1. notice  I have removed from this presentation any pictures that may still be under copyright.  As far as I know all the pictures that remain are in the public domain.  If you find a copyright picture, please let me know, and I will remove it. Thank you.  I have removed from this presentation any pictures that may still be under copyright.  As far as I know all the pictures that remain are in the public domain.  If you find a copyright picture, please let me know, and I will remove it. Thank you.

2. A Very Great Faith! a study in victorious living by KEN CHANT a study in victorious living by KEN CHANT

3. text Matthew 15:21-28. A Canaanite woman once came to Jesus and began to shout, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he refused to answer her. Then his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away. Her endless shouting is annoying us.” Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.” A Canaanite woman once came to Jesus and began to shout, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he refused to answer her. Then his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away. Her endless shouting is annoying us.” Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.” Matthew 15:21-28. A Canaanite woman once came to Jesus and began to shout, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he refused to answer her. Then his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away. Her endless shouting is annoying us.” Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.”

4. text But she came up to him, bowed down, and cried, “Lord, help me!” Jesus replied, “It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she said, “You’re right, Lord. Yet even dogs can eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you do indeed have great faith! What you wanted will be done for you.” And that very moment her daughter was healed. But she came up to him, bowed down, and cried, “Lord, help me!” Jesus replied, “It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she said, “You’re right, Lord. Yet even dogs can eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you do indeed have great faith! What you wanted will be done for you.” And that very moment her daughter was healed.

5. Introduction Lord Byron visited Newfoundland in 1808, and there saw in a cemetery a monument that bore this inscription - “Near this spot are deposited the remains of one who possessed beauty without vanity, strength without violence, courage without ferocity, and all the virtues of Man, without his vices. This praise, which would be unmeaning flattery if inscribed over human ashes, is but a just tribute ….

6. ….to the memory of Botswain – a dog.”

7. Introduction Much moved, Byron wrote a poem which contains the lines – The poor dog; in life the firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to defend. Probably, from those lines arose the saying: “A man's best friend is his dog!” Much moved, Byron wrote a poem which contains the lines – The poor dog; in life the firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to defend. Probably, from those lines arose the saying: “A man's best friend is his dog!”

8. Introduction But that early 19th-century sentimentalism was not the opinion of the ancients, who saw dogs mainly as filthy scavengers – Hence one of the worst insults was to call someone a dog! For that reason many readers are (and were) offended by Jesus' words, which do seem rude and harsh. How many pastors would dare to use such language today? But that early 19th-century sentimentalism was not the opinion of the ancients, who saw dogs mainly as filthy scavengers – Hence one of the worst insults was to call someone a dog! For that reason many readers are (and were) offended by Jesus' words, which do seem rude and harsh. How many pastors would dare to use such language today?

9. Introduction Yet the lady herself was not offended! Why? She saw something special in what Jesus had said, seized upon it, and demonstrated the very thing Christ was most looking for – “great faith”! Yet the lady herself was not offended! Why? She saw something special in what Jesus had said, seized upon it, and demonstrated the very thing Christ was most looking for – “great faith”!

10. Introduction What is this great faith? It arises from the way a person relates to the promises of God –

11. CONNECT WITH THE PROMISE OF GOD

12. Connect WITH the Promise of God See vs. 26-27, Jesus said to her, “It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she replied, “You’re right, Lord. Yet even dogs can eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.” That is not so bad as it first sounds. This mother would have noticed three things – See vs. 26-27, Jesus said to her, “It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she replied, “You’re right, Lord. Yet even dogs can eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.” That is not so bad as it first sounds. This mother would have noticed three things –

13. 1.Jesus used the Greek word for a domestic dog (like us, the Greeks were ambivalent about dogs). 2.He brought the dog into the family. 3.He fed the dog from the table. 1.Jesus used the Greek word for a domestic dog (like us, the Greeks were ambivalent about dogs). 2.He brought the dog into the family. 3.He fed the dog from the table. Connect WITH the Promise of God

14. Here is the lesson: in every situation, if you look for it, you can find some promise of deliverance! The ear of God is never closed! Boldly search for that promise, despite the seeming contradictions in scripture and in life! Here is the lesson: in every situation, if you look for it, you can find some promise of deliverance! The ear of God is never closed! Boldly search for that promise, despite the seeming contradictions in scripture and in life! Connect WITH the Promise of God Jesus Never Fails

15. CONTEND FOR THE PROMISE OF GOD

16. Martin Luther, in 1534, preached a sermon from our text, and illustrated it by the story of Joseph's dauntless faith – “For about 13 years Joseph cried and continued to pray God to help him. But the longer the worse: the more he prayed, the worse he fared. To this day, this is what happens to Christians. When they have called and cried for a long time to God, they feel no improvement, but things grow worse, as they did with Joseph. …. Martin Luther, in 1534, preached a sermon from our text, and illustrated it by the story of Joseph's dauntless faith – “For about 13 years Joseph cried and continued to pray God to help him. But the longer the worse: the more he prayed, the worse he fared. To this day, this is what happens to Christians. When they have called and cried for a long time to God, they feel no improvement, but things grow worse, as they did with Joseph. …. Contend FOR the Promise of God

17. “… If God had liberated Joseph when he first asked … he would have remained a sheepherder. However, since help was delayed so long, he became lord over all Egypt! … Thus God still intends to deal with us. After he has denied us our petition for a long while and always said no, but we firmly cling to the yes, it shall finally be yes, and not no, for his Word will not lie. … “… If God had liberated Joseph when he first asked … he would have remained a sheepherder. However, since help was delayed so long, he became lord over all Egypt! … Thus God still intends to deal with us. After he has denied us our petition for a long while and always said no, but we firmly cling to the yes, it shall finally be yes, and not no, for his Word will not lie. … Contend FOR the Promise of God Pharaoh making Joseph his Grand Vizier

