Prayer from Dog to Child

Introduction

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 3671 Prayer’s Chain Reaction

Picture an old woman with a halo of silvered hair—the hot tears flowing down her furrowed cheeks—her worn hands busy over a washboard in a room of poverty—praying—for her son John—John who ran away from home in his teens to become a sailor—John of whom it was now reported that he had become a very wicked man—praying, praying always, that her son might be of service to God. The mother believed in two things, the power of prayer and the reformation of her son. God answered the prayer by working a miracle in the heart of John Newton.

John Newton, the sailor-preacher. Among the thousands of men and women he brought to Christ was Thomas Scott, cultured, selfish, and self-satisfied. Because of the washtub prayers another miracle was worked, and Thomas Scott used both his pen and voice to lead thousands of unbelieving hearts to Christ, among them a dyspeptic, melancholic young man, William Cowper by name. He, too, was washed in the cleansing blood and in a moment of inspiration wrote “There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood.” And these song has brought countless thousands to the Man who died on Calvary. All this resulted because a mother took God at His word and prayed that her son’s heart might become as white as the soapsuds in the washtub.

Text

Mark 7:24–30 ESV

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Outline

Background

Gentile woman come to Jesus for deliverance for her daughter

Dog verse child

Jesus explains his mission

The mission of God

Jesus expands his mission

The mission goes to the gentiles

Jesus answers her prayer

Prayer and You

Prayer and it’s power

How to pray:

1) Pray intentionally look at verse 26

Puritan Thomas Watson Said this about prayer:

The Christian Soldier, or Heaven Taken by Storm Christian Soldier, &c.

Prayer without fervency and violence, is no prayer; it is speaking not praying.—Lifeless prayer is no more prayer than the picture of a man is a man. To say a prayer is not to pray; Aschanius taught his parrot the Lord’s Prayer.

Are your prayers nothing more then a parrot repeating words back to his master? The parrot while colorful and funny when it says human words it means nothing to it. When you pray are you like a parrot just mimicking the words you’ve heard others say? Parrots live a long time, they memorize tons if words, they don’t know what they mean and are not thinking as they squawk them. Are you not thinking and instead just squawking words that sound like prayers.

Puritan Matthew Henry said this about v26: Note, The greatest blessing we can ask of Christ for our children is, that he would break the power of Satan, that is, the power of sin, in their souls; and particularly, that he would cast forth the unclean spirit, that they may be temples of the Holy Ghost, and he may dwell in them.

2) Have a clear mind as you go into pray: Beware of distracted prayer

Ezekiel 33:31 “31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.”

When you see the women here come to the Lord she is clear and direct. She doesn’t allow the world to distract her and gets the point to the Lord.

Distracted prayer is not prayer. We were at Disney this week and I noticed how many parents where on the phone when their kids we looking to them and they got half dad/ half mom. A prayer to God must be all of you in that moment.

3) Pray The Lord’s desires back to him

You can see that the women approaches Jesus with one of the desires of God in her mind. She wants her daughter healed, so she brings her daughter to the Lord in word.

Matthew 19:14 ESV

14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Parent/grandparent it is your job to bring your children in prayer before the Lord. No time limit is given. It is God’s desire that we bring our children to him again and again.

Saint Augustine in his auto-biogrpahy the Confessions records who his mother prayed for him. His father was a Roman and a pagan, his mother was a North African and a Christian. She prayed for him for years! She shed more tears over his rebirth then his own initial birth, she followed him around the Roman Empire and kept him in constant prayer.

REALLY CONNECT THIS POIN: God’ mdesire is none should perish but have everlasting life. So do you have lost children and grandchildren? moms in the room do you shed more tears for the rebirth of your loved ones then the birth of your loved ones? Men are you focused on rebirth more then the moment of initial birth of your children? I can remember being tired but focused. Needing to put everything aside for my daughter and son as they were brought into the world. Are you putting everything aside for the second birth? Are you focused on the birth process of God as he brings about new life?

4) What to Pray for.

In general when praying, and if you’re not sure what to talk about to the Lord, pray his word back to him. Do that often, if you have verses memorized use those as part of your prayer life. If you have good Christian music memorized use that as a way to.

Another verse to add to your mind 1 Thes. 4:3

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

So when your looking to pray pray to become more like Christ.

Another reminder when looking for what to pray for from the Proverbs

Proverbs 2:3–7 ESV

3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

So when your not sure about a decision coming up Seek the Lord’s wisdom and He will give it to you. The temptation of our day is to look for something grand from a movie but God works through his common means. What does the word say about situations? Ask God to make it clear to you through his word by the Holy Spirit. Verse 6 is The Lord gives wisdom! Seek him and he will give you. He has stores of wisdom that he wants to give you. You just need to be like this women and come boldly to the Lord and seek his face.

5) Remember who you stand in front of

To pray you must think on the words that you are saying and realize who you are saying them to.

I always think of Isaiah’s vision

Isaiah 6:4–5 ESV

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Have you ever been in a room when a man of importance walks in? You never want to be glib in front of a judge. He will make you pay for contempt of court. This is even more so of God, when you pray are you glib, hap hazard? Do you reflect on the Holyness of God when you pray or

How you stand before the Lord is it like this women who feel down before him (v25)

6) Pray as you would speak to a friend.

Are you fimaler enough to God that you could speak to him like you do a loved one?

Martin Luther was famous for approaching god in prayer in both reverence, yet also as one approaches an intimate. Luther was confident in prayer. This was a man with a death warrant over his head.

Do you approach God enough that people around you believe that you believe in him? Do you know him boldly?

From Dog to Child

Newton went from Slaver to pastor

You know the Hymn

1, 2, 3 John (Mentor Expository Commentary | MEC) Second, It Means We Have Been Given the Nature of God’s Children

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

People make mush of their pets, but they are not children. God made some amazing animals but it is more precious to be a son or daughter of God. Newton was an evil man that his mother prayed for that did destable things in his part as a slaver, and now God saved this wretch. You and I before faith are the same

Creating sons

You and I were Dog’s prior to the salvation that came to us. Unless you are of Jewish heritage the prophets and oracles of God come from the hebrews not our background. Jesus in this passage shows that they were indeed seen as Dogs, but look at what Jesus did

Mark 7:24 ESV

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.

Jesus went to the region that the gentiles where in.

This journey out of the land was a missionary trip. This faith that was once delivered to the saints is also for us as well. Jesus in his journey to this region was shpwing what he would eventually declare to us all

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Our Lord came down from heaven to us, and he went out of Israel to truly show that even the gentiles could become children of God.

You and are to do the same God and bring sons to glory.

You and I went from Dog’s eating crumbs to son at God’s table

Mercy For us

Matthew, Volumes 1 & 2 Jesus’ Great Mercy

shows that anyone can come to Jesus and find mercy there. He will comfort the troubled, the needy, even the desperate. He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (11:28).

Dogs don’t receive mercy but children do. look at this mothers actions The Children get the bread, but even the bread crumbs are a blessing from the father

Matthew 7:11 ESV

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Jesus gave this mother rest and healled her daughter. if you come to him you will recieve mercy.

Transition to the Lord’s supper

Gospel