Sometimes We Should Not Accept What Seems to Be a No, When We Pray!

1 Pastor's Point of View

Greetings, if you would like to support Free Gospel Church and our ministries, you can make a donation at FreeGospelAssembly.com. If you have any Podcast topic suggestions, please send an email to [e-mail]. Thank you for listening. If this message has blessed you please share it, that others may hear! God bless you.
Main Texts: Matthew 15:21-28(see also Mark 7:24-30)

1. What a definite No looks like: A sinful tragedy in David’s life.
   1. 2 Samuel Chapters 11 & 12: Details the tragic, sinful story of David’s adultery with Bathsheba, which produced a child and his involvement in the murder of a loyal commander and husband of Bathsheba. It details his heart wrenching prayer to God for the healing of the son, who got sick and the prophet Nathan’s bad news for them(note especially 2 Samuel 12:15-24). This about a man scripture declares “after God’s own heart”(1 Samuel 13:14). God clearly said no!
      1. It’s also a story of redemption and restoration: David and his wife Bathsheba produced Solomon, their son and heir, who built the famous temple.
2. What sounds like a clear no but was not.
   1. Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus’s healing of the Cannanite’s mother’s “seriously demon oppressed daughter.”
3. Jesus' attempt at resting outside of Palestine, in a pagan country is radically interpreted: desperation knows no decorum or patience. She was desperate and determined(verses 21-22)
4. Jesus shocking seemingly uncharacteristic responses
   1. Silence: not a word(v 23)
   2. His disciples characteristic unempathetic response: Not a very sanctified bunch!
   3. V 24, Jesus surprisingly joins in this chorus.
5. “But” she persevered and even humbled herself even more, by “kneeling before him” and only Him, verse 25, now appealing more intensely, “Lord help me”(my favorite prayer).
   1. Surely this sincere, humble approach would win over some empathy from Jesus? No! It got worse, before it got better. Jesus the savior of all humankind takes on a cultural partisan Jewish religious approach: “children's provisions should not be thrown to the dog!”(verse 26)