THANKSGIVING FOR HEALING WITH A GRATEFUL HEART

SERMON TEXT: “ . . . when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15).

SERMON THESIS: “Actions of gratitude express greater faith-acknowledgements of God’s work in our lives elicits faith.”

INTRODUCTION: I was eleven years old when first convicted and convinced of my sin by the Holy Spirit; followed by my walk down the aisle of that little country church in Tennessee, to receive Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Standing before the congregation with tears of joy rolling down my cheeks, I heard the pastor say, “Young man do you want to say something?” I responded by saying, “I know that God saved me and I thank Him for it.” My salvation experience happened over fifty-one years ago. I thanked God then and I am still thinking Him for saving me. Had I known then, what I know now, I could have said as well, “I thank God for healing me.” What I have come to realize now is that, I not only received salvation on that day, I receive healing as well—wholistic healing, salvation/healing of body, soul, and spirit.

This is what one of the ten leprous men received from Jesus, as seen in the biblical account of the ten lepers who were healed, told by evangelist Luke, in chapter seventeen, when he realized that he had been healed, he returned, “praising God in a loud voice,” for his healing. Should not our response for the salvation we have received be likewise? Let’s consider then—Thanksgiving . . .

I. THE SOURCE - The source of thanksgiving is grace. The ten lepers in our narrative, the Bible says, “ . . . stood at a distance”(v. 12). Their disease had caused them to be social outcasts. In order for them to be cleansed from this dreaded disease, there were certain regulations that they must follow according to Leviticus 14:2ff. In keeping with the Mosaic Law, this is why Jesus would later send them to see the priest. Seeing Jesus, however, standing at a distance, they cried out to Him “in a loud voice”(v. 13). They said, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”(v. 13). Whether they knew it or not they had come to the source of their healing.

In like manner, sin has caused us to stand at a distance from God. Our sin, like the lepers, has rendered us as spiritual outcast. But God has provided a source for our spiritual cleansing as He did for the ten lepers. The source is Jesus. All the sinner has to do is cry out, like the ten lepers, “Jesus, Master, have pity (mercy) on us”(v.13), and immediately healing is on its way.

This is grace. God’s unmerited and undeserved favor. Thus grace elicits gratitude on the part of the saved sinner for giving them something that they did not deserve, and could never earn. So it goes almost without saying, the source of thanksgiving is grace. This is what the ten lepers received, but only one returned to give God thanks. What a sad commentary that is on the person who has just received God’s unmerited favor. Have you returned to the source to thank God for healing with a grateful heart.

Thanksgiving . . .

II. THE CONDITION - The conditions of thanksgiving is agreement. About the one leper who returned to give God thanks for his healing. The Bible says, “ . . . when he saw he was healed . . .”(v.15). When he saw he had been healed he returned to the source of his healing to agree with Jesus that he had been healed. In the words of one writer, “Thanksgiving means you agree with God.” He goes on to say, “You accept and appreciate what He has chosen to give you or let come into your life.” The Bible encourages us to give thanks in all circumstances . . .

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”(I Thessalonians 5:18)

Whatever has come into our life we know that God has allowed it and that it is going to work for our good and His glory . . .

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”(Romans 8:28)

Agreeing with Jesus that he had been healed, the leper, the Bible says, “came back, praising God in a loud voice”(v.15). It was with a loud voice that he cried out to Jesus for healing, and now he cries out with a loud voice of thanksgiving. In doing so, he was agreeing with Jesus, and praising Him for what He had done.

The condition of thanksgiving is agreement. Have you met, and are you meeting the condition of thanksgiving in your life?

Thanksgiving . . .

III. THE RESPONSE - The response of thanksgiving is worship. Not only did the one leper who returned cry out with a loud voice of praise to Jesus for his healing, the Bible goes on to say, “He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him . . .”(v. 16). One writer put it like this, “When you thank God, you enter His presence, worship Him, and offer an offering to Him.” He goes on to say, “This pleases Him.”

I had the neatest experience one Tuesday morning while exercising in our sub-division . . . “Thank you pastor!” If that pleased me, think what a word of thanksgiving means to God, when we return to say, “Thank You, Father” for something He has done for us.

On the other hand, think about the disappointment He must experience when we fail to return and give Him thanks. Jesus asked the leper who returned, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?(v.17).

Think, also, what we miss when we fail to return and give Him thanks!

1. We miss the opportunity to enter His presence.

2. We miss the opportunity to worship Him.

3. We miss the opportunity to give Him an offering.

Yes, my dear friends, the response of thanksgiving is worship!

Thanksgiving . . .

IV. THE OCCASION - The occasion of thanksgiving is everything. In everything, we are to give thanks to God. The Apostle Paul said . . .

“We give thanks to Thee, O God, we give thanks, For Thy name is near; Men declare Thy wondrous works.”(Psalm 75:1)

“Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.” (John 6:11)

“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.” (Rm. 6:17)

“Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.”(Eph. 5:20)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”(Philippians 4:6)

As it has been so wonderfully stated, “Nothing should escape our thanksgiving.” Under every situation and in every condition, we can find something to be thankful for—especially our salvation.

On the occasion of his healing, the one leper who returned. He could not contain his emotions. Again the Bible says . . .

“Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.”(Luke 17:15-16).

The occasion for thanksgiving is everything!

Thanksgiving . . .

V. THE REWARD - The reward of thanksgiving is the enjoyment of God’s blessings.

For the one leper who returned, his reward was tremendous. Hear the words Jesus spoke to Him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well”(v.19). Please note, since the Greek word “soteria” can be translated “healing” or “wholeness,” “New Testament scholars debate what Jesus said (in verse 19) should be translated: ‘your faith saved you,’ or “your faith has healed you’ or your faith has made you whole.”

The reward of thanksgiving is that when we return to Jesus to give God thanks, we will get more than we bargained for. The leper who returned was not only rewarded with physical healing, he also received salvation, and the enjoyment of God’s blessings forever.

Upon his return to the One who healed him, he found . . .

1. Peace

2. Joy

3. Growth

4. Worship

5. The blessings of life in Christ now, and the enjoyment of life with Him forever

The reward of thanksgiving is the enjoyment of God’s blessings now and forever!!!!!!!!!!!

CONCLUSION: In Jesus’ confrontation with the leper who returned, He asked, “Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”(v.18). He was the one most unlikely to return and give thanks. As a sinner, like this Samaritan, saved by God’s grace, have you returned to give God praise? And like this Samaritan, you can find healing and salvation today. Will you come to Jesus for salvation and depart praising God?