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August 25, 2008 by admin.
15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
-1 Peter 3:15-22
Set yourselves apart. It’s a goal that athletes strive for every day. The high-school athlete is constantly trying to set himself apart to get the best scholarship possible. The college athlete tries to set himself apart so they can be a top pick in the draft.
Athletes aren’t the only ones who try to set themselves apart. People in the business world try to set themselves apart so they can get the big promotion. High school students try to set themselves apart so they can be part of the popular crowd. Everyone who tries to set themselves apart does so not only with their own actions, but also with the testimony of others. Yet, there is only one who truly deserves to be set apart, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In our sermon text for today we learn that Jesus Christ is set apart as Lord! He is set apart as Lord through his saving work. He is set apart as Lord when we give an answer.
Peter was writing to Gentile Christians whom he had probably never met. He was writing to many different churches scattered throughout
Like the other New Testament epistles, Peter intended this letter to be read by all Christians. While we may not live in ancient
Peter’s encouragement to set Christ apart as Lord hints at the problem. Setting Christ apart as Lord isn’t easy! That means that we must set Christ first in everything. To set Christ apart as Lord means that he is first in our thoughts. It means that he shows himself as Lord through our actions and words. Just as the Christians of Peter’s day, we do not always set Christ apart as Lord in our lives. We do not always live our lives in a way that reflects Christ. Instead we set our own needs apart as a lord. We may not ever have to worry about our own physical safety, but do we ever put our emotional welfare above Christ? Does the college student confess her faith in a 6-day creation when her professor says that evolution is fact? Or does she say nothing because she doesn’t want to be embarrassed in front of the class? What about the homosexual co-worker who tells us that we believe something outdate? Are we too concerned with making things awkward or do we boldly confess the truths of God’s Word regarding sin and grace? What about the family member who moved in with their significant other before marriage? Do we tell them what they’re doing is sinful or do we keep our mouth shut because we don’t want to cause confrontation? When faced with setting Christ apart as Lord or shrinking into the background and keeping our lips sealed, don’t we all too often choose the latter? Do we hide Christ, and show just how much we may be ashamed of him? And being ashamed of Christ, aren’t we just that much closer to dumping Christ? What does that really say to an unbelieving world? Do our words and actions reflect those of an unbelieving world? And if we reflect an unbelieving world, aren’t we in danger of spending eternity in the same suffering the same eternal punishment?
Isn’t it wonderful, then, what Peter says? Listen again to his words: For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. No matter how much we may suffer for setting Christ apart, he suffered more. He suffered humiliation here on earth. He was born in a lowly manger and lived life on earth without a place to call his own. He suffered ridicule, unjust beatings, and mockings. Christ was put on trial and declared guilty, even though he was innocent. He was nailed to a cross and died a gruesome death. Christ didn’t need to suffer – he is almighty God, creator of everything that is! He suffered as payment for all our sins. His love for each and every one of us, his desire to see us in heaven, led him to die for sins once for all.
All this he willingly did to bring us to God. He suffered death and hell on that cross so we wouldn’t have to suffer eternal death in hell. He suffered death so that he could snatch us from the devil’s grip and bring us to God. Because of his sufferings and death he has led us into the flock and family of God. But it doesn’t end there - Christ’s saving work has forgiven all of our sins. Through his suffering and death, he has washed us clean of all the times we don’t set Christ apart as Lord. His saving work sets him apart as Lord in our lives.
Peter gives us another powerful image of Christ set apart as Lord. He set himself apart as Lord by saving each of us, and he set himself apart as Lord when he went and preached to the spirits in prison. As we know from the rest of Scripture, Christ didn’t descend into hell, that eternal prison, to finish his saving work. He descended there to proclaim victory over death. Only Christ, who is Lord over everything, could have the authority and the power to walk into hell and tell the devil and those spirits that he had won. Only he could walk into a hostile situation and proclaim victory with no fear of retaliation.
