The Sermon that the Lord put on my heart to deliver was “Where Are the Nine” on this past first Sunday Scripture Text Luke 17:10-17
The Bible says, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed”. The Bible says that he saw he was healed. Now the others no doubt knew that they were healed, but there was something different here. The Greek word used is the word eido, and it means to know, see, or perceive. He took the time to note that he had been blessed. He realized that something wonderful had happened to him. He was sensitive to the power of Christ working in his life.
Do we really perceive the ways that God has blessed us? Not a one of us is hungry, not a one of us is naked, but most importantly, if you are a Christian, you have been given everything through Christ Jesus our Lord. The devil will do his best to keep your mind off the blessings of God. He will constantly tell you how bad you have it, of how everything is wrong in your life. You see, it’s when you begin to realize how much you have in the Lord, that you will truly begin to be thankful, and when you are thankful, your heart will abound with love for the Lord that has so graciously given all to you.
I told this story as part of the message: There is an old story that illustrates this point. There is a man who goes to the rabbi and complains, "Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?" The rabbi answers, "Take your goat into the room with you." The man in incredulous, but the rabbi insists. "Do as I say and come back in a week." A week later the man comes back looking more distraught than before. "We cannot stand it," he tells the rabbi. "The goat is filthy." The rabbi then tells him, "Go home and let the goat out. And come back in a week." A radiant man returns to the rabbi a week later, exclaiming, "Life is beautiful. We enjoy every minute of it now that there’s no goat -- only the nine of us." The situation was the same as at first, but now his perception had changed. He realized that he was blessed to begin with.
An unthankful Christian is a defeated Christian for he/she has lost their joy.When he saw that he was healed, he turned around. Now the Lord had given the command to all 10 to go to the priest but he delayed, he turned around and went back to the Lord. Why didn’t the Lord rebuke him for this? The reason is because this man realized the priority of gratitude and worship. I believe that this man fully intended to obey what the Lord had told him to do, but he realized that he had a higher calling that must come first. If you don’t give God thanks, it won’t be long until your obedience just becomes a job to do, you lose the meaning of what God is wanting you to do. You become unthankful. It is fitting and proper to give thanks and praise to the Lord for what He has done in your life. As he drew near to where the Lord was, he glorified God. The Greek means that he made the Lord glorious, he manifested the worth of the Lord. He came to Jesus and fell down before Him in perfect submission and gave Him thanks. The Lord asked the question, Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the Nine? Then note what He told this man, “Arise, go thy way, thy faith has made thee whole.” This was something that the others did not receive. He had faith, not just to be healed, but many commentaries state that he had the faith to follow Christ. All people are blessed of God, but not all follow Christ. This man’s thankful heart responded in faith and he was perfected as a disciple of the Lord.
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 7th:
SICK AND SHUT IN VISITATION
A group of Holy Light ministers, deacons, deaconess and mothers will be going out on Saturday to visit in home a number of our members who are sick and shut in to fellowship and also serve communion.
December 14th:
HOLY LIGHT CONVALESCENT HOMES OUTREACH MINISTRY NEWS
Everyone is cordially invited to share the Gospel Message and true spirit of Christmas with the Convalescent Homes Outreach Ministry as we make our final visits with patients for this year. Additionally, we will visit a few of our home-bound members. Please feel free to meet us at any one or more facilities that you can attend. It will be deeply appreciated. Gifts will be distributed to patients at the following facilities.
December 15th:
ANNUAL CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE
Service will be at 4:30pm on Sunday December 15th. It will feature the Children’s Drama Department and the Music Ministry Departments.
January 25th:
HOLY LIGHT COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY
Anyone interested in volunteering or providing donations or support please contact Sis. Stephanie Hicks.
