Life's circumstances and situations weigh on us. We know where to go when life gets complicated. Our text is about the healing of the ten lepers. We all remember the story that Jesus healed them and sent them on their way. Nine of the ten healed men walked away, and only one returned to give thanks. Looking closer at the text, we see that is not how it happened. The Bible says that these ten men called to Jesus from afar off. They were lepers, so they had to keep their distance. The Bible says they lifted their voice to ask for help. Jesus didn’t heal them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest. The healing didn’t happen until they obeyed and began to go on their way. Jesus did not heal them immediately. He told them to go to the priest, but nothing had changed as far as they could see. They asked for healing, and Jesus told them to leave. They had to have the faith to turn and walk away. Before the miracle, they had to obey. The Bible says, “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Something happened as they went. There is a difference between walking away doubting and walking away in faith. The road of obedience and faith can often be lonely.

Life's circumstances and situations weigh on us. We know where to go when life gets complicated. Our text is about the healing of the ten lepers. We all remember the story that Jesus healed them and sent them on their way. Nine of the ten healed men walked away, and only one returned to give thanks. Looking closer at the text, we see that is not how it happened. The Bible says that these ten men called to Jesus from afar off. They were lepers, so they had to keep their distance. The Bible says they lifted their voice to ask for help. Jesus didn’t heal them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest. The healing didn’t happen until they obeyed and began to go on their way. Jesus did not heal them immediately. He told them to go to the priest, but nothing had changed as far as they could see. They asked for healing, and Jesus told them to leave. They had to have the faith to turn and walk away. Before the miracle, they had to obey. The Bible says, “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Something happened as they went. There is a difference between walking away doubting and walking away in faith. The road of obedience and faith can often be lonely.

Life's circumstances and situations weigh on us. We know where to go when life gets complicated. Our text is about the healing of the ten lepers. We all remember the story that Jesus healed them and sent them on their way. Nine of the ten healed men walked away, and only one returned to give thanks. Looking closer at the text, we see that is not how it happened. The Bible says that these ten men called to Jesus from afar off. They were lepers, so they had to keep their distance. The Bible says they lifted their voice to ask for help. Jesus didn’t heal them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest. The healing didn’t happen until they obeyed and began to go on their way. Jesus did not heal them immediately. He told them to go to the priest, but nothing had changed as far as they could see. They asked for healing, and Jesus told them to leave. They had to have the faith to turn and walk away. Before the miracle, they had to obey. The Bible says, “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Something happened as they went. There is a difference between walking away doubting and walking away in faith. The road of obedience and faith can often be lonely.

Our text is the familiar story of the ten virgins with the lamps. This chapter is known as the Coming of the Lord chapter. The custom of the day, the bridal party would wait with the party and her handmaidens until the groom arrived to take his place in the wedding party. Five of the virgins in the story are called wise, and they brought extra oil in case waiting for the groom takes a while. The other five were less careful and only brought enough oil to last a short time. The groom was late, and all the foolish virgins ran out of oil. The point of this story is that we must be ready for the coming of the Lord, no matter when that takes place. It also reminds us that we must all be prepared and cannot share what we have with someone else. All must be ready and have their own provision. This story also shows the danger of only having the minimum required to make it. We must have faith and walk with God, that will stand until the end, no matter when that is.

Our text is the familiar story of the ten virgins with the lamps. This chapter is known as the Coming of the Lord chapter. The custom of the day, the bridal party would wait with the party and her handmaidens until the groom arrived to take his place in the wedding party. Five of the virgins in the story are called wise, and they brought extra oil in case waiting for the groom takes a while. The other five were less careful and only brought enough oil to last a short time. The groom was late, and all the foolish virgins ran out of oil. The point of this story is that we must be ready for the coming of the Lord, no matter when that takes place. It also reminds us that we must all be prepared and cannot share what we have with someone else. All must be ready and have their own provision. This story also shows the danger of only having the minimum required to make it. We must have faith and walk with God, that will stand until the end, no matter when that is.

Our text is the familiar story of the ten virgins with the lamps. This chapter is known as the Coming of the Lord chapter. The custom of the day, the bridal party would wait with the party and her handmaidens until the groom arrived to take his place in the wedding party. Five of the virgins in the story are called wise, and they brought extra oil in case waiting for the groom takes a while. The other five were less careful and only brought enough oil to last a short time. The groom was late, and all the foolish virgins ran out of oil. The point of this story is that we must be ready for the coming of the Lord, no matter when that takes place. It also reminds us that we must all be prepared and cannot share what we have with someone else. All must be ready and have their own provision. This story also shows the danger of only having the minimum required to make it. We must have faith and walk with God, that will stand until the end, no matter when that is.

Often people in bondage live in a state of denial about their situation. Some of us look free, but we are not truly free. The story of Lazarus illustrates this idea. When Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, Lazarus had to be loosed from burial wrappings. He was alive but still bound. Lazarus was bound because he had died. We are bound because of things in our lives. Pride, hate, jealousy, and bad choices tie us up and restrict us from freedom. In the old testament, God provided for the year of Jubilee, where all debts would be forgiven. It was a fresh start where every man could return to his possessions. Isaiah speaks of the acceptable year of the lord that ties back to the concept of jubilee when he proclaims that we can have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus quoted this scripture from Isiah when he spoke in the temple as a young boy. The difference is that Jesus removed any time constraints when He said those words. The liberty and freedom of jubilee are available to us every day.

Often people in bondage live in a state of denial about their situation. Some of us look free, but we are not truly free. The story of Lazarus illustrates this idea. When Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, Lazarus had to be loosed from burial wrappings. He was alive but still bound. Lazarus was bound because he had died. We are bound because of things in our lives. Pride, hate, jealousy, and bad choices tie us up and restrict us from freedom. In the old testament, God provided for the year of Jubilee, where all debts would be forgiven. It was a fresh start where every man could return to his possessions. Isaiah speaks of the acceptable year of the lord that ties back to the concept of jubilee when he proclaims that we can have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus quoted this scripture from Isiah when he spoke in the temple as a young boy. The difference is that Jesus removed any time constraints when He said those words. The liberty and freedom of jubilee are available to us every day.

Often people in bondage live in a state of denial about their situation. Some of us look free, but we are not truly free. The story of Lazarus illustrates this idea. When Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, Lazarus had to be loosed from burial wrappings. He was alive but still bound. Lazarus was bound because he had died. We are bound because of things in our lives. Pride, hate, jealousy, and bad choices tie us up and restrict us from freedom. In the old testament, God provided for the year of Jubilee, where all debts would be forgiven. It was a fresh start where every man could return to his possessions. Isaiah speaks of the acceptable year of the lord that ties back to the concept of jubilee when he proclaims that we can have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus quoted this scripture from Isiah when he spoke in the temple as a young boy. The difference is that Jesus removed any time constraints when He said those words. The liberty and freedom of jubilee are available to us every day.

We all have stories and testimonies, but faith is sometimes challenging to maintain in a difficult situation. Every man is given a measure of faith. Some have more; some have less. The heroes of the faith we read about in Hebrews are heroes simply because they stuck with their faith. We would not even know their name if Abraham, Noah, or Moses had not maintained their faith. Noah took everything that God said and trusted what He said was true. The world looked at Noah like he was a fool, but Noah knew that rain was coming. Abraham left his home, not knowing where he was going. Later, Abraham learns he will have a son, even though he and his wife are old. Finally, God calls Abraham to sacrifice that same son. Abraham did not waver and had faith in God. We study these men, but it was not the men; their faith led them and allowed them to do great things for God. You can move mountains with faith, but the mountain will not be moved without it.