{"id":885,"date":"2017-09-03T16:05:03","date_gmt":"2017-09-03T23:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=885"},"modified":"2017-09-03T16:13:07","modified_gmt":"2017-09-03T23:13:07","slug":"strive-for-a-great-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/03\/strive-for-a-great-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"Strive for a Great Faith!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

September 3, 2017<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew 15:21-28<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Strive For a Great Faith!<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  <\/span>A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!  <\/span>My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”  <\/span>Jesus did not answer a word.  <\/span>So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”  <\/span>He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”<\/i>  <\/span>The woman came and knelt before him.  <\/span>“Lord, help me!” she said.  <\/span>He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”<\/i>  <\/span>“Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”  <\/span>Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith!  <\/span>Your request is granted.”<\/i>  <\/span>And her daughter was healed from that very hour.  <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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What is the difference between a \u201cgood\u201d job and a \u201cgreat\u201d job?  <\/span>Which one would you rather have?  <\/span>What is the difference between a \u201cgood\u201d friend and a \u201cgreat\u201d friend?  <\/span>Which one would you rather have?  <\/span>What is the difference between a \u201cgood\u201d retirement and a \u201cgreat\u201d retirement?  <\/span>Which one would you rather have?<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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The distinction between something that is \u201cgood\u201d and something that is \u201cgreat\u201d can be quite subjective.  <\/span>What seems \u201cgood\u201d to one person can be \u201cgreat\u201d to another person and vice-versa.  <\/span>The question of which one we would rather have is all but universal.  <\/span>Why settle for \u201cgood\u201d when we can have \u201cgreat\u201d?<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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As we turn our attention once again to the Gospel of Matthew the Holy Spirit gives us an opportunity to see the difference between \u201cgood\u201d and \u201cgreat.\u201d  <\/span>Last Sunday we saw how Peter\u2019s faith in Jesus enabled him to step out of the boat and walk on water.  <\/span>Peter had a \u201cgood\u201d faith\u2014 even if the Lord said it was a \u201clittle faith\u201d<\/i> which doubted.  <\/span>(Matthew 14:31)  <\/span>Our sermon text for today, on the other hand, focuses our attention on a woman who had a \u201cgreat\u201d<\/i> faith!<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Our goal this morning, my friends, is to see how the woman with \u201cgreat faith\u201d<\/i> serves as a wonderful example for us.  <\/span>With that in mind, let\u2019s study this text under the theme:  <\/span>Strive For a Great Faith!<\/i><\/b>  <\/span>As we study this portion of God\u2019s holy Word we will see two things.  <\/span>First, we\u2019ll see that a great faith enables us to humbly turn to Jesus for help.  <\/span>Then we\u2019ll see that a great faith empowers us to boldly expect Jesus\u2019 help.<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Our text for today picks up shortly after where last Sunday\u2019s text left off.  <\/span>After Jesus and His disciples had crossed over to the other side of the lake and after Jesus had miraculously healed all the sick people who were brought to Him for help, some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus with a gripe.  <\/span>They complained, \u201cWhy do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?  <\/span>They don\u2019t wash their hands before they eat!\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 15:2).  <\/span>Jesus responded to this complaint about His disciples being \u201cunclean\u201d<\/i> by reminding the Pharisees and the teachers of the law that it is both wrong and hypocritical to put the traditions of men over and above the Word of God.  <\/span>When Jesus\u2019 disciples came to Him and said that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law took offense at being called hypocrites the Lord explained to His disciples that what makes a person \u201cclean\u201d<\/i> or \u201cunclean\u201d<\/i> in the eyes of the God of heaven does not center on outward things such as eating food with unwashed hands.  <\/span>No rather, what makes a person \u201cclean\u201d<\/i> or \u201cunclean\u201d<\/i> in the eyes of the God of heaven is what is in a person\u2019s heart and what comes out of a person\u2019s mouth.<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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With those events serving as the backdrop Matthew now introduces us to a woman with \u201cgreat faith.\u201d<\/i>  <\/span>Why does the Lord Jesus hold this woman up as an example of great faith?  <\/span>Because in a time of great need this woman\u2019s great faith enabled her to humbly turn to Jesus for help.  <\/span>Look at verses 22-25 of our text.  <\/span>Matthew writes, \u201cA Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, \u2018Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!  <\/span>My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.\u2019  <\/span>Jesus did not answer a word.  <\/span>So his disciples came to him and urged him, \u2018Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.\u2019  <\/span>He answered, \u2018I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>.\u2019  <\/span>The woman came and knelt before him.  <\/span>\u2018Lord, help me!\u2019 she said.\u201d<\/i><\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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We cannot overlook the fact that this woman was a Canaanite and not a descendant of Abraham.  <\/span>This meant that humanly speaking she did not have any right to come to Jesus and ask for His help.  <\/span>Why then did she even bother to come to Jesus in the first place?  <\/span>Because she had great faith!  <\/span>This Canaanite woman\u2019s great faith led her to believe with all her heart that Jesus of Nazareth is<\/i><\/b> the \u201cLord,\u201d<\/i> the \u201cSon of David,\u201d<\/i> the long awaited Promised Messiah.  <\/span>This Canaanite woman\u2019s great faith led her to believe with all her heart that as the Promised Messiah Jesus was the only<\/b> One who had the power to help her daughter who was \u201csuffering terribly from demon-possession.\u201d<\/i>  <\/span>Did Jesus\u2019 apparent lack of interest stop this woman from humbly coming to Him for help?  <\/span>No! Why?  <\/span>Because she had great faith!  <\/span>Did the fact that Jesus\u2019 own disciples tried to get the Lord to send her away because she was bothering them stop this woman from humbly coming to Jesus for help?  <\/span>No! Why?  <\/span>Because she had great faith!<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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What a wonderful example for us, my friends.  <\/span>There may be times in our life when we might feel as though we do not have the right to go to Jesus for help.  <\/span>Perhaps we have not been as faithful to Jesus as we know He expects us to be.  <\/span>Perhaps the conduct of our life has not exactly been exemplary.  <\/span>There may be others who tell us that we do not have the right to humbly go to Jesus for help\u2014 for the very same reasons that we don\u2019t feel as though we have that right.  <\/span>There may even be times when we do go to Jesus for help, but from our perspective it seems as though He is not interested in helping us.  <\/span>Should we simply give up and go away?  <\/span>Not at all!  <\/span>We need to follow this woman\u2019s example of a great faith and in all humility kneel before our God and cry out, \u201cLord, help me!\u201d<\/i>  <\/span>A great faith does indeed enable us to humbly turn to Jesus for help\u2014 even in the face of opposition.<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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At the same time, a great faith also empowers us to boldly expect Jesus\u2019 help.  <\/span>Look at verses 26-27 of our text.  <\/span>Matthew writes, \u201cHe replied, \u2018It is not right to take the children\u2019s bread and toss it to their dogs.\u2019  <\/span>\u2018Yes, Lord,\u2019 she said, \u2018but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master\u2019s table.\u2019\u201d<\/i><\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Now at first glance it might seem as though Jesus\u2019 response to this woman was a little harsh, but in reality it was not.  <\/span>While dogs in Jesus\u2019 day were mostly scavengers and would have never been allowed inside someone\u2019s home, the Greek word which Jesus used here in our text very literally refers to \u201clittle dogs\u201d<\/i>\u2014 dogs which were kept as household pets.  <\/span>At the same time Jesus makes it extremely clear to this Canaanite woman that it would not be \u201cproper\u201d<\/i> or \u201cright\u201d<\/i> to take food away from the master\u2019s children and feed it to their dogs.  <\/span>What Jesus is emphasizing here is that as the Promised Messiah His ministry centered primarily\u2014 not exclusively, but primarily\u2014 on dispensing God\u2019s grace and God\u2019s blessings to God\u2019s children, the Chosen People of Israel.<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Did that reality shake this woman\u2019s faith?  <\/span>Not in the least!  <\/span>She accepted<\/i> Jesus\u2019 explanation.  <\/span>She agreed<\/i> with the fact that as the Messiah Jesus\u2019 work and Jesus\u2019 blessings were intended primarily for God \u201cchildren\u201d\u2014 the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  <\/span>She understood<\/i> that her place in God\u2019s Kingdom was \u201cunder the table\u201d like a \u201clittle dog.\u201d<\/i>   <\/span>At the same time she boldly reminded Jesus that she was only asking for \u201ccrumbs,\u201d<\/i> the blessings that Jesus could give to her and to her daughter without depriving the Master\u2019s \u201cchildren\u201d<\/i> of anything at all.  <\/span>What a humble faith!  <\/span>What a bold faith!  <\/span>What a great faith!<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Again, this woman\u2019s faith is a wonderful example for us, my friends.  <\/span>In all humility we can go to Jesus for help and boldly expect that He will indeed help us! Why can we be so bold?  <\/span>Why can we expect Jesus to help us?  <\/span>Because the gift of faith which God Himself has created in our hearts not only makes us one of God\u2019s \u201cchildren,\u201d but the gift of saving faith that God Himself has created in our hearts empowers us to expect our God to keep the promises He has made to us on the pages of His holy Word:  <\/span>\u201cCall upon me in the day of trouble; I will l deliver you, and you will honor me\u201d<\/i> (Psalm 50:15); \u201cAsk and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 7:7); \u201cHe who did not spare his own Son,<\/i> (Pointing to the cross) but gave him up for us all\u2014 how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?\u201d<\/i> (Romans 8:32).  <\/span>You are<\/b> the children of God!  <\/span>You are<\/b> heirs of your heavenly Father\u2019s Kingdom!  <\/span>So follow the example of this Canaanite woman.  <\/span>No matter whether you need the \u201cmain course\u201d or just the \u201ccrumbs\u201d<\/i> of God\u2019s blessings boldly<\/b> come to Jesus and expect His help!