Mills Memorial Baptist Church
Sunday Evening Worship - 6/14
  • Wings As Eagles
  • Ring the Bells of Heaven
  • Luke 17:11–19
    We are continuing tonight in our Sunday evening series through the Gospel of Luke called Follow His Steps.
    As we walk through Luke, we are not simply gathering information about the life of Christ.
    We are watching His steps so that we might learn to follow Him.
    Luke 17:11 says, “And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.”
    That little phrase reminds us where Jesus is headed.
    He is going to Jerusalem.
    He is moving toward the cross.
    He knows what awaits Him there.
    He knows the rejection, the suffering, the shame, and the death that are before Him.
    Yet even as He walks toward Calvary, He is still stopping for broken people along the way.
    That is our Saviour.
    He is never too burdened to hear a cry for mercy.
    He is never too holy to notice the unclean.
    He is never too focused on the cross to overlook the suffering person on the roadside.
    In this passage, Jesus meets ten lepers.
    They lift up their voices and cry for mercy.
    Jesus hears them.
    Jesus heals them.
    But after all ten are cleansed, only one comes back to give glory to God.
    That is the heart of the passage.
    Ten men received mercy.
    One man returned with gratitude.
    Ten men were cleansed.
    One man came back worshipping.
    Ten men experienced the power of Christ.
    One man understood that the gift should lead him back to the Giver.
    Tonight I want to give you four steps of a thankful faith.

    I. Recognize Your Need

    Luke 17:12 says, “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.”
    The first thing we see in this passage is need.
    These men were lepers.
    In the Bible, leprosy was a terrible condition.
    It affected the body.
    It separated a man from his family.
    It removed him from normal worship.
    It marked him as unclean.
    Leviticus 13:45–46 KJV
    45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
    That was the life of a leper.
    He lived with physical pain.
    He lived with social separation.
    He lived with ceremonial uncleanness.
    He lived with the constant reminder that something was wrong and he could not fix it.
    That is where this account begins.
    It begins with men who needed mercy.
    Before a person can truly be thankful, he must understand how needy he really is.

    A. See The Uncleanness

    These men “stood afar off.”
    They did that because the law required it.
    They could not come close.
    They could not mingle freely with the crowd.
    They could not embrace their families.
    They could not walk into the synagogue as though nothing were wrong.
    Their condition created distance.
    That is a vivid picture of sin.
    Sin defiles.
    Sin separates.
    Sin leaves man unable to cleanse himself.
    Isaiah 59:2 KJV
    2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
    Romans 3:23 KJV
    23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
    That is not just true of the worst people we know.
    That is true of every one of us.
    We were not born clean before God.
    We were not born close to God.
    We were not born with the ability to make ourselves righteous.
    We were sinners in need of mercy.
    One of the dangers of church life is that we can become familiar with spiritual language and forget the depth of our need.
    We know how to sing the songs.
    We know how to say the right words.
    We know how to look respectable.
    But underneath every testimony of salvation is this truth: I was unclean, and Jesus had mercy on me.
    The thankful Christian never gets over that.

    B. Feel The Distance

    The Bible says these men stood afar off.
    That distance was not imaginary.
    It was real.
    They were close enough to see Jesus, but they were not allowed to draw near like others could.
    That is a lonely place to live.
    There may have been a time when each of those men had a home.
    There may have been a time when they sat at a table with family.
    There may have been a time when they worked, worshipped, and lived among the people.
    But leprosy changed all of that.
    They were now men on the outside.
    Sin does the same thing spiritually.
    It puts distance between man and God.
    It puts distance in the conscience.
    It puts distance in relationships.
    It puts distance in the heart.
    Even after salvation, when a believer allows sin to remain unconfessed, he feels that distance in fellowship.
    David said in Psalm 32:3
    Psalm 32:3 KJV
    3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old Through my roaring all the day long.
    He knew what it was to feel the burden of unconfessed sin.
    But Psalm 32:5
    Psalm 32:5 KJV
    5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
    Thank God, distance is not final when mercy is available.
    These men were afar off, but they were not beyond the reach of Christ.

