“THE TESTIMONY OF A THANKFUL HEART”
Lk 17:11-19
TIME & PLACE: 11/10/08 ELBC
SUBJ: THANKFULNESS
THEME: BEING THANKFUL TO GOD
P/S: E.C. CAN BE THANKFUL TO GOD
T/S: BY UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTHS FOUND IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE THANKFUL LEPER SET FORTH IN THE TEXT.
INTRO: A friend of mine for many years called me the other day to talk. We spoke for a couple of hours and then said our goodbyes. He has stayed in touch with me for at least 10 years. After a day or so passed and I thought about the call I decided to write him and tell him thank you. I expressed to him how much it had meant to me for him to stay in touch over the years. I tried my best to put into words what I felt and how to express it however when it was all said and done the best thing I knew to say was just thank you.
I’d like to say that I have always been someone who tries to say thank you whenever I need to; however in the day and age we are living now we are becoming more and more a thankless society. Thank you is almost becoming obsolete and obscure in our vocabulary. For many people I believe that their opinion is that they deserve it when someone does something for them so thus there is no need to say thank you when you feel like it is expected. Speaking as a Pastor I personally have noticed over the years that a thank you is many times a word you don’t hear even though you “watch for peoples souls” as well as many other things A Pastor does. I would have to say that I don’t believe there has ever been a time when talking to my Pastor that I haven’t closed the conversation out by saying Thank you and I love you. I realize what all He does for me as my Pastor. I personally think 2 of the most important word combinations today is THANK-YOU. These are 2 words that are very easy to speak; however very hard for most people to say. As I was reading this week in a particular passage of Scripture I came across this verse of Scripture Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
When I came across that verse I began to look in the Scriptures for any place that said “Thank you” to God. I came across several actually throughout the Word of God. I want to look briefly into what I found by way of introduction and then focus our attention on the one that got my attention the most. I found that the…..
ü The Scriptures DEFINE it. - The first place “thanks” is mentioned is 2Sam 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. And then the 2nd being 1Ch 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. I could mention many more however all throughout the Scriptures you see and hear the definition of thankfulness. If I truly didn’t know why or how to be thankful I could read the scriptures to come to a very good understand of it.
ü The Songs DECLARE it. - Psalms are basically a compiled record of the Songs of thanks to God Almighty. Psalm simply means A Sacred Song. 1Ch 16:7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
Psa 18:49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Psa 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Psa 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
Note: The phrase to give thanks unto the Lord/God is mentioned several times throughout the Psalms.
ü The Sinner DISREGARDS/DESPISES it. - Rom 1:18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
ü The Saved DEMONSTRATES it. – Lk17:11-19 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 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. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, 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 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
This brings me to what I found to be one of the most pure demonstrations of a thankful heart that I found in the Scriptures. With that being said I want to look a little more closely into this story and see what truths we can find concerning thankfulness, preaching on this thought….. “A TESTIMONY OF A THANKFUL HEART”
I. THE GRATITUDE THAT WAS EXPLAINED
Note: We get a front row seat into the explanation of thanks as found in the Word of God. Explain means to give an account of something with enough clarity and detail to be understood by somebody else. Thus telling the reader of this Testimony of a Thankful Heart.
A. IN THE SCRIPTURES – We read of this story because of its explanation by Luke the Physician
B. BY THE SAMARITAN – We get a second hand exposition of what transpired that day that left an indelible mark in the heart of Luke the Physician
C. TO THE SAVIOUR – We see vicariously, via Luke, the love by the Saviour and the Gratitude by ONE of the NINE that was cleansed that day.
Note: One of the saddest stories of the tragedy of an unthankful heart but yet one of the most sincere stories of a Testimony of a Thankful heart. Out of 10 possible candidates for Thanks….only one returns to tell Christ how grateful he is for what was done to him. Sad to say in my days I have not only read this story, but I have seen it many times over.
Appl: If the Scriptures were being written in regards to your life which group would you be found in…. the Nine or the One?
II. THE GRATEFULNESS THAT WAS EXPRESSED
A. BY HIS ACTIONS vs15 “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,”
B. BY HIS ATTITUDE vs16a “And fell down on his face at his feet,”
C. BY HIS ANNOUNCEMENT vs16b “...giving him thanks:”
Note: I have heard many people through the years say that they are thankful, yet it many times comes after they were asked. Jesus didn’t have to say to him….. “well what do you have to say for yourself for what was done?”. The Leper took the initiative by his Actions, his Attitude and his Announcement. What was his testimony? He was Thankful!
Appl: Do you ever Express your Gratefulness for what’s been done for you? Not just salvation, but day to day life.
III. THE GOD THAT WAS EXALTED (verheerlik)
A. BY HIS RETURNING vs15a “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back,”
B. BY HIS RECOGNITION vs16a “And fell down on his face at his feet,”
C. BY HIS RESPONSE vs15b “…and with a loud voice glorified God, vs16b “…giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”
Note: I am sure that the Lord doesn’t need it, but what a Testimony it leaves behind when we Express our Exaltation of Him. I personally feel when God is Exalted it demonstrates 3 things do to the EXALTATION by the Leper (sinner).
· The Son of God’s SOVEREIGNTY – He IS in Control
· The Saviour’s SYMPATHY – He really Cares for me.
· The Sinners (Leper’s) SATISFACTION – We are Content IN Him.
Appl: How often have you/do you Return to Recognize HIM by your Audible Response of Thankfulness for what He has done for you. These were the last words from the Psalmist…. Psa150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
IV. THE GIFT THAT WAS ENJOYED (gered)
Note: Now I don’t think there should be a hidden agenda in someone giving thanks, but look what takes place in the life of the ONE that returned to be thankful for what was done to him.
A. HE HAD A PROPER STANDING – CLEANSED vs14b “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Note: No longer had to cry out “unclean, unclean” they had a standing of clean now.
B. HE HAD A PERFECT STATUS – COMPLETE vs19 “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Note: The word “whole” speaks of an inward cleansing as well as an outward cleansing. The others were cleansed, but they were not whole. That word whole is the same word used in Jn3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (gered)
C. HE HAD A PERSONAL SAVIOUR - COMPANIONSHIP – He now personally knew and had the companionship of the Saviour that was said would come into the world and who he heard would save sinners such as himself.
Note: Christ has cleansed all of us at Calvary, however very few have gone back to say thank you and thus received “being made whole” (Salvation) and it’s all because the average person has no concept of their condition and they have an unthankful heart.
Appl: Has there been a time in your life that you realized Christ has cleansed your Leprosy at Calvary and you have returned to fall at His feet and Glorify Him by saying “Thank You?” Today may be a good day to try it.
Inv: Hymn