This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Rejoice When Someone Accepts Christ", Luke 15:11-24

 vREJOICE WHEN SOMEONE ACCEPTS CHRIST

Luke 15:11-25

THE WORD DRAWS LISTENERS TO CHRIST

Earlier in the chapter Jesus taught the word and tax collectors and sinners

came to hear. As usual, the Pharisees and the scribes were there to pass

judgment on Jesus. They murmured that Jesus treated the sinners with

kindness and therefore was disgraceful to be in their presence.

Jesus responded with three parables that showed His love for sinners.

Jesus uses the parables to show there is joy in heaven when one

sinner repents

The parable of the lost sheep. The owner leaves his flock to go

find the lost sheep.

The parable of the lost coin. The owner assuming a married woman

loses one of ten coins of her head ban. She searches the house to find

the lost coin. There is joy in her household.

THE SIN OF THE YOUNGER SON

V:11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

This was an unusual request because the estate was not divided until the father

died. This would be like the son saying to the father, I wish you were dead.

Out of compassion, the father complied with the son's request. While it is not

stated, the younger son thought he would have more freedom and fun in

life if he was not under the father's rules.

A FOOLISH DECISION

V:13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

The younger son only receives a portion of his inheritance. The Land remained

with the family. He may have received money and livestock to sell.

Having little or no management skills, he lived like there was no tomorrow.

Lacking the father's advice, he did not keep track of how much he was

spending or who he was spending it with.

The distance country may not have been a long way from home, but a long way

from fellowship with the father. Unlike the lost sheep or the lost coin, the father

did not go looking for his son. The father had servants and or hired hands who

could have been sent to look after his son. This was not the case. The

father allowed the son to learn from the decisions he made. The best way

to experience life is to do life and see how it turns out. In a way, the

younger son is to be admired because he took the chance to do something

different. He was foolish because he could not see the blessings of his

father’s guidance and direction.

He left his right mind when began to think that his father’s rules were

too restrictive. He chose the lust of the flesh over the guidance and

care of the Father. Perhaps he thought fun in the sun and an easy

life without responsibilities was the way to go. The grass always looks

greener on the other side of the fence.

Some foolish decisions lead to enlightenment that changes one's outlook

forever. The first thing the son learned is you need a rainy day fund. The

second thing he learned is that people who help spend your money

are not your friends. The third thing he learned is fun doesn't last long.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN

V:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

Life's lessons never end. The younger son learned that foolish living leads to

tough times. To survive tough times, unexpected decisions have to be made.

To eat, he took a job with substandard pay. He put himself in a situation

where he had to do what a good Jew would not do, eat with pigs. His foolish

decision impressed upon him the value of the life he ran away from.

You don’t miss fresh water until there is none to drink.

THE BEGINNING OF THE SON’S RESTORATION

V:17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father.

Sometimes the foolish have to hit rock bottom before they look up and see

their mistakes. Rock bottom to the younger son was an empty stomach and being

treated less than a servant. All those who spent his money were long gone

and he was left sleeping with pigs.

Proverbs 22:6

Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.

What the younger son had going for him was the father’s teaching.

Rock Bottom was a wake-up call to remember the love and generosity

of his parents. He compared his desperate situation with the benefits

he had at home. What he ran away from was what he needed for a successful

life.

His father taught him right from wrong. He didn't realize his wrong

until the consequences hit him in the face. His turnaround was to

admit to himself that he had sinned against God and his father.

He realized that his disobedience was the cause of his desperate

situation. He also realized that in his fathers house was and abundance

of everything he needed.

He realized that he had the best life at home. He also realized that his

disobedient behavior disgraced the family and the community. He knew

his action deserved stoning to death according to the law by the city

leaders.

The text says when he came to himself he realized that his father’s servants

was treated with respect and had food to eat and clothes to wear.

He also recognized that he had forfeited his right to be called a son. He

made up his mind to go to the Father to confess his sin and ask to be treated as

a servant.

