The Mother to Whom God Gave a Blank Check

The Mother to Whom God Gave a Blank Check

Text: Matthew 15:21–28

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23 But he answered her not a word.

And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Introduction:

1. We see here in our text the example of a mother’s unselfish love.

* Just about everybody in this church this morning can recall memories of your mother’s unselfish love.

* We watched as our mother would unselfishly serve food to everybody in the house, and then, after the needs of her husband and children were met, she would sit down and feed herself out of what was left.

* This mother in our text was no different than the mothers of our generation. She unselfishly loved her child. This dear mother humbled herself at Jesus feet pleading for help for her child that was possessed by an evil spirit.

2. We see that this mother’s love for her child was so unselfish that she was gladly to endure public humiliation to get help for her child.

* Jesus is preaching to the Jews, but a woman from Cana, from one of the wicked tribes that God had told Israel to destroy in the Old Testament, a gentile, begins to cry out for help for her child.

* This woman has no right to expect anything from a Jewish prophet! Even Jesus told his disciples in verse 24:

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

* This dear mother continued over and over to cry out for her child’s need, but the disciples of the lord ignored her cries.

(vs. 23) And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

* Now look at the first part of verse 23:

23 But he answered her not a word.

* Not only did the disciples of Jesus ignore this poor mother, but now even Jesus himself ignored her pitiful cries for mercy!

* Not only was this poor mother ignored by Jesus disciples, then by Jesus himself, but then she continued to cry out for her child! Jesus added insult to injury and compared her to a dog! Look at verse 26:

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

* This unselfish mother, even after all this humiliation, continued to plead with Jesus for her child!

3. We see in this passage that this mother, even being a Gentile was a mother of great faith.

* When this poor mother, even after being ignored by the disciples of Jesus, then by Jesus Himself, then even after being compared to a dog by Jesus, continued to reason and plead with Jesus for her child, Jesus then stopped everything He was doing and gave here His undivided attention.

* Jesus was amazed! He literally stopped in his tracks!

* Jesus stopped and looked on this woman in the first part of verse 28:

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: 4. We now see one of the amazing things that I have ever seen the all of the Word of God! Jesus literally gives this mother a blank check from Heaven! * Look at the last half of verse 28: 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. * After seeing the faith of this mother, Jesus whatever you want you can have it! * Would it not be a dangerous thing this morning if I were to give a blank check to someone in a crowd of people this morning! * Why then would Jesus give this woman, a stranger to Israel, the keys to the bank of Heaven! * I see revealed in this passage of Scripture the greatest truth in all of the Word of God! That great truth illustrated in this conversation with this gentile woman and Jesus is that, (now listen closely- don’t miss this), this great truth is that “WHEN YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD, GOD WILL PUT HIS TRUST IN YOU!” * When Jesus stood amazed and looked at this woman, He said: O Woman, Great is thy faith! Because I see that you have just as you have firmly resolved, without reserve, to have faith in my power, and in my willingness to hear you, I also now I trust you without reserve- be it unto the even as thou wilt!” Jesus wrote her a blank check on the treasury of heaven and said fill in what you need!

* This story is the perfect illustration of the passage of Scripture in

John 14:12–14

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

* In another place Jesus said:

Matthew 17:19–21 (KJV 1900)

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

* And again Jesus Said:

Matthew 21:21–22 (KJV 1900)

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

* The writer of the book of Hebrews says concerning prayer:

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV 1900)

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

“WHEN YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD, GOD WILL PUT HIS TRUST IN YOU!”

5). Why then is not every prayer we pray answered? Why did God give this woman the keys to the treasury of heaven, but God does not give me everything I as for?

* This morning we know from the Word of God that God can do anything, but we also know from God’s Word that God does not do everything we ask of Him.

* We know from the World of God that God will not answer a prayer that is not in accordance with the will of God.

* We know from the Word of God that God will never answer a prayer that does not agree with the Bible.

