GREAT FAITH IN SPITE OF DISCOURAGEMENT
 

Matt 9:29; Matt 15:21-28,28

There are only two in the Bible that had great faith and both were Gentiles (Matt 8:10). Both are a picture of saving faith.

A. What is it about her faith that constitutes it as great faith.

Mark 3:8 - They heard and their hearts were receptive.

Matt 11:21-22 - This woman is one of those who would have repented if the Lord would have done his works there!

Matt 16:8 - It was "little faith" when after all they knew, and seen, and heard, it should have been great faith!

Mark 4:40 - The disciples had "no faith." after all they had heard, seen, and knew, they should have had great faith.

B. This woman's faith was "great" because she had so little to base it on.

She comes to Jesus convinced by what she has heard, believing he can meet her need! It was great faith!

After all we know, heard, and seen what kind of faith should we have?

I. The request of this women (15:21-22)

A. It was a personal request (15:22) "my daughter"

Its one thing to come to God in prayer on behalf of someone's daughter, but its quite another when the prayer to God is on behalf of your daughter.

The sincerity is not as deep as it is when its your daughter.

B. It was a powerful request (15:22) "on me" (15:25) "Lord, help me"

The word "mercy" usually used when all hope is gone. When its a hopeless case (Matt 17:15; Matt 20:30).

This woman recognized Jesus as more than just a healer, prophet, or teacher. She recognized his deity, "Lord, help me."

she isn't as dumb as she looks. She came with a sinner's plea, to the right person, assuming the proper place and the right thing in the right way! That's great faith!

C. It was a pitiful request (15:22)

1. She was honest in her confession "grievously vexed"

If you want from God what you need, you're going to have to be honest with God regardless how pitiful it may sound.

2. She was humble in her confession.

She humbled herself to get from God what she needed (2 Chron 7:14; James 4:6,8,10).

She could care less what the crowd thought. "My daughter got a devil in her, and she needs help. I don't care what others say or think." That's Great Faith!

II. The resentment of the disciples (15:23) "Us"

It wasn't "us" she was crying after. It was the Savior.

A. She wasn't discouraged by the resentment.

She heard what they said, but it didn't stop her!

B. She wasn't defeated by the resentment (15:25)

She by-passed the "use's" and got to the real one!

C. She was determined to not let hindrances bother her.

The devil is in the hindering business. He will put a hypocrite in your path to keep you from being saved.

she wouldn't be discouraged, defeated. she was determined! Great faith!

III. The reply of the saviour (15:24-26)

A. She is excluded (15:23)

B. She was eluded to as a dog (15:26)

"truth Lord" I am a dog, sinner, but even a dog gets crumbs."

IV. The rewarding of her faith (15:28)

She had to struggle through the barriers to get what she got.

A. In the sinner's life there are barriers that keeps him from being saved.

Sin, lust, booze, greed, drugs, etc. you know in order to be saved you must repent!

B. In the saint's life there are barriers that keep him from being all God wants him to be.