That confidence over sin and death has been given to each one of us. Through our baptism, Christ has brought us to God and given us the confidence in our salvation. Just as Noah was saved through the waters of the flood, Peter tells us that we have been saved through the waters of our own baptism. This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. Our baptism was not a bath like the ones we use to wash ourselves or your children when they’re dirty. Our baptism is so much more! As a literal translation, our baptism is a “verdict” given to us that we are right before God. Our baptism gives us a clean conscience, a conscience that says that we have been brought to God. It is a conscience that says that Christ is set apart as Lord in our lives. Our baptism, Peter tells us, saves us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is a promise attached to our baptism. This promise says that the water and the words spoken at our baptism are connected to Christ’s Easter Sunday resurrection. Because Christ rose, baptism has the power to save us! He rose from the dead Easter morning to show that he was Lord of life and death. He rose to assure us that we too would rise from the dead to be with him forever in heaven.
We can also be sure that Christ is set apart as Lord because he ascended into heaven. We confess every Sunday in the creed that “he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where he now sits at the right hand of the Father.” Peter tells us the same thing. He says, Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand. But Peter adds one more point. He adds that all angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. What an amazing picture! Not only did our Savior suffer and die for us, showing us in a real way that he is Lord, but he also ascended to heaven – where you and I will one day see him face to face. He sits at his Father’s right hand, a picture of the position of power which he has. No, he sits at the right of God the Father as Lord over everything. All angels, authorities, and powers – in a sense, everything that is – is under the submission of Christ! Everything that we do, everyone we meet, everything that happens to us in under Christ’s control!
If Christ has set himself apart as Lord, what does that mean for our lives? Do we live with an attitude that says Christ has done it all, so I can live as I please? No, instead we set Christ apart as Lord when we give an answer!
Peter writes: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. We all share the same hope. This hope is not the kind of hope that a child has when they hope for a certain toy for their birthday. Our hope is a trust in the promises of God. It is a hope that looks forward to what we know is coming. No matter where each of us may be in our daily lives, we all know that we have been saved through the blood of Christ and his resurrection. We know that since we have been saved by that blood we have the promise of eternal life.
What does this hope mean for our lives? Since we have this hope, since are looking forward to life eternal with God, Peter encourages us to live our lives that reflect our hope. In the verse right before our sermon text, Peter encourages his readers “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” When we have Christ set apart as Lord in our lives we will realize that he is in control of our lives. We do not have to live afraid of persecution because we know that all angels, authorities and powers are in submission to him. As we live here on earth, we will no doubt encounter persecution. As Christians, we are encouraged to live lives of love to our neighbor. Christ has told us – Love your neighbor as yourself. Because of this, we will not look to get revenge or get even with those who attack us for doing good. As Peter tells us, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
In the middle of a world that does as it pleases, the Christian stands up for what is right. Don’t you think that people will take notice of the engaged couple who refuses to move in together until they are married? Won’t the world take notice of the college student who withstands ridicule and stands up for the truth of God’s Word? Doesn’t the world notice the Christian coworker who defends their faith despite being called old fashioned or out of touch?
To the world, this doesn’t make any sense. Paul says that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. Our actions will go against the grain of the world. People will begin to wonder what’s different about us, they will begin to wonder why we put up with things that most people won’t. It is then that we will be able to give an answer. As Peter says, we should always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have.
What kind of answer are we to give? Isn’t it best to give an answer in the way that Peter says with gentleness and respect? What good does it do to say that we hope in the resurrection and life forever in heaven, but do so in such a way that turns people off to Christ? If we are to keep a clear conscience we should give our answer through gentleness and respect. A gentle and respectful answer will show the world that we have set Christ apart as Lord in our lives.
There is a common phrase which says “Kill your enemies with kindness.” Our text for today tells us that when we answer with gentleness and respect, those who speak maliciously against your good behavior will be ashamed of their slander. Living our lives, showing that Christ is set apart as Lord, will demonstrate to the world that their slander is without any basis. Living our lives and being prepared to give an answer with gentleness and respect will show that we truly have set Christ apart as Lord.
