I Don't Want to Be in the Nine: A Call to Gratitude

Nov 16, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude Is Rare—Return to the Blesser, Not Just the Blessing

In a world overflowing with blessings yet starving for gratitude, it is easy to receive God’s gifts and forget the Giver. Many people, like the nine lepers, are quick to move on after their prayers are answered, missing the deeper relationship that comes from returning to Jesus with thanksgiving. True gratitude is not just a polite response; it is a spiritual posture that draws us back to the feet of Christ, where worship and wholeness are found. Let us not be among those who take God’s goodness for granted, but instead be the one who returns, remembers, and gives thanks for every mercy and miracle. [46:49]

Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV)
Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Reflection: When was the last time you paused to return to God in heartfelt thanks for a specific answered prayer, rather than moving on to the next need or request?

Day 2: Brokenness Is the Beginning of Breakthrough

Before gratitude can take root, we must first acknowledge our brokenness. The ten lepers began their journey from a place of pain, isolation, and rejection—cut off from community, worship, and hope. Yet, even in their suffering, they still had a voice to cry out to Jesus. Our own moments of brokenness are not the end, but the place where God’s mercy meets us. When we bring our wounds, our isolation, and our need to Christ, we open the door for His healing and restoration to begin. [50:11]

Leviticus 13:45-46 (ESV)
“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.”

Reflection: What area of brokenness or isolation in your life do you need to honestly bring before Jesus today, trusting Him to meet you there?

Day 3: Obedience Unlocks God’s Miraculous Provision

The lepers’ healing was not immediate; it was activated by their obedience to Jesus’ command to go show themselves to the priests. They moved before they saw any change, demonstrating that faith is not just a feeling but a willingness to follow God’s word even when the outcome is unseen. Many of God’s greatest miracles happen “as we go”—in the steps of obedience we take, even when we don’t yet feel different. Transformation often happens in the transition, and God honors those who trust Him enough to move forward on His word. [57:07]

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NKJV)
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

Reflection: What is one step of obedience God is calling you to take today, even if you don’t yet see the results or feel ready?

Day 4: Worship Is Found in Returning to God

True worship is not just about music or ritual, but about returning to God with a heart full of memory and gratitude. The one healed leper who returned to Jesus models a worship that is rooted in remembering what God has done and coming back to give Him glory. This act of returning is especially powerful when it comes from those who have been marginalized or counted out, showing that God honors the faith and gratitude of those the world overlooks. Worship is the act of coming back to the feet of Jesus, again and again, with thanksgiving. [01:01:02]

Psalm 84:1-2, 11 (NKJV)
How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
…
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.

Reflection: In what practical way can you “return” to God today—through prayer, worship, or service—to express your gratitude for His faithfulness?

Day 5: Gratitude Leads to Wholeness, Not Just Healing

While all ten lepers were healed, only the one who returned in gratitude was made whole—restored not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally. Jesus’ words, “Your faith has made you whole,” reveal that gratitude opens the door to a deeper work of salvation and restoration in our lives. It is possible to receive God’s blessings and still miss the fullness of what He wants to do in us. Let us be people who return, give thanks, and receive the wholeness that only Jesus can give. [01:04:48]

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV)
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflection: Where in your life have you settled for a blessing when God is inviting you into deeper wholeness through gratitude and returning to Him?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered in the spirit of gratitude, reflecting on the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19. In a world where blessings are abundant but gratitude is rare, we are reminded that it is not enough to simply receive from God—we must also return to Him with thanksgiving. The ten lepers, all suffering from the pain of isolation, lifted their voices together in desperation, crying out for mercy. Jesus heard their cry and gave them a command: “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” Their healing was not immediate, but as they obeyed, they were cleansed along the way. This teaches us that obedience often precedes the miracle, and transformation happens as we move in faith, not just when we arrive at our destination.

Yet, the heart of the story is not just about healing, but about gratitude. Of the ten who were healed, only one—a Samaritan, an outsider—returned to give thanks and glorify God. This act of returning is the essence of true worship. It is not about the music or the ritual, but about remembering and coming back to the source of our blessings. The Samaritan’s gratitude set him apart; while the others received physical healing, he received wholeness—restoration of body, soul, and spirit. Jesus declared, “Your faith has made you whole,” using a word that means not just healed, but saved, delivered, and restored.

This challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we among the nine who take the blessing and move on, or are we the one who returns to the feet of Jesus in humility and thanksgiving? Gratitude is not just a polite response; it is a spiritual posture that opens us to deeper relationship and greater wholeness. When we remember what God has done—how He has kept us, healed us, and made a way out of no way—we cannot help but return and say, “Thank you, Lord.” Let us strive to be the one who comes back, who worships, who gives thanks, and who is made whole.

Key Takeaways

1. Brokenness is the starting point for gratitude True gratitude begins with an honest acknowledgment of our brokenness and need. The lepers’ physical, spiritual, and social isolation mirrors our own spiritual condition apart from Christ. When we recognize how far we have fallen or how much we lack, our hearts are prepared to receive mercy and respond with thanksgiving. [49:34]
2. Obedience unlocks transformation on the journey The lepers were healed “as they went”—not before, not after, but in the act of obeying Jesus’ command. This reveals that faith is not just belief, but movement; it is trusting God enough to take the next step even when we don’t see the outcome. Many of God’s greatest works in our lives happen while we are still in transition, learning to walk by faith and not by sight. [57:48]
3. Returning to God is the essence of worship Only one leper returned to Jesus, and in that act of coming back, he demonstrated true worship. Worship is not just about songs or rituals, but about remembering, returning, and giving glory to God for what He has done. It is in the return that our relationship with God deepens and our gratitude is made complete. [61:02]
4. Gratitude leads to wholeness, not just blessing While all ten lepers were healed, only the one who returned in gratitude was made whole—restored in body, soul, and spirit. Gratitude is more than a response to blessing; it is the key to deeper healing and salvation. When we come back to thank God, we receive more than what we asked for—we receive wholeness and a renewed identity in Christ. [64:48]
5. The outsider’s faith can surpass the insider’s familiarity The Samaritan, considered an outsider, was the only one to return and give thanks. Sometimes, those who have been marginalized or overlooked respond to God with greater faith and gratitude than those who are most familiar with religious life. God honors the humble and grateful heart, regardless of background or status. [62:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:49] - Call to Worship and Opening Prayer
[17:21] - Thanksgiving for God’s Grace and Mercy
[19:14] - Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3
[22:39] - Hymn: “We’ll Understand It Better By and By”
[27:26] - Announcements and Community Celebrations
[31:02] - Reflections on God’s Faithfulness
[33:47] - Offering and Song: “God Is Keeping Me”
[41:24] - Clarifying Last Week’s Teaching
[42:01] - Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-19
[46:12] - “I Don’t Want to Be in the Nine”
[49:34] - The Brokenness of the Lepers
[53:14] - Lifting Our Voices in Desperation
[57:07] - Obedience and Healing on the Journey
[59:42] - The One Who Returned: True Gratitude
[64:48] - Gratitude and Wholeness
[72:00] - Invitation to Respond
[77:38] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “I Don’t Want to Be in the Nine”

Bible Reading

Luke 17:11-19 (ESV)

> 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.
> 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
> 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
> 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
> 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
> 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
> 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
> 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
> 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Observation Questions

What was the condition of the ten men when they first encountered Jesus, and how did their situation affect their lives? ([49:34])
What specific instructions did Jesus give to the lepers, and what happened as they obeyed? ([57:07])
Out of the ten who were healed, who returned to Jesus, and what did he do when he came back? ([01:00:19])
What was different about the one who returned compared to the other nine, according to Jesus? ([01:04:48])

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus have chosen not to heal the lepers immediately, but instead told them to go show themselves to the priests? What does this reveal about faith and obedience? ([57:48])
The sermon says that the lepers’ brokenness was the starting point for gratitude. How does recognizing our own brokenness prepare us to receive God’s mercy? ([49:34])
The one who returned was a Samaritan, considered an outsider. What does his response teach us about who is able to experience true gratitude and worship? ([01:02:27])
Jesus tells the one who returned, “Your faith has made you whole.” How is being made whole different from just being healed? ([01:04:48])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to ask, “Are we among the nine who take the blessing and move on, or are we the one who returns to the feet of Jesus in humility and thanksgiving?” Think about a recent blessing in your life—did you take time to return to God and give thanks, or did you move on quickly? What would it look like to “return” this week? ([48:48])
The lepers were healed “as they went”—their obedience came before their miracle. Is there an area in your life where God is calling you to take a step of faith or obedience, even though you don’t see the outcome yet? What is holding you back from moving forward? ([57:48])
The sermon says, “Gratitude is not just a polite response; it is a spiritual posture that opens us to deeper relationship and greater wholeness.” What are some practical ways you can cultivate a posture of gratitude in your daily routine? ([01:04:48])
The Samaritan’s gratitude set him apart from the others. Have you ever felt like an outsider in church or in your faith journey? How did that experience affect your relationship with God and your ability to give thanks? ([01:02:27])
The story shows that worship is about remembering and returning to God, not just singing or rituals. What are some ways you can “return” to God in worship outside of Sunday services? ([01:01:02])
The sermon draws a connection between brokenness and gratitude. Is there a place of pain or struggle in your life right now that could become a starting point for deeper gratitude? How might you bring that to God this week? ([49:34])
The pastor said, “Many people want the miracle but not the master.” Are there areas in your life where you have sought God’s blessings but neglected your relationship with Him? What steps can you take to seek the blesser, not just the blessing? ([47:26])