    C. Admit The Helplessness

    Leprosy was not something these men could simply decide to remove.
    They needed something beyond themselves.
    That is where every sinner must come.
    We do not need improvement only.
    We need cleansing.
    We do not need religious polish only.
    We need mercy.
    Titus 3:5 KJV
    5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
    That verse humbles us.
    We were not saved because we brought God something impressive.
    We were saved because God showed mercy.
    And the Christian life continues on that same basis.
    We never outgrow our need for mercy.
    A thankful faith begins by recognizing need.
    The person who thinks he deserves everything will be thankful for almost nothing.
    But the person who knows he has received mercy will have a reason to praise God.

    II. Cry For Mercy

    Luke 17:13 says, “And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
    These men could not come near, but they could cry out.
    They could not cleanse themselves, but they could call on the One who could.
    Their prayer is simple, but it is full of faith.
    They knew His name.
    They called Him “Jesus.”
    They acknowledged His authority.
    They called Him “Master.”
    They asked for His compassion.
    They said, “have mercy on us.”
    That’s not a fancy prayer.
    It is not polished.
    But it is honest.

    A. Call On The Right Person

    They cried, “Jesus, Master.”
    They did not cry to the crowd.
    They did not cry to the priests first.
    They did not cry to one another.
    They cried to Jesus.
    That’s important!
    There are many places people look when they are desperate.
    Some look inward.
    Some look to religion.
    Some look to self-effort.
    Some look to other people.
    Some look for distractions.
    But mercy is found in Christ.
    Acts 4:12 KJV
    12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
    The name of Jesus is not just a religious word.
    It is the name of the only Saviour.
    Matthew 1:21 KJV
    21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
    These lepers may not have understood everything, but they knew enough to cry to the right Person.
    That is where faith begins.
    It looks away from self and looks to Christ.

    B. Ask For The Right Thing

    They said, “have mercy on us.”
    They did not come demanding.
    They came pleading.
    They did not say, “Jesus, we deserve this.”
    They said, “have mercy.”
    Mercy is help for the miserable.
    Mercy is compassion for the helpless.
    Luke 18:13 gives us the prayer of the publican:
    Luke 18:13 KJV
    13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
    Jesus said that man went down to his house justified.
    Why?
    Because he came humbly.
    He came honestly.
    He came needing mercy.
    There is no salvation without mercy.
    There is no forgiveness without mercy.
    There is no restoration without mercy.
    There is no Christian growth without mercy.
    Hebrews 4:16 KJV
    16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
    What an invitation!
    The throne of God is not a throne of grace because we are worthy.
    It’s a throne of grace because Jesus has opened the way.

    C. Come With Others

    Notice they said, “have mercy on us.”
    There were ten of them crying together.
    Misery had brought them together.
    Their background did not matter much anymore.
    Their social standing did not matter much anymore.
    Their old arguments probably did not matter much anymore.
    They were all lepers.
    They were all needy.
    They all needed the same mercy.
    That is a helpful picture for the church.
    At the foot of the cross, we are all needy people.
    Some may have been saved for many years.
    Some may be newer in the faith.
    Some may have more Bible knowledge.
    Some may have less.
    But none of us are here because we cleansed ourselves.
    We’re here because Jesus had mercy.
    That should make us humble with one another.
    That should make us patient with one another.
    That should make us thankful together.
    A thankful faith cries for mercy because it knows Christ is the only One who can meet the deepest need.

    III. Obey His Word

    Luke 17:14 says, “And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”
    Then the Bible says, “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”
    This is a beautiful part of the account.
    Jesus did not heal them first and then tell them to go.
    He told them to go, and as they went, they were cleansed.
    Their obedience came before the visible evidence.
    That is faith.
    Faith takes Christ at His word.

    A. Hear The Command

    Jesus said, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”
    That command connects with the Old Testament law.
    Leviticus 14 gave instructions for the cleansing of a leper and the priestly inspection that followed.
    The priest could not heal the leper, but he could examine him and declare him clean.
    So when Jesus told these men to go show themselves to the priests, He was speaking as though their cleansing was certain.
    But at that moment, they were still lepers.
    Nothing had changed yet as far as they could see.
    Their skin still bore the marks.
    Their bodies still carried the disease.
    Their condition still said unclean.
    But Jesus said, “Go.”
    Faith had to decide whether His word was enough.
    That is often where obedience begins.
    We do not always see the answer first.
    We do not always feel different first.
    We do not always have every question settled first.
    But Christ speaks, and faith obeys.
    In John 2, Mary has asked Jesus the host of the wedding has run out of wine, and wants Him to fix it.
    John 2:5 KJV
    5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
    That is still good counsel.