We can give an answer in many ways. Setting Christ apart as Lord means that we are looking for opportunities to give an answer. Sometimes those opportunities present themselves as if they were just dropped into our laps. In those situations we can give an answer through both words and actions. We live our lives above reproach. We do not seek retaliation on those who persecute us. We respond in a gentle and respectful way, sharing the confidence we have of our eternal life waiting for us in heaven. Sometimes we seek out opportunities to give an answer. Through canvassing outings, conversations with friends or coworkers, or any of our other daily conversations we will have opportunities to talk about our faith. We live our lives looking for the opportunities to share the hope that we have – that Jesus Christ is Lord and that he has saved us from every one of our sins.
What confidence we have! As anyone will tell you, it’s hard enough to set themselves apart, whether it is in athletics, the business world, or social circles. However, we know that Christ is set apart as Lord. He is Lord over all, and we have the assurance that all is under his control! He is set apart as Lord by his saving work. He suffered and died for our sins, even though he was not under any obligation to do so. He is set apart as Lord because he died once for sins once for all. He is set apart because he conquered death by his resurrection. He now rules over everything as Lord at the right hand of the Father. Won’t we, out of thanks and love for being brought to God, want to show that we have set him apart as Lord? We will give an answer for our hope in all circumstances. Our answers will show those around us that Jesus Christ is set apart as Lord!
Amen.
- Vicar Paul Voss
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August 18, 2008 by admin.
In the name of Jesus, David’s Son yet David’s Lord, and the One in whom we still trust today, dear Christian friends,
Sometimes we think we know better. Sometimes we think our plan is better than God’s. It happened to David. The prophet Samuel had anointed him king, but there was a problem – Saul still held the office and didn’t take kindly to someone being chosen to replace him. So he made up his mind to take David out of the picture.
In a moment of weakness of faith David lost his confidence in the Lord’s protection against Saul and fled to Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, to the city of Gath. The Philistine people recognized Israel’s hero (after all, he had just struck down their champion, the giant Goliath), so they reported his presence to their king. When David realized he had foolishly put himself in danger by trying to hide himself among the Philistines, he stooped to acting as if he were insane in order to escape. The Philistine king then dismissed him as a madman, being all too eager to get him out of his territory.
David’s foolish decision to seek refuge among the enemies of Israel brought on the fears and troubles mentioned in Psalm 34. But David also learned a valuable lesson, one he shares with us this morning through this same psalm:
“Fear the LORD, and You’ll Have Nothing to Fear!”
Trust in his deliverance
Tell of his deliverance
Once David had come to his senses and came back to the Lord, he was quickly reminded of how his God was always there to deliver him from danger. He acknowledges the Lord’s role in his deliverance in verses 4-7. As I read these verses, take note of how the word “fear” is used with two different meanings. “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” (vv 4-7).
When David says that the LORD “delivered me from all my fears,” that word is used to describe those things that make us afraid. Later when he says that “the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,” then the word means to have awe or reverence for someone – yes, to have faith in someone. So now you should understand our theme: Fear the Lord (have faith in him), and you’ll have nothing to fear (nothing to be afraid of).
David learned what the Lord meant when he said through the psalmist (Ps 50:15), “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” David was delivered and now he honors his Lord by encouraging others to also turn to him for deliverance. And so he writes (vv 8-10), “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” David wants others to see for themselves the blessings that come when people trust in the Lord for his deliverance. Put your faith in him (“fear”), experience his power and protection, and you’ll understand why you have nothing to fear. This applies for both our physical and spiritual welfare. In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us (Mt 6:33), “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing, shelter, etc.) will be given to you as well.” Peter reminds us that our spiritual needs are covered as well (2 Pe 1:3), “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him.”
David’s right: “those who fear [the Lord] lack nothing.”
That’s because our God is an interactive God. He doesn’t tree us as his ant farm, simply gazing down from above and watching us run around, getting in and out of our little messes, without ever attempting to intervene. No, David tells us the Lord’s not only watching, but he listens and cares and delivers (vv 15-20), “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”
Did you catch that last part? “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Make no mistake about it, Christians are not immune to troubles. But we do have the solution to them – “the LORD delivers.” He does this in different ways. He keeps some troubles out of our lives completely. Don’t believe me? Raise your hand if you’ve ever been bitten by a bear. I rest my case. He’s delivered you from bear bites by keeping such a threat out of your life. Other times he delivers us from troubles by taking them away. We recover from an illness or things improve at work or school – the trouble is removed. If he doesn’t take the trouble away, he promises to give us the strength to endure it. Think of chronic pain some bear or the loss of a loved one. That hurt is always there, but God “delivers” us by carrying us through it. Our final deliverance David mentions in the last verses of this psalm, described also by Paul when he wrote to Timothy (2 Ti 4:18), “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.”
