Transcendent Praise

Matthew 15: 26 It is not right to take the children’s bread, and toss it to their dogs.

Has your faith ever been tested? Have you believed God for something – a change in circumstances perhaps – and it seems as though nothing is happening. Should you ‘throw in the towel’ and quit or should you follow this woman’s example and persist? There is a phrase that is often repeated by those who seek healing of physical ailments.  They say “healing is the children’s bread”. I found myself thinking about that some time ago and I decided to find it in Scripture because I wanted to know when did Jesus say it and under what circumstances. It turns out that it is a paraphrase from the account given of Jesus’ encounter with a woman of Canaan in Matthew 15: 21 – 26.

My first reaction to the discourse was why was Jesus so harsh with this woman? From the conversation we see that she clearly knew who Jesus was and came to him believing he was the only one who could help her. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” She was also well aware of the social dynamics in her community. She was a Canaanite, not an Israelite, not Jewish. She was not asking because she felt she deserved to be heard. She came begging for mercy. He ignored her initially but eventually said: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” She persisted in her plea for help and he replied: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Her rejoinder was: “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

On the face of it Jesus’ tone in this conversation seems so uncharacteristic of the way he usually dealt with people in need. Did Jesus speak to humiliate her? I don’t think so because in so many other cases, he touched and healed or often just spoke and brought deliverance to many just out of compassion. In the vicinity where he was, Tyre and Sidon, I think he was just reminding her (and us) that he was the Messiah, first to the Jews as his chosen people. (See Deuteronomy 7:6).

This woman was not deterred. I believe this is encouragement to those of us who think we are not good enough to ask God for anything. All it took was the recognition by her that he is the “Lord” over everything, the “Son of David”, the Sent One who had both the authority and the power to heal her daughter. So she begged, she worshipped and she humbled herself. According to her faith, she received an answer to her prayer.

“I am the true and living Word. In me is life and health. Healing is a gift given to my children as they have need and believe in me. It is not something that is conjured up. It is fully supported by my Word which bears witness to the life I led in the earth. It is for those who will believe in me as the Living Word. My Word gives life. Those who believe shall indeed see that life springs forth in them, both physical and eternal.”

John 8:11 – “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus came to earth as a radical personality. A King born in a manger! Throughout his earthly life he kept surprising everyone. He turned water into wine! He over-ruled tradition and keepers of the law. They dragged a woman to him and said: “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (See John 8: 4 – 5). As if ignoring them he bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger while their questioning continued. Finally he responded: “If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  He started writing again and the accusers disappeared one by one. Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you.” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (See John 8: 7 – 11).

As the dinner guest at a Pharisee’s house one day, Jesus encountered a woman who, by inference, was considered a prostitute. Nevertheless, she came to Jesus in great humility, exposing herself to ridicule and shame by those who knew about her life. Her desire for forgiveness and a change in her life was greater than the humiliation. After letting her tears flow freely on his feet and drying them with her hair, she anointed them with an expensive ointment.  Jesus used this as a teachable moment for his host and guests. He explained that because her sins which were many had been forgiven, hence her exuberant display of gratitude. Then Jesus addressed her directly: “Your sins are forgiven” …. “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Read the full account in Luke 7: 36 – 50).

No matter how tattered and ragged life has made you, do not be in despair. Jesus the Son of God looks at you with nothing but love for you in his eyes. His arms are outstretched to lift you up, to forgive and speak peace to your soul. Claim this kind of healing for yourself today or share it with someone.

“My love for the broken, the oppressed, the down trodden is unlimited. It is for them I died.  My love is to be extended to them through all those who love me in a special way.  A bruised reed will I not break, and a smoking flax I will not quench. Where there is pain and hurt with repentance, I am there to heal, forgive and make whole. Therefore live my love to those in need.”

Joshua 5: 13 – 14 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

Wow! The Lord our God has an army! Naturally! Battles are fought and won in the spiritual and natural realms all day long. Never make the mistake of thinking that something is not real because you don’t see it. God knows all about it and events on the grand stage of our world are under his control. So despite the scheming and rivalries of nation states, God often intervenes and dismantle their plans. I guess if we ever knew the grand schemes of some world leaders we would lay awake at nights and be completely crippled by fear.

