November 22-23, 2003 THE PROMI$E! Luke 17:11-19 and Selected

A CELEBRATION OF BLESSINGS!

A THANKFUL HEART is A GIVING HEART!

*** Luke 17:11-19 “On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy came toward him. They stood at a distance and shouted, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" Jesus looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." On their way they were healed. When one of them discovered that he was healed, he came back, shouting praises to God. He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was from the country of Samaria. Jesus asked, "Weren't ten men healed? Where are the other nine? Why was this foreigner the only one who came back to thank God?" Then Jesus told the man, "You may get up and go. Your faith has made you well." [Contemporary English Version]

HOW TO HAVE A THANKFUL HEART!

1. BY NOT STUMBLING INTO UNTHANKFULNESS!

A. BY IGNORANCE!

*** Deut. 8:10-14 “When you have eaten your fill, bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you don't forget the Lord….For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large, and your silver and gold have multiplied, that is the time to watch out that you don'.t…forget the Lord your God….” [Living Bible]

*** Ec.5:10 "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income."

B. BY SELF ABSORPTION!

*** 2Ti.3:2 "[In the last days...] People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful...."

C. BY ENVY!

*** Pr.14:30 “It's healthy to be content, but envy can eat you up.” [CEV]

2. BY KNOWING THE SIGNS OF INGRATITUDE!

A. WHEN POSSESSIONS MATTERS MORE THAN PEOPLE!

*** 1 John 3:17 “If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God.” [CEV]

B. WHEN GOODS MATTER MORE THAN GOD!

*** Mt.6:24 (LB) "You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around."

"THE COMMANDS FOR GIVING IS NOT GOD’S WAY OF RAISING MONEY, IT’S GOD’S WAY OF RAISING CHILDREN!”

C. WHEN GETTING MATTERS MORE THAN GIVING!

*** Acts 20:35 "...remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

D. WHEN FINANCES MATTER MORE THAN FAMILY!

*** 1 Tim. 6:9-10“But people who want to get rich keep falling into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires, which drown them in destruction and ruin. Certainly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people who have set their hearts on getting rich have wandered away from the Christian faith and have caused themselves a lot of grief.” [God’s Word to the Nations]

3. BY BEING FILLED WITH THANKSGIVING?

*** Luke 17:15-19 “On their way they were healed. When one of them discovered that he was healed, he came back, shouting praises to God. He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was from the country of Samaria. Jesus asked, "Weren't ten men healed? Where are the other nine? Why was this foreigner the only one who came back to thank God?" Then Jesus told the man, "You may get up and go. Your faith has made you well." [CEV]

A. HE LOOKED AT HIS BLESSINGS!

*** 1 Chron. 16:8 “Thank God! Tell the whole world…what he's done!” [Message]

B. HE RETURNED WITH THANKSGIVING!

C. HE WORSHIPED THE ONE WHO BLESSED HIM!

*** Ps.100:4 –5 " Go through his open gates with great thanksgiving; enter his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation." [LB]

D. HE THANKED THE ONE WHO BLESSED HIM!

*** Col.3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." [NIV]

·    Through Service! - 1Ti.1:12 "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service."

·    Through Giving! - Ps.50:14 "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High...."

·    Psalm 116:12 “What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?” [MSG]

E. HE TRUSTED THE ONE WHO BLESSED HIM!

*** 1 Thes. 5:18 “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” [NLT}

“Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always be thankful.”

Colossians 2:7 [New Century Version]