Stand Alone “Grateful for Grace” Luke 17:11-19

INTRO> This weekend we celebrate what is known as “Memorial Day” this is not a “christian holiday” and or on the church calendar in anyway but as for us who live in the US is it a holiday that is recognized. It was originally known as “decoration day” it originated after the civil war, when so much of the US population has passed away, in the spring, before summer families would decorate head stones. It became a federal holiday in 1971. (PIC)

APP> For most of us, this specific holiday brings a sense of gratitude. Someone we didn’t know, fought for the principles and aspects that we believe in and gave the ultimate price. Now, imagine for a second… some one didn’t care, some one was ungrateful for what another person sacrificially did for them?… hard to imagine right… being ungrateful.

CONTEXT> Did you know that the scriptures speak seriously about being ungrateful for what God has done for us in Christ?

• • • “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21
    • “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,” 2 Timothy 3:1-2

Big Idea> God’s goodness produces our gratefulness.

CONTEXT> This is a very interesting passage of scripture, Luke gives us what is called “Jesus’ Jerusalem Journeys” meaning, he is letting us know that Jesus is heading to die. This account of the 10 lepers is only exclusive to Luke’s Gospel.

APP> I want to spend just a few moments and draw out some principles as to what it looks like to be grateful for God’s grace and goodness.

1. Recognize that you are helpless. v11

• • • • “he was met by ten lepers…” There is some medical and ceremonial stuff going on here that we need to work on. Medical– Leprosy was a term to use for any typer of skin disease, in modern days it is reverend to as “Hansen’s disease” from the doctor who diagnosed it. It is a disease that attacks the nervous system and limbs, especially the toes and the fingers. It mainly attacks the cells in your skin and literally causes your skin to rot from the inside out.
      • Cerimonial- Something you have to remember about the OT laws, there are a limited number of Gods people, there isn’t germ and clorox wipes. “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.” Leviticus 13:45-46

“When you read the “test” for lepresey in Lev 13, you can see how the disease is a picture of sin. Like sin, leprosy is deeper than the skin it spreads, it defiles and isolates and it renders things only fit for the fire. Anyone who has never trusted in the Savior spiritually is worse than this man physically.” Warren Wiesbe

APP> God doesn’t help those who help themselves. God saves the helpless.

2) Respond to God’s word in obedience. v14

• • • • “as they went they were cleansed…” notice this aspect of the text. Jesus says… “go” and they Go… imagine that!

Top Reasons Why Obedience is difficult:

• • • • Comfort. “They Holy Spirit is called the great comforter, maybe the reason you don’t feel his presence is because you are too comfortable.” – Francis Chan
      • Perspective- “Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second because although they took my purse, the did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much and fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not somone else.” Matthew Henry.
      • Ignorance– We live in an amazing day of having access to the bible yet so much ignorance.
      • Intelligence- at the same time, so much information and so little application.

APP> Information + Application = Transformation.

3) Return to the Giver! v15

• • • when he saw turned back, praised, fell at Jesus feet and gave thanks…” Do you see all of these action verbs here that Luke is giving us? Gratitude isn’t just an attitude it is an action! It is a do thing! But notice, he comes BACK to Jesus.

APP> Have you ever been at a kid’s birthday party? Notice how they don’t even spend time on the present that they have because they are so focused on the next present? And the parents have to make them say, “Thank You” APP> We are not primarily grateful for the gifts from God. We are primarily grateful for God himself.

“The wonderful thing about the gospel is that the response it requires from us for God’s glory is also the response which we feel to be the most natural and joyful, namely gratitude for grace. God’s glory and our gladness are not in competition.” -John Piper.

4) Remember Grace. v19

• • • “Your faith has made you well” literally what Jesus says here is, your faith has saved you. This is interesting, Jesus says this guy is a Samaratian, which is controversial. Jesus says the greatest outcast who is grateful for my grace gets to heaven.
    • “giving thanks” interesting we see this exact phrase again in Luke’s gospel… “and he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, “this is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
    • How could Jesus heal this man? Because he was going to trade places with this man. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Big Idea> God’s goodness produces our gratefulness.

CLOSE> Which one are you?

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks[a] to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1 9-14

Big Idea> God’s goodness produces our gratefulness.