WHERE ARE THE OTHER NINE?: An Attitude of Gratitude 11-1-26
INTRODUCTION
Ingratitude homework
Did you send a thank you note to someone who is ungrateful?
In his book 'Jesus, Lord of Your Personality,' pastor Bob Russell points out that having a lot doesn’t tend to produce a grateful spirit.
"Have you had a taste of the best this world has to offer? You went to Hawaii once on vacation, so now it’s harder for you to enjoy the state park. You’ve eaten a steak at Ruth Chris, so it’s harder to be thankful for a meal at Ponderosa. You’ve driven a Jaguar, so now you can’t be as content with your used Chevrolet.
You’ve cheered for a national champion, so now it’s difficult to be grateful when your team has a good season but doesn’t take home the title..."
"Generally speaking, the more we have, the less grateful we are. It should be the opposite; the more we have, the more thankful we should be. But it usually doesn’t work that way, does it?"
“A wise man prayed, ’Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ’Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God’" - Proverbs 30:8-9 NIV
"It is a rare person who, when his cup frequently runs over, can give thanks to God instead of complaining about the limited size of his mug!"
Bob Russell Jesus, Lord of Your Personality, Howard Publishing Co., 2002, pp. 14-16.
Head, heart and hands
I know I am cancer free.
I am grateful.
I am working on living a more grateful life.
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.””
Luke 17:11-19 NIV
HEAD
When Was the Last Time You Threw Yourself at the Feet of Jesus and Thanked Him?
What Led To the Samaritan Leper's Actions?
A. He saw what Jesus had done for him (recognized the source of his blessings)
B. Went back to where Jesus was (stopped what he was doing)
C. Praised God in a loud voice (vocalized his inner voice)
D. Threw himself at Jesus' feet (acted on his gratitude)
E. He thanked him ("Thank you")
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
HEART
What Was the Difference Between the 9 and the 1?
A. His heart
1. He had the right to go to the priests first
2. He could have reclaimed his life first
3. He could have, but he didn't
In a sense, gratitude is an expression of modesty. In Hebrew, the word for gratitude - hoda’ah - is the same as the word for confession. To offer thanks is to confess dependence, to acknowledgment that others have the power to benefit you, to admit that your life is better because of their efforts. That frame of mind is indispensable to civilized society.
Jeff Jacoby, “The Power of Giving Thanks”, Boston Globe Staff, 11/23/2000.
B. Our heart?
James 1:17 NIV
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1:17 NIV
HANDS
After one of the terrible battles of the Civil War, a dying Confederate soldier asked to see the chaplain. When the chaplain arrived, he supposed the young man would wish him to ask God for his recovery; but it was very different.
First the soldier asked him to cut off a lock of his hair for is mother, and then he asked him to kneel down and thank God.
"What for?" asked the surprised chaplain.
"For giving me such a mother. Thank God that I am a Christian. And thank God for giving me grace to die with. And thank God for the home He has promised me over there."
And so the chaplain knelt down by the dying man, and in his prayer he had not a single petition to offer, but only praise and gratitude.
The Christian Herald
Our Actions Today
A. Make a list of blessings
B. Think about how God brought you those blessings
C. Take some time
D. Count your blessings
E. Do something
F. Say "Thank you" to God
Colossians 3:16-17 NIV
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.”
Colossians 3:16-17 NIV
CONCLUSION
Do not miss what is happening to you. Do not allow your heart to miss the opportunity to give praise. Live a grateful life.
A lady was on a lake steamer when her little girl fell overboard, and the woman was almost frantic. A gentleman on the boat had a large Newfoundland dog. The dog was directed to leap into the water and save the child. He did so and swam ashore with the little girl, part of her dress in his mouth, I suppose. The mother seized her saved child, and kissed her again and again. Then turning to the dog, she hugged and kissed that dog, with a heart full of gratitude to the animal.
That’s more than some people have ever done for Jesus Christ, although He hung on the cross to save them from sin and hell.
William Moses Tidwell, "Pointed Illustrations." From a sermon by Gerald Flury, Our Calling, 10/25/2010.
INVITATION
It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now. If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.