In Joshua 3 and 4 the Israelites, led by Joshua had just witnessed another astounding miracle as the Lord dried up the Jordan so they could cross over on dry land. In Chapter 5 Joshua was commanded to carry out the circumcision of all males since they would make up the new army, their fathers having all died during their sojourn in the wilderness. When they were healed, all Israel celebrated the Passover which reminded them of the preservation of their lives in Egypt while the Egyptian households were visited by the angel of death in the night.

Now they were out of Egypt completely, it was time to start taking territory from surrounding nations. They were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, poised to take the city of Jericho which was surrounded by a wall. Then Joshua encountered a man whom he did not recognize and boldly approached him and asked him to identify himself and declare whose side he was on. Was he for Israel or their enemies? Shocker: “Neither,” he replied, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” In other words, he was there to see that God’s agenda was carried out. Naturally, Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence and asked him “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” And notice as well his command to Joshua to “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” You mean God can make a battlefield holy by showing up? Evidently!

In Chapter 6 Joshua listened intently, accepted and implemented God’s battle plan. It took seven days marching before the wall came down, but come down it did. There are many ways to fight, but only God’s way guarantees success. Let us pray for the leaders of this world to bow and seek God’s guidance, recognizing that God has his own agenda. The Holy Spirit confirms:

“Know you not that the Lord of Hosts has his own army? There are times when he reaches down and takes charge himself. He has his own imperatives and entrusts them to no one save his commanders. They take their orders from him alone and are not subject to the corrupting influences of the earth. Thus He is able to rule and over-rule and dismantle the plans of the evil one. Thus things are not always hopeless as you sometimes think because the Lord God will determine the outcome.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

What is weighing you down today? When my daughter was about 11 years old, she was in church with me one Sunday morning together with my mother-in-law. We were singing that wonderful old hymn: “Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away, … I’ll fly away, O glory…” On the way home in the car my daughter said: “Mom, when you sing that song I get the feeling you really are going to fly away.” I laughed out loud and reassured her that I didn’t think it would be any time soon. But that is the hope of the believer. And it brings incredible joy right now especially when life gets tough.

We are in the world but not of it. Jesus said in John 15:19 “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” It should not surprise you then if you sometimes feel “out of place” here. We cannot afford to become so earthbound that we do not enter into heavenly places in Christ while still alive here. So rapturous praise is part of your new life! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3). You have dual citizenship and so you have heavenly privileges you can exercise right now.  The joy of the Lord is your strength! So pray to your Father to empower you by the Holy Spirit to face life’s challenges with joy and courage.

Jesus knew what was happening in the hearts of the disciples just before his crucifixion and how real the difficulties were that they would face. The same is true about your situation and he now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for you. (Romans 8:34, Luke 22:69). You are not an orphan!

II Chronicles 20: 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the Lord.

Do not forget to praise the Lord in the midst of trial and give double praise when the trial is over. There are some trials for which you have no natural resources or weapons. I call these situations the fourth watch – when God sovereignly intervenes. Remember that the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (See II Corinthians 10: 4 -5).

In II Chronicles 20 we see one of those situations. A vast enemy army is approaching. The only weapons available to King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel were prayer, praise and fasting. The praise is evident in the recognition of who God is and had been to his people in the past. “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, no one can withstand you.” (II Chronicles 20: 6). Sometimes it is necessary to go back to go forward. Then the Holy Spirit unleashes hope in you and reminds you not to look at the circumstances but to look to God only and lets you know that this time around the battle is not yours but God’s. So praise and worship Him. Allow yourself to become completely unraveled before your God. He is worthy!

At dawn you will have to set out on the journey to meet the enemy armed only with the assurance and courage God has given you. And you will be in for a surprise because the Lord God will have moved in your behalf.  Hallelujah! I know what I am talking about – one particular incident springs to mind but the story is too long to relate here. It still amazes me when I think about it and I could hardly contain my praise at the time.

The fourth watch breaks into the fourth day. That is the day of praise!  Never forget. When I read this story in II Chronicles 20 some years ago, the Holy Spirit breathed these words to me:

“In the fourth watch I will subdue the enemy. It will be marvelous and men will see and hear of what I have done. And praise shall break fourth. And I will gather up the praise of my people for their praise is precious to me. Their praise is my habitation. I dwell in the midst of praise. And this gathering of praise frees me to bless my people in such abundance that they cannot contain it. So praise my people, praise for in so doing you bring glory down upon your very heads. And the joy of the Lord shall fill your lives.”

Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

If you walk up to a total stranger and ask for something you are considered a beggar. In contrast, your requests to God should flow out of your relationship with him. When you came to Christ for salvation you came asking to be forgiven. You recognized your total poverty and inability to please God in the condition you were in at that point. Now that you are forgiven and cleansed you can now approach God not as a beggar but as his child. You are a child in whom the Father takes pleasure. Would to God we could guarantee every child a good father, because if we could, it would be so much easier for everyone to grasp the simple truth of God’s love. If you did not have a good father, then take hold of the liberty which knowing your Heavenly Father brings. He loves you with an everlasting love. He gave his Son to prove his love for you. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how shall he not also along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

Out of your relationship should flow adoration, praise and thanksgiving to God for who he is and for your new life. You do have needs and your Father knows what they are. You may wonder then why you should even have to recite them. Well, one of the things I have found is that in voicing what is in your heart you begin to examine your motivations. That is a good thing because the main purpose of praying is not so you can tell God what to do, but rather that your relationship to God can be purified. Remember, he taught his disciples to pray to the Father: “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). You are now part of the kingdom and this vision has to come alive in you before it can become your mission.

Ask now for your daily bread – the needs that surround you, your family, friends, neighborhood, country, peace in your work relationships, etc. Ask to be forgiven not just for what you know you have done wrong but for the things you know you should have done but didn’t. And remember this request requires you to forgive those who have wronged you. Ask to be delivered from the schemes of the evil one and for protection. Now rise and go in peace knowing your Heavenly Father loves you.

Psalm 120:1 I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.

Are you in trouble? Things happen. It is important to remember that there are situations in which only God can help you. At such a time one thing you can do is to take comfort from the Book of Psalms. The Psalms help us to express emotions, thoughts and prayers when our own words fail. Psalm 120 thru Psalm 133 can be particularly helpful in this regard. They are called the Psalms of Ascent and although not all of them were written by King David, some of them do refer to a very tumultuous time in his life. On some level one would think that a king rules and should not be subject to so much drama and trauma in his personal life, yet he seems to have had more than his fair share. I believe, however, that his resilience was the result of a total dependence on God to bring him out of every calamity every time.

How much trouble was King David in? Read about one ugly episode he had to endure in the Book of II Samuel, chapters 15 thru 19. There is mutiny in the King’s house. His son Absalom whom he loved had forced him to abandon his palace and run for his life while admitting that he had no idea where he was going. We read that at one point the King was climbing up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. (II Samuel 15:30). The King! Homeless, heartbroken, humiliated, experiencing a total reversal of fortune!  How can this be happening to him? Yet we know David loved God and understood total surrender. (II Samuel 15:26). The fact is that faith in God does not shield believers from life’s challenges. The difference is that you have the assurance that God is with you and will bring you through if you will submit and depend on him. David not only experienced God’s provision of help along the way but was eventually restored to his throne.

One of the most difficult challenges I have faced was Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. It inundated my home, filling up my basement with a filthy sewage/sea water mix which overflowed into every corner of the upstairs. Everything was ruined, mandating a total gut renovation. It left the neighborhood looking like a war zone. Why, Lord? I could not wrap my mind around it. I had held hands with my son and prayed for God’s protection for my house before we evacuated. Somehow I expected an exemption, but that was not the reality.  But God has been faithful to bring help and restoration. I had been reading the Bible through and in the aftermath of Sandy I was in the book of Amos. After my reading one morning the Holy Spirit spoke to me:

“I am the Lord God. I have said to my people over and over again, fear not, but they do not listen. My love for my people will not allow me to forsake them. They are precious to me and whatever their circumstances may be they must always, always look for my hand of mercy. I am their God and I will not abandon them.”

Matthew 5: 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Wow! That is a command from Christ himself to his disciples and to his present day followers by extension.  The expression “nobody is perfect” is bandied about so lightly today to excuse every shortcoming.  So what are we to do? If we understand that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ then we also know that we are not saved by our deeds so “trying to be perfect” is not what is going to get us to heaven.

