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LUKE 17:11-19

"THANKSGIVING"

Intro: A Christian should be marked by his thanksgiving, even as a non-Christian is  marked by
       thanklessness "neither were they thankful."

I. THE CAUSE OF TRUE THANKSGIVING.
        A. The Grace of God.
                1. Too often we think only in material realm.
                        a. Health . . . glory in infirmities.
                        b. Strength. . . glory in weakness God's strength.
                        c. Shelter. . ."The foxes have holes."
                        d. Food. . .
                2. Deeper causes of thanksgiving
                        a. God loves me.
                        b. I have victory through Christ.
                        c. Forgiveness - peace - hope.
        B. The case of the Lepers.
                1. 10 men brought together by common misery.
                2. "The lepers stood afar off and cried."
                        a. The method of Jesus with leper in Chap. 5.
                                1. Lesser things than this-have split the church.
                3. Their faith is tested.
                        a. He told them to go show themselves to the priest.
                                2. First necessary step before returning to society.
                        b. Only way to test the truth was to obey.
                                1. First necessary step before returning to society.
                        c. Only way to test the truth was to obey.
                                1. Skin still covered with white blotches.
                                2. At this stage they had nothing to lose by obeying Christ
                                   word.
                                3. Christianity not subject to test tube experimentation.

II. THE CHARACTER OF TRUE THANKSGIVING.
        A. Attitude that calls for action.
                1. Attitude springs form realization of what has been done.
                2. In this story only one took action.
                        a. He was a Samaritan-unorthodox.
                        b. He prostrated himself before Christ.
                                1. The person of Christ not the miracle became the most 
                                   important.
                3. "Where are the nine?"
                        a. Question shows the value Christ places on gratitude and misses it
                           when not expressed.
                        b. Pure praise is almost a lost art.
                                1. Most hymns of praise merge into thanksgiving which is less.
                        c. Christ must still be asking same question.
                                Church membership in the U.S. 
                                10% never attend church.
                                40% "   give a dollar a year.
                                50% "  attend Sunday School.
                                60% "  never attend Sun. p.m. service.
                                70% "  never give to missions.
                                75% "  engage in church activity.
                                80% "  attend prayer-meetings.
                                90% "  have family worship.
                                95% "  win a soul to Christ.

III. THE CONSEQUENCE OF TRUE THANKSGIVING.
        A. "Arise go thy way thy faith hath made thee whole."
                1. Implies far more-than mere physical healing.
                2. Miracle of grace in soul as well.