Read Luke 17:11-19
NOTE: Before I get into the message this morning, I want you to know that I will NOT record a video version of this message. Isabella and I are headed to the Dominican Republic in a few minutes and I don’t have the time to record the video. Please pray for us as we spend the next few days with the children God has given us in the DR. Thanks in advance for your prayers.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus.” In Luke 17 we find Jesus traveling on the border between Samaria and Galilee. He came into a village where 10 leprous approached Him to meet with Him. I have taught on leprosy in the past. Remember, this is an extremely infectious disease that attacks the skin and central nervous system. People with leprosy often do not have the sensation of pain. It is hard for them to identify cuts and bruises. This is why they frequently injure themselves without knowing. Leprosy also causes multiple skin lesions. The lesions emit a terrible smell. This puts lepers in a terrible situation.
Under the Jewish Law, lepers were off-limits to the general population. They were resigned to living their lives as outcasts in leper colonies. Only a Priest had the authority to pronounce them clean and restore them to society (see Lev 14). So, for obvious reasons, they stood at a distance as they called for Jesus to have pity on them. Jesus saw them, heard their cry, understood the Law, and said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” Jesus was basically saying, “I declare you to be clean. Go and show yourselves to the priests in order to be restored to society. Your nightmare with leprosy is over!”
The 10 men took Jesus at His word and stepped out, as directed, in the direction of the nearest priest. As they went they were cleansed. One of them, however, could not contain himself. He was overflowing with gratitude. He knew his life had been changed forever. So, while he and the other 9 men were headed towards a priest, this man turned around. He came back to Jesus, praising God with a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him for his healing. As an interesting note, the Bible points out that this man was a Samaritan. This is an indication that the other 9 were Jews. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Why was this foreigner the only one who came back to thank God?” After asking those questions, Jesus looked at the thankful Samaritan and said, “Rise and go; your faith has made you whole.” 10 men were healed, but only one of the 10 was made whole, and it was because of his attitude of gratitude.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Gratitude is critical in your relationship with the Father.
a) The story of the 10 Lepers is relived in our society daily. The Jews were not interested in acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah or in worshipping Him as Lord. But they had no problem benefiting from the miracles of the fish and loaves. In this story they received healing from Jesus, but they failed to acknowledge His deity or offer any gratitude. Don’t disrespect God as 9 of the 10 lepers. Give him the glory and gratitude He deserves.
b) Far too many people are quick to want to get “stuff” from God, but they are not willing to give anything back to Him!
c) Don’t be like those who follow God for fish and loaves, or call out to Him for healing from a distance, but then fail to worship at His feet.
d) The one leper who gave God praise for his healing was a Samaritan. Don’t let familiarity cause you to dishonor the anointing on those you should be receiving from. Those who were very familiar with Jesus failed to honor Him properly. As a result, they failed to receive from Him on the level that those who honored Him received.
2. Worship ushers you into the greater blessing.
a) Don’t be like 9 of the 10 lepers in the text who received their healing and never even thanked God. They did not know it, but they missed out on the greater blessing. The one leper who came back and gave God praise was not only HEALED, like the other 9, but he was made WHOLE!
b) The word translated “cleansed”, used in the healing of the ten lepers, simply means: a physical washing. But the word translated “whole”, used for the one leper who came back, literally means salvation. This is word connotes a total deliverance from sickness, disease, destruction, death, pain, etc.; and this is God’s will for us.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me, because I choose to worship You daily and my worship will continue… all the days of my life. I do not simply come to You when I want something. I give You glory with my life and living daily. You are my center and circumference, my base and my boundary, my balance and my beauty. You are my all. I thank You for washing me, but I also thank You for making me whole. I have been redeemed from sickness, strife, death, disease, destruction, and the hand of the enemy. I am completely and totally saved. For that, I will never cease to give You praise! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