When I take a look at Matthew 5 in its entirety, I see that Jesus was addressing a lot of practical life issues. It is the passage that lists the Beatitudes or blessings of living right in God’s sight. It addresses the believer’s role as “salt” and “light” in the world. It also addresses issues such as murder, adultery, divorce, taking oaths and being vengeful on one’s enemies. In the last few verses Jesus summed it all up and lets us know that his followers cannot be like everyone else; our deeds and general conduct have to set us apart and demonstrate attributes of God our Father. In essence we begin to be transformed in our conduct in the same way children base their behavior on the day to day precepts taught by their parents.

In the normal course of our lives, we get tested all the time. Should tithe be on your net or gross income? Should you disclose all your tips or sources of income? Should you fudge the date or amount on certain expenses so you can get a greater benefit? Should you inflate the number of hours worked on the report you are about to submit so as to increase your pay?   I recently had a proposition along similar lines which would allow me to receive a higher reimbursement on a claim if I would agree to delay the submission date. Sounded all logical and reasonable and at first I “swallowed it whole”.  No sooner I hung up the phone, the Holy Spirit wanted me to explain what I had just done.  I couldn’t. The problem you see is that I have had ongoing discussions with my ‘co-conspirator’ about Christ and the position he holds in my life, so any future engagement on that subject would be forever compromised. “You are the light of the world…….let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 14-16).  When the bill came a few days later, steep though it was, I paid it in full right away. I have to shine because my Father’s name is at stake. The Holy Spirit has since explained perfection to me this way:

“Perfection is the result of purification. So when the Holy Spirit speaks to you about an act or attitude accept the correction and change your ways.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you: I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

When was the last time you felt peaceful? I didn’t say happy. Happiness is very momentary and situational. It is easy to be happy when something wonderful happens but that feeling can pass very quickly. The peace that Jesus talked about is very different because it originates from an entirely different place. He is your peace. The fellowship you have with him is not of this world. It does not depend on your circumstances. That is why believers can go through sickness, pain, hardship, imprisonment, life-threatening situations and come out stronger for it. That is not to say they do not experience normal human emotions in the midst of the suffering but they tap into the power that comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit. Remember that promise of Jesus: “And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” (John 14:16). That promise was fulfilled after his ascension to heaven.

Beyond this sustaining power of the Holy Spirit is the Christian’s belief in the sovereignty and eternal nature of God. He knows the end from the beginning and the life of every child of his is completely within his gaze at all times. If you can ever grasp this fact, it will become possible for you to let go of worry and fear about your future.

“I am the Eternal God. What I start, I finish. Not a child of mine who lives in obedience is ever going to be left to fend for himself or herself. I will be the provider for their needs. As David said, the righteous will not be forsaken. I am a good God, a faithful God. Heaven and earth are mine. My resources are limitless. How then shall I stand by and watch my children suffer want. Only be thou faithful in your obedience and leave the future to me. I am the Eternal God.”

2 Samuel 12: 9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

God is all about full disclosure. The forgiveness of sin which occurs when one confesses his need for Christ as Savior and submits to the rule of God in his life is a one-time event which ignites a relationship with Almighty God as Father. However in living out this new life a child of God is likely to commit sins. There is a war that goes on constantly. “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (Galatians 5:17).

So what to do when you succumb to temptation and commit sins? We see a supreme example in the life of David. When he was still a young lad, the Lord had sent the prophet Samuel to anoint him as King over Israel. From that day the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power (1 Samuel 16:13). Later, after he came to the throne, II Samuel chapters 11 and 12 record the full drama of how David’s willful, conniving, covetous, and lustful desires got the better of him. The account is scary in its detail.

The Lord sent Nathan the prophet to confront David. When David’s own conscience convicted him of the enormity of the evil he had done – conspiracy in the murder of one of his faithful commanders and then committing adultery with the man’s wife – he broke down and admitted he had sinned against God.  His prayer of confession and repentance is recorded in Psalm 51. Nathan assured him that the Lord had taken away his sin and would spare his life “But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” (II Samuel 12:14). There would also be other consequences in his household later on.

Every so often we will have to come to a point of full disclosure before God because he is holy and we are not. Find words to express what you have done and ask for his forgiveness so you can be restored. At the same time make amends where possible to those you have injured by your indiscretion. The Lord knows the real you and your job as his child is to come into agreement with his purpose.