    B. Take The Step

    The Bible says, “as they went, they were cleansed.”
    That means they had to start walking while they still looked like lepers.
    They had to move in obedience before they saw the miracle.
    There is something very practical there.
    Sometimes we want God to change everything before we obey anything.
    We say, “Lord, give me peace, and then I will obey.”
    We say, “Lord, make it easy, and then I will obey.”
    We say, “Lord, show me how it all works out, and then I will obey.”
    But faith often says, “Lord, because You said it, I will take the next step.”
    The healing came “as they went.”
    Not as they argued.
    Not as they waited for more proof.
    Not as they tried to improve the command.
    As they went.
    There are some blessings we do not experience because we will not take the next obedient step.
    A person says, “I want peace,” but he will not obey what God has already shown him.
    A believer says, “I want victory,” but he will not separate from what is feeding his defeat.
    A Christian says, “I want God to work,” but he will not forgive, confess, serve, witness, or surrender.
    The next step may not be dramatic.
    It may simply be the step Christ has put in front of you.
    Faith does not need to see the whole road.
    Faith obeys the next word from Christ.

    C. Trust The Promise

    “As they went, they were cleansed.”
    What a moment that must have been.
    Perhaps one looked down and saw his skin changing.
    Perhaps another felt strength in a body that had been failing.
    Perhaps they began to shout to one another.
    Perhaps they wept as they realized they could go home.
    The disease was gone.
    The separation was over.
    The mercy they cried for had been given.
    Jesus had done what no man could do.
    That is the power of His word.
    Jesus didn’t need medicine.
    He didn’t need ceremony.
    He didn’t need to touch them.
    He simply spoke, and His word was enough.
    The same is true for salvation.
    Romans 10:17 KJV
    17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
    The Word of God is powerful because the God of the Word is powerful.
    A thankful faith obeys His Word because it believes Christ can do what He says.

    IV. Return With Thanks

    Luke 17:15 says, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.”
    This is where the account narrows from ten men to one man.
    All ten were cleansed.
    All ten received mercy.
    All ten had reason to return.
    But only one came back.
    The text does not say the others lost their cleansing.
    It does not say they were not truly healed.
    It says only one returned to give glory to God.
    That is sobering.
    It is possible to receive much from God and give little thanks to God.

    A. Notice The Gift

    Verse 15 says, “when he saw that he was healed.”
    He noticed what had happened.
    He did not rush past it.
    He did not treat it as ordinary.
    He saw the gift.
    That is where gratitude begins.
    Thankfulness requires attention.
    Many of us are not unthankful because God has done so little.
    We are unthankful because we notice so little.
    We notice what is missing.
    We notice what is frustrating.
    We notice what other people have.
    We notice what did not happen the way we wanted.
    But do we stop and notice mercy?
    Do we notice answered prayer?
    Do we notice daily bread?
    Do we notice forgiveness?
    Do we notice strength for another day?
    Do we notice the people God has placed in our lives?
    Do we notice the patience of God with us?
    Psalm 103:2 KJV
    2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:
    That verse tells us why praise is sometimes weak.
    We forget His benefits.
    A thankful Christian learns to notice grace.

    B. Glorify The Giver

    The man “turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.”
    Earlier, all ten had lifted up their voices for mercy.
    Now one man lifts up his voice for praise.
    That is convicting.
    Sometimes we are louder in our asking than we are in our thanking.
    We know how to cry when we need help.
    But do we return when help has come?
    This man’s gratitude was not quiet embarrassment.
    He glorified God with a loud voice.
    He was not ashamed to praise the One who had shown him mercy.
    Psalm 107:2 KJV
    2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
    That does not mean our worship has to be showy or emotional in the same way every time.
    But it does mean gratitude should not be hidden.
    God should receive glory for what God has done.
    When He saves a sinner, He deserves glory.
    When He answers prayer, He deserves glory.
    When He carries us through a trial, He deserves glory.
    When He gives strength we did not have, He deserves glory.
    The gift should lead us back to the Giver.

