Jesus Still Hears Desperate Cries For Help - [Luke 17:11–19]

An Impossible Need Meets Jesus

0:03 SPEAKER_00: Have you ever faced a situation so impossible that only God could change it?

0:09 SPEAKER_00: In Luke 17, 11 to 19, ten lepers stood before Jesus with a need no one else could meet.

0:18 SPEAKER_00: They were rejected by society, trapped in suffering and living without hope.

0:25 SPEAKER_00: However, one encounter with Jesus changed everything.

0:30 SPEAKER_00: In this episode, we will uncover three powerful truths from this passage.

0:37 SPEAKER_00: First, Jesus is willing to hear and answer our petition.

0:42 SPEAKER_00: Second, when we see through eyes of faith, the impossible becomes possible.

0:48 SPEAKER_00: Third, we must give thanks for the breakthrough.

0:52 SPEAKER_00: Stay with me as we discover in this passage that the same Jesus who healed then is still willing and able to do the impossible today.

Leprosy And Life As An Outcast

1:03 SPEAKER_00: Envision being ostracized by society, estranged from family and friends, and facing certain death.

1:12 SPEAKER_00: This is a situation that the ten lepers who approached Jesus were experiencing.

1:19 SPEAKER_00: Luke 17, 11 begins the story by telling us that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem.

1:26 SPEAKER_00: There Jesus will be crucified, rise from the dead, and redeem mankind back to God.

1:34 SPEAKER_00: As he was going into a village, ten leprous men met him.

1:39 SPEAKER_00: These men stood at a distance from Jesus.

1:44 SPEAKER_00: During Jesus' time, leprosy was a particularly terrible scourge in the Middle East.

1:51 SPEAKER_00: Leprosy in the Bible at that time covered a number of skin diseases such as ringworm, vitiligo, and psoriasis, as well as true leprosy.

2:04 SPEAKER_00: Moses' law levied a harsh punishment on these afflicted people.

2:10 SPEAKER_00: The person with leprosy had to live alone outside of the camp.

2:15 SPEAKER_00: Their appearance was to be disheveled and unattractive at all times.

2:21 SPEAKER_00: They were to keep themselves at a distance from people who were not similarly affected.

2:27 SPEAKER_00: Additionally, if they saw anyone nearby, they were to cry out, unclean, unclean.

2:34 SPEAKER_00: In those days, people believed that the lepers must have done something wrong and that God was judging them by having this deadly disease of leprosy fall on them.

2:45 SPEAKER_00: As a result, little to no compassion was shown to these lepers.

2:52 SPEAKER_00: Probably one of the most trying aspects of what these lepers had to endure was that they were to leave their family behind and live isolated lives.

3:02 SPEAKER_00: The purpose of this isolation was to prevent the infection from spreading, but the inability to be around loved ones must have been devastating for these diseased persons.

3:15 SPEAKER_00: The location at which this event takes place explains why Samaritans and Jews were grouped together.

3:24 SPEAKER_00: Jesus was passing through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

3:29 SPEAKER_00: Normally the Jews despised the Samaritans and would have nothing to do with them.

3:34 SPEAKER_00: However, as lepers, they were all outcasts, both the Jews and the Samaritans.

Why Jews And Samaritans Unite

3:41 SPEAKER_00: Somehow these ten lepers knew that Jesus was passing through, and they came looking for Jesus.

3:49 SPEAKER_00: Jesus had been healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead over the course of the last three years.

3:58 SPEAKER_00: These ten lepers had heard about Jesus' ability to perform miracles and came to seek him out.

4:06 SPEAKER_00: These ten were taking one last desperate step.

4:11 SPEAKER_00: These ten lepers stood at a distance as mandated by Moses' law.

4:17 SPEAKER_00: One of the hallmarks of leprosy is that it affects the vocal cords so that one's voice becomes weak.

A Desperate Cry For Mercy

4:25 SPEAKER_00: In order to be heard, the ten were calling out in unison, Jesus, Master, have mercy on me.

4:33 SPEAKER_00: The Greek word epistatis, that is translated here as master, refers to someone of authority, such as a magistrate or governor of a city.

God Answers Prayer Through History

4:44 SPEAKER_00: Luke 17, 14 tells us that Jesus saw them.

4:49 SPEAKER_00: He acknowledged their existence and their plea.

4:52 SPEAKER_00: What if Jesus is waiting to hear or cry, so that he can likewise see us in our hour of need?

5:01 SPEAKER_00: All throughout Bible history, we find God responding positively to desperate cries for help.

