• Thankfulness is a powerful emotion.
• Gratitude on the other hand is not an emotion but a state of being. A state where the emotion of thankfulness is displayed.

OPENING SCRIPTURE: Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, CAME BACK TO JESUS, shouting, “Praise God!” HE FELL TO THE GROUND AT JESUS’ FEET, THANKING HIM FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE. This man was a Samaritan.

The One who came back. The question is why?
• The 9 other leppers were thankful for their healing.
• The one who came back discovered something called gratitude.

Gratitude goes beyond just being thankful. Gratitude is a Christ-Centered position. Gratitude brings you back to the position where Christ is at the center of everything: your life, your attitude, your emotions.

Why did the one come back?

#1 HOPE

He came back is because he knew who the source of hope.
Hope beyond hope: hoping when there is no reason to hope.

EVEN WHEN THERE WAS NO REASON FOR HOPE, ABRAHAM KEPT HOPING -believing that he would become the father of many nations. (Romans 4:18 NLT)

Never concede to the enemy when God says it’s not over!

NEVER STOP PRAYING. BE THANKFUL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

#2 WORSHIP

The one who came back wanted to make a statement- Worship.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and WITH A LOUD VOICE GLORIFIED GOD, and FELL DOWN ON HIS FACE AT HIS FEET, GIVING HIM THANKS. And he was a Samaritan. (Luke 17: 15-16 NKJ)
• He ran back to Jesus to physically, verbally express gratitude. That’s the true meaning of worship.
Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING (Todah- A thanksgiving choir), And into His courts with PRAISE (Tehillah- To sing a song of Thanksgiving). Be THANKFUL (Yadah- Give thanks with extended hands) to Him, and BLESS (Barak- to kneel in thanksgiving) His name (Psalm 100:4)

#3 LIFE

Why did the lepper come back? He was not satisfied with his old life.
“ARISE, GO YOUR WAY. YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL.”

• “Well” translated from the Greek word “sodzo”.
• The same word that is used in Romans 10:13- “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Jesus was saying: “Go home. You are saved!”

• That day, the leper stepped into his eternal life. A New Man filled with New Life!
• Gratitude has the ability to change chaos into order
• Gratitude has the ability to change a meal into a feast
• Gratitude has the ability to change a house into a home
• Gratitude has the ability to change a stranger into a friend

CONCLUSION

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?