THE FATHERS FORGIVENESS

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.

21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

Since the community knew the son's sin, they could have stoned him as he was

coming to the father. The father running to the son may have been to

protect the son from the community.

Deuteronomy 21:21

21 Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you.

Let me suggest that the father was a praying man. He knew the word and trusted

the Lord to bring his son home. The father was expecting the Lord to answer

his prayer. He didn’t need to go looking because he had put his son in the Lord’s

hands. His compassion says the father had forgiven the son before he saw him coming.

The father welcomed his son home with hugs and kisses. The kiss represented

affection and reconciliation.

It was important for the son to confess his sin before his father. His sin had been

forgiven the day he left home. The Father did not accept the son’s request to be

treated as a servant.

The father did not judge the son because of his sins. The father made no

mention of the son's sinful activities. The past was the past. The son's restoration

was the father's priority and joy. Forgiveness should be immediate so you can

get back to the business of effective prayer.

THE FATHERS CELEBRATION

22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

The Father began immediately treating his son as restored and in fellowship

with Him. The father ordered the servants to bring the best robe. The

best robe may have been reserved for guest or was the father’s robe.

The family signet ring was placed on his finger indicating full sonship..

The sandals put on his feet indicated the father treating him as a son and not a servant.

The killing of a calf was enough food for the community. The father

celebrated the son’s return before the community. The father did all he could to

make his returning son feel loved and back in his proper position.

The son was dead to virtue, but his return made him alive in righteousness

He was lost in the world and his return found him in fellowship with his father.

We are all sinners in need of forgiveness and restoration. It is the mercy of God

that allowed Him to send His Son as the atonement of our sins.

Bible Study Series: God's Love, John 3:16

 GOD’S LOVE

John 3:16

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This verse sits in the middle of a conversation Jesus had

with Nicodemus a Pharisee about being born again with

water and spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus observed that Jesus’s teaching came with power

and authority. Jesus turned his inquiry into a salvation discussion

We have John 3:16 memorized. However to get a better understanding of the verse

We must go back to the original Greek structure of the verse.

It is;

So for God loved the World that His only begotten He gave,…..

The Greek word for “So” is houto which means after this manner

The “so” connects John 3:16 to verse 14 which reads

John 3:14-15

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

John 3:14 connects us to the events in Numbers 21.

In the desert, the Israelites became restless and spoke against God and Moses

saying they hated the journey and the food God provided.

As a punishment, God sent serpents with fiery bites that caused

inflammation in the body which led to death. The Israelites cried out to Moses to

ask God for relief.

What God did in the past was a forerunner of what He would do in the person of Jesus

Christ.

Looking upon the bronze serpent reminded Israel of their sins and the salvation

provided by God.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a teacher of the law was knowledgeable of

Numbers 21. Jesus used that story to point Nicodemus to Himself as

his salvation.

The punishment of the Israelites was a painful reminder to them

of their ungratefulness.

Looking at Jesus on the cross is a reminder of our sins and the salvation

He provides. It is God's goodwill toward us to be convicted of our sins

through the power of the Word

Let us look closely at the John 3:16

“So God loved the world”

God loves everybody. He loves His creation. God is no respecter of person

The Greek word for love in this verse is agapao. It is in a form that means

at the beginning God was full of good will. It also means He takes pleasure in or to prize His elect above others.

Nicodemus came to Jesus searching for answers. It was the agapao of Jesus

to lead him into a discussion that may have brought clarity to his search for

for salvation.

Therefore, God is full of goodwill toward His elect. Referring to Ephesians 1:4,

God was full of goodwill toward His chosen before the foundation of the earth.

WHAT ARE THE ASPECTS OF GOD’S DIVINE LOVE?

Love requires you to make a decision regarding the one you love. God made a

a decision regarding mankind.

He looked at the state of His creation as ruined. He decided to provide a

way of restoration.

