Where Are the Nine? (Part
2)
What is Happening to the Majority
of New Believers?
Luke 17:11-19
Aug 6, 2017 PM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
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I.
Introduction
A.
Searching Scriptures to find out what about those Christians who aren’t
quite living it like they should.
B.
I got news for some of you…
1.
Carnal
Christians, and backslidden Christians unfortunately exist.
2.
And
just because they don’t “live” the Christian life very well, does NOT
mean they ain’t going to be with Jesus!
C.
Jesus gave us an example to prove that not everyone will persevere, and
yet are solidly saved!
D.
And then He asks US to find out just where the other nine were that
SHOULD have been there at His feet!
II.
Background (Luke 17:11-19)
A.
Jesus is travelling south again from Galilee to Jerusalem – but this
will be His last time
B.
Passing through Samaria
C.
Ten lepers try and approach Him – try to get as close as humanly
possible
1.
These
men had leprosy
2.
They
had no life at all – just living each day waiting to die
3.
They
had no access to their families – their wives, children, parents were
forbidden to have any contact with them whatsoever
4.
They
could not work, they had to live away from everyone else
5.
Every
day, they just got worse – never better
6.
They
were condemned to die a horrible death, alone
7.
Then
they heard that Jesus was passing by!
D.
Cried out for HELP, for mercy – not sure what to expect, but wanted a
miracle!
1.
Not
theologians, not spiritual men, just desperate men
2.
In need
of Jesus!
3.
Made no
demands, but rather just asked for mercy!
E.
Jesus Instantly Responded to their Prayer!
1.
No
shazzam, no dazzle, no magic words, waving of the hand, etc
2.
Just
gave them what they asked for – He responded to their simple plea of
faith with cleansing, healing – with an impossible miracle!
3.
And it
wasn’t any kind of great faith that they had, just desperate faith
F.
Jesus Tells them to go and find a Jewish priest, and show them their
healing
1.
This
required no small measure of “faith” on their part, for Jesus did not
“first” heal them, and THEN tell them to go
2.
They do
not feel any different yet
3.
They do
not look any different yet
4.
Yet,
they BELIEVED Jesus enough to obey Him and start walking into the
village to go find a Jewish priest
5.
By the
way, it was necessary for the priests to verify the healing, because it
would HAVE to be a miracle for any of them to be cleansed of their
leprosy, and if they really were not healed, they were a danger to the
rest of the community because leprosy was and still is very contagious!
G.
AS they went… they were healed
1.
These
ten men believed Jesus’ abilities enough to obey Him, even when it
didn’t make sense
2.
Remember, Jesus told them to go show themselves BEFORE they were healed
– kind of backwards, unless Jesus was waiting for them to ACT on their
faith, instead of just SAY they have faith!
3.
As they
walked into the village… they hadn’t been in there for YEARS! A big
deal!
4.
As they
walked into the village…
a.
They
looked down and saw no signs of leprosy anymore
b.
They
saw all the scars now GONE and replaced by perfectly good skin
c.
They
felt clean on their insides – no more sickness and weakness or disease
d.
And
their walking turned into running, and laughing, and leaping, and
shouting
5.
These
men could go home again!
6.
They
had been given a second chance on life!!!
7.
I
believe they quickly forgot about going to the priests, and just ran
home to their children, and wives, and parents!
8.
It must
have been marvellous to watch such a miracle, and hear such joy!
H.
But just then, ONE of the ten stopped, turned around and came BACK
1.
Not
just excited about the miracle
2.
But
excited about the miracle GIVER
3.
He HAD
to go back and worship Him, thank Him, and glorify God
4.
And
that is just what he did
5.
Remember, that this was a Samaritan – not supposed to be happening for
them, but only for the Jews!!!
I.
Jesus asks two questions
1.
Were
not TEN men healed?
2.
Well
then, Where are the OTHER Nine???
J.
If Jesus asked it today, he would ask, Where are all those who have been
saved, forgiven, blood bought and redeemed from sin?
1.
Where
are all those who have been given a second chance to live?
2.
Where
are all those who have (or HAD) the joy of the Lord?
3.
If
everybody who got saved through the preaching from THIS pulpit and from
the witnessing of the people of THIS church were all here, we would have
1,500 believers trying to cram into this building this morning!
4.
Well,
where are they?
5.
I was
asked that one time several years ago and it bothered me
III.
IV.
Last Week – A Wholeness Beyond Salvation
A.
A new believer often NEVER experiences what the new birth was designed
to given them – joy, rest, purpose, spiritual fruit, a walk with God,
etc!
B.
Sometimes, some people were just healed, and sometimes, people were made
whole – made complete
C.
There is a simple reason why…
1.
They
have never become THANKFUL!
2.
For
EVERYTHING in their life!
D.
Thankfulness is something SOOOOOO healthy - SOOOOOO life changing!
E.
Evidently, Wholeness comes only from THANKFULNESS
1.
