Ken Lovelace Ministries


F a i t h M a t t e r s with Dr. Ken Lovelace Emphasis: Faith How To Develop Mega-Faith Today's Scripture Passage - Mark 7:24-30 24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." 28 "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." 30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. In this story Jesus left the Jewish area of Galilee for the seaport of Tyre, a pagan Gentile area. This was a very un-Jewish and un-rabbinical thing to do, but He knew there was a desperate mother there. Notice the verbs used to describe her: she heard about Him, came, fell at his feet, and begged His help. Yet Jesus answered her not a word. Her response to His non-response was to keep crying for mercy. Desperate people do desperate things. When we're desperate, we don't care what people think, nor do we give up easily. Jesus finally said, in summary, "I've been sent to the lost sheep of Israel. My mission is the Jews. Why take the food of children and give it to dogs?" The word dog would be better translated, little dog or puppy. "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their puppy." Jesus was not being unkind, but making a theological point-His first priority was the Jewish people. "Yes, Lord," the woman replied, "but even the puppies under the table get some crumbs." In other words, "What you're saying is true, but I don't need the full meal. Just a few crumbs will be sufficient." Can you sense this woman's faith? Jesus did. "Woman," He said, "you have great faith!" The Greek word is meg'-as, source of the English prefix mega. This woman had mega-faith! From this story, notice seven characteristics of mega-faith: 1. Mega-faith does not deny the problem. It is not the power of positive thinking or a way of looking at life through rose-colored glasses. Mega-faith is realistic, acknowledging the challenges, difficulties, struggles, and sufferings. 2. Mega-faith goes directly to the source of blessing. As soon as she heard of Christ, she came and fell at His feet. We sometimes depend too much on our own abilities and resources. But great faith knows that beyond our own resources is the source of all power and blessing-God Himself! (See Heb. 4:14-16.) 3. Mega-faith throws itself at the feet of Jesus. This was an act of submission, carrying the idea of abandonment to the purpose, plan, and power of God. She didn't come with her own plan and ask Jesus to bless it. She said, "Lord, I give this to You." It's frightening to give up control, but when we yield control to Christ, what freedom comes! 4. Mega-faith is persistent. At first, Jesus doesn't answer this woman; and when He finally did answer her, His tone was discouraging. But she kept begging. We should always pray and not faint. Prayer and faith persist, even when God seems to respond not a word. 5. Mega-faith repeats the word of God. This woman took what Jesus said, repeated it back to Him, then added a request to it. Great faith is anchored in Scripture. 6. Mega-faith responds with submission. "Yes, Lord," the woman said. Those are two very important words in our prayer vocabulary. They acknowledge Him who is in charge, like Jesus in the Garden, ". . . not my will, but Your will be done." Great faith surrenders the outcome to God, Who knows what is best for us. 7. Mega-faith is always rewarded. Going home, this woman found her child whole and the demon gone. Great faith is always rewarded with divine intervention that comes either through a miracle or through a specific message from God that enables us on the journey. Conclusion Maybe you're thinking, "That's easy for you to say, but you don't know what I'm facing." The beauty of this story is that it was not the faith of the demon-possessed girl that brought healing; it was the faith of her loving mother. Ruth Bell Graham, in her book Prodigals and Those Who Love Them, recorded a prayer of her own, knowing from experience the worries of a mother whose children go through difficult times: Listen, Lord, a mother's praying low and quiet: listen, please. Listen what her tears are saying, see her heart upon its knees; lift the load from her bowed shoulders till she sees and understands, You, Who hold the worlds together, hold her problems in Your hands. If you can't muster mega-faith, learn to trust in the faith of those around you. God honors their faith on your behalf. Never underestimate the prayers and faith of others in your behalf. Oh Father, please grant us great faith. Copyright © 2009. Faith Matters by Dr. Ken Lovelace. All rights reserved. KDT072709

F a i t h M a t t e r s
with Dr. Ken Lovelace
Emphasis: Faith

How To Develop Mega-Faith

Today's Scripture Passage - Mark 7:24-30

24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.