1. His Love is directive. You have to direct your love to someone or something.

God’s love is directed at mankind and His creation.

Notice, God never said He was full of goodwill toward His fallen angels.

2. God’s Love requires giving of yourself and your resources. God gave Himself in the

person of His son

3. God’s Love requires a real sacrifice of something you love. He

loved His Son. God tested Abraham’s love for Him by commanding

him to sacrifice Issac. Abraham showed his love with obedience.

God provided a ram instead.

WHOEVER

Love requires you to let the one your love is directed at, make a

decision to accept your love. Whoever includes every human

being. Some will and some will not accept Jesus

Without Jesus’s good will we are not capable of accepting Him as savior.

Romans 12:3

to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. God makes it possible for the chosen whoever selection.

You cannot force anyone to love you. Most Jews decided to reject Jesus

and most Gentiles will also.

BELIEF

The verse says whoever believes in Him.

The Greek word for belief in the verse is pisteuon, it is a form of

the word which means being persuaded to place confidence in.

In other words, our belief in Jesus is an ongoing process of learning

to trust God. The mature believer will develop a habit of belief

or trust in God.

Jesus led Nicodemus to a place to believe in Him. Nicodemus had already

concluded that Jesus had come from God and was with God. Nicodemus had

an eyewitness account of the miracles performed by Jesus. He needed

the next step, confession of faith.

We have eyewitness accounts of God's miracles all around us. I

believe God is in the continuous process of persuading us to put

confidence in Him for all things.

SHALL NOT PERISH

God’s Love rewards the one who accepts His love.

The reward is salvation. Heaven is the final destination for

those who believe.

THE WHOEVER REJECTION

God’s Love lets go of those who reject His love.

The Whoever that rejects Jesus does so with knowledge of His works.

Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

I believe that God so loves us that He is continuously pushing us into a complete trust or complete confidence in Him so our end is

eternal life

In the desert, the Israelites never put complete trust in the God who continued

to provide all they needed. They were in the desert being pushed toward

the promised land. But to get His people there, He wanted complete trust.

We the believers in Christ are in the desert of life full of sin. God is

dragging us toward the promise of eternal life but to get us there, He wants us

to develop a habit of complete trust in Him.

1. HOW DO I GET GOD’S LOVE?

Like the Israelites,

Recognize and confess your sins,

Cry out to God for forgiveness

Look to Jesus as your intercessor before God

Let The cross be the reminder of your ruin,

Jesus on the Cross is a reminder of God’s love for you

2. HOW DO I MAXIMIZE GOD’S LOVE?

Become a good listener. When you read the Bible, you are listening

to God-inspired words, searching for direction and meaning. ...

Open your eyes. God loves you so much that his “mercies…are new every

morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). ...

Look for the bright spots. … Philippians 4

Look beyond your desires. God is bigger than you can imagine and

can provide more than you can conceive.

Make plans to glorify God daily.

3. HOW DO I DISPLAY GOD’S LOVE?

Obedience to His Commands

Be kind to others

Be tolerant of others

Be quick to forgive

Help those in need

Show God's Love by Listening.

Show God's Love with Generosity.

Show God's Love by Encouraging others.

Show God's Love with Acts of Kindness.

Show God's Love by Praying for Others.

Show God’s love by giving Godly advice.

Show God’s love by proclaiming the Gospel.

4. MY RESPONSE TO GOD’S LOVE

Giving Praise

Constant Prayer

Study Gods Word

Love your neighbor

Love yourself

Tithing

Service

Trust

CLASS QUESTIONS

WHEN YOU VISUALIZE THE CROSS WHAT DO YOU SEE?

HOW DO YO FEEL THE PULL OF GOD ON YOUR LIFE?

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE CROSS?

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Habit Of Forgiveness:, Matthew 18:21-35

 THE HABIT OF FORGIVENESS

Matthew 18:21-19:1

INTRODUCTION

In Matthew 18, Jesus continued the teaching of His disciples about the kingdom of God.