WHAT
could that mean?
a.
What do
any of us have to be really thankful for?
b.
What is
YOUR thought-life like? Always criticising, and fault finding? Or
amazed, and grateful for problems and pleasure!
c.
Seriously! Have you EVER thought about what you THINK about?
2.
The
devil has robbed 99% of us from our ability to be thankful
3.
THAT is
why we MUST go ahead and take a very good long look at what we have and
thank God for everything, and kill the critical spirit that has invaded
our homes and hearts!
F.
The truth is, MANY are born again, and washed in the blood of Christ,
and headed for heaven, but they are still miserable and making life
miserable for everyone around them, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DO NO APPRECIATE
WHAT GOD HAS DONE OR IS DOING IN THEIR LIVES!
1.
Don’t
let the devil keep you in HIS realm of thinking – no thankfulness in him
2.
No joy
in him
3.
Only
death
G.
Is that YOU?
V.
Message – So, Where is Everybody?
A.
So where is everyone that should be living like Christians?
1.
Those
that are Different? Passionate? Unashamed? Living LIKE Jesus did?
2.
Those
that love the Bible, and love preaching, and love church and love
people?
B.
I will tell you where they are – I think I have found most of them…
1.
They are unthankful
(Romans 1:21)
a.
They
got over being saved
b.
Not
impressed with the grace of God, longsuffering of God, the kindness of
God
c.
Don’t
take notice of ANYTHING or ANYONE in their lives as GIFTS from God
d.
And so,
they fall away
2.
They are biting and devouring one another (Gal 5:15, 26)
a.
These
are CHRISTIANS!
b.
Finding
fault with everyone who is not exactly believing just like they do
c.
Angry,
bitter at God and at other believers
d.
You
couldn’t believe how many Christian people are each other’s enemies
(James 3:9,10)
e.
All of
this fighting drives the sheep apart – into cliques, and ever smaller
groups of bitter people!
f.
Without
knowing it, a large number of believers have never looked at just how
marvellous God’s grace has been towards THEM!
3.
They are focusing their time on doubtful disputations / arguments, and
strange doctrines
a.
We are
to avoid
1)
Foolish
and Unlearned Questions (2Ti 2:23)
2)
foolish
questions, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law (Tit
3:9)
3)
fables
and endless genealogies (1Ti 1:4)
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which
minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
4)
questions and strifes of words (1Ti 6:3-5)
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is
according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such
withdraw thyself.
5)
doubtful disputations (Rom 14:1-3)
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful
disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who
is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth
not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God
hath received him.
6)
words
to no profit (2Ti 2:14) Of
these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that
they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the
hearers.
b.
This
means being OBSESSED with diverse and strange doctrines (Heb 13:9)
1)
The
flat earth idea
2)
Hyper
conspiracy theories
3)
The
illuminati
4)
Alien
invasions
5)
Channelling spirits
6)
Crystals and pyramids in healing practices!
7)
Prosperity
8)
Keeping
the Sabbath
9)
Losing
salvation
10)
Worldly Philosophies (Col 2:8) – about life, and God
and self
a)
Oprah
Winfry
b)
Dr Phil
c)
Afternoon radio talk shows
d)
Follow
your heart
e)
You’re
number one
c.
The
answer to most of those things is found in Hebrews 13:9!!!
1)
Good
doctrines establish hearts with GRACE
2)
Diverse
and strange doctrines establish hearts with pride and self righteousness
3)
And
they do not cause mutual affection (1Thes 3:12,13)
4.
They are offended, and not forgiving one another (1Cor 3:3; 6:6-8; 2Cor 12:20)
a.
Can you
believe any and all that was going on amongst CHRISTIANS?
b.
And yet
it was, and is!
c.
Oh may
God deliver us from people who are constantly offended at everything
around them!
1)
Everything upsets some people
2)
Nothing
is ever just right
3)
Never
just blessed and happy and content
4)
Always
a Martha, and never a Mary
5.
They are loving this world – not
looking forward to the world to come! (2Tim 4:10; 1John 2:15-17)
a.
They
are loving success and money and careers more than loss, and weaknesses
and being a living sacrifice – without which no one can experience the
power of God’s grace in their lives
1)
God
calls people like this FOOLS (Luke 12:13-21)
2)
The
Christian life is a loss to the world (Philp 3:8-10)
a)
We lose
our lives willingly
b)
We
offer our lives as a willing sacrifice, for God to get the glory and
others to get the Gospel (2Cor 8:9)
c)
We do
all our best, for all our years, and not getting rewarded HERE (Mt
19:29)
d)
And so
the world calls US fools!
3)
Nothing
wrong with being successful – but when your success, and your popularity
takes over your life so that you don’t come to church, and don’t read
your Bible, and don’t go soul-winning, and don’t tithe, and don’t serve
others freely, then you are a fool!
b.