<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Now look at the closing verse of our text, verse 28.  <\/span>Matthew concludes, \u201cThen Jesus answered, \u2018Woman, you have great faith.  <\/span>Your request is granted.\u2019  <\/span>And her daughter was healed from that very hour.\u201d<\/i>  <\/span>You don\u2019t need to raise your hand, but is anyone here thinking to themselves, \u201cI wish I could have a faith like that\u201d?  <\/span>If so, I want to share something with you.  <\/span>The Greek word which is translated here as \u201cgreat\u201d<\/i> is a derivative of the word \u201cmegas.\u201d<\/i>  <\/span>As I was researching the background of this Greek word I came across a statement which I personally found to be eye opening.  <\/span>It reads, \u201cAccording to the context, the emphasis of megas<\/i> varies in translation:  <\/span>fully grown, important, magnificent, powerful.\u201d<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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A \u201cmegas\u201d<\/i> faith, a \u201cgreat\u201d<\/i> faith, a \u201cmagnificent\u201d<\/i> faith, a \u201cpowerful\u201d<\/i> faith is a faith that is \u201cfully grown\u201d<\/i>!  <\/span>How can your<\/b> faith become \u201cfully grown\u201d<\/i> if it is not already?  <\/span>Let me suggest two things.  <\/span>First and foremost:  <\/span>feed your faith!  <\/span>Feed your faith with the spiritually nutritious food of God\u2019s holy Word and God\u2019s holy Sacrament.  <\/span>The more you read and study God\u2019s Word, the more you attend church and Bible class, the more you come to the altar of the living God to receive His holy Supper\u2014 the \u201cgreater\u201d<\/i> and the more \u201cfully grown\u201d<\/i> your faith will become!<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Secondly:  <\/span>exercise your faith!  <\/span>Just as a \u201ccouch potato\u201d tends to have weak muscles due to inactivity, so also a \u201cSunday morning Christian\u201d tends to have a weak faith due to \u201cinactivity.\u201d  <\/span>Ask the good Lord to help you exercise your faith every single day\u2014 no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing and no matter whom you are with.  <\/span>In other words, put your faith into action!  <\/span>Look for ways that you can let your faith shine in your life!  <\/span>And as we look around, my friends, it is not difficult to see the many opportunities we have to exercise our faith and to put our faith into action, is it.  <\/span>For example, in your bulletin today you have contact information for how you can help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.  <\/span>You don\u2019t have to send them your entire nest egg.  <\/span>Every little bit helps.  <\/span>And as James reminds us, \u201cThe prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective\u201d<\/i> (James 5:16) \u2014 so keep them in your daily prayers.  <\/span>On a more local scale there are a number of charitable organizations right here in Sonoma County that would give you opportunities to exercise your faith\u2014 whether it\u2019s by given them financial help or by volunteering or both.  <\/span>If you narrow the focus even more I am sure you can see opportunities in both your biological family and your church family to exercise your faith.  <\/span>It doesn\u2019t have to be something \u201cbig.\u201d  <\/span>It doesn\u2019t have to be something expensive.  <\/span>Simply talking about your faith while you are visiting with someone, simply sending a Christian themed card in the mail or simply taking the time to call someone on the phone is a wonderful way to exercise your faith.  <\/span>Somewhere I think I remember Someone saying something like, \u201cI tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 25:40).<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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As you feed your faith with the spiritually nutritious food which God Himself has given to you and as you exercise your faith in your daily life God the Holy Spirit will enable you to have a \u201cmegas\u201d<\/i> faith, a \u201cgreat\u201d <\/i>faith, a \u201cmagnificent\u201d<\/i> faith, a \u201cpowerful\u201d<\/i> faith, a faith that is \u201cfully grown.\u201d<\/i><\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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What is the difference between a \u201cgood\u201d job and a \u201cgreat\u201d job?  <\/span>Which one would you rather have?  <\/span>What is the difference between a \u201cgood\u201d friend and a \u201cgreat\u201d friend?  <\/span>Which one would you rather have?  <\/span>What is the difference between a \u201cgood\u201d retirement and a \u201cgreat\u201d retirement?  <\/span>Which one would you rather have?  <\/span>What is the difference between a \u201cgood\u201d faith and a \u201cgreat\u201d faith?  <\/span>Which one would you rather have?  <\/span>Which one does your God want you to have?<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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May God grant that by His grace and with His help you will indeed strive for a great faith\u2014 a faith which enables you to humbly turn to Jesus for help, a faith which empowers you to boldly expect Jesus\u2019 help.<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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To God be the glory!<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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Amen<\/o:p><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/font><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 3, 2017 Matthew 15:21-28 Strive For a Great Faith!   Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  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.”  Jesus did not answer a word.  […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}