Sermon Clips

“Gratitude is becoming rare in our world today. For we live in a time where people expect everything and appreciate very little. A time where many receive blessings, benefits, and breakthroughs, but very few come back to say thank you, Lord. Yes, I believe we're in a crisis of missing gratitude in our world.”

“Yes, my brothers and sisters, I believe we live in a culture where people want a miracle but not the master. They want the blessing but not the blesser. They want God's hand but not his heart.”

“Not everyone who receives a blessing knows how to come back and say thank you. But I'm here to let you know that this is not something this new. We see that issue in our text this morning. Jesus himself had the same experience here in Luke 17.”

“Because before we can be gratitude or or show gratitude, we must understand that brokenness must be acknowledged. Before we can celebrate the return, we must remember the condition they were in. So let us look at how this journey begins.”

“To understand this text, we must understand the biblical and historical weight of leprosy. You see, in the ancient Jewish world, leprosy was the most feared disease because it was physically devastating. Leprosy was a rare skin disease that caused numbness. It caused nerve damage. It caused open sores and disfigurement.”

“But not only was there a physical devastation, there was also spiritual con condemning. If we look at Leviticus 13 and 14, the leper had to live outside the camp. They had to tear their clothes. They had to cover their faces. They had to cry unclean everywhere they went.”

“In scripture, leprosy symbolizes sin's isolation, sin's defilement, humanity spiritual condition without Christ. Yes. Just as leprosy rots the flesh, sin rots the soul. Yes, my brothers and sisters, to understand leprosy, I believe many of us uh may understand what leprosy was like.”

“During the red lining, we were isolated and designated to specific zones in our community. During the civil rights era, we were told that we were unclean to vote, to drink, to sit, or even learn. Do I have someone this morning? During the pandemic, our communities suffered high isolation and death.”

“But even though they were broken, even though they were cut off, even though they were standing a far off, there was still one thing they had left. They had their voice. And when your situation takes everything else from you, sometimes your breakthrough begins with your sound of your cry.”

“Sickness will make you pray. Betrayal will make you pray. Losing a job will make you pray. When grief hits your house, you'll cry like you never cried before. Do I have someone? But I'm here to let you know, desperation is not a sign of weakness, but I believe it's a doorway to a breakthrough.”

“Jesus always responds to a sincere cry. Hallelujah. But notice this. He doesn't heal them immediately. He doesn't touch them on the spot. He doesn't speak a word and they become immediately clean. He doesn't perform a dramatic miracle in front of the crowd. Instead, Jesus gives them instructions and their healing is hidden in their obedience.”

“That means that they were now restored to their family, restored to worship, restored to community, restored to their identity. And yes, uh uh the healing was an instant. They were healed as they walked. As they went, they were cleansed. And I believe that teaches us a few things this morning that obedience precedes the outcomes.”

“Transformation often happens in transition. You see, some of our greatest miracles were will occur while we're on our journey, not when we arrive. And I believe, my brothers and sisters, as African-Americans, our community knows as they went faith.”

“But church, receiving a blessing doesn't always guarantee a grateful heart. Yes, getting healed on the road does not mean you'll return to the one who healed you. And I believe that's where this story begins to shift because now we see uh uh and we must understand uh those who are grateful and those who are not the worshippers from the receivers, the one who returned from the nine who walked away.”

“Yes, my brothers and sisters, a spiritually unclean man responds with more holiness than those who grew up in the temple. Which means you can come to church all your life and have an ungrateful heart. Hallelujah. I don't want to be in the nine.”

“The nine got the blessing. Uh but they missed the blesser. The nine got the healing. Uh but they missed the salvation. The nine got restored skin, but the one got a restored soul. The nine walked away, but one bowed down and worshiped the master.”

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