Ministering: Senior Pastor Shola Awobajo.
Text: Luke 17:11-19.
” 11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, 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. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.“
Ps. 22 says God dwells in the Praises of His People. God comes down in His splendor when you offer praise to Him. Ps. 149:6-9 enjoins us that the high praise of God should be in our mouth and a two-edged sword to execute vengeance on our enemies. Praises make our battles to change hands (He begins to fight our battles.) Thanksgiving was what brought Lazarus out of the grave. Thanksgiving converts your power to that of God in any situation. Thanksgiving turns afflictions into accelerations.
Every circumstance is an opportunity to thank The Lord. Even for what looks unpleasant, God is able to make it work together for your good. As long as you are still breathing, never allow anyone or anything to write you off.
Your aspirations might not have been achieved, but remember, a living dog is better than a dead lion. Thank Him that you are not in the grave.
From our above Text, The Lord has healed the 10 lepers and was expecting thanksgiving but to His surprise, only one came back to offer thanks to Him. The one grateful leper was thereafter made whole. This means anytime you offer thanks, God makes whole whatever looks distasteful in your life. People may be labelling and making mockery of you, but as you switch to a lifestyle of thanksgiving, God will intervene and cause mockery to your mockers.
God has been gracious to you and your family, that enough is sufficient to give thanks for His Mercy. With all the arrows by day and night, He hasn’t allowed the evil of any day to come our way. God not only deserves but has earned our thanksgiving. He gave us life, health and many other things we are not even aware of.
God created us as an instrument of continuous praise. We are to bring honor to His Name. Many people love the gift and despise the giver. This was the attitude of the 9 lepers. Meaning 90% usually receive their initial miracles but never come back to thank Him so as to receive the fullness of what He has for them.
God has been the one keeping the enemy at bay from your life and family. He deflects every arrow from your family, this is why we are indebted to give thanks continually to Him.
Gratitude is very powerful, it fosters relationship and causes a repetition of the goodwill of the giver. Just as the one grateful Samaritan leper, let us learn to always come back to thank Him. Even if it is one talent you have been given, thanksgiving will either multiply it or make it more than enough.
Lessons from Luke 17: 11-19:
- Grateful People usually receive more through deeper relationships.
- Grateful People will always return.
- It is easy for grateful people to submit themselves to their Master.
- It is easy for grateful people to have a committed heart.
Ungrateful people disdain God – they are indirectly telling God their strength has made them what they are; such people end like that rich fool that was boosting in his many barns. God deserves and has earned every bit of our thanksgiving, this is why we always return in congregational worship to offer our thanks to Him. Ungrateful people are proud people, they have a bad sense of entitlement, they never acknowledge the kindheartedness of the giver but always desire more and more – may that never be your attitude towards God. God resists the proud but gives more Grace to the humble. God is a Great God and a Great King that has Hands and can deliver!
God Bless You!
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