There are four messages before we get to our text.

1. The greatest in the kingdom of God

To be great:

Child-like faith

Humbleness

Obedience

2. You are valued by God

Individually, you are important to God

God looks for His lost sheep.

3. Righteousness

Get rid of that which causes you to sin

God is concerned about your spiritual well being

Privately Counsel those who are in sin

4. The power of corporate prayer

ONLY WITH LOVE CAN YOU TRULY FORGIVE

V:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had to be sold to repay the debt.

26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.

28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

MEDITATE ON THE WORD

Matthew 18:21

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

When you hear the Word of God challenge your understanding of the Word.

Don’t just read the Word as if you know all about it. You do not. There is

more to learn.

Peter heard the word on forgiveness and restoration (verse 15)

But he may have been troubled by what

he heard and wanted a deeper understanding.

I believe that when you are troubled by the Word, you get God's attention.

He is the one who troubled you.

Peter asked the question about forgiveness and gave his answer.

I supposed he reasoned that since 7 was the number of completion and

forgiving a brother 7 times was enough. When we reason according to the flesh

we will come to the wrong answer.

It is our meditation on the Word that allows the Holy Spirit to correct our thinking.

I believe Jesus loves for us to engage Him in conversation about His Word.

Peter asked a question and concluded with the wrong answer. Jesus immediately stepped in

and corrected his thinking. Peter said 7 but Jesus said 70 times 7. Peter had a limit

for forgiveness, but God's forgiveness was unlimited. Peter had a limit for mercy, but

God’s mercy is unlimited. Peter had a limit on goodness, but God's goodness is boundless

We normally think in the flesh, but God wants us to be in the habit of thinking in the spirit.

HEAVEN IS THE PLACE WHERE SIN DEBT HAS BEEN SETTLED

Matthew 18:23-27

23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him 10 thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had to be sold to repay the debt.

26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.

The kingdom of heaven is the place where all debts have been settled. It is a place where there is no need for forgiveness because the payment was made on the cross with the blood of Jesus.

All of us have a sin debt that we can't pay. All of us will have to go before the Supreme judge to settle our accounts.

The master, the Father is aware of how big your sin debt is. He stands by

and allows you to accumulate your debt.

In fact, you came into this world with a sin debt. You were born in sin and shaped in inequity.

You started your life’s journey with a debt you couldn’t pay. You started your life journey with a judgment. The wages of sin is death.

THE KINSMEN REDEEMER

Notice the master, the Father is tolerant to allow you to continue adding to your debt.

Under Jewish law, a person could be sold to pay his debts. However, his debt was

forgiven in the year of Jubilee. Before the year of jubilee, a kinsman could redeem him.

Leviticus 25:48

After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:

Ruth 4:14-15

The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.

Our kinsmen redeemer is Jesus. The year of jubilee for the believer is the day

Jesus died on the cross.

We are brothers and sisters of Jesus, the firstborn of the new creation.

Colossians 1:18

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

The servant had a debt he couldn’t pay. The payment was hard labor.

The servant fell on his knees and begged for mercy. His large

debt was canceled.

Notice, it was his asking that caused the mercy of the master to flow. Jesus is

waiting for us to ask for forgiveness. Although our debt is large, the kinsmen, Jesus,

is willing to cover our debt.

Look back at verse 26, The servant, the one who owed the large debt made a vow

to pay back the master. He asked for patience. Don't make a vow to the Lord that

you are not going to keep. God knows your heart. He will hold you to your vow.

TO MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED

Matthew 18:28-30

"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

God will test you to see if you will keep your commitment to Him. The servant who owed a large

debt had someone who owed him a fraction of what he owed the master. You can’t beat God’s

giving. (fyi; a talent is 100 denarii. Compare that to 100,000 denarri debt canceled)

The servant whose debt was canceled treated the one who owed him money violently. He showed no mercy to his debtor or his family. He forgot the vow he made to the master.

