HYSSOP BRANCH) ARE ALL DIPPED INTO THE BLOOD OF THE FIRST BIRD.
THE LIVING BIRD IS RELEASED TO FLY AWAY FREE. A TYPE AND SHADOW OF FREEDOM THRU THE BLOOD.
ANGER IS ABOUT VIOLATED RIGHTS
A THANKFUL HEART REFLECTS OUR GOD’S GOODNESS TO OTHERS
WHEN WE “TURNED BACK” WE “GLORIFY GOD”
VS. 15 - “AND ONE OF THEM, WHEN HE SAW THAT HE WAS HEALED, TURNED BACK, AND WITH A LOUD VOICE GLORIFIED GOD”
COME BEFORE HIM WITH THANKSGIVING
A PSALM OF PRAISE
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” — PSALMS 100:1-5
GIVING THANKS IS NOT A SUGGESTION (IT’S NOT OPTIONAL)
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 THESS. 5:18
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — EPH 5:20
GIVING THANKS STARTS WITH A DECISION AND ENDS WITH AN ACTION.
LYRICS OF AN OLD SONG: "COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE, COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS, SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE"
NOTE: WE COUNT MANY THINGS; WE COUNT OUR MONEY, OUR KIDS, THE PLATES AT THE TABLE. EACH TIME WE HAVE TO STOP, LOOK, AND FOCUS
THANKFULNESS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” — ROMANS 8:28
TO THE PEOPLE WITH A POOR SELF IMAGE (OFTEN STRUGGLING TO LOVE GOD): ACCEPT GOD’S DESIGN
TO THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER TRAGEDY – “ALL THINGS”
TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT: “IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS”
GENERAL STONEWALL JACKSON:
“ON MAY 2, 1863, THE SEEMINGLY INVINCIBLE CONFEDERATE ARMY WON A TREMENDOUS VICTORY AT CHANCELLORSVILLE. THIS VICTORY WAS OFFSET BY THE SETBACK OF GENERAL STONEWALL LOSING HIS LEFT ARM.
THE NEXT DAY, WHEN VISITED BY CHAPLAIN LACY, JACKSON REMARKED: “YOU SEE ME SEVERELY WOUNDED BUT NOT DEPRESSED... I AM SURE THAT MY HEAVENLY FATHER DESIGNS THIS AFFLICTION FOR MY GOOD. I AM PERFECTLY SATISFIED, THAT EITHER IN THIS LIFE OR IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME. I SHALL DISCOVER THAT WHAT IS NOW REGARDED AS A CALAMITY, IS A BLESSING... IF IT WERE IN MY POWER TO REPLACE MY ARM, I WOULD NOT DARE TO DO IT, UNLESS I COULD KNOW IT WAS THE WILL OF MY HEAVENLY FATHER.”
— FROM ‘AMERICAN QUOTATIONS’, COLLECTED BY WILLIAM J. FEDERER
WHAT WERE THE NINE UNGRATEFUL LEPERS THINKING
I DON’T WANT TO SCHMOOZE WITH JESUS
I WILL THANK HIM LATER
I WAS PROBABLY GOING TO GET BETTER ANYWAY
IT IS JUST A COINCIDENCE
I THINK I WILL WAIT TILL I KNOW FOR SURE
HE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT A LONG TIME AGO
WHY DIDN’T HE HEAL MY BAD LEG WHILE HE WAS AT IT
HE IS PROBABLY AFTER MY MONEY
MANY TIMES IN LIFE I HAVE HAD TO SAY “GOD, I DO NOT KNOW HOW, NOR WHY, BUT I TRUST YOU AND I AM GOING TO THANK YOU IN EVERYTHING”
“WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN US, NOT TO US." — JOHN C. MAXWELL
WHY NOT MAKE UP YOUR MIND TODAY: “I AM GOING TO REJOICE IN THE LORD.”
“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” – 1CHRON. 16:34
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” — PS. 103:2
I AM THANKFUL FOR INDOOR PLUMBING
I AM THANKFUL FOR A BATHROOM IN THOSE CERTAIN UNEASY TIMES
I AM THANKFUL FOR HOT WATER
I AM THANKFUL FOR AIR-CONDITIONING
I AM THANKFUL FOR TRANSPORTATION
I AM THANKFUL FOR FOOD
I AM THANKFUL FOR ASPIRIN
I AM THANKFUL FOR GETTING TO SEE MUCH OF THE WORLD
I AM THANKFUL FOR TOOTHPASTE
I AM THANKFUL FOR READING GLASSES
I AM THANKFUL FOR MUSIC
I AM THANKFUL FOR MEMORIES
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY HEALTH
I AM THANKFUL FOR FOOD
I AM THANKFUL THAT MY BILLS ARE PAID
I AM THANKFUL FOR A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
I AM THANKFUL FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS, AND EVEN MORE FOR HIS COMPANIONSHIP
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE FATHER’S CARE
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE WORD OF GOD
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE PROMISE OF GOD
I AM THANKFUL FOR HEAVEN, AND THE REVELATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY FAITH
I AM THANKFUL THAT I KNOW WHERE I AM GOING AND HOW TO GET THERE
I AM THANKFUL FOR TREES
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE RAIN.
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE SMELL OF THE OCEAN, A RIVER, AND THE MOUNTAINS
I AM THANKFUL FOR SOUNDS, SMELLS, VIEWS, TASTE, AND TOUCH
I AM THANKFUL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
I AM THANKFUL FOR FREEDOM; AND GUNS
I AM THANKFUL TO BE AN AMERICAN
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY HARLEY, HOTROD, AND HORSE.
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY MIND, MY HEALTH, AND MY HISTORY
I AM THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS WHOM I KNOW I HAVE CONFIDENCE
I AM THANKFUL FOR A GREAT STAFF, WHO ARE MY FRIENDS
I AM THANKFUL I PASTOR A GREAT CHURCH
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY PASTOR
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE LOVE OF MY DOG
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY KID’S HUGS, THEY CHANGED MY LIFE
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY MOTHER’S LOVE; AND MY DAD’S HOMEGOING
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY SISTER WHO BEAT ME TO HEAVEN
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILIE’S APPROVAL
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY WIFE; HER VOICE, HER HUGS, AND HER FAITH IN ME
I AM THANKFUL FOR MY GRANDSON, AND GRAND-DAUGHTER