GCC Message
MATT 15:
The Faith of the Canaanite Woman
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.
I. YOUR PERSISTENCE WILL QUALIFY YOU
Ø She was not a Jew
Ø She was a woman
Ø She was not a disciple
Ø But she knew what it takes to get an answer; Persistence.
You are not serious enough if you try only once.
Thomas Edison tried hundreds on times before he got the light bulb to work. He said: “genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.”
SHE DID NOT QUALIFY TO RECEIVE FROM JESUS. FOR THE GENTILE TIME HAD NOT YET COME. BUT HER INSISTANCE CHANGED THE TIME TABLE.
FAITH is an active process, it is a serious process it is persistence.
Jesus wanted her to prove her case before he did anything and she won.
SHE HAD A PROPER VIEW OF HERSELF
He said he had come for the Jew. But she answered: LORD HELP ME. In other words you are Lord of all. Jew or no Jew.
1. Some people have a low opinion of themselves – INFERIORITY COMPLEX
2. Others have a proper view of themselves RIGHT VIEW.
3. Many have a view that is higher than themselves- PRIDE OR SUPERIORITY COMPLEX
NO1.SAYS:
- I do not deserve this
- God cannot use me
- I cannot marry that kind of a lady or a man
- People look down on me
- I m a low class citizen
- I will never amount up to anything.
No.3 SAYS
- We are the only people, we are the proper race
- Those people are so low they cannot mix with us.
- They cannot sit with us or eat with us.
EPHESIANS 1: 4. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
WE ARE ADOPTED. WE NOW HAVE THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN.
EPHESIANS 2:4-6 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
WHAT BRINGS A POOR SELF ESTEEM?
- What people say about us
- What we remember about our sinful past
- What our education papers say
- What society says about our tribe or race or sex.
But we are now adopted children, we can go to God and he will hear us. God did it therefore; let us go boldly to the throne of grace where there is mercy.
HEBREWS 4:
15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
ACTS 10: 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
II. PERSISTENT FAITH STANDS UP AND SPEAKS UP
MARK 10:46
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout,“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Do not let people deprive you of your crown and your service to God.
If he kept quite he would be called a gentleman but he would miss his miracle. When people stopped he would behave publicly but he would be a blind man the rest of his life.
- Persistent faith risks breaking the rules of normal behaviour
- Persistent faith does not stop when threatened by people.
People who have changed history have been those who risked their status quo
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Stand up and speak up.
- When you risk rejection you are getting into the realm of the supernatural
- THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ORDINARY AND THE EXTRA ORDINARY IS PERSISTENCE
“GOD DELIGHTS IN HIS CHILDREN STEPPING OUT OVER THE ACHING VOID WITH NOTHING UNDER THEIR FEET BUT THE WORD OF GOD”
1Samuel 1:
“
9Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple. 10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow,saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
III. PERSISTENT FAITH PERSISTS IN PRAYER
Great miracles come from prevailingprayers of faith.
Ø Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. She did not cry in self pity she cried in prayer to God.
Ø She vowed before God
Ø She kept on praying
Ø She poured her heart to God.
Ø GOD ANSWERED HER PRAYER.
- Prevailing in prayer leads us to God’s throne
- It empowers us with faith. In prayer you see the magnitude of God’s power.
- Prayer equips us to fight opposition.
- When you pray please do not stop until you see a change until you get hold of the promises of God.
- When the going gets tough add fasting to your prayer
- Real prayers releases our faith to trust God.
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