The Prayer Of a Believer

Overheard: The Prayer Of a Believer

Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat bread. (Mt 15:2)

¹⁸ But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. That is what defiles a person. ¹⁹ To be sure, out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimonies, and blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things that defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a person. (Mt 15:18–20)

The Prayer of a believer comes from ___________.

Jesus left that place and withdrew [ἀναχωρέω (a-na-chō-reō)] into the region of Tyre and Sidon. (Mt 15:21)

… the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah. (1 Ki 18:19)

There a Canaanite woman from that territory came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! A demon is severely tormenting my daughter! (Mt 15:22)

²⁵ Instead, when a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him, she immediately came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ This woman was a Greek, of Syro-Phoenician origin. She asked him to drive the demon out of her daughter. (Mk 7:25–26)

But he did not answer her a word. (Mt 15:23a)

God, do not keep silent. Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, God. (Ps 83:1)

His disciples came and pleaded, “Send her away, because she keeps crying out after us.” (Mt 15:23b)

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Mt 15:24)

The Prayer of a believer is made in _________________.

But she came and knelt in front of him, saying, “Lord, help me.” (Mt 15:25)

He answered her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to their little dogs.” (Mt 15:26)

This is the word of the Lord which he spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe: On the plot of ground at Jezre’el, the dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel. (2 Ki 9:36)

The Prayer of a believer is _____________________.

Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table. (Mt 15:27)

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and they certainly are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ So now leave me alone, so that my anger can burn hot against them, so that I may consume them and make you into a great nation.” (Ex 32:9–10)

O Lord, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (Ex 32:11b)

¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? ¹² I will strike them with a plague and disown them. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.” (Nu 14:11–12)

“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” (Mt 15:27)

Martin Luther: She's caught Christ in his own words and he's happy to be caught.

Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! It will be done for you, just as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at that very hour. (Mt 15:28)

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he changes his mind. (Nu 23:19a)

In fact, it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)

For the wages of sin is death. (Ro 6:23a)

God made Jesus, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Co 5:21)

Chad Bird: We hold fast to that which God has promised us in Jesus Christ, the mercy and the grace, and forgiveness, and the peace, and the healing that can only come from him. So, we continue to pray. We continue to ask for God's yes when all we hear is his no. That's what faith does!

Points to Ponder

What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
What stands out to you about the Canaanite woman’s approach to Jesus? How does her persistence challenge or inspire you?
How does Jesus’ initial response to the woman make you feel? What do you think is happening in this interaction?
What does this passage teach us about faith? How does the woman’s response shape our understanding of humility and trust in God?
In what ways do we struggle with including or welcoming those who seem "outside" of God's promises? How can we reflect God's inclusive love in our community?
How does this passage speak to our understanding of prayer and perseverance in seeking God’s help?

Homework: John 4

Overheard

Witnessing Like Jesus

The Prayer Of a Believer

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The Prayer Of a Believer

Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat bread. (Mt 15:2)

The Prayer of a believer comes from ___________.

Jesus left that place and withdrew [ἀναχωρέω (a-na-chō-reō)] into the region of Tyre and Sidon. (Mt 15:21)

… the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah. (1 Ki 18:19)

There a Canaanite woman from that territory came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! A demon is severely tormenting my daughter! (Mt 15:22)

²⁵ Instead, when a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him, she immediately came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ This woman was a Greek, of Syro-Phoenician origin. She asked him to drive the demon out of her daughter. (Mk 7:25–26)

But he did not answer her a word. (Mt 15:23a)

God, do not keep silent. Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, God. (Ps 83:1)

His disciples came and pleaded, “Send her away, because she keeps crying out after us.” (Mt 15:23b)

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Mt 15:24)

The Prayer of a believer is made in _________________.

But she came and knelt in front of him, saying, “Lord, help me.” (Mt 15:25)

He answered her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to their little dogs.” (Mt 15:26)

This is the word of the Lord which he spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe: On the plot of ground at Jezre’el, the dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel. (2 Ki 9:36)

The Prayer of a believer is _____________________.

Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table. (Mt 15:27)

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and they certainly are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ So now leave me alone, so that my anger can burn hot against them, so that I may consume them and make you into a great nation.” (Ex 32:9–10)

O Lord, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (Ex 32:11b)

“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” (Mt 15:27)

Martin Luther: She's caught Christ in his own words and he's happy to be caught.

Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! It will be done for you, just as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at that very hour. (Mt 15:28)

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he changes his mind. (Nu 23:19a)

In fact, it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)

For the wages of sin is death. (Ro 6:23a)

God made Jesus, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Co 5:21)

Chad Bird: We hold fast to that which God has promised us in Jesus Christ, the mercy and the grace, and forgiveness, and the peace, and the healing that can only come from him. So, we continue to pray. We continue to ask for God's yes when all we hear is his no. That's what faith does!

Witnessing Like Jesus

The Prayer Of a Believer

Holiday Inn (Temporary Worship Location)

Contact

The Prayer Of a Believer

Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat bread. (Mt 15:2)

The Prayer of a believer comes from ___________.

Jesus left that place and withdrew [ἀναχωρέω (a-na-chō-reō)] into the region of Tyre and Sidon. (Mt 15:21)

… the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah. (1 Ki 18:19)

There a Canaanite woman from that territory came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! A demon is severely tormenting my daughter! (Mt 15:22)

25 Instead, when a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him, she immediately came and fell down at his feet. 26 This woman was a Greek, of Syro-Phoenician origin. She asked him to drive the demon out of her daughter. (Mk 7:25–26)

But he did not answer her a word. (Mt 15:23a)

God, do not keep silent. Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, God. (Ps 83:1)

His disciples came and pleaded, “Send her away, because she keeps crying out after us.” (Mt 15:23b)

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Mt 15:24)

The Prayer of a believer is made in _________________.

But she came and knelt in front of him, saying, “Lord, help me.” (Mt 15:25)

He answered her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to their little dogs.” (Mt 15:26)

This is the word of the Lord which he spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe: On the plot of ground at Jezre’el, the dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel. (2 Ki 9:36)

The Prayer of a believer is _____________________.

Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table. (Mt 15:27)

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and they certainly are a stiff-necked people. 10 So now leave me alone, so that my anger can burn hot against them, so that I may consume them and make you into a great nation.” (Ex 32:9–10)

O Lord, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (Ex 32:11b)

“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet their little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” (Mt 15:27)

Martin Luther: She's caught Christ in his own words and he's happy to be caught.

Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! It will be done for you, just as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at that very hour. (Mt 15:28)

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he changes his mind. (Nu 23:19a)

In fact, it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)

For the wages of sin is death. (Ro 6:23a)

God made Jesus, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Co 5:21)

Chad Bird: We hold fast to that which God has promised us in Jesus Christ, the mercy and the grace, and forgiveness, and the peace, and the healing that can only come from him. So, we continue to pray. We continue to ask for God's yes when all we hear is his no. That's what faith does!

Witnessing Like Jesus

The Prayer Of a Believer

Holiday Inn (Temporary Worship Location)

Contact

²⁵ Instead, when a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him, she immediately came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ This woman was a Greek, of Syro-Phoenician origin. She asked him to drive the demon out of her daughter. (Mk 7:25–26)

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and they certainly are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ So now leave me alone, so that my anger can burn hot against them, so that I may consume them and make you into a great nation.” (Ex 32:9–10)