Thanks And Giving

Thanksgiving and Action (giving) - Thanks Giving

Theme: To show the connection between thanksgiving and action.

Text: Luke 17:11 – 19, 2 Corinthians 9:10 - 15

Luke 17:11-19 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. (12) Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him (they met Jesus, IOW Jesus didn’t go after them but they went after Jesus, they had a need and knew who to go to) ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. (This was the law of the land, if you had leprosy, any debilitating skin disease, you would have to avoid people) (13) And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Again they cried out to Jesus, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus, common name, Master, a name that had command and control, mercy – release from pain, the act of withholding punishment. Grace the act of giving undeserved favor) (14) So when He saw them, (When He takes notice of them, recognizes their faith and trust in His actions) He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. (this was an act or action of faith, it is not logical to the natural mind because they were lepers but they trusted Jesus words, they were not even suppose to be around the priests as lepers) (15) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, (when were they healed, we do not know, it was on the trip to the priest ) returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, (16) and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. (This is another key to this story, this man was a Samaritan. One who was truly lost and disconnected from God. No religious system to save him. He was considered by others to be an outcast. Yet for some reason those who have been forgiven much seemed to give the most thanksgiving or praise)

NLT 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!"

Why the Samaritans were so thankful.

Thanksgiving - Because they know what it is like to be without.

Never forget where we came from!

Exactly because Samaritans were the second-class citizens of life. Why should such be praised at all unless they do clear good, as the Jews saw it. But real life bears this out in that it is often the poor and rejected of society who are first to come and help a person in need, not the important who are too wrapped up in their business to take the time to show a kindness to some stranger they encounter. Even in almsgiving, the poor are often far more generous than the rich, certainly percentage-wise, and sometimes even in total objective amounts given. To be second class is to understand what it is to be in need, and therefore to be all the more ready to help others in need.

Thanksgiving - Because they know what it is like to not be owed anything but bestowed a great miracle.

Never forget what we needed.

Another account is that of the ten lepers he healed. (Luke 17:12-19) Jesus healed 10 lepers, and all 10 were healed, but only one of them came back afterwords to thank Him, and that ex-leper was a Samaritan. On what rare occasions someone from the first class (Jews in this case, of which Jesus was one) should actually bestow a genuine kindness upon those of the second class, that is so unusual that gratitude is always shown on such occasions. To be second class means to know that no one owes them anything, nor any consideration, and when such is received, to be properly grateful.

Thanksgiving because of seeing the great need and emptiness. All else had failed.

How to have a thankful heart.

1) Avoid complaining

2) Get around people who are thankful

3) Give thanks daily

4) Keep a thanksgiving journal

5) Add action to our thanksgiving

(17) So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? (this is an excellent question, where are the other nine)

POEM (author unknown)

A poem has been written about this story, it is titled "But where are the nine?"

I meant to go back but you may guess

I was filled with amazement I cannot express

To think that after those horrible years,

That passion of loathing and passions of fears,

By sores unendurable-eaten, defiled-

My flesh was as smooth as the flesh of a child.

I was drunken with joy; I was crazy with glee,