One of the more excruciating things I’ve experienced over the years is how unappreciative people can be. On a number of occasions I’ve watched as people were magnificently healed by the hand of God. The Lord was so incredibly kind, and they had so little to say in the process.
I’ve asked people in situations like this, “How does it feel to get such a powerful touch from God?”
They look at me blankly and say, “Well … umm … good…” Neither I nor anyone else in the room was convinced by their half-hearted response.
Then I might ask, “Why don’t you thank Jesus for what He did?”
They stare at me for a moment and let a mumbled “Thanks” tumble from their mouth.
Unfortunately, this kind of response is common.
If believers really want to receive powerful breakthrough, they need to grasp the incredible power of thanksgiving. It is truly one of the keys of the Kingdom.
I’ve often been struck by the following passage in the Gospel of Luke that illustrates the power of thanksgiving:
As He entered a village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood at a distance. They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned with a loud voice glorifying God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, “Were not the ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Were there not any found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise, go your way. Your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:12-19).
In this passage, only one of the afflicted came back with any sense of thankfulness and appreciation. I honestly don’t know what happened to the others, but he was the only one who received a full proclamation of healing from Jesus.
I often wonder if people struggle and sometimes even lose their breakthroughs because they are ungrateful. What would happen in the body of Christ if we grabbed hold of the spirit of thankfulness? {eoa}
J.D. King, director of the World Revival Network and co-pastor at World Revival Church, is writing Regeneration: Healing in the History of Christianity. King is a sought-after speaker, writer and author.
