Author: Sandysfree

I am a Gigi! My granddaughter Aliyah Grace is 4 years old and my grandson is 18 months. I am having a blast with both of them! I have been married for 35 years and we have 3 children who are now of course grown adults. My family is very close. I have been a bible-study teacher for over 30 years. God has given me the strength and guidance to walk with Him in love and freedom. To know the difference between religion and relationship. To understand the importance of genuine forgiveness. He has shown me how critical it is to ‘clean’ out my heart from any bitterness or anger etc.. I want to help others do the same!

What Happened When I Ran Back Where Are The Other Nine? Continued

You know when something is wrong. When your not living your best life mentally or spiritually. You have a roof over your head. Your parents made sure there was food to eat and a bed to sleep in. They met your needs by making sure you had clothes to wear and shoes to run around in. And for that you are thankful. But emotionally you feel empty. You don’t feel like you really belong or that anyone really cares for you. You know you can do things for people because it is expected of you. And maybe the devil threw that lie in your head as a child that your not truly loved. And maybe you ended up believing that lie. Either way you need help. You need to be set free from that lie.

When I came up out of the water straight up from being baptized in Jesus wonderful name, I remember like it was yesterday! I felt the top of my head lighter. Like I had had on a heavy helmet weighing me down and instantly it was off. I’m not exaggerating, it felt that real to me. I kept touching the top of my head. Was I wearing something spiritually all my life? Was I born with something pressing me down? Or was that unseen spiritual helmet put on me?

I was maybe 6 years old? I remember being very young and out in the backyard with my cousin swinging on her swing set. A woman I had never met before was standing by the swing watching us. My cousin’s home was filled with people. Don’t remember why and I don’t recall many other children around as I was only playing with my cousin. I do remember this however. The woman by the swing made a remark that no one liked me. I was stunned. She repeated it again. She said no one liked me and no one would want to play with me. She was singling me out. Why? No clue. I never met her before. We didn’t even live in the same city as my cousin. We were visiting for the weekend.

I struggled with this for years. Not the woman. I forgot about her. But I would end up having a hard time believing that people truly liked me. Even if they were kind to me. I knew inwardly they were not being honest. Can you imagine how this would affect my relationships? Doomed pretty much from the start. Any new friends I met never lasted. At least not in strong relationships. Just a passing wave here and there. I couldn’t truly let them in since, why would I? I believed they didn’t really like me.

The effects of what happened to me in my own spiritual leper colony was huge. And this is just one thing that happened to me while in that colony. I came to Christ and I received His Holy Spirit and I was baptized in His name. I was healed. But I was not made whole. YET.

Stepping on the brakes and running back to Jesus – thankful for all He had done in rescuing me. I was ready to truly be filled with His Spirit and humbling myself in His presence and letting Him do what needed to be done to be 100% set free. Baptism was a major start. That lying helmet was off. It was time for restoration.

I as an adult now can see that that woman “by the swing” was influenced by a demonic spirit. The devil is a bully and he messes with us as soon as we are able to comprehend what is being said or done to us.

And we have a God who is waiting for us to turn around and run to Him. The Bible says is John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The significance of this is powerful! Because it also says in John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Yes please!

Depending on the Bible version you read, some translate it as set free and others as made free. The most accurate is KJV and NIV versions which is MADE free!

What that woman said to me was a lie. And what Jesus did for me was give me truth. He made me free. He didn’t just set me free. You can be in prison and the doors open, and you are now set free. Go on about your day but your the same as you were while in prison only your now free. But if you are made free, you are released from your prison a different person than you were before. Yeah, you want to be made free.

Reiterating what I have written in my past posts. The ‘other nine’ were suppose to come back. And I am doing my best to explain in these posts why.

I am so glad we have an example in the Bible of that one leper who ran back to Jesus and was made whole. But he wasn’t suppose to be the only example. So lets run back to Jesus and be an example for our time right here right now.

Why Come Back? Where Are the Other Nine?

