This morning, we open our Bibles to Matthew 15:21-28.
This is the story of the Canaanite Woman of Faith.
She approached Jesus to heal her daughter from oppression by a demon. She pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter, but Jesus ignores her, while she demonstrates to the disciples, and to us, what true faith looks like.
Throughout the Bible, there are many stories of great faith. Stories about Abraham, Moses, and Mary—the mother of Jesus, but, this morning, I introduce you to a story of a woman who went to Jesus and was rewarded because of her great faith.
If we could only have her faith, we would not worry; we would know that he is “with us “always, to the end of the age.”(Mt. 28:20, ESV)
If we really had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could say to a “mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” (Mt. 17:20, ESV)
If we really believed the Bible, we would not be anxious about anything, but we would “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” (Mt.6:33, ESV)
We are to have faith!
What kind of faith do you have?
Do you really believe Jesus can change your life?
Or, are you going through the motions—hoping you’ve done enough; just in case the Bible really is true?
I invite you today to reexamine your faith. Is it strong? Is it weak?
We see in this Canaanite Woman—a picture of faith. She gives us an example of what true faith looks like.
She had an intentional faith, a persistent faith, and a rewarded faith.
What kind of faith do you have?
I pray that today we will be better equipped to increase our faith, through the example of this woman, many years ago.
The first aspect of this woman’s faith was that it was an:
1. Intentional Faith
Look at Matthew 15:21-22;
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” (Mt. 15:21-22, ESV)
This Canaanite woman was intentional about her faith—she sought Jesus out. She may have heard that he was traveling in town. She may have heard the rumors from the crowds of other people traveling to see Jesus. However, she determined that Jesus would be there, she took the time to find and to meet him.
Her daughter had a spiritual problem. She isn’t described as sick or crippled or even mentally unstable.
We see the Canaanite Woman’s daughter oppressed by a demon.
We don’t see demon possession much in today’s world; it seems like we always have to explain everything away– I think one of the first things we can do to increase our faith is stop explaining spiritual issues away and trust Christ to fix them.
The Canaanite woman goes to Jesus—because he can fix spiritual problems.
Maybe she had heard of the stories of Jesus in Matthew 8 and again in Matthew 9, as well as the many other places that refer to Jesus casting out demons.
Whatever the reason or method of her knowing about Jesus, the fact remains that, she sought him out.
Who do you seek out when you are hurting?
Do you try Jesus as the last resort?
This Canaanite Woman sought out Jesus to heal her daughter. She was not a Jew—there was no expectation from others that a Jewish teacher would stoop to such a low level and address her.
She didn’t care!
She knew Jesus would answer her request. She knew that he alone would cure her daughter.
So she intentionally sought Jesus out to make her request.
This morning, each of you have a particular issue that is troubling. In some cases, it is as simple as an annoying co-worker. In other cases, it very well maybe be a case of demon possession, or illness, or death. You have found yourself in a position that is way over your head.
Jesus tells us time and again that we are to seek him out.
Jesus says;
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Mt. 7:7-8, ESV)
Asking requires faith—believing that there is one who can answer and, will answer.
Today is the day to come to him, as this Canaanite woman, crying out to Jesus.
She had an Intentional Faith, but she also had a;
2. Persistent Faith
Matthew 15:23-27 says;
23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” (Mt. 15:23-27, ESV)
This woman would not take no for an answer. She was persistent in her pursuit of Christ and what he could do for her. She debates his response regarding the children’s bread and poses a counter argument—equal to the original argument; with full understanding of her humility before Jesus.
Luke tells us that Jesus taught us to “always to pray and not lose heart.” (Lk. 18:1, ESV) Jesus tells a story of a persistent widow who cried out for mercy from a judge in Luke 18 to demonstrate his point.
Luke 18:2 reads;
2 [Jesus] said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” (Lk. 18:2-5, ESV)
Likewise, this Canaanite woman is persistent in her request for Jesus to heal her daughter.
Are you being persistent in your prayer life?
Faith is demonstrated through persistence.
Do you pray about something until you get tired of not hearing an answer?
Faithful praying is not about giving up, but about enduring until the answer is received.
Paul says; “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes. 5:17, ESV) We are not to stop praying.
We cannot stop praying, just because we feel like it is not working—we must trust in what we know and not get trapped by our fickle emotions.
How do you pray without giving up? How do you play persistently?
In order to pray persistently, you must pray consistently. Praying only when it hurts isn’t persistent prayer…getting up every day and meeting with God is.
This Canaanite woman was a woman of intentional faith and a woman of persistent faith. Understandably, she also had a;
3. Rewarded Faith
Look finally at Matthew 15:28.
28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:21-28, ESV)
Jesus saw her great faith and he rewarded her.
He rewarded her because of her great faith.
But, as we know this isn’t always the case. There are many that have great faith, but still fall to a particular cancer or illness.
I think one of the reasons why these miracle stories were placed in the Bible is to show us that, when God chooses –he can actually heal us.
I am reminded of a story from the book of Luke 5, about a Leper, who came to Jesus.
“… And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.” (Lk. 5:12-13, ESV)
He came to Christ asking him; “Lord, if you will…” This man understands who he is talking to. Where we mess up many times, theologically and practically is that we place the focus on our own hurts and desires and not on the God of the Universe who sees all things, knows all things, and created all things.
We tend to forget that to have true faith is to leave it all up to God and to know that it isn’t about us at all—but only about Him.
Hebrew 11 says this;
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hb. 11:1-3, ESV)
We must have faith in his plan—through it all.
These stories are placed in the Bible to show us that, yes, Jesus can do all of these things and even greater things in our lives—if we would just trust in him. But, these things are according to his will—not ours. We must always remember that God doesn’t work FOR us. He loves us and is there to take care of us.
But, the Bible says;
“… all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”(Rm 8:28, ESV)
We don’t always know the plan, but we do know that He can heal the sick, drive out the demons, and even raise the dead—but it happens according to his plan.
But we must place our hope in Him for our hope.
We see Jesus, who can raise the dead, walk on water, and drive out the demons—surely he can make a difference in your life. Many times—if not most of the time– It is not in the way we would expect it—in our finite judgment prefer, but in the end it is a perfect plan. And we see God glorified through his plans over and over and over.
The Canaanite Woman had
an intentional faith—she sought Jesus out to heal her daughter,
a persistent faith—she never blinked in the face of questioning,
and she had a rewarded faith—through the power of Jesus Christ, her daughter was healed because he saw the great faith that this woman had and he chose to honor that faith with healing.
Where are you placing your faith?
Are you placing your faith in karma? Saying to yourself—“I hope that it all works out for me. I’ve done a lot of good things—that should be enough!”
Are you placing your faith in your job? Saying to yourself—“I have been successful. I have been a good leader, I think everything will work out—because it always does.”
Or are placing your faith in Jesus: who can drive out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead.
Do you want to have true faith? Place it in Christ.
He has more than proven himself to be trust worthy and reliable. He has proven to be a true source of hope.
All of us are sinners, who deserve death and hell. Christ demonstrated his love for us by paying that payment in our place.
This morning you can place your faith in Him. Whatever you are going through. Whatever tough time you are having. Jesus is a giver of hope.
I invite you to turn to Jesus today. I invite you to cast “your anxiety on Him for he cares for you.”(1Pt. 5:7, ESV)
Let us pray.
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This sermon was preached at Memorial Chapel, Fort Lee, VA on 14 August 2011. All scripture marked ESV: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.