Description

Sunday, August 20th, 2023 (The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)

Isa 56:1-8 Ps 67 Rom 11:13-24 Matt 15:21-28

Introduction 

STORY: A woman from Retirement Home 

• Pentecost: asked me for anointing and prayers for healing. When I did not show up she called me, Irene, left voicemails. 
• Someone said, “she is being RUDE.” 
• She did not stop asking for prayers until I laid my hands on her. 

Healing in the scriptures

• As human creatures living in the world, we know that something is broken about the world. 

REASON: Earth was made for heaven. 

• All healing is an anticipation of that unity between heaven and earth.

MERCY: Have Mercy on ME!

MERCY: not getting what we deserve.

1. So why would she ask for it?
2. This is not something that she has the right to, not something that she has earned. She has no rights to this request - 
3. but she shouts for it.

IDENTITY: She is not a SHEbrew/Judean

1. Gentile

Division between Greeks (Matthew’s word for Gentiles) and Hebrews.

1. Persistent & Insistent

v.22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting
v.23 “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.”

Her Approach: The woman's attitude of being aggressive - she was not worried about being put off, she was going to receive healing even if she had to upset the healer.

BELOVED:
Mercy is not dependent on the worthiness of the recipient but the kindness of the giver.

HESED - “Enduring Love-Mercy”, “Loyal Love”
Image of God
She is made in the image of God.
Her brokenness is something only God can heal.

APPLICATION:

Our God is a God of Hesed: Enduring Love-Mercy. 

• It is out of God’s HESED that he asks us to PUT HIM FIRST.

AND - 

• In showing us our desperate temporary circumstances, God is showing us our desperate ETERNAL circumstances.

Jeremiah 29:12-13

12 When you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart […] 

HUMILITY Jesus: Lord, Son of David
Coming to Jesus on Jesus’ terms, using Hebrew titles
David is King (Messiah) Lord - Kurios - Kyrie Eleison

HUMBLE: 

1. Kneeling: She is more interested in God’s healing than her pride: HUMBLE. 
2. Jesus called her a wild DOG: not a pet dog, a RAT DOG. A Pest. 
3. She did not disagree with him. And in comparison to Jesus, she is a mangy mutt. SO ARE WE!!!!
4. She did not let her pride get in the way. She saw Jesus’ healing mercy as greater than her status or stature.

APPLICATION: 

• We need to remove our POSTURE OF PRIDE: 
• It does not work in a country club church
• We must become a HOUSE OF HEALING

Psalm 126:5-6

5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

Conclusion: Heaven Fall Down
I HAVE ONE JOB: To get you to heaven

1. We do not have to wait for you to die. 
2. On earth as in heaven … heaven and earth unite in the Church.

You can encounter heaven now: Like Jesus, James, and John on the mountain when Jesus became transfigured before them and shined brighter th

Thank you for listening!
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