Great Faith
21 When Jesus left there, he withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.”
23 Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples approached him and urged him, “Send her away because she’s crying out after us.”
24 He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 But she came, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, help me!”
26 He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.
Matthew 15:21-28
What kind of faith do you have? Great faith? Or not so great?
The truth is… whatever faith anyone has…it is the same faith that this women in our text has:
God’s Word directed faith–the only kind there is–
The kind that can say with Job: “though you slay me, Lord, I will trust you.”
The same kind that can ask to come out of the boat onto water, as Peter did…
But that is the essence of faith: it is God’s Word directed…always and only if HE HAS SAID…
We have to be clear about this here: It is God’s Word directed, or it is not faith, but presumption.
If Jesus did not say, come out of the boat Peter…Peter would just sink… immediately…
As faith (for whatever purpose) is based upon the Word of God alone– His Word directed to individuals like Peter, and or the Promises of God directed toward everyone–
It may be only for a specific time and situation and/or only for a specific person …
Or a great universal declared promise for all.
And this is the very place that the devil messes us up….to bring doubt.
This is where erroneous, heretical and faith killing false teaching comes from.
Did God really say? Was that for you, or meant for someone else, or some other group of people?
Those questions must be asked about parts of the Bible, if we are to stand in faith upon it for ourselves.
Are we saved by Grace alone, or do we add any works…even if only something like our simple decision for Jesus?
The Bible says we were—are saved by Grace, through Faith–not at all is it our doing. That is the promise of God in the Gospel for every human being. This that which WE CAN stand upon here and now–and for our entire lives.
The Bible though, also talks about blessing of health, wealth and wisdom….
But not necessarily are these for everyone in this life.
Not that we cannot ask for them—that is, in the right proportion…for only as much as is good for us.
But when we try and force more out of what God promises…when we try and conjure faith, or think we are standing on God’s Word…
When in reality, what He said in Scripture was not intended for us…
There have been many fads that have come and gone in the church that have done this: claimed to be THE missing element that would bring great blessings if people would just use their faith.
And many good things God says He has waiting for us, but in heaven, not now—and this “not now” is not because we lack faith.
Now I know many have prayed real hard and long…and strove to believe for important things…even claiming what seemed to be an appropriate promise from the Bible…
…but then nothing happened!
The question then is, will you trust Him when He says, “NOT YET…or NOT NOW…?
That is when the devil is right there to make us deny the faithfulness of God…that see, God does not keep His promises and Word…
Many have lost their faith because they had been convinced that they would be healed of some ailment…and when it did not happen…they saw it as God’s betrayal…
When in reality God never said that we would have perfect health here…or even be cured…
It is a promise and sure thing, in the life to come…
Even if some people are cured…even miraculously…it does not mean we will be, or that we were not healed because we lacked faith…or somehow were suffering because God was angry with us.
This still does not mean we are not to ask…or pray and look to God for help.
Real faith will still do that. Faith comes back to God even though…even so…no matter what….
Because it is based upon the WORD of GOD that says ultimately that all things are YES and AMEN in Jesus.
That is what is going on in our text with Jesus and this woman. She knew the general promises of God…just like Martha–
I know that my brother Lazarus will rise again on the last day at the resurrection…
I know, says this woman, that my little girl will be healed eventually…
But what about now Jesus? No one knows until God answers…now or later…or on the last day.
But faith trust’s God’s ultimate promise given to us in His Word. That is what faith does. The details…we trust God to work out where and when He Wills.
Sure, we can ask Him….do so…nag…beg…and ask again…like this woman does in our text–
Or like the parable that Jesus tells of that elderly woman pestering the judge to give her justice. Jesus tells us to do so—this very same thing.
Well, who else will give us what we need…and even want? Where does our help come from? Who is our source for all that we are and have?
And who knows, maybe… He will let your son live, as King David wondered about his dying child…even when it seemed that there was no hope…or answer otherwise…
Yet, you never know. So, keep asking.
Because WE DO HAVE HIS WORD…we DO KNOW BECAUSE HE HAS SAID…
He works all things for the Good, for us…
And that all Good for us is YES and AMEN, because of Jesus.
But again, we must leave the timing and the how it is to be done up to His perfect wisdom.
I mean, this woman did not know if Jesus would heal her daughter there and then. Truth be told, she supposedly was not part of the church…she was not a Jew…not one of the children who could ask like she was doing…
Or was she? She obviously had faith because she heard whatever Word of God she heard…and believed it…otherwise she would not be there asking. But was it for her, or Jews only? Somehow, she knew it was universal—that Jesus was the physician of the bodies and souls of all mankind.
She must of heard or read it somewhere… As faith only comes from one place. God’s Word. His Word says this very thing—Romans 10:17.
But because she trusted these Words of God…that she heard…she would ask Jesus.
And if He said no…and Jesus sort of did that, right? Would you ask again…after such an insult—after being treated that way?
And… by the way… what ever happened to that PC-nice, tolerant, non-judgmental Jesus that so many try and paint Him to be?
And this is the very crux of the matter—the very point of this text.
Do you…will you trust God’s Word of promise no matter what is going on around you? No matter what is happening to you? No matter what?
You know God tests each of us…and this, though, is only as much as He knows we can take? More than we like, yes, to be sure…but we have to trust Him here too.
Will you though, still keep looking to Him for all and everything? Will you hold to His promises to the end?
Let’s make this pure free Gospel. And that is exactly what faith is and does—it is freely given by God and just believes God at His Word…until the utter end.
No, this is so much less heroic than it looks like. This because it is not, or ever will be, based upon, or from us.
We don’t find…He finds us…we don’t come to Him unless He calls…we don’t believe a thing He says until He says it…nor can we produce, create or grow faith at all—God does this…
He puts it in us by His very Word. And He strengthens and makes it grow by This Word and Word filled Sacraments.
And if ever you need things now…instead of later or in heaven…
Like money, food, clothing, shelter…
He will and does promise to give them to us in this life…what we need when we need it…
He does and will…give these to us all the time…
And also withholds them too…from time to time…for a time…
But not forever.
And He also tells us that He gives much and most of it without or before we even ask…
Even things we want. And heals our bodies too. Until He takes us from this life.
Of course He gives the needed faith as well. For whatever He determines we need, when.
This woman in our text believed because of Jesus…because He said He takes care of people…gives life (she could have read Genesis) and health…(who was not talking about Jesus’ healing ministry?) and wisdom (remember King Solomon? The whole world knew about him–even the queen of Sheba.)
So where did she get the needed faith? God’s Word, of course.
No, He is not waiting around for us to believe…He makes it happen….
The question is always about those who have the faith given to them by God…and yet…they still refuse to believe in Him? Much of Israel…when God was with them…even here in the flesh!
But God still came to His own, even if they reject Him and His gifts…even with His power to believe in what He is giving.
God still calls us to Him…He still comes to us…
All so we can hear and believe.
So do hear it…and believe it. Read, mark and inwardly digest — memorize those great and precious promises…
The universal ones, that is…
And with that faith provided there…do trust Him regardless…no matter what…to the very end.
That is what faith does. Any kind of faith.
How much faith is needed? Not much says Jesus. The tiniest amount…only mustard seed size. Really any faith in Jesus will do…will do it…will do anything…
As long as it is based on His Word. Even salvation for the worst of sinners like you and like me. Thanks be to God.
Amen.
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