Living Miracles: Desperate Faith

As we started this miracle path I had not idea how challenging it would be for me in my life. No idea that God would step on my toes the way He has during this series. Well I have to be honest with you today is no different. Today we will be asked to look in that mirror of the Scripture and to reflect on our faith. Is our faith rooted, or is it shallow and easy to push over? Today we will be introduced to a woman who asked Jesus for help and recieved a response that she was not expecting. So let me ask you, how does your faith react when you receive a response that you were not expecting? The thing is that many of us expect that when we ask Jesus for something that we will get it. What happens when we ask God and the answer we get is initially not what we expected to get? What happens when the answer we get is opposite of what we were expecting. I do not know many people who approach God to ask for something who do not expect to get it. I find myself challenged with this scripture because I wonder how I would react if God provided me the opposite of what I asked for. Would I react in a way that would honor God or would I react in a way to honor myself? It is a situation that I believe I know the answer to but, what happens when I am really put in a position to live out this challenge? I pray my response would be appropriate. How about you?

One of my favorite things about my children is also one of the things that drives me crazy. They are persistent. If I tell my kids no about something they find 101 ways to ask the same question without saying it the same way. They absolutely look to wear me down. If I tell Rylan no it is like the end of the world as he knows it. That boy will not stop until i give in.

Let me ask you do, you respond in your faith the same way? Lets look to the scripture this morning. and let us see how our faith should react. Turn with me in your Bible to Mark 7:24-30. In this passage we will see 3 things. First we will see a desperate approach, Second we will see a Discouraging Response, and Third we will see Daring Faith reaps rewards.

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.

1. Desperate Approach Ignites Hope

Mark 7:24–26 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.

Initially we need to examine what makes this a desperate approach. Why is it that we would consider this woman approaching Jesus, a desperate choice. The answer to that lies in verse 26 where the scripture says “now the woman was a gentile, a Syrophoenician.” Two things here, first she was a woman, second she was a gentile. Both of these would have created a substantial challenge for this woman approaching Jesus. Culturally Jesus would have been looked at poorly for openly speaking with a woman little lone a gentile woman. She would have known this and yet with the expectation of rejection this woman still approached Jesus. She still pushed through the challenge and approached Jesus. Why? Because she was in a position of both desperation, and understanding. She was desperate because Jesus was the only one that could address her issue, and she was confident in His ability to heal. This raises two questions for us to reflect on this morning.

First, do we find ourselves in a desperate situation. The amazing thing about sin and suffering is we often think that our situation is better than it is. We convince ourselves that we can handle it and that we do not need help. We convince ourselves that everything and everyone else other than Jesus are the ones that will help us. Let me ask you something, how is that working out in your life? When you are facing struggles and challenges, what are you turning to to fill that space? What are you using to keep you from admitting your need for Christ?

Our position without Jesus is desperate. While the evil one wants us to feel like we can handle it, what he continues to do is to lean us into our pride and our inability to call out to Jesus.

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Ezekiel 18:30 ESV

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.

Do you know what Ezekiel is speaking of here? He is telling the people of Israel that if they do not repent and admit that they are in a desperate situation, they will face destruction. It is in our interest to understand our constant need to repent and to turn to Christ. None of us is above this, our situation is desperate.

Second do you believe in Jesus ability to handle your situation? We will turn to all kind of things in our lives, yet the one person who said come to me and I will deal with it all, well we just continue to pass him up every time, why? Because often we think of the promises of Jesus as good scriptures, we do not believe in them as promises. I want to tell you right now that Jesus can and will take care of your situation.

1 Peter 5:6–11 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We must first understand our desperation and second understand Jesus ability to handle our situation.

I built a rock wall for the kids in the garage at our house. We do not like our children being out of our sight or at least earshot. So we decided to make the garage a kids play zone so all the neighborhood kids want to hang out at our house and we do not have to worry about where our children are. When I built this rock wall, guess who the first one to climb it was. That’s right Rylan. He climbed to the top and got on the bars that hang out from the wall. At that time I had not yet put the padding down on the floor and it is about a 7’ drop from that place on the bars. Rylan said don’t help me! I wanted to help, he needed help. He was going to get hurt if he dropped from there. He did not want my help. He believed he could handle it and he kept on trying to handle it on his own. Kicked his legs all over the place, wiggled and wobbled. Eventually he fell and he hurt his foot, then he got mad at me for not helping him.

Does this not explain our situation with Jesus? We don’t think we need his help, we don’t think He can help us. He tells us He can and when we fall and get hurt we blame Him for not helping We must have a desperate approach to Christ. What happens though when you have a desperate approach and you trust in Jesus and He does not give you what you the response you expected?

