Title: Mature Faith! (Luke 17:11-19)
Faith is like a mustard seed. Because there is life, it can be called mature faith only when it continues to grow, serves and serves others like birds nest, and participates in missionary work to save the souls of mankind.
As you can see from the text, one day while passing through the border between Galilee and Samaria, Jesus met ten lepers and healed them. But out of the ten who were healed, nine went their way, and a Gentile Samaritan came back to Jesus and fell on his face to give thanks. Jesus looked at the man and said, “He said to him, ‘Get up and go. Your faith has saved you” (verse 19). This means that he was saved not only in body but also in soul.
Through these words, let us consider the stages through which mature faith is formed.
1. This is the stage of prayer.
At this time, lepers were completely abandoned from their families, friends and society. But the first thing they did when they met Jesus was to ask Him to have mercy on them. Their earnest prayer stopped the Lord's steps, and their appeals met the Lord, and the Lord's answer was received. Therefore, I hope that you will become believers who know prayer and pray knowing that faith in prayer is the first step to a mature faith. “The righteous cried out, and the LORD heard them and delivered them out of all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17,18) Prayer is a confession that acknowledges human limitations and incompetence. And prayer is a confession of faith that only God can solve man's original problems.
2. This is the stage of obedience to the Word.
Jesus did not prescribe the lepers to lay their hands on them or to use any medicine, but said this. “Go and show yourselves to the priests” (verse 14). Hearing this, they do not hesitate and go to the priests as Jesus said. But on the way, I was cleansed. This is an act of faith and obedience to the Word. Miracles happen when we believe in the words of Jesus and obey them. The great history of Christianity was recorded through obedience. If I do not give up my thoughts, my stubbornness, and my experiences, God will not show me any miracles.
3. This is the stage of gratitude.
Nine of the ten lepers went their way, and only one Gentile, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks to Jesus. So not only his body was saved, but his soul as well. Therefore, faith that obeys the prayer of faith and the Word is good faith, but when we add thanks to it, it becomes a mature faith that bears fruit. A mature believer is a person who is satisfied with what he has and is grateful for everything. You should only think about the things to be grateful for, and only look at the things to be grateful for.