Church 5/17/2026
Offertory scripture:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
Sermon message:
We prayed for and rededicated our country to Jesus Christ.
Thesis: You are important to God.
In Mark 4, Jesus was in the boat facing the shore preaching to a great multitude of people.
“And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.”Mark 4:1 NKJV
In Mark 5, Jesus said let’s go to the other side of the sea, for just one individual to minister to. Brief sampling of verses from Mark 5:
“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,”Mark 5:1-2 NKJV
“For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!””Mark 5:8 NKJV
“And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.”Mark 5:13 NKJV
“And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.”Mark 5:18-21 NKJV
Yes, God came to a multitude to minister to them.
But he also will come for you specifically.
“So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”Luke 15:3-7 NKJV
Parable of the 99 sheep. Sought and found that one lost sheep and rejoiced because it was found.
““Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.””Luke 15:8-10 NKJV
Parable of the woman with the lost coin. She searched until she found it. She rejoiced when she found it.
God cares about the multitudes but He also cares about the one.
You are important to God.
Matthew 15:21-28 focus passage
“Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”Matthew 15:21-28 NKJV
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”Romans 12:2 NKJV
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”Romans 10:10 NKJV
Jesus knew there was someone with a problem. He made sure to find them and minister to them.
Point 1: God knows who you are, where you are, and what you need.
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”Psalms 139:7-12 NKJV
““Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”Matthew 6:8 NKJV
Don’t be like people who pray incorrectly. God already knows what you need.
“Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.”Matthew 15:21 NKJV
This is outside of Israel, well into a pagan land. Usually He ministered to Israel only. This was quite a hike from where He usually walked. It was 2 1/2 days’ walk one way to get to where this region was, where this woman was. She was a Canaanite, of a pagan people. And she had a need. Jesus saw that there was a need.
Point #2: God listens to what you pray and what you say.
Jesus only went to this woman’s region was for her only. He ministered to her, and then turned around and left.
You can pray in faith but interrupt or halt it by how you talk otherwise. Praying and saying need to be consistent with one another. Pray, believe, and talk in agreement with what you pray.
“And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.””Matthew 15:22 NKJV
She began with asking for mercy. And then she spoke with faith, that Jesus is Lord and the promised Messiah/Son from David’s branch.
Don’t let what you say cancel what you pray.
Point 3: God teaches us that our faith with be challenged.
Our faith is a fight.
Below verse: emphasis on first part
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”I Timothy 6:12 NKJV
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”Ephesians 6:11 NKJV
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”Galatians 6:9 NKJV
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”James 1:5-8 NKJV
“But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.””Matthew 15:23 NKJV
Jesus didn’t answer the woman right away. The disciples wanted to give her what she wanted so they could shut her up.
“But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.””Matthew 15:24 NKJV
Jesus isn’t talking to the woman yet, only to the disciples. But within earshot.
“Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!””Matthew 15:25 NKJV
The woman didn’t shut up; she worshiped Jesus before receiving anything.
Even so Jesus still didn’t help, but He did finally talk to her.
“But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.””Matthew 15:26 NKJV
Jesus wasn’t being cruel. He was challenging her faith to see if it was real.
“And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.””Matthew 15:27 NKJV
The woman confessed she realized she wasn’t part of the family of Israel, Gods chosen people. But even a crumb would be powerful enough to meet her need.
God shows he is more powerful than our problems.
“Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”Matthew 15:28 NKJV
Jesus is saying His family wouldn’t even receive the food He has given them, but this woman would be happy to receive anything.
“Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.”Matthew 15:29 NKJV
Jesus and His disciples then turned around and left. She was the whole reason why they went to the region to begin with.
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