How Can Real Thanksgiving Be Expressed?
Luke 17:11-19
Intro: ILL: Lincoln’s Proclamation when he established Thanksgiving Day
I. v12-13 - It’s Okay to Ask for Divine Healing
A. v12 - These men had an incurable disease.
1. Leprosy (λεπρός) = a common term for several diseases of the skin. The most common form in the Bible was a severe psoriasis. Some believe it was Hansen’s Disease.
2. ILL: What was Bible Leprosy?
3. Bible examples:
a. Moses at the fiery bush. Ex 4:6-7 - Then the LORD said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow. “Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.
b. Miriam when she spoke against Moses’ authority (Num 12:9-16).
c. Naaman when he came to Elisha (II Kgs 5:1-14).
B. v12 - They obeyed the commands of God - The Law of Moses.
1. v12 - They stood at a distance.
2. They probably obeyed the rest of the Law as well. Lev 13:45-46 - “The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.”
C. We have the examples of others who asked to be healed.
1. ILL: The Man with Leprosy (Matt 8:1-3).
2. ILL: Blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52).
3. ILL: The Royal Official’s Son in Capernaum (Jn 4:46-54).
D. v13 - They all believed Jesus had the power to heal them.
1. They cried out to the Lord with a loud voice (φωνή).
2. This is the same word used in v15 when the Samaritan praised God!
3. v19 - It was their faith that provided their healing!
II. v14 - It’s Okay to Expect Results from Your Prayers
A. They obeyed the Lord who told them to show yourselves to the priests.
1. To be restored to society if they were cured or beyond the contagious stage, they had to show them- selves to the priests & offer special sacrifices.
2. They would be inspected by the priest & anointed if found “clean”.
B. They started toward the Temple before they were healed!
1. v14 says, as they went, they were cleansed!
2. Pray expectantly by thanking the Lord in advance - that’s praying in faith!
III. v15-18 - It’s Okay to be Demonstrative in Expressing Your Gratitude
A. v15-16 - This man expressed his gratitude enthusiastically.
1. He shouted his praises with a loud voice (φωνή) - same word as v13!
2. He threw himself down at the Lord’s feet.
B. v17-18 - The Lord expected to be thanked!
1. It’s just plain discourteous not to say “thank you” when receiving a gift or a favor.
2. v16b - This man was the one least expected to show gratitude because he was a Samaritan - a foreigner (v18)!
To please the Lord, talk to Him often. Show your gratitude to Him for what He has done for you. He deserves it!
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