So why DID Jesus want them to come back? Or might I add, why did He expect all of them to have come back? Was it simply for gratitude? Maybe, but this one leper took it a step further. Let’s take a look at Luke 17:15-19

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Jesus says in verse 18 “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” He doesn’t mention that this grateful leper also fell down on his face at his feet and thanked him. Jesus noticed the gratefulness first. That was expected. That’s like me handing you a gift simply to give you a gift. I would expect that you would thank me. I didn’t give it to you for the thanks. I gave it to you because I wanted to. But I still would expect a thanks. Wouldn’t you? But then the person I hand the gift not only thanks me but gives me a huge hug of gratitude as well. I wouldn’t have expected that, but Jesus would have.

This popped up when I did a google search: The Oxford Dictionary defines the word grateful as “showing an appreciation of kindness.” This is where the difference lies; being thankful is a feeling, and being grateful is an action. I love this! That one leper who ran back sure did take action didn’t he?

Jesus didn’t mention anything about the leper humbling himself as he did. The gratefulness poured out of the leper so much so that he fell at Jesus feet thanking him. What is the significance of falling at his feet? That is a humbling gesture.

Reminds me of the woman mentioned in in the book of Mark having an ‘issue of blood.‘

Mark 5:25-34. 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

This woman was healed when she touched Jesus garment. It wasn’t until after she had fallen at his feet that Jesus told her, “Your faith hath made thee whole.”

The leper and this woman both had faith in Jesus. And they were both first healed of the disease on their physical body. They both fell at Jesus feet and end up being made whole. Coincidence? No such thing when it refers to the Bible.

So lets end this post with this. Jesus expects us to be grateful in anything he has done for us. What are we doing to show our gratefulness? What action are we taking? I don’t know about you, but I not only want healing whether it be emotionally, mentally or physically. But I want to be made WHOLE. And if I have to humble myself and fall at his feet then step aside and make room for me, leper and woman, cause here I come!

Only One

Where Are the Other Nine?

Luke 17:12-19

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Have you ever wanted to lose weight by exercising and counting calories but you didn’t want to do it alone? A friend says she wants to do it to and even says she is enrolled at the same gym as you. But it seems like every time you try to make plans with her to join you at the gym she makes excuses? So you either go alone or make an excuse yourself? I mean, who likes to tackle things on their own right?

But you realize pretty quickly that if you are serious about accomplishing your goal in losing weight, your going to have to be okay with doing it alone.

Those who are serious about accomplishing whatever task they want completed are the ones who make it happen. You have to want it badly.

Which brings me back to the subject of this one leper who turned back when he realized he was healed and with gratitude gave glory to the one that made it happen for him. Did he know he was going to end up having more than a healing? I don’t think so. Didn’t he realized he was the only one who turned around after realizing he was healed of leprosy? Did he think at all that maybe he should stay with everyone else.

In verse 14 Jesus had instructed them all to go show themselves to the priests. You cannot leave the leper colony until you passed inspection so to speak. So he is suppose to show himself to the priest right? He did!Only he did not know it. You might be thinking, Uh, no, he ran back to Jesus. Doesn’t say in scripture that he actually made it to the priest. But he did make it to a priest. Let me show you.

Hebrews 7:11-19 (actually read ALL of Hebrews 7)

11 So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron? 12 And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it. 13 For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests.14 What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

Jesus Is like Melchizedek

“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

15 This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. 16 Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. 17 And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, 18 Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. 19 For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

So Jesus was the priest of ALL priests! And because he ran back to this priest – he was able to go beyond checking if he was healed from leprosy. Jesus made sure he was not only healed but made whole! do you know what that means? That means there were no effects from the leprosy still showing on his body or lingering mentally in his mind. Did he lose a finger because of the leprosy? BAM! It’s back! How about emotionally and mentally? YUP! Mind wiped clean of all it went through and is healthy again!

He was the only one that was made whole. The other nine kept on going albeit healed but never made whole. And all because this one leper decided to stop and return. And Jesus expected ALL of them to have come back to him. All of them!

Jesus is still expecting it today. You accept him as your Saviour and receive his wonderful gift – the Holy Spirit. And you get baptized in his name. Then what?

I will tell you what. Run to the high priest (Jesus) and humble yourself and fall at his feet and allow him to make you whole. From all that you went through while you were in your own leper colony in this world that can be so cruel.

You might have heard that you don’t have to do a thing. You made the greatest decision of your life and you are saved and don’t worry about a thing. All the while you are going to church still struggling with things that you don’t want to discuss because your a Christian and all is right with the world. But is it?