We’re delivered from all evil for all eternity when our Lord takes us to heaven. Hears how
David describes it (vv 21,22), “Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.” David assures us that the wicked won’t prevail, that they will face judgement. But for those who take refuge in the Lord – those who trust in him for deliverance – they will not be condemned because they have been redeemed – bought back and brought back into God’s kingdom – through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. When afflictions and troubles rain down upon us, we can take refuge under the umbrella of our Savior’s righteousness. We can trust in him to take care of our temporal troubles, knowing full well that he has already delivered us from sin, from death, and from the devil himself. Just look to the cross – the symbol of our Lord’s greatest deliverance!
Fear the Lord – trust in him and his Word – and you’ll have nothing to fear. If you’re still a bit skeptical, let me show you how God’s Word has the answer for all your fears. I went online and found a site that listed “people’s ten greatest fears.” I’m saving fear #10 for later, but let’s look at the other nine.
Fear #9 = heights. That’s an easy one, for in Romans 8:39 we’re told, “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Fear #8 = insects. Some people see spiders and other creepy-crawlers and instantly freak out. Even if others don’t understand the effect such a phobia may have on you, God does, and he has the solution (1 Pe 5:7), “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” They might still creep you out, but now you know God cares and will help you overcome your anxiety.
Fear #7 = loneliness. If you realize you’re never truly alone, you can overcome loneliness. In Hebrews 13:5, God assures us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” And Jesus himself promised (Mt 28:20), “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Fear #6 = financial problems. Rewind to what I mentioned earlier from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Mt 6:33), “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” God promises to take care of your needs!
Fear #5 = sickness. Remember Paul’s thorn in the flesh? God didn’t take it away, and he may not take all our sicknesses or diseases away, but as he told Paul (2 Co 12:9), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” No earthly sickness can rob us of God’s grace. And that’s all we need.
Fear #4 = flying. Scripture may not address this phobia directly, but I think Paul covers it with what he says in Philippians (4:6,7), “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Fear #3 = deep water. Moses faced the deep water of the Red Sea when Pharaoh and his army seemingly had cornered him and the Children of Israel. Not a problem, though, for the Lord. David tells us in Psalm 18 (16), “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.” No matter how deep the water may be, God can still reach us.
Fear #2 = dogs. I’ll speak from personal experience here. In grade school I had a paper route which was loaded with dogs that wanted to tear me apart. Somehow, I survived. Psalm 91:11 tells us how, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” God had his angels watching over me!
Fear #1 = death. Jesus has even this fear covered (Jn 11:25,26), “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” If the grave can’t hold us, then the fear of death shouldn’t either.
Fear the LORD, and you’ll have no reason to fear. If we’ve learned this lesson, then let’s teach it to others. If we trust in the Lord’s deliverance, then let us be eager to tell of his deliverance as well.
David was anxious to sing his Lord’s praises (vv 1-3), “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.” Notice that David encourages us to praise the Lord even when we are “afflicted” – even during the bad times. The prophet Habakkuk had this in mind when he wrote (Hab 3:17,18), “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Those who fear the Lord, who trust in his deliverance, will also be able to rejoice and praise his name even while waiting for his deliverance. In faith we can pass on this blessed assurance to others (v 11), “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
But that’s not easy for many people to do, to share their faith and to speak openly about their Savior. That’s where fear #10 comes in = public speaking. In reality, sharing our faith with “the public,” with other people, can be quite nerve-wracking. But again, Scripture has the solution to our fears. What Jesus said to his disciples of his time applies to us still today (Lk 12:11,12), “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” When it comes to telling others of the Lord’s deliverance, don’t be afraid – he’ll give you the words to say and the strength to say them!
