A Leper's Thanks Series

A LEPER’S THANKS

11-27-11 New Liberty Christian Church, Veedersburg, IN with Rich McQuinn, Minister

TEXT: LUKE 17:11-17

INTRODUCTION: Most folks never ask or wonder where their preacher gets his sermons or just how he gets his message from THE LORD! Here is a simple illustration on how this works ------------at times!

I received a call last week while Sandy-my wife- and I were in Cancun, Mexico. The phone call was from a close family of ours, whom I have ministered to for over 20 years. You may remember that this same family was here in our morning worship service just a week ago Sunday. They even asked us to pray for their mother who had cancer. That same mother Gwyn Shumate, I went and visited Thursday afternoon before we left for Mexico that evening. Gwyn and I prayed for her condition and that the Lord’s will be accepted in her life. She knew that Jesus was her Saviour and was going to take good care of her this side of life or the next one.

So the text message was to call immediately this family. I did. I was told then that Gwyn was out of the body and with the Lord and when I came back from Mexico would I take part in the celebration of her life on Saturday morning. Of course I would. We rearranged our schedule to be with my son David and his family for Zachary’s dedication this morning is Milwaukee. Instead of driving north when the plane landed in Chicago, we drove south.

So Sandy and I had a brief discussion of sermons as we were in the middle of waves crashing over our heads in the warm Gulf of Mexico. She asked what I was then going to prepare for Sunday’s sermon----this one----for today. No books, no barrel to dig in and pull out a fantastic inspirational message for today. Sermons are easy when it is directed of the Lord. He always knows what is best for His Sheep. I rattled off the scripture, and the three points I wanted to make.

Now you be the judge. I pray that you will be closer to God and more thankful from the benefits of the phone call I received this week and the talk that God had with me on the beach. A Leper’s Thanks from Doctor Luke’s gospel, chapter 17.

Do you have your Bibles today? Please raise them up so I can see them. Open them to our text this morning from Luke 17: 11-17. I want to give you something to remember today. Something that you can hang your hat on. Something that will cause you to stop dead in your tracks and know assuredly that God loves and cares for you. I want you to fully listen to this message and pray that God will fill your heart as you listen. The reading of the text begins with verse 11

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

Here we are the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving. I know you all met around your family tables and told what you were thankful for before you dove into your magnificent meals. I hope that it was meaningful to all of you. Let’s stick with the theme of being Thankful and see where this leads us by the time you have stopped listening to this message.

You may remember that the Samaritans did not like or get along with the Jews. It was not a good idea to travel through their region especially if you were a Jew. They were the people who lived on the other side of the track so to speak. Not the best people that you want as your friends on Thanksgiving Day.

Of course Jesus knew what He was doing when He started His journey. He tenderly kept His presence on the road between Samaria and Galilee. As He traveled along the tiny road going into one small village. By the city dump were 10 Lepers searching for food, or staying out of the way from the village citizens, or feeling sorry for their plight or all of the above.