The Substance Of Faith Part 2

WARM-UP

What are your pressing needs right now? Are there any prayers that you have been praying for a long time and until now have not been answered by God?

ONE BIG IDEA

The intensity of your persistence dictates the strength of your desperation.

STUDY

(Matthew 15:21-28)
“21Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to Him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” 23But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then His disciples urged Him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” 24Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep— the people of Israel.” 25But she came and worshiped Him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” 26Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” 27She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” 28“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.” (NLT)

LEARN
PERSISTENT FAITH IS:
BASED ON GOD’S WILL.

God doesn’t do things randomly. Every move God makes has a purpose. Persistence is an important substance of faith. However, our persistent faith should not be based in our own will but God’s will. Christians often have wrong misconception about persistent faith. We often abuse Matthew 7:7 (NLT), “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” We often forget that God is not our genie. God is not obliged to do what we ask Him to do.

“14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

Before you persist on your faith, make sure that it is the will of God.

FOUNDED IN LOVE (Proverbs 16:2)

We usually think that what we ask of God is based on right motive (James 4:3). When you persist in faith, make certain that you’re doing it with pure motive and with love. This is what I have learned in life: When you do it out of love for God and people, you will never go wrong.

NOT MOVED WHEN TOLD TO GIVE UP

(Matthew 15:23). We live in a generation that easily gives up. Look at the Gentile woman: first, she was ignored by Jesus; second, she was urged to go away; and third, she was told to go away. The intensity of your persistence dictates the strength of your desperation. Persistent faith defies the status quo.

NOT DISTURBED WHEN INSULTED

(Matthew 15:24-25). Persistent faith is relentless even if insulted. Persistent faith is required to reach your God-given destiny.

THEY ALLOW US TO ENCOUNTER GOD FIRSTHAND.

“Certain adversities have no human remedies. They demand divine intervention.” James 4:6b (NLT) says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Always remember: In the eyes of God, the lowest are the highest. The Gentile woman understood this. A humble heart moves the hand of God. F.B. Meyer once said, “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above another and the taller we grow, the easier we can reach them. Now, I find, that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath another and the lower we stoop, the more we get.”