Matthew 15:23-24..Ready

Matthew 15:23-24..Ready

15:23  Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us. (It wasn’t Peter she was seeking but Jesus. Let us not get big heads -New)  Peter feared that her screaming would attract a crowd and they would lose they’re alone time with Jesus-(New) 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (For Complete Expository See Book)

Extended Sermons

“Teaches how oftentimes the Lord works to grow & deepen our faith in order to draw us closer to Him.” → Jesus draws out of us a greater measure of faith we don’t even know we have.  The Lord often tests our faith to see if we really mean business in what we want to do. In those moments where prayers seem to go unanswered and it feels as though God is silent, He may actually be inviting us to persevere, to trust that His timing and ways are perfect, even when we cannot see the outcome. Rather than give up, we are called to continue seeking Him, knowing that every season of waiting can strengthen our faith and forge a deeper relationship with the Lord. Will you see silence as not as indifference, but rather as a chance to grow in patience and dependence, that God’s love often works beneath the surface, preparing us for blessings and understanding that only come with steadfast faith and persistence.

“Teaches painful silence can be hard to endure when it comes from the Lord, even harder when it comes from callous believers as well.” ⇒ Don’t let skeptics and critics keep you from Jesus. Don’t let unbelieving disciples pull you away. Don’t let ungracious followers stop you from coming to Jesus. In moments where you feel discouraged or dismissed by others, especially those of the Faith, don’t give up. Painful silence can be hard trial to endure when it comes from the Lord, but even harder when it comes from uncompassionate and self-centered believers as well. If your going through a season of life where it seems people and things are pushing you more away from Jesus than bringing you closer, don’t give up. When other Christians give you the cold-shoulder, don’t give up! Don’t let the uncompassionate behavior of other Christians allow you to lose faith or keep you from coming to Jesus. Don’t turn from Jesus just because some Christian treated you badly or said something about you. Don’t let the hardhearted and hypocritical behavior of others deter you.

“Warns against a callous heart that doesn’t want to deal with difficult people, wishing they’d take their problems elsewhere.” ⇒ Are you too much into your “me-time” to be inconvenienced by others. Are you only caring when your favorite show isn’t on. Are you only caring if you don’t have to leave your house and go somewhere. Has anyone brought you a difficult problem and the only thing you can think of is “Good luck with that”. They say my daughter has cancer, “Good luck with that”. My son is addicted to heroin, “Good luck with that”. Our child just came out to us, “Good luck with that” When facing the burdens of others, it’s easy to want retreat—to wish the world would leave us in peace. But true compassion calls us out of comfort zones and into the messiness of life. Real love chooses inconvenience, reaching out when we’d rather turn away, making space for the hurting even when our own needs feel overwhelming.

Even today, what do you do when God seems distant and uncaring. What do you do when you’re prayers go unanswered. Do you persevere in prayer & worship or do you give up.”→ Have you ever earnestly and passionately prayed for something and wondered if God is there or even listening. Just because your prayers go unanswered, does not mean God’s not listening. It could mean God doesn’t feel your ready, or God wants to bring you to better place.  Will you trust that God is working out His plans in His own time and His own ways no matter how long it takes. Sometimes God makes us wait because He’s teaching us how to persevere in prayer. How to continue trusting Him and following Him when we don’t get what we want right away. Sometimes the answers is neither “yes or No” Its “Wait”. We may not like that answer. But know this, every time God makes us wait He is strengthening our faith that may continue pursuing Him. It’s just like when you lift weights. You got to increase the weight, you got to add and increase resistance if your muscles are going to grow. That’s the same way God grows us by allowing us to face resistance, and we grow in greater faith and perseverance. That begs the question, how do I know when to stop? How do I know that God’s silence in this season of prayer. Is it Him demanding more faith in me, or is it Him asking me to move on?  Do I continue, do I intensify, do I need to put more energy into it. If your asking that your asking the wrong question because prayer is not about formulas or calculations, but about persevering until God makes it known one way or the other. There are indicators such as am I praying for something that is not according to God’s will? Something that God has already made clear in His Word. For other grey areas that are not mapped out in for us in God’s Word. Life discissions as to where I should work, where should I live, who should I marry, etc.  We can know through God’s providential intervention, whether spiritual or physical. As an example lets say you’ve been praying about a person being your spouse. If your asking the Lord “Is this the person I’m to marry?” And that girls gets married, you can stop praying, God just answered your prayer and just move on.  Our lets say your praying for someone’s healing, you don’t stop you keep praying until God heals them or takes them home.

Additional Notes & Applications 

Teaches when prayers go unanswered, rather than give up trust the Lord hears your cries and will respond in His own time & way.

Teaches how Jesus’ silence is meant to test us. To see if we will step-up. Or remain too bothered and too put-out to get involved.

Warns if not careful or we can be tempted take the Lords entail silence as God not interested. That’s a lie from the Enemy, do not believe it for a second!

Warns against getting so caught up in our own spiritual needs and comforts that we neglect the lost and hurting around us.

Warns against taking the Lord’s silence as not wanting us to minister to certain people.

Calls for not allowing the brush-offs and rejections of others to discourage us. (Don’t let Naysayers deter you!)

Teaches even though God has His own order of development, fulfillment, and progression, there’s still a plan for us in it. God has a order and purpose unfolding in your life.  Sometimes mercies and blessing come through the hand of others before it reaches you.

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