Great Faith

May 30, 2010 by admin.

#385 Great Faith, Pastor David McIntosh, Sunday, 05-30-2010

Text: Matthew 15:21-28

Introduction

• Jesus’ ministry was all over Israel. One day while He was up in the northern region of Israel by the sea (Mediterranean Sea) is was called Tyre & Sidon. These we two port cities about 20 miles apart.
• Jesus was up in this region and a woman who lived in that area came up to Him and began to talk with Jesus.
• Now, what took place between Jesus and this lady has great significance for you and me today.
• I want to begin with the end of their encounter today. When they were finished with their encounter this is what Jesus declared:
• Matthew 15:19 – Woman you have great faith! Your request is granted.”
• That is why what took place between this local woman and Jesus matters to you and me today. What did she do or say that caused Jesus to declare that she had great faith.
• Another version says, “O woman great is thy faith!”

TRANSITION: I hope this has caught your spiritual attention today because what we have in these verses of Matthew 15 is an example of what great faith looks like to Jesus. And we also discover that this great faith caused Jesus to grant the request she asked Him.

FOCUS ON FAITH

1. Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (more about hoping in God’s promises than what we see happening with our own eyes)
2. James 2:17 – In the same way faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (it can die if we take no action at all)
3. Luke 17:5 – The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” (it can increase)
4. Jesus said, woman you have great faith! Your request is granted. Let’s see what this woman did that cause Jesus to declare her faith great.

READ MATTHEW 15:21-28

FAITH

1. V.22 – “She came to him” the first thing this woman did was she went to Jesus.
2. Great faith begins when someone (just as they are) decides I need to go to Jesus!
3. We usually do 100 things before we go to the Lord. First thing, bring it to Jesus!
4. Jesus made the first move and went to that region of Israel, and now that He was there and available, she went to him!
5. It is a good thing to believe in Jesus, but a greater thing to go to Jesus.
6. V.21 – she was a Canaanite woman. She was not of the commonwealth of Israel. As a matter of fact there was phrase used back in bible days, “Cursed be Canaan.”
7. This woman could not change who she was, she could only come in faith to Jesus!
8. V.22- Crying out Lord, Son of David have mercy on me. She cried out, this speaks of passion, urgency, desperation. She desired mercy. She called Him Lord, Son of David.
9. When Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on a donkey all the people cried out shouting; Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
10. This title (Son of David) was an outward evidence of an inward faith that Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the Christ.
11. V.22 – My daughter is suffering terribly form demon-possession. The mercy she wanted was for the Lord to help someone else. Her daughter was in big trouble.
12. Her daughter was filled with the wrong spirits, not Holy Spirit.
13. 1 Peter 5:8 – Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
14. The enemy was devouring this Canaanite woman’s daughter and she came to Jesus, just as she was and cried out for mercy that her daughter would be released.
15. She is hungry, she is desperate, and she is passionate. What will Jesus do next? Is this the great faith?

UNEXPECTED RESPONSE

1. V.23 – Jesus did not answer a word. Wow, what do you do when Jesus says nothing?
2. Can you relate to this woman today? Have you poured out your request and cried for mercy and haven’t heard a word from the Lord? Then don’t give up yet, there is hope.
3. Remember faith is being sure of what we hope for and evidence of what we do not see!
4. The disciples get involved next. When they saw Jesus had nothing to say, they assumed they could read His mind. He wants nothing to do with her.
5. So they come to Jesus and urge him to send this woman away…why, what is she doing that causes them to urge Jesus? “She keeps crying out.”
6. Faith is crying out to God, great faith grows when we keep crying out to God!

JESUS ANSWERS

1. V.24 – I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus tests her. He does not lie.
2. V.25- She comes and kneels before Jesus, Lord help me! She does not get into a debate with Jesus. She humbles herself and asks for help!
3. Great faith continues to humble itself and ask Jesus for help despite the situation.
4. Jesus statement disqualified her from getting help from Him, yet she continues to humbly ask for help. She does not try to qualify herself, she cries for help!

THE CRUSHING BLOW

1. So far we have a Canaanite woman who came to Jesus, crying out, believing He is the Christ, and asking for mercy, that Jesus would deliver her daughter from the work of the devil.
2. Jesus doesn’t say a word, his disciples urge him to send her away, she keeps crying out and finally Jesus speaks: I am not sent to anyone but the people of Israel, and she continues to humble herself and ask for help.
3. So now He will help right? This is it, here it comes, she has done enough.
4. V.26 – It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs. Jesus looks her in the eye and says it is not right to give the kid’s food to the dogs! He calls her a dog!
5. Jesus offends her! It is one thing when people offend us, but when Jesus does.
6. Matthew 11:6 – And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
7. John 6:61 – Does this offend you? (He asked his disciples after teaching them)
8. What happens when even the words of Jesus do not bring comfort or hope?

GREAT FAITH

1. What will be her response?  V.27 – Yes, Lord, she said.
2. Jesus called her a dog and she replied, yes Lord! Great faith requires great humility.
3. Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.
4. She received whatever Jesus had for her and said yes Lord; can you give this dog a crumb? (She had no idea how important her response was to what Jesus said)
5. Matthew 19, Jesus was having a conversation with another person, a well to do rich young ruler. He asked Jesus what he lacked. Jesus offended him as well.
6. He said, Sell all that you have, give to the poor and come follow me.
7. But the rich young ruler went away sad because he couldn’t receive it.
8. But Jesus looks at this Canaanite woman and I can see a big smile on his face, you have great faith, your request is granted!
9. Jesus was looking for great faith. A faith that will come to him no matter what has happened or who you are, a faith that will cry out for mercy, a faith that will not be shaken when they don’t hear right away from the Lord, a faith that will keep crying out and a faith that receives even a hard word from the Lord and a faith humble enough to ask for a crumb from the master’s table.

CLOSE

I close with Matthew 15:28b – Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

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