5:08 SPEAKER_00: In 1 Samuel 1, we are told the story of Hannah who was childless.

5:14 SPEAKER_00: Hannah went to the temple to pray and asked God to grant her a child.

5:19 SPEAKER_00: She assured God that if he did so, she would give the child back to him.

5:25 SPEAKER_00: God heard and granted her prayer.

5:28 SPEAKER_00: The child that she bore, Samuel, became one of the most anointed and consequential judges of Israel.

5:36 SPEAKER_00: Samuel was not her only child.

5:39 SPEAKER_00: God gave her three more sons and two daughters.

5:43 SPEAKER_00: Let us cry out to the Lord so that he can hear and answer our prayers.

5:49 SPEAKER_00: Christian history documents that God is a prayer hearing and answering God.

5:56 SPEAKER_00: During World War II in late 1940, Rhys Howells turned his Bible college into a house of prayer.

6:05 SPEAKER_00: Every evening from 7 o'clock to midnight and often later, a number of people met to pray.

6:13 SPEAKER_00: Additionally, at least once a week, these people prayed all day.

6:18 SPEAKER_00: Reese and this group of people interceded for the British and French troops who were stranded at Dunkirk.

6:27 SPEAKER_00: On May 28, 1940, the English Channel across which the men needed to be ferried to safety was perfectly calm.

6:38 SPEAKER_00: Something locals said they hadn't seen or heard of in a hundred years.

6:44 SPEAKER_00: At the same time, a violent storm arose around the stranded troops, grounding the German fighter planes that had been bombing them from above.

6:57 SPEAKER_00: The British were able to rescue 338,226 soldiers from France.

7:05 SPEAKER_00: Let us reflect on the truth that prayer changes things.

Go Show The Priests By Faith

7:10 SPEAKER_00: Imagine that as a leper, you have made the decision to join with other similarly destitute persons and venture to plead with the Lord of the universe Jesus for mercy.

7:24 SPEAKER_00: Jesus then looks at you with love and compassion and gives you directions to journey on.

7:31 SPEAKER_00: Luke 17, 14 tells us that Jesus told these ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests.

7:39 SPEAKER_00: These lepers did not have to go up to Jerusalem to see a priest.

7:44 SPEAKER_00: The descendants of Aaron were given thirteen cities and their pasture lands.

7:50 SPEAKER_00: The lepers just had to find the nearest priests.

7:53 SPEAKER_00: The priests could give them back their lives so that they could once more be a part of society and rejoin their families.

8:01 SPEAKER_00: Until Jesus came, since Moses gave the law, no Jew had ever been healed of leprosy.

8:09 SPEAKER_00: Miriam was healed of leprosy, but that was before the law was given.

8:14 SPEAKER_00: Naaman was healed of leprosy, but he was a Gentile from Syria, not a Jew.

8:20 SPEAKER_00: However, in Leviticus chapters 13 to 14, the Levitical priesthood were given detailed instructions as to what to do when a leper was healed.

8:32 SPEAKER_00: God knew that this day was coming and gave Moses the guidelines on how to deal with it when it did occur.

8:40 SPEAKER_00: Prior to Jesus' coming, the ancient rabbis had declared that only the Messiah would be able to heal leprosy.

8:49 SPEAKER_00: Jesus sent these leopards to the priests not once but ten times.

8:56 SPEAKER_00: These priests would have to confirm that Jesus, who they said was not the Son of God, had performed this messianic miracle.

9:20 SPEAKER_00: They could have said, Jesus is going to get us in trouble.

9:24 SPEAKER_00: We are not going anywhere.

9:27 SPEAKER_00: Instead, these lepers elected to look through eyes of faith.

9:33 SPEAKER_00: Frank L.

9:34 SPEAKER_00: Gain said, Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible.

9:40 SPEAKER_00: All ten of these lepers set off to see the priests.

9:44 SPEAKER_00: As they made their way to the priests, these ten lepers all received their healing.

9:51 SPEAKER_00: What if we did to visualize the invisible so that God can do the impossible in our lives?

10:00 SPEAKER_00: All throughout the Bible, God has called on those who desire the impossible to first step out by faith.

Visualize The Invisible Then Move

10:14 SPEAKER_00: When the brook that Elijah was drinking from dried up, God told him to go into Gentile territory.

10:22 SPEAKER_00: There Elijah would find a widow who would take care of him.

10:27 SPEAKER_00: When Elijah arrived at Zarephat, the widow assured him that she only had enough food for her and her son to consume, and then they would both die.

10:39 SPEAKER_00: Elijah told the widow to feed him first.