So how can we possibly be afraid of anything with the Lord at our side? “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Ro 8:31)? We have a God who loves us, who listens to us, who answers us, who is working for our eternal good, and who one day promises to deliver us to heaven. And yet our sinful nature wants us to forget that at times. So we need to stay in the Word! Use the insert, “God’s Yellow Pages,” to help you find the answers you’re seeking for any fears that may still haunt you. And commit to memory God’s promise from Isaiah (41:10), “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
Amen
–Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff
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August 10, 2008 by admin.
In the book of James we find the words, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) Throughout the Bible we see many examples which back up that assertion. Moses cried to God, and the Red Sea parted. Hannah prayed, and the Lord gave her a son. King Hezekiah prayed, and God gave him 15 extra years to live. Elijah prayed, and a drought came to an end. Jesus prayed, and dead people came back to life, crowds were fed with little or no food, and people with fatal diseases were healed. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” So why don’t people make use of this powerful tool more often? Why do people go through anguish and turmoil, trying everything they can think of before settling on prayer as a last resort? Perhaps it’s the survival instinct that we have which says that I have to take care of myself. Or maybe it’s a lack of experience. Those who never try it never realize how powerful it is. Or it may be a lack of confidence in the power of prayer.
Our Lord today wants to show us just how powerful the prayers of a righteous man are. By doing so he will invite us to
“Be a Bold Believer”
I. Confidently Confessing Christ
II. Persistent in the Privilege of Prayer
A number of recent events had prompted Jesus to seek some time alone. His cousin and faithful friend, John the Baptist, had been beheaded by King Herod. The Pharisees were pushing to have Jesus put away. And the people were pressing to make Jesus their earthly king. Setting out from Capernaum, Jesus and his disciples went north-west to an area known as Phonecia. There Mark says that Jesus “…entered a house and did not want anyone to know it.” (7:24) But word soon got out that the Galilean miracle worker was in town, and the crowds began to come to Jesus once again. Matthew writes, “Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.’”
I doubt that this was the only request Jesus received while in Phonecia. And yet, it is recorded for us because it stands out above the others for several reasons. First of all, it stands out because of the person who brought it. She is referred to as “…A Canaanite woman from that vicinity…” That is not so unusual, considering that Jesus was in a town full of Canaanites. But what makes it unusual is how this particular Canaanite woman came to Jesus. She addressed him as “…Lord, Son of David.” Although not a member of God’s chosen people, the Israelites, the woman had heard about the promised Messiah, and truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Jeremiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come from the family of David, writing in 23:5, “’The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” By her reference to Jesus as the “…Son of David…” this woman was confidently confessing that Jesus was the true Messiah and only Savior of the world.
It is equally important to note that this woman did not come to Jesus looking for help for herself. She came looking to Jesus for help for her daughter, who was suffering from demon-possession. How refreshing her prayer must have been in the context of the many selfish prayers Jesus had been hearing recently!
If we were asked to list people from the Bible that we considered to be role models for our own lives, I don’t think many of us would initially list this Canaanite woman. More likely we would rattle off the names of David, Paul, Peter, or some of the other more well-known characters presented in God’s Word. And yet, the confession of faith that this woman made about her Savior could not have been better made by anybody. It didn’t matter to her that she was a Gentile, someone who didn’t have a long family history of Christianity. It didn’t matter to her that she lived among a people who openly worshipped idols instead of the “Son of David.” This woman had heard the gospel that proclaimed Jesus as the Savior of all nations, and she recognized that that meant Jesus was her Savior too. Based on her knowledge of those facts, she came confidently confessing Christ as her Savior and seeking his help with her problem.
What a perfect example for us and all people to follow! Sadly, though, it is an example that too many people overlook or ignore. Jesus is the true “Son of David,” the almighty Son of God who came from David’s family to “…take away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) He is a Savior that we can all boldly confess as our own and approach with confidence. And yet, for a variety of reasons, we don’t come confidently to our Savior, and, as a result, we suffer more than we would have to.