2. Discouraging Response Challenges Faith

Mark 7:27 ESV

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.”

Could you imagine how this response must have felt? First offensive, second devastating. Here she was going out on a limb, overcoming social boundaries, overcoming cultural, and likely religious boundaries, and Jesus response to her is you are a dog. On initial response we find ourselves taken aback by Jesus comments. We find ourselves saying well that does not sound like the Jesus that John describes in the Bible.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

This sounds like a very offensive Jesus. A Jesus who does not see the worth in the gentile woman or her daughter. In order to understand the scope of this we must understand that Jesus words while offensive on the face, represent something much deeper below the surface. First we have to address the words, do we believe that Jesus was really saying that the Gentiles were dogs? Was He really saying that the gentiles did not deserve His healing and Salvation? Based on previous interactions and scriptures I must say no. The first proof is the centurion and his servant. Jesus healed the servant and did not treat the gentile centurion as though he were a second grade citizen. What did Jesus say about the man?

Luke 7:1–9 ESV

1 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

Jesus healed this servant who was likely a gentile, for a gentile centurion. So why would Jesus do this if He truly considered the gentiles second rate citizens? So if that was not the intent of Jesus word’s, what was the intent? In context here we would come to the conclusion that Jesus purpose was to challenge her faith. Did she really believe in Jesus and what He was here doing or was she simply looking for a miracle? Jesus was challenging this woman with an answer opposite of what she expected, He was directly challenging her faith. As we reflect on this, I have to ask what happens when we do not get the answer we expected? The response is often times mixed. Some people accept the answer and they move on with life and they find themselves in a position of not asking God for things because they do not believe that Jesus will come through. Why should they, they asked and the answer was not immediately given to them or the answer was opposite of what they wanted so why would they expect any different? Then there are those who get angry, when you ask and you seek and you do not get the answer that you want, you walk away and for no better way to say it, you throw your sucker in the dirt and go home. My question for you is, what if the initial answer or the final answer are not meant to take you to either of those positions, but to test and grow your faith? What if the answer you receive is to really see if you believe what your words are saying?

My wife comes to me and she says stuff like, I was thinking we could make this change or make that change and I just need to get this or that. My initial response is always, no. Why? Is it because I don’t think it is a good idea? Well sometimes I don’t think it is, but most the time its just because I do not want to do more work or spend any more money.

When we ask for things at times it may see discouraging, it may seem pointless, the initial response may bring us sadness. But what happens when like this woman we stand in confidence of who Jesus is and What He can do? Well that brings us to our last point. Daring faith is rewarded.

3. Daring Faith Reaps Reward

Mark 7:28–30 ESV

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.

I told you just a few minutes ago that my response is always no to my wife on things. What happens though when she does not take no for an answer? Well I paint the whole house, I move the living room around, I do anything she wants. Why? Because I know she is serious.

This woman did not take what Jesus said as a rejection of His power or ability, she took it as a test of her faith, and so what did she do? She doubled down. She said ok well I know who you are and I know what you are doing. I have heard of what you have already done and if you want to use word’s well I can to. She responded to Jesus in a way where His response was, because of your words, the demon has left your daughter. In other words, because of your faith your daughter is made whole. We must be a people of great belief and faith, not tossed around by the waves.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Psalm 125:1 ESV

1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

1 John 5:14–15 ESV

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

James 1:1–7 ESV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

This scripture is often used to tell people, you need to trust more, you need to believe in healing, you need to fully commit to this. In context however this scripture says this.

When you face trials count it as joy, those trials build your faith. As your faith is tested be steadfast in God’s abilities. If you do not know how to approach the trial or the situation, ask God. When you do ask, ask in confidence, stand firm in your faith, because if you are not confident in your request to God, then you should not assume you will receive anything at all!. This scripture is not speaking of us having this faith in healing, while it is not rejecting that faith, it is stating that in all situations ask for the wisdom of God to guide you through this and trust in His ability to come through.

Do you live this way? Remember I said this was a challenging message for me? That is because I have to ask, do I live this way. We must be a people who stand in confidence of our faith, even when the answer we initially receive is not what we want to hear.

Perhaps highlight the woman’s response to Jesus, where she accepts His words and yet boldly asserts her faith in His compassion. This encounter concludes with Jesus affirming her faith and granting her request. It illustrates how genuine faith can overcome barriers and how Christ's compassion transcends cultural limits, offering grace to all who earnestly seek Him. This is a powerful reminder that faith and perseverance can lead to moments of transformational grace and healing.