Feeding Scraps to a "Dog", Part 2

No matter the age of your children.

There's nothing more stressful.

Watching Sean her daughter about with illness.

Whether a toddler teenager or a son or daughter rearing children of their own is heart wrenching to see your offspring suffer well in Matthew chapter 15 the writer described a dramatic scene where Jesus was approached by a desperate mother. This woman's child was possessed by a demon interpleader Jesus we find a timeless model petitioning God's help, check title, today's message feeding sprouts would know interesting story of Jesus Gentile woman we read of the geography here. This 21st verse of Matthew 15 to take a time to look at a map to see where they were and then where they went. You can't appreciate the setting we know where they were and we see that in the 14th chapter and the 34th verse.

They were at a place called the Messer writ, known today as genocide are in the north west corner of the Sea of Galilee. Down in the Galilee and region. The Jewish territory of that time and we read that they left Galilee.

Verse 21 and they went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. The map you would see that's the distance of about 3035 miles depending on the trail they had to take maybe 40 miles. That's a long walk Tyre and Sidon or Gentile areas.

So with that in mind when we convert to a Gentile region and we find a group of Jews in a house it's an unusual setting to say the least. That's where they are and that's where we find them when verse 22 of Matthew 15 tells us a Gentile woman by the way she's never named either here or in Mark seven. We don't know she was she's called there a sorry definition woman. She's a Gentile. Rarely did Gentiles talk to Jews in the first century almost never would woman alone talk to a Jew, a Gentile woman talk to a Jew alone, but she overlooks all of those cultural barriers. All the norms she was raised to observe.

The reason is she has a need that is impossible. It's at home it's her daughter who has a demon look at it. A Gentile woman who lived there meaning in that region came to him came to Jesus pleading pleading veggie.

This is impossible what she's living with absolutely impossible for her to bring about drink mercy on me oh Lord, son of David.

She acknowledges she acknowledges him to be Messiah, have mercy on me. Oh Lord, son of David for my daughter. My daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely interesting. Verse 23 the initial response. Jesus gave her no reply not even a word were not told why I think he was simply thinking about what she was saying pondering it, not ready to respond to her and there may have been some reasonable reluctance since she was outside the scope of his initial calling. She's a Gentile woman and so he says nothing, so she keeps all and she keeps on. She begs for mercy.

She please she's relentless. She is passionate she is determined that she is going to get him to respond. Her daughter needs to be cleanse relieved healed of this demonic possession. Well, she goes on so long that verse 23 the disciples urged Jesus to send her away. Tell her to go away.

They said she's bothering us with all begging. Remember, they too were tired. They too have been through the frenzy of ministry in Galilee. They they long for a little break.

You've all been there. I've been there. Lord is, however, leave general helped verse 20 for then Jesus said to the woman. Here it is. I was sent only to help God's lost sheep, the people of Israel that didn't turn her away. She understands what he said but when you have a need that is this intense this severe some things become for you. Just words, when you put yourself in this woman's sandals and you imagine what she's been living with you can understand and she responds by bowing down the Reed's worship him in the new living translation. She bows down she falls before him, and she keeps pleading help me help me help me help me help me help me at the idea of what she's going through and this leads to a very interesting dialogue. I don't want you to miss the emotion of it. Jesus responded it. It isn't right to take food from the children. It's a reference to Israelites to choose fellow Jews and to throw the food to the dogs. This is the word corn already on it means a little lapdog like like a little doll in your house okay your little pet to throw the coach the food scraps to little dollars. She takes him at his word. I love this that nothing will make her back down. She replied that stuff.

That's true Lord Stroup but even little dogs are allowed to eat the scraps of Paul beneath her master's table and he says to her dear woman, your faith is great.

Your request is granted. I like the way Eugene Peterson renders that verse in the message Jesus gave in 01. Your faith is something the word used by Matthew is mega makeup. Discuss great faith, your faith is great. What you wanted.

I've not read by the way, Mark tells us when we Jesus. When the woman returned home she found a girl on her bed.

The demon was gone. Can you imagine the relief surely you're not so preoccupied today that you can't enter into this woman's great relief. She had asked Jesus for any kind of proof for a sign that Jesus was distant from the home usually would go to her home. He said I tell you now, lady child is relieved of the deep because distance is no challenge to deity. She knew he was telling the truth and she left confident to give you four words as I wrap this up and bring this from the 20 from the first to the 21st century. The words are persistence, humility, focus and confidence, which I think made her faith. Great.

First she persisted. James 516 writes includes these words, the earnest prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much their wonderful results. As a result of earnestly persistently bringing before the Lord. Some need you have a need. Who doesn't hate you stop praying about that need.

Why the woman is a great model of repeatedly repeatedly coming with the same request. Paul himself prayed three times regarding the floor in the flesh three times about the words found in first Thessalonians 517 pray without ceasing.

Lord help me Lord, help me, Lord help me.