A story is told about a native Indian who straggled into a western settlement begging for food. He was near the point of starvation and desperately in need of a meal. One of the men he came to noticed a pouch around his neck and asked the man what it contained. He said that it was just a piece of paper, a charm he had received when he was just a boy. He opened the pouch and gave it to the man to read. The paper proved to be a regular discharge from the Federal Army which entitled the man to a pension for life. It was signed by the Commander-in-Chief, George Washington.
Here was a man who had at his fingertips a promissory note that would have given him everything he needed for the rest of his life. Yet he was wandering around, homeless, hungry, and helpless, begging for food to keep from starving. If he had only realized what that piece of paper meant to him, his life would have been completely different.
How many people in our world today are wandering around spiritually homeless, hungry, and hopeless because they don’t recognize the rights they have through faith in Jesus Christ? The credit card of faith that we have been given by our Lord has no credit limit, is accepted in all situations, and is backed up by the treasures and storerooms of heaven itself. Those who believe the promises that the Lord has made to them can come confidently confessing Jesus as their Lord and can rely on him to meet all of their needs. Matthew would later write, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matt. 21:22) The writer to the Hebrews adds, “…he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6b) And in his first epistle, John writes, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (I Jn. 5:14)
I’m sure you’ve heard the excuse that is often given as to why some people don’t come confidently to Christ in prayer. “I tried prayer once,” they will say, “but it didn’t work.” Matthew continues in our text to show us that as the Canaanite woman shows us in our text, we need to
II. Be Persistent in the Privilege of Prayer
When the request came to Jesus, Matthew tells us, “Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’” To the disciples, this woman was nothing more than a pest. They may have been embarrassed by the woman, or they may have just wanted to preserve Jesus’ privacy. Whatever it was, the disciples just wanted Jesus to get rid of her.
It seemed at first that Jesus agreed with them. Our text says, “He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’” Since this woman was a Gentile, she knew that she was not a part of the chosen nation of Israel. She understood what Jesus had said. He had been sent to the Jews, born “King of the Jews.”
But this woman’s faith told her that Jesus wasn’t only the Savior of Israel. Perhaps she remembered God’s words to Abraham in which God said “…through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” (Gen. 22:18) Compelled by her daughter’s need and her strong faith, the Canaanite woman persisted in prayer. “The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said.” Now Jesus wanted to see just how strong her faith was, and, in the process, strengthen the faith of his own disciples. “He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.’” Jesus, whom John calls the “Bread of Life,” had been sent to the Jews. To take what belonged to them and give it to someone else would have been wrong.
But the woman understood the picture Jesus was using. She didn’t want to take Jesus away from the Jews and his work of saving them. But that shouldn’t stop her from receiving some of the “crumbs,” the blessings that Jesus could give without depriving the “children” of Israel. She said, “’Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’” Finally the Canaanite woman’s persistent faith was rewarded. Jesus replied to her, “’Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
This woman reminds us of Jacob, who wrestled with God at the stream of Jabbok. Refusing to quit even when his hip was dislocated by the Lord, Jacob said to God, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Gen. 32:26) On that day, the Lord answered Jacob’s prayer saying, “…you have wrestled with God and with men and have overcome.”
Everyone who comes to the Lord in faith is promised to be blessed by him. As his dear children, we will not be turned away by our heavenly Father. We will not be overlooked, mistreated, forgotten, or neglected. When we boldly come to our Lord with confident persistence, the Lord will answer our prayers. The Canaanite woman believed that promise from God and her daughter was healed. When we believe God’s promise, then our prayers will be answered.
As many of you know, I came here about 2 ½ years ago, not really knowing what lay ahead. There were many nights when I prayed that God would show me what he had planned. As the days went by, I knew that God had heard my prayers, and I knew that he would show me, in his own way and in his own time, what he had planned. Today that plan is becoming quite clear. I thank God for listening to me, for blessing me with a new family and a new ministry opportunity in Gainesville, and for the chance to spend these last 2 ½ years with all of you, and with my brother, Deb, and Thomas. I will miss Messiah and its members, but I know you are in good hands, and I know that you will continue to be blessed because of your faithfulness to the Lord, his word and his work.
God wants you to Be a Bold Believer. He wants you to come to him confidently and pray to him persistently. Follow the example of the Canaanite woman and God will bless you always. Amen.
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