Sometimes I am asked about what I bring with me to the pulpit. I would have to say I bring everything and the kitchen sink! While I don't read my manuscript, I know it well enough that it keeps me from tangential preaching (when I stick my foot in my mouth often)! So, for whatever it's worth, here are my notes from my Mother's Day sermon:
A four-year-old girl
accompanied her mother into a public restroom equipped with handicapped
facilities. “What are the bars for?” she asked.
“They're for big
people to hold on to,” her mother explained. The girl thought a moment, squeezed her
mother's hand, and said, “Little girls don't need bars because they have
mommies to hold on to.”
Guy Belleranti, Tucson, Ariz.
Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom."
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region
of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and
cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter
is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples
came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He
answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying,
“Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not
good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And
she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from
their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you
desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew
15:21–28)
The woman of Canaan is commended by Jesus for her faith
explicitly. But there are other
underlying or implicit characteristics which belong to her. These should be developed in all of us, but
more specifically this morning in godly mothers. Working through the text, let us examine for
character traits of a godly mother…
1.
Godly
mothers are known by their sacrificial spirit.
Verse 22 states that this mother cried out to Jesus, saying,
“Have mercy on me!” She knew that Jesus was the only One who
could help her so she went to Him and would not let Him go. Dealing with your own illness, that’s
difficult; dealing with the illness of your child, that’s beyond
difficult! Mercy on the child is equated
with mercy on the mother. Is it not
amazing how forceful we can be with doctors when our children and their
well-being are at stake? But where do we
find the real help? We find it in prayer
poured out in love desiring mercy from God.
Godly mothers see the souls of their children possessed by darkness
and sin. They know that the only One who
could possibly deliver their children from the wrath of God is the One who
propitiated that wrath – the Lord Jesus Christ.
He alone will deliver them.
Parents ought to desire mercy for their children. God alone can and will abundantly
pardon. How much do you really think
about the eternal well-being of your children?
Pray about it? It might be quite
sobering to find that we often care more for their physical and temporal
well-being even when the very eternal soul is at stake.
It is clear that this woman cared deeply for a child and
that that care was forged by a sacrificial spirit, a love that
would not let Jesus go! Will we care
less than her for the desperate condition of the eternal souls of our
children? If you are preoccupied with
the salvation of your children …if you weep sacrificially and lovingly in
prayer for your kids, then you are a mommy worth holding on to!
Transition: A godly mothers is
known by her sacrificial spirit, second…
2.
Godly
mothers are known by their heartfelt humility.
Worth in the sight of God Almighty is measured not by who
you are, where you came from, when you lived, or how much you have. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a
broken and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise” (Ps
57.17). “For thus says the High and
Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him
who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and
to revive the heart of the contrite ones’” (Isa 57.15).
The woman in our text approached Jesus with a humble plea,
and endured even though He did not answer a word. The disciples of Jesus told Him to dismiss a woman
they viewed as bothersome – not worth the time or energy. Jesus called her a dog – not exactly
promising. But she did not take it as an
insult and pressed on. After all, crumbs
that fall from the master’s table don’t rob from the master’s children. Mercy for a Gentile will not stem the flow of
mercy to the Jews. Perhaps she
understood that she and all Gentiles are worthy of the title given them. Is this not humility?
Mothers approach the throne of grace with great success in
proportion to their humility …their dependence …their contrite spirits. We have no strength or wisdom of our
own. We know ourselves full well. We are but dogs and all our righteous deeds
are as filthy rags before God Almighty.
Yet He will hear the cry of the one who understands how needy she is
…how desperate to have mercy from her Heavenly Father. If you are known for humility …for dependence
upon God, then you’re a mommy worth holding on to!
Transition: A godly mother is
known by her sacrificial spirit and heartfelt humility. But there is a third characteristic in this
woman from Matthew 15…
3.
Godly
mothers are known by their formidable faith.
When we think of this text, this is what we immediately
think of. There is good reason for
that. Mark well the words of the Lord
Jesus in v. 28: “O woman, great is your
faith! Let it be to you as you
desire.” But note carefully how she
addressed Jesus in v. 22: “O Lord, Son
of David!” Jesus was able to cast the
demons out of this mother’s daughter.
She believed that Jesus had supernatural power to do what was
necessary.
When Jesus granted her request, she believed that her
daughter was dispossessed and in her right mind. She believed it as if it had occurred right
in front of her. So it is with godly
mothers, they come to the Lord Jesus not wavering or doubting His ability to
deliver them and their children from all harm.
They read promises in the Bible and claim them as if the Lord spoke them
directly to them. They don’t just
believe God is able; they believe that God will! So, with certainty, confidence, and courage,
godly mothers trust that God’s Word will be accomplished in and through them. Not one jot or tittle of it will fail. If you’re a mommy who refuses to let go of
the hem of Jesus’ garment …a woman of deep and abiding faith, then you’re
a mommy worth holding on to!
Transition: A godly mother is
known by her sacrificial spirit, heartfelt humility, and formidable faith. Fourth….
4.
Godly
mothers are known by their persevering patience.
It is quite obvious that this woman persists all the way
through the exchange even though she had many reasons for going away
dejected.
- She pleaded for mercy, Jesus ignored her.
- She followed after Him begging, and the disciples wanted the Lord to dismiss her.
