This morning, we continue our series, “The Miracles of Jesus.”
Before we get into the miracle, let’s look at the foundational scripture I will share be sharing with you all year.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us. I pray you get refreshed and restored as we study each miracle.
Read Matthew 15:21-28
Yesterday I introduced you to the Syro–Phoenician woman and her daughter. The girl was demon-possessed, and the demons were causing tremendous torment inside her. The girl’s mother heard about Jesus, the Jewish miracle worker. She came to Jesus, believing God for a breakthrough for her daughter.
When the woman addressed Jesus, He and His disciples ignored her at first. Jesus was focused on His mission. He was sent to minister to the children of Israel. This woman was a Gentile, and it was not time for Jesus’ ministry to reach the Gentiles. God’s plan was to minister to the Israelites first, the children of Abraham, and then the Gentiles.
Other than the encounter with the Roman centurion, Jesus’ disciples never saw Jesus minister to the Gentiles. They wanted Jesus to send the woman away. When Jesus finally addressed her, He said, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But this woman was determined, and she was not going to be dismissed easily. She bowed down before Jesus. She worshipped at His feet. In her position of worship, she said, “Lord, help me!” Jesus answered her again and said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and give 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 there are two Greek words for “dog” used in scripture, and I have heard some people attempt to justify what Jesus said by pointing out that this word used for “dog” is one commonly referred to as a house pet, not a rabid street dog, 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 the woman asking, “Did he just call me a dog?,” followed by some choice words! But remarkably, this woman was unphased. She was so focused on getting a breakthrough for her daughter that she could not afford to be offended. 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, “Mr. Jesus, 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 Jesus’ encounter with the centurion, He was moved by the faith of the woman. He said, “Woman, you have great faith! What you want IS granted!” And just like that, her daughter was delivered. Jesus did not even leave the table where He was. Like the Roman Centurion, this woman had the faith to take Jesus at His word. She walked away, not just believing but knowing her daughter was free. She did not need to SEE to BELIEVE. She believed she was going to SEE her daughter free when she got home. This is one of only two stories of “great faith,” and both involve non-Jews.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Never underestimate the power of worship.
— Worship often ushers in God’s presence, power, and manifestation.
— When Jesus initially sent the Syro–Phoenician away, she refused to get discouraged. Instead, she fell down at Jesus’ feet and began to worship. Jesus was quick to dismiss her when she was using just words. But Jesus could not ignore her worship!
— Worship always ushers us into the presence of God and positions us to receive an out-pour of God’s glory over our situation.
— If you are facing an issue this morning where you believe God is not moving, try spending some time on your knees, worshipping the King of Glory!
— Worship changes the atmosphere. Worship creates an environment conducive to the supernatural, where the Holy Spirit is free to move.
— You may be waiting on God to move in your situation, while God is waiting on you to create an environment (through worship) that is conducive to Him moving.
— Worship shifts your attention from your situation to your God. Worship puts you in a position and posture of openness, submission, and honor. In this posture, God is free to move in your life as He sees fit.
2. Never underestimate the power of faith.
— Jesus was purpose driven. He was on a mission. Jesus was focused on the lost sheep of Israel. The Syro–Phoenician was not a Jew. She was, therefore, not part of Jesus’ assignment. So, Jesus ignored her and attempted to send her away. But what Jesus could not ignore was her faith!
— The Syro–Phoenician woman’s faith interrupted Jesus’ assignment. She had enough faith that Jesus diverted from His primary mission to release God’s power to deliver this woman’s daughter from a demon.
— Think about this for a minute. Jesus was laser-focused on His assignment. He knew the timeline that was laid out by the Godhead. The way the ministry was supposed to go, Jesus would leave heaven, come to the earth, minister to the Jews, die for our sin, be raised from the dead, ascend back to heaven, and then start a New Testament church that would begin with Jews and THEN branch out to Gentiles. That’s the timeline God established. But this woman had so much faith and was so persistent that Jesus interrupted the timeline for her. It was NOT TIME for Jesus’ ministry to be made available to the Gentiles, and she was a Gentile, but because of her faith, Jesus did it anyway!
— Do you have this type of faith?
— Do you have the type of faith that will move God to SHIFT timelines around for you?
— The Syro–Phoenician woman had the faith, and Jesus had the power. Her faith tapped into that power and led Jesus to declare deliverance for the little girl. Jesus did not have to go to her home. Jesus did not have to lay hands on her. This woman had the faith to take God at His Word and walk away, without wavering, without a doubt, knowing it was already done! When she got home, her daughter was FREE! Do you have this type of faith?
3. There is nothing God can’t do if you have the faith to believe in His limitless power.
— Faith is the currency of God’s Kingdom. Faith is how you make an exchange in God’s system. The Syro–Phoenician woman knew there was a grace on Jesus’ life to deliver her daughter from the demon. She knew the grace was present. But grace being present does nothing if faith is not present too. God’s part is GRACE. Our part is FAITH. When our faith taps into God’s grace, we get to experience His power.
— This woman released her faith, tapped into the grace on Jesus’ life to cast out demons, and Jesus released God’s power! Jesus spoke one sentence, and the demon left her daughter. He said, “Woman, you have great faith! What you want IS granted!”
You can carefully study the gospels and read through every encounter Jesus had with people, and you will find there are only two people Jesus said had “great faith.” Both were Gentiles. Both believed Jesus is words without having to see the physical manifestation of them in front of their eyes.
In one case, the Roman centurion’s servant was sick. Jesus spoke, and the sickness left the servant’s body. The Roman centurion had the faith to take Jesus at His word. He did not need to see it to believe it. He knew he would see it BECAUSE he already believed it!
In the other case, the one we are looking at today, the Syro–Phoenician woman’s daughter was demon-possessed. Jesus spoke words. She took Jesus at His word. She did not have to see it to believe it. She knew she would see it because she had already believed. She walked away, knowing her daughter was delivered. When she got home, guess what? Her daughter was FREE, just like Jesus said!
Jesus said, “Nothing is impossible for one who believes.”
Do you have the faith to take God at his word? Can you believe God?
Some people have to SEE to BELIEVE. The Syro–Phoenician woman BELIEVED to SEE! Can God say the same about you?
Are you walking with God by faith? Or by sight? If you are living your life based on things you can see (or validate with your senses), you are NOT living by faith, and you will fail to tap into God’s grace to make the impossible possible for you!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
This year Your supernatural power will be manifested in my life like never before.
I spend time in worship. I spend time at Your feet. I spend time crying out to You and worshipping Your holy name.
My worship changes my focus. My worship puts all my attention on You and Your power.
In worship, fear, doubt, and unbelief flee from me. In worship, stress, care, and concern fall off of me.
In worship, I create an environment where You are free to do whatever You want to do in my life.
And in the middle of my worship, I release faith! Living this way, I know I will experience You this year like never before! The impossible is possible for me because I believe in Your limitless power! GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