I have this need is the same as you have been dealing with all this time about bringing before you for faith to be Craig. You must persisted persisted in the request asking over and over, and don't back down. The Lord loves the persistence of this woman. 01. Your previous great is the second humility. There is no spirit of entitlement in this lady.

Remember, she bowed before.

I'm just a little just a little Gentile woman and my meat is huge.

Please just a few scraps from your powerful table. That's all I need someday when you have a little extra time to ponder the 51st Psalm when you get to the 16th and 17th versus linger a little longer for your reading words, you will not reject all God a broken and contrite heart was dealing with a difficult man this past week as we were talking about an issue that had been going on for some time he was in the wrong very reluctantly got to the edge of that thought and then go much further and I realized I was talking to a man who is neither broken nor contrite. He was in fact still pretty proud. Though he had done wrong and I thought as I sit there. What a difference it would be if he were broken and contrite when you're broken and contrite. You have no expectations. You make no demands. You expect no favors. You bear no grudges. You have no blame your broken and your repentant contrite is like the old hymn, nothing in my hands, I bring simply to your cross I cling great time for me to ask you if you're broken and contrite, you still nurse surprised you're still have that awful spirit of entitlement, which is the curse of the millennial's in this age you think you have it coming to you and no one has anything coming to them. When you see yourself before God as you truly are you, bowing, waiting for him knowing you don't deserve even his attention as this one was of the first Peter 556 God opposes the proud but favors the humble. So how about yourself under the mighty hand of God at the right time he will lift you up in honor humbled yourself a great exercise, Lord God, I come before you. I come with empty hands, and I trust you to do what I cannot do, you're able to do that and I am not able to do it for myself. I come broken not come willing the third word is focus.

The mother was focus on one thing. Her daughter that need.

No amount of irritation by the disciples turned away.

She didn't lunch, not even Jesus reluctance to speak before he began to talk to work.

She had a cruelly demonized daughter and that was what was on her hard. It was her single focus. It was like a laser.

That's what drove her to Jesus.

And that's what gave her the boldness to say what she did to him.

Matthew 778. Keep on asking your receipt. Keep on seeking, you will find keep on knocking the door will be open for the one who asks receives the one who seeks finds one who knocks doors open. Confidence is the fourth in the woman needs nothing other than his words. Your request is granted woman exited went home, walked in there was her daughter really James writes in chapter 1. When you ask God be sure that your faith is and him alone do not waiver for person who wavers is as unsettled as a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord right there you have it.

Persistence, humility, focus, confidence this time and we bring that need.

Before the Lord with those for words in my mouth with me. Would you unless I miss my guess some of you have things on your heart that are so heavy, so serious, so deep can hardly put them into words may be very few people know that you're living with that the Lord us if he was willing to listen to this Gentile woman he's willing to listen to you. Persist bow in humility before him number broken contrite focus. Be confident faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen that need. Maybe thousands of miles away, or it may be as close as your own partner in life, someone in your family. Some situation at work.

Some physical malady. Some emotional continued emotional unrest. Some breakdown in the relationship about your need for Christ never trusted in him. No wonder the struggle is so intense focus your attention on nothing other than your need for Wednesday off for what he offers and that is eternal life through his son and take it now. The gift is yours for the taking. We would like so much to help you in the process of beginning to grow in the life that you've never known before we been doing that all through these years of our ministry and today is no exception. Were still moved over the needs of those who come to us, especially you are without Christ. If we can help you in your process of coming to know him and walking with him. Please allow us to come in will be there for you. Father, we have walk through this story.

Admittedly, sitting in a very comfortable place removed by centuries from the setting never seen the woman never heard the words we've not even met the master physically. We never seem, but we believe everything we've heard everything we've read help us.

I pray father not to give up so quickly, but to persist. Guard us from the slimy lose of indefiniteness enable us to focus on the need and decided to keep it before you maybe do so with humility and with confidence maybe not waiver so that we might be known as those with great faith as we walk with you on this planet and this time of eroding values strained relationships. We bring it to you father to provide the healing, hope the recovery, the relief, the answer we leave it with you, especially those who never come to your you and your son by faith.

May they find nothing but restlessness of a turned their hearts over the in the name of Christ praying. Everyone said a man Chuck Swindoll gave a memorable title of the message today feeding scraps to a dog. The imagery comes from an encounter with Jesus found in Matthew chapter 15. This is insight for living at the see what resources we have available for today's topic, please visit us online head insight world.org as someone who's grown to appreciate the Bible teaching you hear on insight for living. Did you realize you have a number of different options for hearing this daily program. In addition to listening online, you can hear this program on your radio station or catch up with any program you may have missed subscribing to the daily podcast from your favorite provider and the thousands of new friends have joined us this year by using the convenient insight for living mobile app so please feel free to take advantage of any of these listening opportunities to dig deeper into the book of Matthew on your own. I remind you Chuck wrote a commentary on the book of Matthew.

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The rugged landscape reminds us to find refuge in God alone. The fertile valleys invite us to follow our ship Jerusalem's position at the very center of the world announces the good news of Christ to every nation, and now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll insight for living ministry March 6-17, 2022.

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