BA2007-01-07: PRESERVING FAITH

Sunday: January 22, 2007

Matthew 15:21 - 28
PRESERVING FAITH
PMR

Mat 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and
Sidon.
Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman5 of Canaan came
out of thesamecoasts,and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy
on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter4 is
grievously vexed with a devil.
Mat 15:23 But he
answered her not a word. And his disciples came and
besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth
after us.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I
am not sent but unto the lostsheep of the

Mat 15:25 Then came she and worshiped
him, saying, Lord, help me.
Mat 15:26 But1 he
answered and said,It is not meet to take the
children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Mat 15:27
And1161 she said, Truth,Lord: yet the dogs eat
of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Mat 15:28 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.

FAITH: A serious topic to ponder about

1.) One soteriological (doctrine of Salvation) blessing
2.) Because not all people have faith in God
- loss faith about goodness

AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE PREDICATED BY FAITH
1.) Measured – “according to your faith…”
2.) Motivated – “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” Heb. 11:6
3.) Marked – “the just shall live by faith” Heb. 10:28

FAITH
1.) Spiritual in Nature – Heb. 11:6
2.) Substantial in Form – Heb. 11:1 – the substance of God. When we have faith, we carry God with us.
3.) Source of life – Heb. 10:38

WHY PERSEVERE IN FAITH?
1.) Active Faith – keeps on believing what is the truth
2.) Passive Faith – has a belief but nit moving
- not doing something for Christianity sake
PERSEVERANCE – to keep on something despite of difficulties

WHAT PAID OFF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE PHOENECIAN WOMAN?
1.) The presence of problems in life. The woman represents to us the sudden appearance of prophetic people.

FIVE FACTS ABOUT PROBLEMS:
1.) Every human being has a problem.
2.) Every problem has a stand (it will stop someday).
3.) Each problem holds spiritual or positive realities (problems can become a source of blessing).
4.) You can choose what your problem can do for you.

“You will be remembered for two things in your life. The problems you solved and the problems you caused.”

PEOPLE SADDENED WITH PROBLEMS NEEDS:
1.) Mercy - v.22 – You have nothing but God gives you
2.) Motivation (course) v.23 – “send her away…”3.) Ministering – v.24,25 – “lost sheep ---Lord help me”