    C. Worship At His Feet

    Luke 17:16 says, “And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”
    This man did not merely say thank you from a distance.
    He came back to Jesus.
    He fell on his face at His feet.
    He gave Him thanks.
    That’s worship.
    Gratitude brought him low.
    Praise humbled him.
    Luke adds, “and he was a Samaritan.”
    That detail matters.
    The one who returned was the outsider.
    The one who came back was the man many Jews would have looked down upon.
    The Samaritan had received mercy from a Jewish Messiah, and he came back to worship.
    Jesus then asked in Verses 17–18
    Luke 17:17–18 KJV
    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.
    Those questions should search our hearts.
    Where are the nine?
    Where are the ones who prayed when they were desperate?
    Where are the ones who promised they would never forget?
    Where are the ones who received mercy and kept walking?
    It is easy to shake our heads at the nine.
    But how often have we been among them?
    How many prayers has God answered that we barely thanked Him for?
    How many sins has He forgiven that we stopped being amazed by?
    How many mercies has He given that we now treat as normal?
    How many times have we enjoyed the blessing but failed to return to the Blesser?

    D. Walk In Faith

    Luke 17:19 says, “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
    The word “whole” can carry the idea of being saved, delivered, or made well.
    All ten were cleansed physically.
    But this man received a deeper word from Christ.
    He came back not only healed in body, but responding in faith and worship.
    Jesus said, “thy faith hath made thee whole.”
    That is the greatest need of every person.
    The greatest mercy is to be made whole before God.
    A healed body is temporary.
    A saved soul is eternal.
    A restored earthly relationship is a blessing.
    Peace with God is greater.
    This man’s faith brought him back to Jesus.
    That is what true faith does.
    It does not merely want something from Christ.
    It wants Christ Himself.
    A thankful faith returns with thanks because it understands that mercy should lead us back to worship.

    Conclusion

    Luke 17:11–19 gives us a simple but searching account.
    Ten men had a need.
    Ten men cried for mercy.
    Ten men obeyed the word of Christ.
    Ten men were cleansed.
    But only one returned to give thanks.
    The question Jesus asked still speaks tonight.
    “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”
    That question is not only for them.
    It is for us.
    Where is the gratitude that ought to follow mercy?
    Where is the praise that ought to follow answered prayer?
    Where is the worship that ought to follow forgiveness?
    Where is the humility that ought to follow cleansing?
    We can be so much like the nine.
    We can ask loudly and thank quietly.
    We can run to Jesus in trouble and drift from Him in blessing.
    We can receive His gifts and forget His glory.
    We can be cleansed and keep walking as though we had somewhere more important to be than at His feet.
    Tonight, the Lord is calling us to follow the steps of the one who returned.
    Recognize your need.
    Do not forget what sin is and what mercy has done.
    Cry for mercy.
    Bring your helplessness to Christ.
    Obey His Word.
    Take the next step because Jesus has spoken.
    Return with thanks.
    Do not let the blessing become more important than the Blesser.
    Maybe tonight you need to come to Christ for salvation.
    You cannot cleanse yourself.
    You cannot save yourself.
    You cannot make yourself whole before God.
    But Jesus is still merciful.
    Romans 10:13 KJV
    13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
    Maybe tonight you are saved, but your gratitude has grown cold.
    You remember what it is to ask God for help.
    But you have not been returning to give Him thanks.
    Maybe tonight God has answered prayers, carried burdens, forgiven sins, provided needs, protected your family, strengthened your heart, and shown mercy in ways you have barely noticed.
    It would be good for us to come back to His feet.
    It would be good to say, “Lord, thank You.”
    Thank You for saving me.
    Thank You for cleansing me.
    Thank You for forgiving me.
    The Christian life should not be lived as though we are spiritual consumers who take what Jesus gives and move on.
    We are worshippers.
    We return.
    We bow.
    We give thanks.

      • Leviticus 13:45–46KJV1900

      • Isaiah 59:2KJV1900

      • Romans 3:23KJV1900

      • Psalm 32:3KJV1900

      • Psalm 32:5KJV1900

      • Titus 3:5KJV1900

      • Acts 4:12KJV1900

      • Matthew 1:21KJV1900

      • Luke 18:13KJV1900

      • Hebrews 4:16KJV1900

      • John 2:5KJV1900

      • Romans 10:17KJV1900

      • Psalm 103:2KJV1900

      • Psalm 107:2KJV1900

      • Luke 17:17–18KJV1900

      • Romans 10:13KJV1900

Mills Memorial Baptist Church
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989-843-6433
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