Article of the Month

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0ecacac3.jpg"> <div> <B>Article of the Month</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=180 BGCOLOR="#000099" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Solid Rock Baptist Church"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="message.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Message from the Pastor"><U><B>A Message From Our Pastor</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="doctrine.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Doctrinal Statement"><U><B>Doctrinal Statement</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="salvation.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Salvation"><U><B>Plan of Salvation</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Pastors  Article</B></div> <div> <A HREF="links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="other_articles.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Articles"><U><B>Other Articles</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="photos.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="photos1"><U><B>Photo Gallery</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="contact_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="guestbook.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guestbook"><U><B>Guestbook</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B><U>ARTICLE of the MONTH</U></B></div> <bR> <div> This is an outline of a message preached by me at the Church that helped me greatly even in preparing for it. I hope it can be an encouragement to you in your walk with the Lord.</div> <bR> <div> <B>WHAT WILL YOUR FAITH ENDURE?</B></div> <div> <B>MATTHEW 15:21 – 28</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>INTRO:</B> Very familiar passage today. We have heard this and read it 1000 times probably. It is one of the great passages on faith that there is recorded. I want to look at it maybe a little different than we have before though.</div> <bR> <div> We know as saints that the enemy is going to fight us and hinder us and try to dissuade our faith to get us to doubt God. He wants our faith to be destroyed. We have a tendency to think that every time something comes by to push our faith, it is of the devil. But notice something here in this passage. The only devil mentioned is in this woman’s daughter, not around her, and yet this woman is a picture of Faith. She comes to see Jesus with a heavy heart. Most likely burdened almost beyond sanity over the condition of her daughter. She basically came to the church. Let me show you what I am seeing in this passage.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1. HE RESISTED HER (IGNORED)(VERSE 23) </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Here she was, looking directly at God, trusting him, and depending on him. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">She cried out in desperation for help to this one who had helped so many. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He plays like she’s not even there! How rude is that? </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">You know her flesh rose up. "May have had a brief thought courtesy of the devil. "Who does he think he is?" </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">She remembered about how he said he would never leave nor forsake his people. She believed what his word had said. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">She didn't run off in a huff. She didn't go sit down and cry and say, "It’s over now" either. She kept right on going with him. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">How do you respond when it seems the Lord is resisting you by not answering you a word? </div> <bR> <div> <B>2. THEY RESTRAINED HER (DISCIPLES STOOD AGAINST HER) (VERSE 23) </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">What we see here basically is the carnal side of the disciples. They slip into pharisee mode. Here are 12 men who forgot where they come from, thinking they deserve something, telling the Lord to get rid of her because she is crying after them. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It would be the equivalent of you going through a battle, needing help from God, none to be found, and turning to your church for help and prayer, and the church voting you out. Most of you know how deacons are. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Now the flesh is ready to buck at that. I know. You need a friend you can see and talk to. You need someone to pray with you, and they turn around and tell you to get lost. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Oh, if she had had her eyes on men, this would be the end of this passage. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Yet she was patiently waiting on him. </div> <bR> <div> <B>3. HE REBUKED HER (HE HAD NOTHING FOR HER) (VERSE 24) </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I mean, let’s face it. That had to be somewhat devastating. Putting it bluntly, he said, "You're not a Jew! I am not doing anything for you" </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jesus hit her with her race. He rebuked her for even being so bold as to ask, her being a woman of Canaan. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">That’s what he said. I am here for Jews only. I don't have nothing to do for her, or with her. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ever feel like the Lord is telling you, "I have nothing for you!" </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">That is a heart breaking feeling. I know we've never heard him speak it, but after so many times of praying over the same thing, and there seems to be no reply, we get to feeling like this woman, and the flesh says, "He don't have anything for you." </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The flesh wants to turn and walk away. Wants to get bitter and angry, and just get as far away from God as possible. But she gives us a great example. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I see this great unnamed woman as an equal to a New Testament Job. I can see it as she worshipped. Remembering Job maybe. …skin worms.. in my flesh.. I will stand in the latter day. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Seemed like it was over, and she went to worshipping anyhow. Where does it say you have to FEEL like worshipping. Where does it say only worship when things are great? </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Then look what the Lord did. </div> <bR> <div> <B>4. HE RIDICULED HER (CALLED HER A DOG) (VERSE 26) </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This was not the devil calling this lady a dog. This was the Lord. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Where I come from, if you call a woman a dog, you are probably going to have a little bit of trouble. Heard a colored preacher say, "If that was my momma, Son of God or not, it woulda been on!" </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ever seemed like the Lord was mocking you and leading you on and trying to just flat insult you. He called you a dog. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Devil says, "Fight" Flesh says, "Kill", but Faith says, I still trust you Lord. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I'm going to be honest with you, I know the Lord. It would not surprise me a bit if he were standing there thinking in himself, "Come on!! One more time. Ask me one more time, etc." </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He called her a dog. In her mind, she remembered other dogs who God had blessed. Rahab, Ruth, how the Lord said he would bless who he wanted to. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I can see her looking up with a hurt heart, and saying, ""Lord, just give me a crumb. I'll lick it off the floor like a dog if that is what you want, but give me a crumb. My daughter is in a bad way Lord. Give me a crumb!" </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">She knows this that she is asking is only a crumb in relation to what he could do if he wanted to. </div> <bR> <div> <B>5. HE REWARDED HER (GRANTED HER REQUEST) (VERSE 28) </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Lord heard all he needed to hear. Those disciples standing there saying to themselves, "I'll be glad when this service is over! She just had to come in here and cause chaos. And the Lord, ha! Why does he even bother with people like that. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Non believers in the congregation thinking, "Geez Lady! Quite embarrassing yourself" and "I knew he was a fake" and "Let him call me a dog! I'll make him a crumb" </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The church, the world, the flesh, and somewhere in the shadows, the devil. All watching the scene. They all see the Lord answer her prayer and reward her with what she asked for. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Part of what makes this test of faith so special is that we are not dealing with a need. We are dealing with a desire. She would have still been a woman if her daughter dies, still healthy, etc. till the funeral bill come in. Her daughter could have lived a pretty good long life with a devil. Baptists do it all the time. The cupboards not bare, she is not running around with no clothes on from poverty. In fact I have read a few folks that have said she was possibly pretty well off. So we are not dealing with faith getting our NEEDS met. We're dealing with faith getting a burden lifted, a desire met, and yet Jesus did it to reward this ladies faith. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Yet sometimes it happens with our needs as well. We keep trusting. The Devil messes with us. We expect that. The world gives us a fit. We expect that. Our flesh gets it’s feelings hurt. That’s natural. Then it seems like even God has called us a dog. What will you do? </div> <bR> <div> <B>CONC:</B> I am closing with that question. What will you do? Will you go away. Will you get hurt and bitter and angry? Are you going to stay depressed for the rest of your life? What are you going to do? What are we going to do church? The Lord may be waiting to see our response. I'd hate to get to Heaven and found out I quit when one more time of trusting would've been the one that was needed to see the mighty hand of God. I encourage you this morning to look straight up into Heaven and cry, "Lord, give me a crumb"</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>God Bless you is our prayer here at Solid Rock Baptist Church!</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>To view letters from previous months, please visit:</B></div> <div> <A HREF="archives19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Article Archives"><U><B>Prayer Letter Archives</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>