10:43 SPEAKER_00: The widow did as instructed.

10:46 SPEAKER_00: As a result of her stepping out on faith, the flower and olive oil lasted these three people until rain fell once more.

10:58 SPEAKER_00: Will we take the first step towards our blessing?

11:02 SPEAKER_00: Christian history documents that God rewards those who visualize the invisible and allows them to achieve the impossible.

11:13 SPEAKER_00: Ida Scudder served as a missionary in Velo, India in the late 1800s, early 1900s.

11:21 SPEAKER_00: She felt led to build a hospital for women.

11:25 SPEAKER_00: At that point in time in India, there was one doctor for every 9,500 people.

11:32 SPEAKER_00: In the United States, there was one doctor for every 500 people.

11:37 SPEAKER_00: The life expectancy for Indians was 26 years.

11:42 SPEAKER_00: The life expectancy for Americans was 54 years.

11:46 SPEAKER_00: India desperately needed more hospitals.

11:51 SPEAKER_00: Ida traveled to the USA to raise the$8,000 that was needed to build the hospital.

11:58 SPEAKER_00: With just 10 days left before she was due to set sail for India, Ida only had a few hundred dollars in hand.

12:08 SPEAKER_00: Ida made one final visit to a lady who also did not agree to fund the project.

12:15 SPEAKER_00: However, her brother-in-law, who was listening in, invited Ida back to speak with him.

12:22 SPEAKER_00: He then gave Ida a check for$10,000.

12:27 SPEAKER_00: He also went with her the next day to purchase all of the equipment for the hospital.

12:33 SPEAKER_00: He then paid to have the equipment shipped to India on the same ship that Ida was traveling on.

12:41 SPEAKER_00: Let us reflect on the truth that our God can do the impossible.

Gratitude That Leads To Wholeness

12:47 SPEAKER_00: Imagine that you banded together with nine other outcasts for a last desperate chance to have your life returned to normalcy.

12:58 SPEAKER_00: Jesus, creator of heaven and earth, honors your cry and faith and restores your life.

13:05 SPEAKER_00: The joy and ecstasy that must have engulfed these ten he lepers is unimaginable.

13:13 SPEAKER_00: Luke 17, 15 to 16 tells us that one of the lepers returned.

13:19 SPEAKER_00: He came back praising God in a loud voice.

13:23 SPEAKER_00: The fact that this leper came back shouting was proof that he was healed, as leprosy damages vocal cords.

13:31 SPEAKER_00: This leper fell at the feet of Jesus.

13:34 SPEAKER_00: The Greek word that is used here for fell, Pipto, is used by Matthew to describe the wise men worshiping the newborn Jesus.

13:44 SPEAKER_00: In Luke 17, 17 to 18, Jesus asked for the other nine lepers and noted that only the foreigner came back to give thanks.

13:57 SPEAKER_00: Prior to this man returning to give thanks, Luke had not divulged that one of the lepers was a Samaritan.

14:05 SPEAKER_00: The Greek word that is used here for foreigner is the word that was used to warn Gentiles in the temple that if they entered the Jewish section they would be killed.

14:16 SPEAKER_00: It was this outsider, the one who was looked down on, who returned to give thanks.

14:23 SPEAKER_00: Jesus then sent the man on his way and told him that his fate had saved him.

14:29 SPEAKER_00: This former leper, who would not be allowed to worship with the Jews, found grace in the sight of the Lord because of his attitude of gratitude.

14:41 SPEAKER_00: All ten were healed as they made their way to the priests, but only one returned.

14:47 SPEAKER_00: The others might have thought that there would have other times in which to thank Jesus.

14:52 SPEAKER_00: They were wrong.

14:54 SPEAKER_00: Jesus was on his way to be crucified, who would never pass that way again.

15:00 SPEAKER_00: What if Jesus is waiting on us to adopt an attitude of gratitude so that he can make us whole?

15:07 SPEAKER_00: Acts 16 gives us one of the clearest biblical examples of gratitude in difficult circumstances.

15:16 SPEAKER_00: Paul and Silas had been beaten, imprisoned, and placed in chains.

15:21 SPEAKER_00: Yet at midnight, instead of complaining, they were praying and singing hymns to God.

15:29 SPEAKER_00: Scripture tells us that there was a great earthquake.

15:34 SPEAKER_00: The foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately the prison doors swung open.

15:41 SPEAKER_00: Even their chains were loose.

15:44 SPEAKER_00: Let us commit to praising God in the midst of all of life's circumstances.

