Pure Determination (Part II)
(Mat 15:28 ISV) Then Jesus answered her, “Lady, your faith is great! What you want is granted.” That very hour her daughter was healed.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” Yesterday I introduced you to the Syro–Phoenician woman who had a demon-possessed daughter who was being severely tormented. She came to Jesus begging and pleading. Instead of responding with compassion, like He normally did, Jesus ignored her. To make matters worse (for the woman), the disciples wanted Jesus to send her away because they were bothered “with all her begging.” When Jesus finally spoke up He did not say what the woman wanted to hear. Instead of helping her, Jesus said, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” You see, this woman was not an Israelite; she was a Gentile (a non-Jew). The only Gentile Jesus had ministered to, to this point in His ministry, was the Roman Centurion’s servant, and He only did so because of the Centurion’s “great faith.” So what would this woman do? Would she up? Would she cave in? Would she quit? Would she walk away with her ‘tail between her legs’? Of course not! If she had we would not be discussing her today, but believe me, her struggle got worse before it got better.
Instead of giving up, the woman decided to crank-up her intensity. She worshiped Jesus and pleaded again, saying, “Lord, help me!” Okay, this sounds like it should have been enough. Surely our loving Jesus responded to her sincere request, right? Wrong! Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” The Jews commonly referred to Gentiles as dogs, but no matter how common this reference was, it could clearly be insulting. While I can’t claim to truly understand the culture of the time, I find it hard to believe that anyone could hear those words and not feel a bit of sting. If it were today, I could easily picture a woman asking, “Did he just call me a dog?” Proceeded by some choice words. But remarkably this woman did not get offended. She was too focused on getting a breakthrough for her daughter. Her amazing response was, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” In other words, she was saying, “I understand that Your ministry is focused on the Jews. I understand that You came with a purpose. I understand that the bulk of your anointing is Jewish-centered. But I also understand that I am just asking for one touch. I acknowledge that if you give me one ounce of the blessing that you are offering to the Jews, my daughter will be delivered.” Similar to the Centurion, Jesus was moved by the faith of the woman. He said, “Lady, your faith is great! What you want is granted.” And just like that, her daughter was delivered. Like the Centurion, who also exhibited “great faith,” and unlike Jairus who did not, Jesus did not have to go to her house, He did not have to lay hands on the girl, and the mother did not need to see anything with her natural eyes to receive the breakthrough. She accepted what Jesus said, by faith, and by the time she arrived home her daughter was delivered. I have more to say about this amazing woman, but I will stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that when you are completely determined you:
1. Do not easily take “NO” for an answer.
2. Don’t allow your emotions to cloud your judgment or stifle your faith.
3. Don’t need to ‘see it’ to ‘believe it.’ On the contrary, you know that if you ‘believe it’ you will eventually ‘see it.’
4. Know that one Word from God can turn any seemingly hopeless situation around in an instant!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this Word. I am encouraged this morning to hold on and to continue to believe, even when things don’t look like they are working out to my advantage. I am not moved by what I see; I am moved by what I believe. I come to You in faith, not wavering, without any doubt, fully convinced that You will do what You promised to do in my life. I stand on Your Word and I am determined to do so for the long haul. When opposition comes or when I hear disparaging words that are designed to disillusion me and to get me to give up, I have the determination to dismiss those words and to continue to believe. The bottom-line Father is that I am determined to receive Your best and I will hold on no matter how long it takes and no matter how hard things get. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
