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An Intercessory Prayer As a loving mother, her child’s misery became her misery She cried out repeatedly to Jesus (Matt. 15:22): “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David !” “My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” How often do we pray for others? (cf. James 5:16). A Specific Prayer
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An Intercessory Prayer • As a loving mother, her child’s misery became her misery • She cried out repeatedly to Jesus (Matt. 15:22): • “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” • “My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” • How often do we pray for others? (cf. James 5:16)
A Specific Prayer • This mom asked a definite thing—the thing nearest her heart • “She kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter” (Mark 7:25) • When we pray, are we filled with generalities or specifics? • “Ask!” (Matt. 7:7) • “Let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6)
A Persistent Prayer • Consider the obstacles that she struggled against: • The silence of Jesus. “He answered her not a word” (Matt. 15:23) • The attitude of the disciples. Repeatedly urged, “Send her away” • The apparent unwillingness of Jesus to grant her request • “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (15:24) • Yet, even if it seemed in vain, she persisted in her request • Are we persistent in our prayers? (cf. Luke 18:1-8)
A Reverential Prayer • It was not only supplication: • She “fell at His feet” (Mk. 7:25). • It was adoration: • She “worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” (Mt. 15:25) • She knew and believed that He was divine and worthy! • How reverential are our prayers? (cf. Matt. 6:9)
A Humble Prayer • She was willing to accept any name the Lord would give her. • “Let the children be filled first…throw it to the little dogs” (Mk. 7:27) • If she must be a “dog” for her daughter to be healed, so be it! • The Lord gave her an “argumentative handle” & a door of hope. • “Even the little dogs…eat from the children’s crumbs” (7:28) • But even as a dog, all she asked for was a “crumb of a blessing” • How humble are we in our prayers? (cf. Luke 18:9-14)
A Hopeful Prayer • Behind this earnest prayer was great faith! • “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire” (15:28) • Her expectations of the Lord were very high! He was her only hope! • This was faith from an unexpected source: a heathen woman! • How hope-filled & faith-filled are our prayers? (cf. Mt. 7:7-11)