15:50 SPEAKER_00: Christian history gives us powerful examples of gratitude, and one of them is Fanny Crosby.

15:58 SPEAKER_00: Though blinded in infancy, Fanny Crosby did not allow her condition to define her.

16:05 SPEAKER_00: Instead, she became one of the most beloved hymn writers in the history of the church.

16:11 SPEAKER_00: Fanny Crosby left this earth in 1915.

16:15 SPEAKER_00: However, many of her songs, such as Blessed Assurance and Pass Minato Gentle Savior, are still impacting others.

16:26 SPEAKER_00: May we likewise choose to thank God not only for what he gives, but for who he is.

Pray Along And Speak Life

16:33 SPEAKER_00: Started by accent, if we have ever faced a situation so impossible that only God could change it.

16:42 SPEAKER_00: In the course of this episode, we analyze the healing of the Ten Lepers through the lens of three immutable truths.

16:51 SPEAKER_00: We are sure that Jesus will hear and answer our cries for assistance.

16:57 SPEAKER_00: If we dare to look through eyes of faith, we will be able to achieve the impossible.

17:04 SPEAKER_00: An attitude of gratitude will lead to wholeness in our lives.

17:09 SPEAKER_00: Let us continue to serve the God who comes to our rescue.

17:15 SPEAKER_00: Before you go, if this message spoke to you, like this podcast and subscribe so you don't miss what God is doing here at Catch on Fire Podcasts.

17:26 SPEAKER_00: If you are ready for real change, take a moment right now to pray with me.

17:33 SPEAKER_00: Jesus, I give you my life.

17:36 SPEAKER_00: Lead me, forgive me, and make me new.

17:40 SPEAKER_00: If you pray that, welcome to the family.

17:44 SPEAKER_00: Follow along, stay connected, and let's walk this walk together.

17:50 SPEAKER_00: Please join me as we confess words of life over all of our lives.

17:58 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are still holding on to God's unchanging hand.

18:05 SPEAKER_00: We are still in God's holy plan.

18:07 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living holy lives as God requires.

18:14 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, giving clothes to those in need, ministering to the sick and visiting those in prison, and we are doing so to the least of those among us, as when we do so we are ministering to Jesus.

18:37 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we have received healing, as by his stripes we are healed.

18:44 SPEAKER_00: From the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, all of our bodily organs are working correctly.

18:51 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that God is ordering our steps, that all weapons that are formed against us have been utterly and completely destroyed, and every tongue that is rising against us in judgment is condemned.

19:06 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that all generational curses are cancelled.

19:12 SPEAKER_00: Anything that runs in our ancestral bloodline that is not of God has no power over us, our children and our grandchildren, and is eliminated forever right now.

19:24 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that angels are watching over and keeping our family, our children, our grandchildren, our loved ones safe.

19:35 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that every negative word that has been and is being spoken over our lives and that of our family, children, grandchildren, and loved ones is cancelled and sent back to the pit from whence it came.

19:54 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are the head and not the tail.

19:59 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are not and will never be ashamed.

20:04 SPEAKER_00: Our enemies have not and never will triumph over us.

20:08 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that anything that is not of God that has been dispatched to hinder our blessings, our progress, and our well-being is immediately destroyed.

20:21 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are financially in line with God's word, and as such we are lenders and not borrowers.

20:30 SPEAKER_00: As a result, all of our debts have been paid and are forgiven.

20:35 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that the enemy of our souls has no authority over our finances and our funds, and that we are good stewards of the money that God has placed in our keeping.

20:49 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus in the area of business and our carriers, that just as Isaac reaped a hundredfold, the blessings of Abraham are falling on us, and we are reaping a hundredfold from whatever we put our hands to.

21:06 SPEAKER_00: We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living under an open heaven in every area of our lives.

21:13 SPEAKER_00: Blessings are falling on us, our family and our loved ones.

21:17 SPEAKER_00: These blessings are being manifested in our lives, in the spiritual and in the physical.

21:24 SPEAKER_00: Let's repeat the 23rd Psalm together.

21:31 SPEAKER_00: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

21:35 SPEAKER_00: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

21:38 SPEAKER_00: He restored my soul.

21:40 SPEAKER_00: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

21:44 SPEAKER_00: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

21:51 SPEAKER_00: Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

21:55 SPEAKER_00: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.

22:00 SPEAKER_00: Enemies, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.

22:06 SPEAKER_00: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

22:15 SPEAKER_00: The Lord bless you and keep you.

22:18 SPEAKER_00: The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

22:23 SPEAKER_00: The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

22:29 SPEAKER_00: Amen.