His heart was unchanged by the mercy the master showed him. He failed to consider

that man who owed him money was important to the master.

It is probable that the money owed him came from the master who canceled his debt.

We should never take for granted the mercies God shows us each day. What God does for us He expects to do for others. The goodness of the Lord flows to us daily in ways we cannot conceive of and don't deserve it. The kindness we show others have already been shown to us.

God showed the bigger beggar mercy, who refused to show the same mercy to

another person.

The truth is we don’t know how big our sin debt to the Lord is. We can bet that whatever

is owed us by others is but a grain of sand on the seashore of our sins.

THE LORD HAS HIS EYES ON YOU

Matthew 18:31

31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

Be careful how you treat others. Someone is always watching. Whatever you do in the

dark will come to light. The Lord hears the voice of everyone, even though they may not have a relationship with Him. Your reputation is in the open for everyone to see.

God sees and knows your heart.

Whatever you do affects the hearts of others. They may not know you, but to see you treat others disrespectfully affects them. We should be a light unto the world, not a shade of darkness. We should be a blessing to others, not a curse.

YOU WILL BE TREATED THE WAY YOU TREAT OTHERS

Matthew 18:32-34

32 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

God judges us by what we do or refuses to do for others. To refuse to show mercy is an act of wickedness. We were made in the likeness and image of God. Anything other than that is wickedness.

When we refuse to be kind, it angers the Lord. When we refuse to show mercy it angers the Lord. God is not satisfied with our selfishness and ungratefulness.

You don't want to get in the hands of an angry God. It would be better to show more

mercy and more kindness than required than to show none at all.

Luke 6:38

For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

What goes around comes around. No man is an island unto himself. We are all in this world

together. We are family. We should, we must treat everyone like family.

FORGIVENESS REQUIRES A CHANGE IN HEART

Matthew 18:35

35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Forgiveness is an act from a changed heart. Forgiveness is an act from a renewed heart.

Forgiveness has to be deliberate. It has to be something that you want and a state of

mind that you cultivate for your well-being.

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

It takes an effort on your part to let the past stay in the past. Satan will remind you of

the past. But you don’t have to bring the hurt, anger, and frustration into the present.

Forgiveness is an attitude of releasing yourself from past hurts and taking the opportunity to glorify God through your love for others.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Parables, Enlightment For Believers", Matthew 13: 7-19

 

PARABLES, ENLIGHTENMENT FOR BELIEVERS

Matthew 13:13-17

PARABLES FOR BELIEVERS

V:13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

"Though seeing, they do not see;

though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

According to Matthew, Jesus began speaking in parables to his followers

after the religious leaders rejected His teaching and miracles and labeled them as being

by the power of Satan. They committed the one unforgivable sin found in chapter 12.

Matthew 12:22-24

22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

The unforgivable sin is this:

Matthew 12:32

32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are one God in three persons; the divine Trinity.

Anyone who claims the work of the Trinity is the work of the devil is on a

stairway to hell that cannot be reversed.

The word parable is made of two words, para and ballo, together it means to throw along

side. A parable makes a comparison between a truth and an untruth.

Jesus began to preach in parables for three reasons;

1. His preaching had been rejected by the religious leaders as satanic

2. Parables were designed to hide the truth from unbelievers

3. Parables were designed to reveal the truth to believers

4. Parables were designed to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah

OLD TESTAMENT FULFILLED IN NEW TESTAMENT

THE CURSE OF REJECTING CHRIST

V:14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

"'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15 For this people's heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise, they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.'

Those who reject Christ, have their understanding of the Word

blocked by Him.

In the book of Exodus, Moses took the commands of God to the

Pharaoh. In each of the ten plagues cast on Egypt, the Lord hardened

his heart so he would not obey. Lacking the guidance of the Lord

all the firstborn of Egypt were killed and his entire army was destroyed.

Those who reject Jesus also in the same breath reject the divine teacher

of the scriptures, the Holy Spirit.

