Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Loud Voice & A Thankful Voice

Yesterday we looked at how the disease of leprosy would cause ones voice to become weak. Today I want you to see a few more things. First notice Luke 17:14 And when he {Jesus} saw them, he {Jesus} said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Jesus "saw" them! Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. While we were yet sinners, Jesus "saw" us and "paid attention" to us ... and even died for us on Calvary! These men did NOT heal themselves!  It was something done UNTO them or FOR them!  An action taken UPON them!

Second notice Luke 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, He was sure it had happened! "KNOWING" you have been delivered ... is a "picture" of the assurance of one's salvation! Now! Can one really know for sure they are saved and on their way to heaven? You tell me here is what the Bible has to say about that subject. 2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. 2Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Like this leper realized his leprosy was gone we should be able to tell something is gone.

1John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John says that we can know we have eternal life.


Third notice Luke 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. We "thank" Him for the things He has done!  We thank Him when He answers prayer and saves souls and lifts burdens. We are seeing in our day that mankind is failing to praise God, we have also lost much of the art of thanking Him too! We are becoming more and more ungrateful! Paul said that ungratefulness is one of the traits to expect ... in the last days on planet earth! 2Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous {difficult, dangerous} times {of uncertain} shall come.

2Timothy 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
This leper had already left Jesus' presence ... but once he recognized that healing had come ... he returned to the Lord!  "Turned back" means "to twist back around" ... or to change one's direction! Then the man "glorified" God! Means to value one with esteem or great worth! GLO'RIFIED, Honored; dignified; exalted Luke 17:15
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, Luke 17:16
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
There are 2-things that jumped out at me.

#1- "loud voice!"  This is proof that the leprosy is gone!  It always affects the human voice, rendering it weak and raspy!  These symptoms are now absent for sure!

#2- "fell down at Jesus' feet!"  The man recently cured fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks I would say that here was a sign of humility! 

The Psalmist tells us Psalms 106:1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Fourth notice "Where are the nine?"
Luke 17:17
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Jesus had just healed ten lepers ... but only one took the time to say "Thank You" to our Lord! Romans 1:21"Because that, when they (mankind) knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."  The Bible's greatest Psalm of Praise commands us to worship God with sincere thanks in our hearts! 
Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Yes, every time we step into God's House ... we should do so with hearts of gratefulness!
Luke 17:15
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, Luke 17:16
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luke here equals "glorifying" God to "giving thanks" to Him! He, in the act of glorifying God, gave Him thanks! Only one of them returned to give Jesus thanks, does this mean that more people receive benefits from Jesus than thank Him?  More people pray ("Have Mercy," O Lord!) than praise the Lord (falling at His feet ... with thanks)!  More also are willing to obey rules (go to the priests) than ever express thanks! The priests, served as "inspectors" of leprous men.  Only the Jewish priest, a son of Levi, could pronounce a man "defiled" and banish him from society!  In fact, the last time these men saw a priest ... that's exactly what happened to them! So why not today just GIVE the Lord Thanks for all He has done for you!

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