Package From Altar: How Great Is Your Faith-Dr Otabi Mensah

Dr Otabil Mensah
There are times when we need a miracle from God, but we face obstacles to receiving it. We may wish for God to speak into our lives, yet we do not hear from Him. You may have drifted away from Him and feel you are not chosen, or entitled to His help. Such was the case for the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21–28.

She cried, “Have mercy on me”. Mercy is not about what you deserve, or inherit. It is a gift of favor that goes beyond merit, and it goes beyond man. You cannot earn mercy, you can only receive it from God.

Then she cried, “O Lord, Son of David.” She recognized that Jesus was both Lord and man; that He was at once the Creator and ruler FROM ABOVE, as well as the Messiah, and redeemer who resides WITH US.

Even though she faced THREE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS, she worshiped the Lord. Even though HE DID NOT ANSWER HER CALL, and even though He told her SHE WAS NOT PART OF GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE. She worshiped him. Even though SHE WAS NOT ENTITLED to a miracle, SHE WORSHIPED HIM, and because THE LORD IS GOOD AND HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER, He solved her problem.

What we learn from this scripture is that:

1. GOD’S SILENCE IS NOT A REJECTION; IT IS A TEST OF FAITH. Though He did not speak to her, she still believed in His almighty power, and He commended her faith.

2. MERCY IS NOT BASED ON MERIT, but on God’s everlasting love for us. She was not part of God’s people; in fact, she was from a doomed community, but GOD IS GOOD AND HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.

3. MERCY IS NOT BASED ON INHERITANCE. She was not entitled; others had priority over her, but she worshiped Him and He showed her mercy. THE LORD IS GOOD, AND HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.

4. WORSHIP MAGNIFIES GOD BEFORE HIS PEOPLE.

5. WORSHIP CREATES HEAVEN’S ATMOSPHERE ON EARTH

6. PERSISTENCE WORKS. Even though she was not entitled to the Lord’s bread, she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” She knew His power. She knew He was the Lord. She knew that even the crumbs are part of the bread, and that the Lord’s crumbs could solve her problem. THOSE WHO WORSHIP AT THE FEET OF THE MASTER WILL FEED FROM HIS TABLE. So she worshiped him.

HOW GREAT IS YOUR FAITH? How determined are you to trust the Lord? How determined are you to press through even when you do not hear from Him? You may say to yourself “I have drifted away from God, and I don’t deserve His help”. In that situation, do you still trust that HE CAN, that HE IS MERCIFUL, and that HE LOVES YOU?

HOW GREAT IS YOUR FAITH?

Dr Otabil Mensah