Faith and Gratitude: Lessons from the Ten Lepers

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Precedes the Miracle

Faith is the catalyst for divine intervention and precedes the visible signs of God's work in one's life. Like the lepers who acted on Jesus' command before their healing, believers are called to trust and obey God's word even when the outcome is not yet apparent. This act of faith is a powerful testament to one's belief in God's promise and goodness. [46:59]

Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to step out in faith before seeing the evidence of God's promise?

Day 2: The Heartbeat of Thankfulness

True gratitude is an intentional expression that acknowledges the giver and the gift. It is a communicative act that goes beyond private feelings, serving as a witness to the grace received. The story of the one leper who returned to thank Jesus teaches the importance of not just feeling thankful but also expressing it. [48:11]

Colossians 3:15 - "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Reflection: Can you identify someone who has blessed you recently? How can you express your gratitude to them today?

Day 3: Visible Faith Through Action

The Christian journey often involves taking steps of faith before witnessing the fulfillment of God's promises. The lepers' decision to go to the priest as an act of obedience, despite not yet being healed, is a powerful metaphor for the believer's walk with Christ, where actions rooted in faith lead to divine encounters and blessings. [41:05]

James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Reflection: What is one action you can take today that demonstrates your faith in a promise God has made to you?

Day 4: Communicating Gratitude

Gratitude must be communicated to be fully realized; unexpressed thanks can often be perceived as ingratitude. This lesson from the story of the healed lepers extends to all areas of life, reminding us that acknowledging the kindness of others is essential for maintaining healthy relationships and encouraging continued generosity. [53:57]

Luke 17:17-18 - "Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?'"
Reflection: Reflect on a recent blessing you received. Have you communicated your gratitude to God and the people involved?

Day 5: Gratitude Over Entitlement

Cultivating a heart of thankfulness is the antidote to a sense of entitlement. When individuals recognize that they are not owed anything, they become more generous and reflective of Jesus' teachings on giving and serving others. Gratitude is the birthplace of generosity and a hallmark of a life transformed by God's love. [01:00:53]

2 Corinthians 9:11 - "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
Reflection: How does recognizing that you are not owed anything change your perspective on giving and serving others?

Sermon Summary

The sermon explores the theme of gratitude through the biblical story of Jesus healing ten lepers, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke. The speaker emphasizes the importance of taking a step of faith to experience the miraculous, highlighting that fulfillment comes from following God's guidance rather than one's own path. The narrative of the lepers illustrates that even those who do not know Jesus may enjoy life's pleasures, but they still long for something more profound.

The speaker begins by praying for the congregation's surrender to God and expressing gratitude for His greatness. The sermon is delivered after Thanksgiving to remind the congregation of the holiday's purpose. The speaker then transitions to the story of Jesus encountering ten men with leprosy. These men were socially and religiously ostracized due to their condition. When they call out to Jesus for mercy, He instructs them to show themselves to the priests, which was a command that required faith since they were not yet healed. Their obedience results in their miraculous cleansing.

The speaker notes that only one of the ten, a Samaritan, returns to express gratitude, prompting Jesus to question the absence of the others. This part of the story shifts the focus from the miracle itself to the theme of gratitude. The speaker cautions against judging the nine who did not return, as it is a common human failing to forget to express thanks.

The sermon further discusses the lepers' decision to follow Jesus' command before their healing, which required trust in Jesus' goodness. Their faith, the opportunity to share about Jesus, and their first step towards the priest are highlighted as significant outcomes of their obedience. The speaker speculates that the priest would have been curious about their healing, providing the lepers with a chance to testify about Jesus.

The speaker also addresses the pace at which the healed lepers might have traveled to the priest, suggesting that their eagerness to return to their lives may have overshadowed their need to express gratitude. The importance of expressing gratitude is underscored, as unexpressed gratitude can be perceived as ingratitude.

The sermon concludes with a call to express gratitude to God and others, linking gratitude to a rejection of entitlement and the birthplace of generosity. The speaker quotes pastors Alex Amaya and Michael Todd on the significance of gratitude in leading us towards God and generosity. The sermon ends with an invitation for followers of Jesus to participate in a special moment of reflection and communion.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What did Jesus instruct the ten lepers to do after they called out to Him for mercy?
How many of the ten lepers returned to thank Jesus after being healed?
What was Jesus' reaction to the one leper who returned to express gratitude?
What did Jesus say to the leper who returned to thank Him?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus instructed the lepers to go to the priests before they were healed? What does this tell us about faith and obedience?
What might be the significance of the one leper who returned being a Samaritan? How does this detail enhance the story's message about gratitude?
How does the story of the ten lepers illustrate the relationship between faith and action?
What does Jesus' question, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?" reveal about the importance of expressing gratitude?

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you experienced a blessing or answered prayer. Did you take the time to express gratitude to God and others involved? How can you make expressing gratitude a more consistent practice in your life?
The sermon mentioned that unexpressed gratitude can be perceived as ingratitude. Think of someone in your life who has done something significant for you. Have you expressed your gratitude to them? If not, how can you do so this week?
The lepers had to take a step of faith before seeing the evidence of their healing. Is there an area in your life where you need to take a step of faith, trusting in God's guidance even without immediate evidence? What is holding you back?
Gratitude is linked to a rejection of entitlement and the birthplace of generosity. How can you cultivate a heart of thankfulness in your daily life to combat feelings of entitlement?
Consider the pace at which the healed lepers might have traveled to the priest, possibly overshadowing their need to express gratitude. Are there areas in your life where you are so focused on the next step that you forget to pause and give thanks? How can you slow down and be more mindful of expressing gratitude?
The sermon highlighted that gratitude leads to generosity. Identify one way you can show generosity this week as an expression of your gratitude for what God has done in your life.
The sermon concluded with a call to express gratitude to God and others. Take a moment to reflect on God's blessings in your life. How can you incorporate a practice of daily gratitude into your spiritual routine?

Sermon Clips

"Our life would be an offering to you that'd be more than just words but it'd be our very lives, our very actions, and just who we are, God, as Thanksgiving to you." [29:55] (Download)

"I think it's good for us to go back and kind of go oh yeah, we had Thanksgiving and now we're going to kind of remember why we had Thanksgiving." [30:30] (Download)

"Gratitude is the birthplace of generosity in your life; until you understand all that you have and you are so very grateful and thankful for what you have, you're not very likely to demonstrate generosity in your life." [33:14] (Download)

"Unexpressed gratitude communicates ingratitude. It is so important that we teach our kids and that we learn ourselves that gratitude is something that needs to be a part of our life." [58:35] (Download)

"What we develop is not an attitude of gratitude but what we develop is a sense of entitlement, and all of a sudden, the things that we should be grateful for we just now assume and expect." [59:06] (Download)

"More gratitude will not come with more gifts but from understanding the source of all of our gifts, who is God." [01:01:34] (Download)

"God can and is able to do the miraculous in your life, and I think at times will do the miraculous in your life; you're just too stubborn to take the first step of Faith." [45:44] (Download)

"People who don't know Jesus still have this nagging hole in their heart, longing for something more than what they're able to get here in this life." [46:59] (Download)

"God would do exactly what you're looking for in your life if you would just take a step in the direction that he calls you to go." [47:35] (Download)

"The moment that they took that step towards where the priest was, at that first step of Faith, the healing started to begin in their life." [42:49] (Download)

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