Only One? "Where Are The Others?"

Only one? “"Where Are The Others?"

Ill. One day a woman was rushing home from a doctor’s appointment.

The doctor had been somewhat delayed at the hospital, and the lab work took a little longer than usual,

so by the time she left the clinic she was running quite a bit behind schedule.

She still had to pick up her prescription, pick up the children from the baby-sitter, and get home and make supper,

all in time to make it to the prayer meeting at her church that evening.

As she began to circle the busy Wal-Mart parking lot, looking for a space, the windows of heaven were opened,

as it says in Genesis, and a downpour began.

While she wasn’t usually the type to bother God with small problems, she began to pray as she turned down the row closest to the front door.

"Lord, you know what kind of a day I’ve had, and there’s still an awful lot to do.

Could you please grant me a parking space right away, oh, and close to the building so I don’t get soaked."

The words weren’t even completely out of her mouth when she saw the backup lights of a car come on at the end of the row.

It was the best space in the whole parking lot, right next to the handicap spots and straight out from the front door.

She made straight for it and as she pulled in, she said, "never mind God, something just opened up."

Isn’t that the way it seems to be now a days,

You know, “the God I need you right up until, oh never mind I can take it from here, mentality.”

Although we laugh at the illustration, the word thank you most of the time, seems to never be said enough publicly or privately,

to the one we call on so frequently to help us in our time of need.

Luke 17:11-19 MSG.

11-13. It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

14-16. Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

17-19. Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

TBS. (the bible says) As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

There are a lot of people even today, including Christians that have the same philosophy,

They have needs that need to be met and their calling out for mercy, but its always from a distance.

The good news is that God is accessible to you, no matter where you are.

Like the lepers, He will help you where you are, all you have to do is come as you are to Him!

So many people say that they will come to church and the things of God,

After they do this and give up that, when they stop living in sin, or when they change the way their living.

If people wait until all that happens, they may never see it happen.

God can do, what no one else can do on their own, Amen?

TBS. Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

They went, and while still on their way, became clean.

*Did they confess their sin, before they went and received their healing?

*Did they clean up, or change their lifestyle before they went and received their healing?

There need wasn’t dependent on their capabilities, They weren’t responsible for the results, God was!

They weren’t sin conscious first, they were Jesus conscious, they were aware of Jesus and His capabilities, not theirs.

TBS. Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

Jesus knew that He had their attention and He told them, “Go”

He didn’t say, never have I seen such great faith, in all of Israel like yours,

He didn’t say, your faith has made you whole, be on your way!

He said Go and Show yourselves to the Priests. The priests according to the law, we’re the only ones who could pronounce them clean, so Jesus told this in keeping with the law.