18. “… But our reason is highly offended by this delay and would gladly have God answer us promptly. So it is necessary not to be offended. Let our God say no and suspend the answer to our petition for a year, two years, three years, or longer still, …. “… But our reason is highly offended by this delay and would gladly have God answer us promptly. So it is necessary not to be offended. Let our God say no and suspend the answer to our petition for a year, two years, three years, or longer still, …. Contend FOR the Promise of God Joseph as Egypt’s Lord

19. Contend FOR the Promise of God “….and let us only watch that hope and faith in his promise are not torn from our heart. Something will come of our prayers in the end, and God will give far more than we asked him to give!” (What Luther Says, selection 3483.)

20. Here we confront one of the mysteries of the life of faith – sometimes God seems like … Contend FOR the Promise of God

21. 1.a man asleep – “Wake up, O Lord! Why do you keep on sleeping? Get up! Will you never stir yourself to help us?” (Ps 44:23) 2.a beaten warrior – “Why do you just stand there helplessly, like a once-mighty warrior who no longer knows what to do?” (Je 14:9) 1.a man asleep – “Wake up, O Lord! Why do you keep on sleeping? Get up! Will you never stir yourself to help us?” (Ps 44:23) 2.a beaten warrior – “Why do you just stand there helplessly, like a once-mighty warrior who no longer knows what to do?” (Je 14:9) Contend FOR the Promise of God

22. Thus our widow faced a terrible barrier – not in her case one of long delay, but of fierce insult! How would you have reacted to Jesus’ words? Thus our widow faced a terrible barrier – not in her case one of long delay, but of fierce insult! How would you have reacted to Jesus’ words? Contend FOR the Promise of God

23. But she saw an opportunity not a rebuttal, and she pressed in – “She came crying again and again” (vs. 22) Jesus ignored her (vs. 23) – the disciples rebuffed her. But she saw an opportunity not a rebuttal, and she pressed in – “She came crying again and again” (vs. 22) Jesus ignored her (vs. 23) – the disciples rebuffed her. Contend FOR the Promise of God

24. Still she pressed upon Jesus, but he turned his back (the sense of the Greek idiom is that she kept on coming around from behind him and kneeling before him – vs. 25 ) She cried aloud, “Lord, help me!” – he insulted her But still she persisted – so she got her miracle! (vs. 28) Still she pressed upon Jesus, but he turned his back (the sense of the Greek idiom is that she kept on coming around from behind him and kneeling before him – vs. 25 ) She cried aloud, “Lord, help me!” – he insulted her But still she persisted – so she got her miracle! (vs. 28) Contend FOR the Promise of God

25. You may say that you have cried out to God again and again – but without result Well, call upon him still again; never give up! Even if it is now too late for your best desire, there remains an opportunity to learn and advance. You may say that you have cried out to God again and again – but without result Well, call upon him still again; never give up! Even if it is now too late for your best desire, there remains an opportunity to learn and advance. Contend FOR the Promise of God

26. There will always be an answer to prayer, and the end result will always be more, either now or in eternity, than you had ever dreamed! Contend FOR the Promise of God

27. CONFIDE IN THE PROMISE OF GOD

28. People say, “If only Jesus himself were here, then I would surely be healed!” Yet they are probably wrong! Suppose Christ were to come into this meeting only to rebuff you as he did this mother.... ? People say, “If only Jesus himself were here, then I would surely be healed!” Yet they are probably wrong! Suppose Christ were to come into this meeting only to rebuff you as he did this mother.... ? Confide IN the Promise of God

29. Notice also two vital factors – 1.Of only two people did Jesus ever say that they had “great faith” – the Roman Centurion, and this Widow. 2.One thing was common to both of them – they believed that Jesus could heal at a distance, by his word alone! Notice also two vital factors – 1.Of only two people did Jesus ever say that they had “great faith” – the Roman Centurion, and this Widow. 2.One thing was common to both of them – they believed that Jesus could heal at a distance, by his word alone! Confide IN the Promise of God

30. Christ is in his word (Lu 11:27-28) – “On one occasion a woman in the crowd shouted at Jesus, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breast at which you nursed!” But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” “On one occasion a woman in the crowd shouted at Jesus, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breast at which you nursed!” But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” Christ is in his word (Lu 11:27-28) – “On one occasion a woman in the crowd shouted at Jesus, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breast at which you nursed!” But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” “On one occasion a woman in the crowd shouted at Jesus, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breast at which you nursed!” But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” Confide IN the Promise of God

31. If we have the promise of God, that is all we need – here are your pardon and righteousness! here are your health and prosperity! here are your riches and success! here is your triumph over death! If we have the promise of God, that is all we need – here are your pardon and righteousness! here are your health and prosperity! here are your riches and success! here is your triumph over death! Confide IN the Promise of God

32. conclusion Can we allow a Roman soldier and a Greek widow, people who were not even “children”, to exceed us in believing prayer?

33. conclusion Rather, we are called to be people of great faith! It is time to brush aside the devil, cast off doubt, stir up faith, take hold of the name of Jesus, and triumph in Christ! Rather, we are called to be people of great faith! It is time to brush aside the devil, cast off doubt, stir up faith, take hold of the name of Jesus, and triumph in Christ!

34. Jesus is the Lord of Glory