IF you
loved heaven, and love Jesus, you wouldn’t be able to stay away from
Church, and from God’s people – WHOM YOU WILL BE SPENDING ETERNITY WITH
by the way!
c.
IF you
really LOVED God, you would love the name of Jesus and would love
learning more about HIM! Love singing about Him! “More about Jesus would
I know…”
d.
Where
are those that look forward to heaven like the hymnwriters, like the
Christians of the past that had NOTHING, and yet sang like they were the
wealthiest people on the planet?
6.
They are LAZY
a.
There I
said it
b.
Get mad
at me all you want, but it is JUST AS HARD for the rest of us to get
here on a Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening for the WHOLE time as it
is for YOU!
c.
It
takes just as much effort to read our Bibles, chapter by chapter every
day as it does you!
d.
Count
up how many hours you sit on your laptop on Facebook, watching youtubes
e.
Count
up how many hours you sit and watch show after show on TV
f.
How
many movies you got to every month
g.
And
then tell me how many times you make it to church and to the side of
your bed in prayer!
h.
There
ARE legitimate reasons sometimes why you may have to miss church, or not
be able to spend very much time in the Bible
i.
But
according to THIS Book, “Blessed
is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth
in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his
delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day
and night.”
j.
This
Book says, “Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.” (Heb 10:25)
7.
They are terrified of suffering for Christ (John 9:19-22; Jn 12:42,43)
a.
Peter
didn’t know just how hard it would be to live under mockery and
persecution
b.
He
crumbled, and ran, and quit on Christ
c.
So do
so many Christians!
d.
So they
HIDE their Christianity – their commitment, their peculiarity!
e.
Can’t
see themselves EVER carrying their Bible out openly (constantly carry it
in a bag or sack!)
f.
ALL of
us who live godly WILL suffer persecution (2Tim 3:12)
g.
Get
used to it!
h.
And get
on with it!
8.
They are arguing over who is greater or will be greater in Christ’s
kingdom (Luke 9:46; 22:24)
a.
This is
amazing! TWICE arguing about such a thing!
1)
Luk
9:46 Then there arose a
reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
2)
Luk
22:24 And there was also a
strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
b.
I have
found people who have never won a soul, never taught a Sunday School
class, never completed anything in their life, will spend HOURS taking
about the Rapture, and the Second Coming, and the Millennial Kingdom,
and who is going to be reigning with Christ!
c.
Shame!
They will certainly NOT reign with Christ when they put more of their
time in debates than soul-winning!
d.
Paul
said this… “The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so
be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
(Rom 8:16,17)
e.
The
disciples of Christ seemed to quite often argue about this subject –
don’t you do the same!
f.
The
truth is, I just am glad I am going! My desire is to be humble and
faithful! I will leave the rewarding up to Christ!
9.
Lastly, they are back under the bondage of sins (2Peter 2:19,20; Gal 2:4)
a.
It is a
REAL problem in Christianity
1)
Believing the lie that they COULD just keep drinking, hang with all the
old friends, and keep watching anything they felt like watching
2)
Only to
find themselves BACK under the dominion of sin
b.
Satan
has control of their lives once again – not of their souls, but of just
about everything else
c.
So they
end up frustrated with their emptiness and unfruitfulness
d.
And in
the end, they just quit “trying” to live the Christian life
C.
All these “9” are saved, but have become of no use to God – but instead
become great tools of the devil!
Bad
testimony to their children, to their workmates, their neighbours, etc!
And to other bad-attitude Christian!!!
D.
Don’t let that be YOUR testimony!
VI.Invitation
- What could CURE all of this?
A.
BE Thankful – FOR everything, from this moment on – BY choice, not
feeling!
B.
HOLD your tongue! NO MORE biting and devouring one another
C.
Dump ALL the stupid doubtful disputations / arguments, and strange
doctrines that you may be caught up in – and work with THIS local church
and get busy working together for souls HERE, and not showing off on the
internet!
1.
Good
doctrines establish hearts with GRACE
2.
Diverse
and strange doctrines establish hearts with pride and self righteousness
3.
And
they do not cause mutual affection (1Thes 3:12,13)
D.
GROW UP and stop being always
offended, and forgive one another when
you are offended, and crossed!
E.
REPENT of loving this world –look forward to the world to come!
F.
GET A JOB! BE EARLY! MAKE CHURCH A PRIORITY!
G.
Suffer for Christ anyway!
H.
No more arguing over who is
greater or will be greater in Christ’s kingdom
1.
I just
am glad I am going! My desire is to be humble and faithful! I will leave
the rewarding up to Christ!
I.
Lastly, do whatever you have to,
to get victory over habitual sins –
TWTF, fasting, humbling yourself constantly, talking with me, etc!
J.
Do YOU want to join with the majority of “Christians” who never go on
for Christ, and end up being used by the devil?
K.
Or do you want to be a part of the few, the faithful, the determined
follower of Jesus Christ? |