Since faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, those who

reject Christ cannot hear the Word of God.

The just live by faith and not by sight. Those who reject Christ walk blindly

in this world. They make plans with no assurance of an increase.

The steps of a Good man are ordered by the Lord. Those who reject Christ

have no idea if they are going in the right direction

THE BLESSING OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

V:16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets, and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Those who accept Christ are blessed with all the spiritual capabilities to do the

work of God. We are blessed more than the prophets who waited patiently

for the coming of the Messiah but did not sit in His presence or bathed in

His glory.

Sermon: When God Is Silent, Matthew 15:21-29

 WHEN THE LORD IS SILENT

Matthew 15:21-29

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession."

23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

28 Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

This text is also presented in Mark 7:24-31 which gives more information

Mark 7:24-31

24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

I take my subject from verse 23

“AND HE ANSWERED HER NOT A WORD”

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JESUS IS SILENT?

Let me give you some background for this text.

Jesus spent most of His time in the cities around the area of Galilee near His hometown.

His preaching and teaching drew large crowds because He healed their sick where

ever He was. In addition, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law from Jerusalem

came down to find fault with His teaching to condemn Him.

Have you ever wanted to get away from the problems of your life and just have

some quiet time alone? Just have some peace to get your mind together.

The text presents Jesus in this stressful situation. He just needed to get away from the

crowd. He traveled with His disciples uphill 50 miles to the Mediterranean coast in the area of Tyre and Sidon.

Galilee is 686 feet below sea level. The mountain is 1400 feet above sea level

To get to Tyre and Sidon Jesus traveled on a road up the mountain and then back down

the mountain to get the port cites of Tyre and Sidon. This is a 50-mile trip one way.

Jesus traveled to a place where the people were worshipers of Baal and Astarte

He traveled with His disciples to a place where He would not be known, to get away

from the crowd. He went to these Gentile cities for some quiet time.

Did I tell you that Jesus and His twelve disciple traveled up the mountain

then down the mountain to the sea?

Did I tell you it was 50 miles one way? Did I tell you it would have taken 3 days

to go from Galilee to Tyre and Sidon? Did I tell you that Jesus did no ministry

during the trip to Tyre? Did I tell you it was supposed to be a secret trip?

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIP? I AM GLAD YOU ASKED.

As soon as Jesus arrived, He went into a house to hide out. But the word got out that He was there. It would been obvious to the city folk that this group of 13

men were visiting from somewhere. You can’t just slip into a city all dusty from

a trip and nobody notices. They had to check into somebody's house or Inn.

PREPARING TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE

A mother came out of the area with a prayer request.

Her daughter was demon-possessed. She had one of them

kids who was unruly and destructive. You know one of them kids that was constantly

having a temper tantrum. You know one of them kids throwing and breaking stuff.

You know one of them kids that was in trouble all the time. One of the kids that

gave you a headache all day long. You know one of them kids that a belt whipping

made no difference.

She had heard about Jesus. She may have even witnessed some of his miracles.

Since He cured other folks, she became convinced Jesus could cure her child.

She probably had tried all her idol gods to no avail. She heard Jesus was in town and

she came crying after Him.

Jesus and His disciples must have been walking around town because the text says

she came crying after them. It is in verse 23.

The woman had some background on this doctor. She knew all the right words.

I don't know whether she knew Jesus or just knew what He could do.

I don't know if she knew Jesus as Lord or just called Him that to get his attention.

The fact is she was convinced, Jesus could heal her daughter.

The evidence is Jesus made a 50-mile trip to get to her, a Gentile idol god worshiper.

That’s my first point in the text

JESUS IS PREPARING TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE

She cried out, Lord Son of David have mercy on me. My daughter is demon-possessed.

She stated her case. You would think Jesus having made a 50-mile trip from Galilee up a mountain road and down the mountain, would have addressed her immediately.

She cried out to Jesus, but the text says:

He answered Her, not a Word.