Out of ten only ONE was brave enough to run back to Jesus. Only one was grateful and truly loved Jesus for what he did and for who he is.

Put the brakes on. Everyone else wants to keep going let them. Run back to Jesus and fall at his feet. Let him set you free from all the effects still on you from what you went through in your past. Be THAT one!

Where Are the Other Nine?

I’m stuck on this question. Jesus asked it so many years ago and had it recorded.

Luke 17:11-19

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”[b]And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.[c]”

King James version – 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. There is a difference!

To be made whole verses being healed. They were ALL healed as they ran towards the priest but only the one that ran back to Jesus and fell at his feet was made whole.

Can you imagine this with me? Your in a leper colony for who knows how long. You are away from your family and friends. You are not allowed to leave unless the leprosy is gone from your body, thus the point of having to show yourself to the priest. You had to be examined. Obviously they passed their exam and the nine (now ex lepers) kept on going. They were so excited to get out of that place. They missed whatever life they had before contacting that horrible disease. Except one. He was so grateful and thankful for what had just happened to him that he immediately turned around and ran back to Jesus!

Now here’s the thing that stands out to me. Jesus had expected all of them to have turned around and run back to him and react like the one ex leper did. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked the question, ”Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?”

Yeah, where were they? Out of ten men only one was full of thanks? They all believed in Jesus or they wouldn’t have taken him by his word when he instructed them to show themselves to the high priest after they had cried out to him for help. They were healed AS they were on their way to show themselves to the high priest. Not before. And before I forget to add, the one who ran back was a foreigner. What’s the significance of that you might be wondering? The other ones were raised in the Jewish faith.

So like 9 Christian men and one who wasn’t brought up in the faith. The nine take for granted what they hear through God’s word and the love God displays over and over. Whereas the one is so overwhelmed with thankfulness that he falls at Jesus feet (maybe at the altar at church or on the floor in his room). He ends up being made whole. Truly changed.

The ten lepers were all healed but only one was made whole. I keep reiterating this because it is very important to understand what actually happened to him. The leprosy was not only gone but the effects on his body caused by the leprosy was gone as well. The other nine only had the leprosy gone from their body. Whatever effects it caused on them physically as well as mentally, they were going to have to live with it. Except the one, because he was made whole!

How many people are sitting in church week after week with the effects of what happened to them in the past in their own spiritual leper colony? You can tell that some use to live a hard life because the effects are still on them. Some are battling with their minds because mentally it has taken a toll. And the few, yes few, are sitting among them completely set free from any and all past hurts. You would never guess what their past was like. You cannot tell because their are no effects.

Out of ten only one ran back. And he expected all of them to have ran back. He still is.

And so the question remains. Where are the other nine?

If you are one of them, are you ready to run back? You still have time.

When They Are Not Sorry

Forgiveness can be so liberating! If only it was that easy to make the decision and that is what is it is, a simple decision. No one can make it for you. People can try to talk you into it but ultimately the decision has to come from inside a special place in your heart. You have to choose to forgive. Oh, and your choice needs to be because of your faith in God in that you know that is what He asks us or commands us to do in His word. It is the right thing to do. Since God expects us to forgive then He must also give us the ability to do so. And He does!

Jesus was on the cross and prayed ‘Father forgive them for they know what they do.’ He made the choice to forgive. I have asked God to give me the same forgiveness He had when He was on the cross. I have received His Holy Spirit and so I know I have His power to do just as He did all those years ago.

I have had to forgive many times and am sure will have to do so again and again while on this earth. We as humans can’t help ourselves. Hurting people hurt people.

So, I encourage you to make that decision to forgive. And if you do not have the ability to do so on your own strength, no problem! You can do it with God’s strength inside you.

Don’t forgive because it will make the situation better because it may not. The other person may not be sorry at all. For what ever reason they don’t see the error in their ways. And they continue to act the same.

Forgive even if they never apologize.

You only get one life. Live it in such a way that no one has the power to shackle you up in unforgiving misery.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean they get off ‘scott free’, that is between them and God. And it also doesn’t mean you are going to allow them to continue to hurt you. You can love someone from a distance you know. You can call the shots on who is allowed access to your world. Easy peasy when it is a friend compared to a family member. Family is here to stay. Forgive and that family reunion or Christmas gathering can be fun after all.