FAITH THAT WORKS
Matt 15:22-28
22 And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.
27 But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.
TEXT BACKGROUND
This conversation appears to follow Jesus feeding of the 5000 near
The sea of Galilee. Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem, perhaps
Observed the miracle of the feeding and asked the question of why the
Disciples broke the Jewish tradition of washing hands before eating.
Jesus replied that it is not what goes in the body that defiles a man, but
What comes out of the heart that defies a man.
The 12 disciples were confuse as to why the Pharisees and scribes were
Offended. Jesus explained that Pharisee flowed their traditions while breaking God’s commands.
To illustrate faith in God, Jesus leaves Galilee which is in a valley, 600 feet
Below sea level and travels 35 miles up the mountain then down the mountain to a region of Tyre and Sidon on the Mediterranean sea. There He met by a Canaanite woman who had a daughter who was demon possessed. She needed help. Notice she knew who Jesus was, and had developed faith that Jesus could heal her child. She was not an Israelite yet had true faith.
Let me suggest that Jesus made this 35 mile trip to show that He is no respecter of person. race, nationality or religion. He is the savior of everyone who comes to Him. The Canaanite woman came by prayer
And worshipped Him. The Pharisees and the scribes did not come to
Worship but to find fault with Jesus’s ministry. They had no faith in Jesus
And saw him as a trouble maker. THe canaanite worman came with a humble heart. The Pharisees and scribes came with pride.
The Canaanite woman saw Jesus as Lord, the Son of David. The Pharisees saw Jesus as just a man. The Canaanite woman believed in
The power of Jesus to do miracles. The Pharisees saw Jesus a worker of the devil.
The grieving mother cried to Jesus relentlessly for help. Jesus disciples
Saw her as a distraction who needed to be quiet. Jesus ignored her cry at first, I believe so you and I can see faith in action.
POINTS TO CONSIDER
God uses circumstances to draw us to Him in faith
God will test your faith to exercise your devotion
Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from calling on Jesus
Be patient as Jesus builds your faith
Know with certainty that God will answer your prayers
PRAYER IS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD
22 And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.
Prayer acknowledges God as Lord. This woman was not an Israelite but
Had developed faith in Jesus. She did not grow up with Jesus, but heard
The word about the power of Jesus to cast out demons. She left home
Seeking Jesus.
It was her circumstance that caused her to come to Jesus. Her daughter,
Her baby had a serious problem that her doctors and idol gods could not solve. The testimony of others assured her of Jesus' authority over demons.
The testimony of her faith was her patience and persistence in seeking Jesus.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
You should never allow anyone to discourage you from getting to Jesus.
The founding members of the church dismissed her child as unimportant.
Jesus the Lord she sought did not answer immediately. Yet this mother
Was determined to hear from Jesus. Prayer is a private audience with the
Lord. He may not answer when you call but He hears and is on time
Worship humbles yourself before a power greater than you. Your
Worship gets the Lord attention.
25 But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me
26 And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.
There are times when we don’t know what to pray or even understand our prayer. Jesus was not ignoring her but testing her knowledge and faith.
The word meet means good and the word dog means little dog or pet.
Jesus made a distinction between Israel (the children) and the Gentiles (little dogs). It not good to give Israel bread to the Gentiles.
The mother understood Jesus statement to be a test of her faith and not a rejection, Consider the mother’s response
DON’T GET UPSET, HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH
27 But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
You don’t need much to be healed by Jesus. A crumb of grace is enough for you and me. The mother understood that we show love to our pets by providing for them. She was happy to be a pet of Jesus. When Jesus referred to her as a pet, she knew Jesus' love for her daughter.
THE RESULT OF FAITH IS GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.
What is the message to you and me? Righteousness is not a show as
Illustrated by the Pharisees and the scribes but a lifestyle of faith and obedience as illustrated by the mother who came to Jesus for help.
SUMMARY
GOD USES CIRCUMSTANCES TO DRAW US TO HIM
PRAYER IS A PERSONAL AUDIENCE WITH GOD
YOUR FAITH GROWS THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE LORD WITH PRAYER AND WORSHIP
HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH IN ALL SITUATIONS
WAIT PATIENTLY ON THE LORD, HIS TIMING IS TO STRENGTHEN YOU
GOD HEARS YOUR PRAYERS AND WILL ANSWER IN HIS TIME
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