THERE IS A REASON FOR GOD’S SILENCE

This was unlike Jesus. Jesus heard the prayer but said nothing. What was He up to?

Jesus is always up to something regarding you.

Jesus' disciples spoke up. Send her away, she is making too much noise.

I think Jesus' reason for not saying anything was twofold. He used the situation to teach His disciples a lesson and to teach the needy mother a lesson.

The disciples were quick to send the lady away. They dismissed her problem as unimportant.

They were too busy following the church, that they could not be the Church. They knew

Jesus wanted some quiet time, so they ignored, and diminished the worth of this suffering, crying mother. They showed no compassion for a mother and child in need.

She was a Gentile, not a Jew. She may have been Black. The Phoenician people

of the area had an African stock and a Syrian stock. The text says she was Greek.

The disciples may have been biased, prejudiced, or racist. We did not see Peter denying the service of Jesus in healing his mother. Peter brought Jesus to his house. They did not treat this mother with compassion. They didn't consider her as their neighbor.

Jesus allowed His disciples to show their bias and lack of compassion for the mother’s

daughter. Jesus led the disciples to the Gentile area to show them their mission.

They needed to understand that God is no respecter of a person.

Jesus will meet you where you are. Jesus will meet you in your

darkest hour. Jesus will meet you in the hospital. Jesus will meet

you on the job. Jesus will meet you deep in sin. Jesus will meet

you in the courtroom. Jesus will meet you when your bank account

is empty.

Jesus met this Phoenician woman in her city, 50 miles away from

area of ministry.

GETTING YOU TRAINED TO BE BLESSED

You may wonder why you have so many problems. God uses your

problems to train you. Train up a child in the way he should go.

God is the parent, and you are His children. We are all in a training

program.

God used the mother’s demon-possessed child to draw her to Jesus. Sometimes your

problems are a blessing in disguise. Your problem is your training program.

The text says she came out. The only way to get us out of a dark situation is to

present us with problems near and dear to us that we can't handle. A problem so

heavy that your heart breaks with sadness. You are hurting on the inside for

someone you love.

Allowing His disciples to speak first with a negative tone, may cause the mother

to question her confidence in Jesus. The disciples' negative response might have

sparked a fire that produced a flame for Jesus. The minimizing of the woman’s

need may have made her more determined to see Jesus.

The text says she followed after Jesus crying for help. Lord. Master, Son of David.

The more you say a word, the more it will be fixed in your mind

He was the Son of a King. The more you say it the more you will believe it.

Matthew 15:23

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

Why didn’t the disciples urge Jesus to help her? Why didn’t the disciples see the

woman's daughter as worthy of Jesus' help?

Maybe Jesus' silence was purposed to keep her calling His name.

If you want a relationship with Jesus, He is worth the trip. He came to her area

not to ignore her but to draw her from idol gods, Baal and Astarte.

She came out of her darkness toward the marvelous light.

She had a prayer of desperation. She had a prayer of hope

Baal couldn’t help. Astarte couldn’t help. Jesus was her help

She had a prayer of love. She had a prayer of faith

She had heard or witnessed the miracles of Jesus.

It was a prayer back with her knowledge of the power of Jesus

She was a Greek, not a Jew. It was a prayer from the wrong race at the right time.

Why did Jesus answer not a word on her request?

It allowed Satan to step in through the mouths of Jesus' disciples.

It planted seeds of doubt in the situation

Jesus' answer planted more doubt.

Matthew 15:24

24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

This appears to be another rejection. It appears to be a confirmation of His

disciples minimizing her daughter's illness.

If that was the case, why was Jesus in the region of Tyre and Sidon?

We find no sermons or miracles on this 50-mile journey.

There were not many Jews in Tyre and Sidon. They were Gentile cities.

Jesus' response didn't make any sense to me. But I am only seeing it through

my eyes.

It was an opportunity for her faith to be tested.

It was an opportunity for faith to prosper in her heart.

