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November 18th, 2012

11/18/2012

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Luke 17:11-19
Lord Jesus heals ten men of leprosy and only one returned to thank Him. 
In this healing miracle we can learn some valuable spiritual principles.
In ancient times, leprosy was terminal and was attributed to some curse of God.
That person becomes an outcast and had to live outside of the community till death.
There was no cure for leprosy in those days.
For all purposes Lepers were beggars and “walking dead” people.
1. THEIR CRY FOR MERCY
First three verses we observe how ten lepers cry out for mercy from a distance.
Because they heard about the healing miracles the Lord had performed.
They cannot come close to people because they are outcasts in society.
They are suffering with a physical leprosy where as many today suffer with spiritual leprosy.
Many do not admit that they have a leprosy called sin in their heart.
For them the message of the Gospel seems to be ridiculous and ludicrous.
2. THEY STEPPED OUT IN FAITH
Verse 14 tells us that the Lord never used the word healing but asked them to show to the priest.
Leviticus 13 has some very detailed regulations about how a Jewish priest could declare a person to be clean or unclean. 
These lepers knew what it means to show it to the priest.
That means to be declared as clean from leprosy.
They simply obeyed HIS words and never doubted nor questioned HIM.
They stepped out in faith and proceeded towards the temple.
They faced a moment of crisis in their faith.
As they were going, they were healed.
That’s the way faith works. 
Faith is obeying and trusting God and walking on the Word of God.
3. ONLY ONE CAME BACK TO THANK
But we know from the Lord’s response only one of them did the right thing. 
He turned and ran back to Lord Jesus and fell at His feet to give Him thanks.
He wanted to thank the Lord for his healing before he goes to the priest to be declared as clean.
Falling at the Lord’s feet is a picture of submission and worship.
What a way to express his gratitude and thanks.
4. WHO CAME BACK TO THANK WAS A FOREIGNER
All the ten men were exposed to God’s healing power, but only one sought a personal relationship with Him.
Nine of the men were content to receive the blessing of God, but only one of them had the deisre to turn back to the source of the blessing to express his thanks and worship God.
God’s blessings are poured out on everyone. 
Lord Jesus said God makes it rain on the just and unjust alike.
But only few people do return to God with grateful hearts.
Lord Jesus pointed out that the one man who returned was a Samaritan–a foreigner.

We as believers in the Lord are always in the minority about the way we act and think.
We can never feel at home in this world, and we shouldn’t.
We are always citizens of heaven and so travelers thru this world.
A REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH LORD JESUS MAKES US A FOREIGNER
19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
The word means to “be made complete or whole.” 
Lord Jesus didn’t come to earth to heal people of diseases but to seek and to save the lost. 
He came to make people whole again and to cure the leprosy of sin in human heart
Those of us who are cured of the spiritual leprosy let us be thankful to the LORD always for this wonderful gift of salvation.
Those who are still rejecting the Gospel message, may hearng the compelling voice of the Lord to come to HIM to be cured permanently.


 
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    Author

    Pastor John Sesham
    Abundant Grace Community Church, Hayward.

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