- Jesus said that He would not acknowledge this woman because He came for the lost sheep of Israel not the Gentiles. Certainly she heard that exchange.
- She continued to forge ahead with humility and confidence. But still Jesus seemed to turn her away.
- She endured and persevered with patience. She would not leave Jesus until her request had been granted.
So, mothers pray hard …they pray long. They will not let Jesus go. They hold on to Him like Jacob held on at the
Brook. Wrestling in prayer for the
blessing of Almighty God. They don’t
think that God is out to get them or that God will not hear them and
answer. They forge ahead patiently and
persistently. They deserve nothing; but
ask for everything they need. And they
find it. If you’re a mommy who holds on
to Jesus in prayer and never give in, then you’re a mommy worth holding on to!
Transition: Having examined the
character of this woman of great faith, let us now turn to her great
Savior! Much may be gained as we examine
the way the Lord Jesus worked with this woman.
First, He behaved in a way that was unexpected. But in the end, we see what we would
completely expect from our Savior…
1.
Unexpected
Confrontation: A Very Beneficial Delay
There is always tension when we read this passage. Many think that Jesus was being cruel or as
condescending as the religious leaders of His day. Every other situation where Jesus is met with
a need, He ably and readily meets it.
But this woman was different. Of
course, Jesus knew that. He didn’t cease
to become God when He became flesh and dwelt among us. This woman would behold the glory of the only
begotten Son in a unique way.
The outstanding element of this scene is the way that Israel
viewed herself as privileged and just how apathetic and accustomed they were to
that role. They were of their father
Abraham (never mind Abraham being a Gentile from Ur of the Chaldees or the fact
that God chose them because He simply chose them – they certainly would be a
people that tested Him and thereby glorify Him).
No, Jesus chose to delay things throughout the story because
He knew what was in this Gentile woman’s heart.
He was aware of her great faith and He gently pulled it to the
surface. She responded as expected and
received great benefit. She even is a
great example for us.
It is very easy to grow discouraged with being a
mother. It is very demanding. The unexpected confrontations we have in our
relationship with the Lord don’t seem to fit the need. We feel like God is in hiding – nowhere to be
found. We pray, but uninspired,
dispassionate, and mechanical prayer.
Prayer that is listless. But the
godly mother presses on and expectantly waits for the windows of Heaven to open
…for the refreshing rain of God’s presence.
She won’t listen to the selfish, proud, unbelieving, and impatient sin
nature within. She has great faith! The great confrontations of life are often
unexpected; but when God whispers, “Wait for it!” it’s a beneficial delay indeed!
Transition: But what we expect
from Jesus is comfort and the meeting of this woman’s need. And we get what we expect in this story.
2.
Expected
Consolation: A Very Beneficial Desire
The ultimate comfort for this woman was the healing of her
daughter. Her last hope appeared to be a
faltering hope. But then her faith was
rewarded. Imagine the comfort of knowing
not only your daughter had been dispossessed of the spirits who tormented her,
but also that the Son of God commended your faith. How often did Jesus point out great faith in
the people He ministered to?
He did speak of those who were worried about how they were
going to make ends meet as those of little faith (Matt 6.30), the fearful were
of little faith (Matt 8.26), the doubters had little faith (Matt 14.31), and
even disciples who had worked alongside of Jesus had little faith (Matt
16.8). After calming the stormy sea,
Jesus asked them, “Why are you so fearful?
How is it that you have no faith” (Mark 4.40)? Jesus even once said, “When the Son of Man
comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (see Luke 18.8)
But there was a man who was a Centurion in the Roman
army. He came to Jesus for the healing
of His servant. Recognizing the
authority of Christ, when Jesus affirmed he would come and see him and heal
him, the Centurion said that there was no need for Jesus to come …that he
wasn’t worth of Him coming under his roof (there’s that humility again). He remarked that all he needed was a word
from Jesus and he’d believe it was done.
Jesus marveled at this and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not
found such great faith, not even in Israel” (Matt 8.10)! Interesting that he’s a Gentile as well.
Jesus showed this woman mercy and responded to her great
faith. So mothers ought to find courage
in this story from the life of Christ.
If you cling to Christ, you will see Heaven and Earth move for you on
your knees! The Sovereign of the
Universe will listen from His throne of grace and say, “What is it, my
child? What can be done for you?” You may say, “I don’t understand how God
would condescend to the prayer of a mother laboring to raise godly children in
Antioch, CA?” But Jesus will say to you,
Woman, great is your faith! Let it be to
you as you desire!” But our desire is
for not only the temporal well-being of our children. A godly mother looks first to the Kingdom of
God and His righteousness; all other things will follow!
Conclusion: All moms can take heart from this passage
this morning. The delay may be the very
channel to the fulfillment of a desire that lines up with God’s will for
you. All of us find favor with God and
the desires of our hearts if we seek Jesus Christ. Inside track people consider themselves
children. The dogs are left out in the
backyard. But dogs and children make up
the church. Let us pray for the bread
that comes from the table of God – however it comes.
Mommies worth holding on to are mommies who persevere and
finally prevail. Your faith will attest
to the faithfulness of God toward you.
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also
brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon
a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— praise to
our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:1–3)
Continue to do right and give God no rest until He brings
stability and hope to you and your family (cf. Isa 62.7). The answers of God come at just the right
time for the faithful. They also
perfectly meet every need we have.
Hymn: My Faith Has Found A
Resting Place (228)
