How Bad do you want it?

The question today is how bad do you want it? This recollection of a woman of great faith. If we are to trust God we must do so by demonstrating faith. We know its impossible to please God without faith. We know the definition of faith. Now faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of thing not seen.

Mark 7: 24 introduces us to a woman who Jesus describes as one with great faith! In Matthew 15:28 O woman, great is your faith! Can Jesus say the same about us. Have we demonstrated faith in our walk.

Our Sunday School lessons James 1:22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. (Jas 1:22–23).

When we want something from God we have to believe he can and he will.

First you must be persistent

What is persistence? firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. We cant give up at the first sign of difficulty. Persistent people have a goal or vision in mind that motivates and drives them. They have A Burning Desire. Many people say they want something but quickly through in the towel at the first sign of trouble. This woman heard about Jesus and tracked him down. The word said Jesus withdrew to the District of Tyre and Sidon. He was trying to avoid people. Mark 7:24 And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know..

This woman was first persistent She needed something from the Lord. Her daughter was possessed by a demon. She had some strikes against her. She was, first of all, a woman, and therefore one with whom a respectable Jewish teacher should not associate.

She was a Gentile, Matthew describes her as a Cannanite as the double designation. His would tell us that God commanded Joshua to drive out the Cannanites. He knew that as a people that would never recognize and serve the one true God. Yet despite her identity she came to Jesus and fell at his feet. Matthew said she cried out: Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David

Thirdly her daughter’s condition might be expected to inspire fear and/or disgust, while the ‘uncleanness’ of the demon suggests ritual impurity. This description of an unclean spirit is different from the one of the demonic boy who would throw himself into the fire. This daughter likely was doing some sexually impure activities. She was an embarrassment to her mother. Her mother was fed up and she needed some relief. Have you ever gotten to the point that you we sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”

Persistent people want it bad, really bad, and they never look for an excuse or a way out. What keeps highly persistent people going is their powerful level of desire.

Repeated failures, dead ends, and periods when it seems like no progress is being made often come before any major breakthroughs happen. Persistent people have the inner energy and intensity to keep them motivated and going through these tough times.

She was persistent! Not only was she persistent she was persuasive. Many times we have outside forces that challenge us or prevents us from getting what we need. Mattheew said Jesus ignored her request. The Bible said he did not say a word. Have you ever made a request from God and did not get an answer? Has heaven ever shut up on you? Your persistence must develop into you being persuasive. Persuasive people understand their power and use it sparingly and knowingly. They Are Purposeful

3. Inner Confidence

People who overcome the odds and achieve greatly are often described as “marching to the beat of their own drummer.” They know what they want and are seldom swayed by the opinion of the masses. Disciples came to Jesus and said send her away she is crying after us. When you one something you keep pushing. You keep praying. You keep asking. Jesus ignored her but she did not leave. She stayed there and pressured the disciples who came to Jesus asking that Jesus do something. If i am really in a fix I don’t mind telling folks pray for me! Lets bombard heaven!

English Standard Version Chapter 7

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.”

Jesus said I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus reminded this woman that she was not in the group he had come to minister to. His further response shows his disdain for the Canaanites. It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” (Mt 15:27). sense. They had a minor place in the extended household and needed to be fed.

The imagery of 15:26 could involve throwing the children’s food out to the wild dogs, but the imagery is more compact and the transition to v. 27 easier if the reference is to dogs with owners: the dogs will get something, but food for the children has a much higher priority. Dogs are thought of as lowly creatures,205 and ‘dog’easily becomes an image of what is inferior and even contemptible. If ‘the children’ here are Israelites, then ‘the dogs’ must be those who are not part of the people of God

Nolland, J. (2005). The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 634). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

When you are persistent and persuasive God will show you your purpose.

With all the strikes she had against her she was a woman of faith! Yes Jesus granted her request. Why because she displayed faith!