All things work together for our good. If she didn’t have a problem with her daughter,

She would not have gone to Jesus. The Lord presents Himself to us in our time of need.

She needed the Lord's help. But more importantly, she needs the salvation of the

Lord. How much do you want Jesus in your life? Do you want Him for a season or

do you want Him for all times? Do you want Him for your health or do you want Him

for your soul?

To know Jesus, you have to spend some time with Him to know his plan and His Will.

Jesus drew her with a conversation that required more explanation. He had a plan for

Israel but did He have a plan for the Gentiles? Specifically, does Jesus have a plan for

you?

Jesus had the teach this woman who He was; He was Lord

Jesus needed to teach this woman His Power and authority; He Was king

Jesus had to teach this woman to be blessed you got to have a relationship

with Him.

She knew He could heal. Why was He giving her a hard time?

LEADING YOU TO A CONFESSION OF FAITH

Matthew 15:25

The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

When your family member is sick, no is not an option.

Her desperation brought her to her knees to worship Him.

Before she cried out to him walking behind Him, but now her pride was gone.

She was on her knees in prayer. All thoughts of her idol gods are out of her mind

It's just the woman and Jesus. Lord help me was her prayer.

She passed the negative folk and went straight to Jesus.

It is good to develop a relationship with Jesus in prayer.

LEADING YOU TO CONFESSION OF SIN

Matthew 15:26

26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

What do you say, Jesus? You called this suffering Black woman a dog.

You can compare a man to a dog. We can take it. You can’t call a woman a dog

and not expect a fight. I don't know about you but if I ever call my wife a dog

I would be sleeping in the car on the street headed for a divorce.

Look like the conversation went from bad to worst. First Jesus ignores her.

Then He appears to say she is not the right race. Then He calls her a dog.

I don’t know what the woman was thinking, but I would expect an explosive

response from her.

Here is where I know this woman had let go of her idol worship and developed

a strong faith in God.

Matthew 15:26

"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

When you need something for Jesus you can’t get upset with Him. You have to see the

good in His Word. The truth is we are all dogs in need of God's crumbs of mercy.

This Gentile woman confessed her sins while seeking God’s mercy

His word says we don't need much mercy from Jesus. Just a little

mercy will do.

This Gentile mother knew that a dog was a family pet, loved by its owner. She knew that the family members ate before their pets. She also knew that a crumb from the master's table was all that was needed to heal her daughter. She knew it was a privilege to be under the Master's table.

It is a privilege to be under God's guidance and direction. It is a privilege to be

in the house of the Lord. It is a privilege to get crumbs of God’s mercy.

God knows you. He knows your sins. He got to clean you up so He can dress you

up in His righteousness. God has a way of cleaning you up to sit at His table.

It is the Word of God that does the convicting of

your heart through the power of the Holy Spirit.

LEADING YOU TO THE VICTORY IN JESUS CHRIST

Matthew 15:28

28 Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

It was not by accident that mercy met misery. It is not by accident that Jesus shows up at

your doorstep in times of need. Jesus uses your misery to get your attention.

He strings you along until you are ready to let go of your sins and let Him in.

He strings you along in your misery until you are ready to confess your faith.

It is faith in Jesus that brings a change in your life

It is faith in Jesus that brings healing

It is faith in Jesus that brings comfort

It is faith in Jesus that puts your finances in order.

That 50-mile trip was worth it to Jesus to win her soul.

The angels rejoice when one sinner repents.

You are worth it to Jesus. Are you willing to take the journey with Jesus?

We are all on a journey with Jesus. The journey got some mountains.

The journey got some rough roads. The journey is filled with trouble

The journey is filled with God’s grace and Mercy

The journey comes with God’s protection

The journey comes with God’s provisions

The journey ends with God's desired result, your faith in Jesus.

The journey ends in victory

The journey ends with Jesus as your Lord and Savior

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE JOURNEY WITH

 JESUS?