25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.

26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27 "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

28 "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

29 Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."

30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

In this story Jesus left the Jewish area of Galilee for the seaport of Tyre, a pagan Gentile area. This was a very un-Jewish and un-rabbinical thing to do, but He knew there was a desperate mother there.

Notice the verbs used to describe her: she heard about Him, came, fell at his feet, and begged His help. Yet Jesus answered her not a word. Her response to His non-response was to keep crying for mercy. Desperate people do desperate things.

When we're desperate, we don't care what people think, nor do we give up easily.

Jesus finally said, in summary, "I've been sent to the lost sheep of Israel. My mission is the Jews. Why take the food of children and give it to dogs?" The word dog would be better translated, little dog or puppy. "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their puppy."

Jesus was not being unkind, but making a theological point-His first priority was the Jewish people. "Yes, Lord," the woman replied, "but even the puppies under the table get some crumbs."

In other words, "What you're saying is true, but I don't need the full meal. Just a few crumbs will be sufficient." Can you sense this woman's faith? Jesus did.

"Woman," He said, "you have great faith!" The Greek word is meg'-as, source of the English prefix mega. This woman had mega-faith! From this story, notice seven characteristics of mega-faith:

1. Mega-faith does not deny the problem. It is not the power of positive thinking or a way of looking at life through rose-colored glasses. Mega-faith is realistic, acknowledging the challenges, difficulties, struggles, and sufferings.

2. Mega-faith goes directly to the source of blessing. As soon as she heard of Christ, she came and fell at His feet. We sometimes depend too much on our own abilities and resources. But great faith knows that beyond our own resources is the source of all power and blessing-God Himself! (See Heb. 4:14-16.)

3. Mega-faith throws itself at the feet of Jesus. This was an act of submission, carrying the idea of abandonment to the purpose, plan, and power of God. She didn't come with her own plan and ask Jesus to bless it. She said, "Lord, I give this to You." It's frightening to give up control, but when we yield control to Christ, what freedom comes!

4. Mega-faith is persistent. At first, Jesus doesn't answer this woman; and when He finally did answer her, His tone was discouraging. But she kept begging. We should always pray and not faint. Prayer and faith persist, even when God seems to respond not a word.

5. Mega-faith repeats the word of God. This woman took what Jesus said, repeated it back to Him, then added a request to it. Great faith is anchored in Scripture.
6. Mega-faith responds with submission. "Yes, Lord," the woman said. Those are two very important words in our prayer vocabulary. They acknowledge Him who is in charge, like Jesus in the Garden, ". . . not my will, but Your will be done." Great faith surrenders the outcome to God, Who knows what is best for us.

7. Mega-faith is always rewarded. Going home, this woman found her child whole and the demon gone. Great faith is always rewarded with divine intervention that comes either through a miracle or through a specific message from God that enables us on the journey.

Conclusion

Maybe you're thinking, "That's easy for you to say, but you don't know what I'm facing." The beauty of this story is that it was not the faith of the demon-possessed girl that brought healing; it was the faith of her loving mother.

Ruth Bell Graham, in her book Prodigals and Those Who Love Them, recorded a prayer of her own, knowing from experience the worries of a mother whose children go through difficult times:

Listen, Lord,

a mother's praying

low and quiet:

listen, please.

Listen what her tears

are saying,

see her heart

upon its knees;

lift the load

from her bowed shoulders

till she sees

and understands,

You, Who hold

the worlds together,

hold her problems

in Your hands.

If you can't muster mega-faith, learn to trust in the faith of those around you. God honors their faith on your behalf. Never underestimate the prayers and faith of others in your behalf. Oh Father, please grant us great faith.

Copyright © 2009. Faith Matters by Dr. Ken Lovelace. All rights reserved.

KDT072709