* God forbid that we would pray “God bless me as I cheat on my wife”, or “God bless me as I lie to make this business deal.” God forbid that a man would pray “God bless me as I live my life however I please, use my Sundays to hunt and fish and neglect to take my family to church.”

* The book of James gives us the two reasons for unanswered prayer:

James 4:2–3 (KJV 1900)

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

* You see this morning that prayer is directly connected to our faith in God. When God sees that we absolutely, without reservation, trust Him, the He can trust us with the keys to Heaven’s treasury.

* There are several things we can see about this woman’s faith that will teach us why this mother’s faith was a “great faith” and caused Jesus to open the treasures of heaven with a blank check:

I. This woman’s faith was unselfish.

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

* This woman became one with the one she prayed for. The child’s need became her need.

* When is it safe for the Lord to give you and I the keys to the treasury of Heaven?

-Not while there is idea of your own merit left!

-Not while there is a speck of self-will left in us!

-Not while any doubt remains in us! * God only trusts faith! God never trusts unbelief!

* This poor woman agreed with Jesus that she was only a dog, not deserving to sit at the table with the children of the Kingdom.

* It is not safe for the Lord to give us a blank check from heaven this morning until we agree with Him. * Until you are in complete agreement with the Bible, God’s holy and precious revealed Word, God cannot trust you with the riches of Heaven this morning.

* We must read the Bible, believe everything the Bible says, puts our unconditional faith in the Bible, before God can trust us the keys to heaven’s treasury!

* You must be in complete agreement with God. You must submit your will to God will just as this poor woman did.

* The unsaved man must agree with God that he is a sinner, and fell short of the righteousness that God requires. * The unsaved man must first agree with God that He is undeserving of God grace and blessing before He can be saved!

* God cannot trust us with the keys to the bank of heaven until our heart’s only desire seek God’s glory!

II. This woman’s faith saw light when there was only darkness.

* This woman’s faith believed against all odds.

* When Jesus slammed the door in her face, she continued to knock on the door.

* This woman’s faith endured the “trial of faith.”

1 Peter 4:12–13 (KJV 1900)

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 1:5–9 (KJV 1900)

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

* This woman’s faith was a persistent faith.

* The story of the unjust judge.

* When Jesus saw this woman’s great faith- He then made her a child and she was able to feed at the master’s table with the children of God. Just like Abraham’s faith saved him, so this woman’s faith in Jesus saved her soul and made her on child of God, and not a dog the eats the crumbs that fall from the table!

* Have you ever placed your faith unconditionally in Jesus today? Why not follow this dear woman’s example and but our trust in the Lord this morning?

III. This woman’s faith caused Jesus to yield to her prayer, unconditionally because God’s will became Her will.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

* Jesus gave her much more than she even asked.

* Because of her great faith, Jesus gave this woman a blank check to the bank of heaven, signed by Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV 1900)

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

* How far did this woman’s faith go? It went so far as to baffle all the powers of Hell! Satan had no power this resist when this woman’s will became one with the will of God!

* The Devils themselves became subject to this woman’s will, because her will had become one with God’s will.

James 5:14–15 (KJV 1900)

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

* This morning God is working in each and every one of us to increase our faith to the point that we lose sight of our own will, and our will becomes one and the same as the will of God. * When the Lord is able to accomplish this in our lives, we will begin to see the power of God like we have never seen it before.

* We will then see the power of praying according to the will of God. God will also give you the keys to the treasures of Heaven!

Romans 16:20 (KJV 1900)

20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Ephesians 6:16 (KJV 1900)

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Conclusion:

* Have you ever placed your faith unconditionally in Jesus today? Why not follow this dear woman’s example and but our trust in the Lord this morning?

* If you have never placed your complete unconditional faith in Jesus to be saved today come like this woman and place your faith in Jesus today.

* If you have been saved already, but you have wandered thru life, tossed this way and that, trusting in yourself that you know what is best for your life, why not just give it all up and come place your in Jesus to guide your life.

* Jesus this morning is waiting for someone who will like this poor woman, place your unconditional, unwavering faith in the savior today.