Complete Sermon Notes
7 Important Facts About Faith
Matt. 15: 21 [NKJV] Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
1. Archaeology & history confirm Christianity: We can still visit the locations – Tyre and Sidon are MENTIONED in the Old and New Testaments. Both are now located in Lebanon. Tyre is only 12 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border.
There is variety in expression, but NOT truth – Mark uses ‘a Greek, a Syrophoenician [woman] by birth’ (Mark 7:26).
2. God is often silent – 23 But He answered her not a word.
“The failure to respond underlines the seriousness from within a Jewish framework of what the woman is calling Jesus to do.” Nolland John. (2005). Preface. In The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 633).
OR it may have been to test the Disciples – silence tests us as well:
Do you get the most work done when you’re talking or silent?
3. Christians are forgiven but still struggle –
They gave the “WRONG ANSWER”: “And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” Compassion is not natural; it’s supernatural – a mark of a true Believer.
Special Note: many feel like they’re on the verge of apostasy and even question their salvation. Where do these urges and feelings come from?
4. God is merciful. He will provide – My kids eat first. Its not a put down as much as it’s a fact – God’s people are His priority – “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” BUT . . .
The Canaanites lived in the Promised Land and were enemies of Israel. Historically, Jesus is coming for His people – “the lost sheep of Israel.”
Was He testing her attitude? Was He testing His disciples? Any time you answer, or fail to answer, someone like they thought you would, true intentions are often revealed.
5. Worship ignites faith – 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 1. genuine & heart-felt 2. focused on God regardless of the situation – her attitude was right.
6. God doesn’t always answer the way we want: 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
ITS THE 3RD DENY
• Waiting clarifies motives and strengthens faith – it doesn’t “look” promising, but I’m still trusting you, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs…”
She reminded herself of His faithfulness vs grumbling and complaining
• Waiting leads to a deeper walk with God.
• Waiting renews our strength (cf. Isaiah 40:31).
• Waiting leads to continual dependence: “Ask, and it will be given …” (Matt. 7:7).
7. God is faithful – 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Don’t miss this: “Great is your faith.” Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” God rewards faith. Without faith its impossible to please God.
• WOULD THAT BE SAID OF US? Trusting, Content, Loving, Serving . . .
CLOSING: Faith is a by-product of hearing & receiving truth: She called for mercy and confessed Christ as Messiah: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!”
• 17 times the New Testament mentions Jesus as the “son of David.” Christ fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would come from the seed of David (2 Samuel 7:14–16)
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Haven’t talked about this in a year: Memorial service in 2014
• We’ll meet Christ in the clouds as the pearly gates open. Not even an atheist would be offended.
He told the father . . . “Remember, DON’T preach…!”
WAIT A MINUTE: People are getting drunk and smoking pot in the parking lot. Running to the bathroom to medicate…The smell of death is in the air…and you’re going to trivialize the gospel? They need HOPE –
He doesn’t deserve to be in the pulpit. He needs to be digging the graves of the people he’s leading astray.
“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” Tell them about “mercy”; tell them about the “Savior”; tell them to repent . . .
