Sermon: Heaven is Here (8-20-23)

Sunday, August 20th, 2023 (The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)

Isa 56:1-8 Ps 67 Rom 11:13-24 Matt 15:21-28

Introduction 

STORY: A woman from Retirement Home 

• Pentecost: asked me for anointing and prayers for healing. When I did not show up she called me, Irene, left voicemails. 
• Someone said, “she is being RUDE.” 
• She did not stop asking for prayers until I laid my hands on her. 

Healing in the scriptures

• As human creatures living in the world, we know that something is broken about the world. 

REASON: Earth was made for heaven. 

• All healing is an anticipation of that unity between heaven and earth.

MERCY: Have Mercy on ME!

MERCY: not getting what we deserve.

1. So why would she ask for it?
2. This is not something that she has the right to, not something that she has earned. She has no rights to this request - 
3. but she shouts for it.

IDENTITY: She is not a SHEbrew/Judean

1. Gentile

Division between Greeks (Matthew’s word for Gentiles) and Hebrews.

1. Persistent & Insistent

v.22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting
v.23 “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.”

Her Approach: The woman's attitude of being aggressive - she was not worried about being put off, she was going to receive healing even if she had to upset the healer.

BELOVED:
Mercy is not dependent on the worthiness of the recipient but the kindness of the giver.

HESED - “Enduring Love-Mercy”, “Loyal Love”
Image of God
She is made in the image of God.
Her brokenness is something only God can heal.

APPLICATION:

Our God is a God of Hesed: Enduring Love-Mercy. 

• It is out of God’s HESED that he asks us to PUT HIM FIRST.

AND - 

• In showing us our desperate temporary circumstances, God is showing us our desperate ETERNAL circumstances.

Jeremiah 29:12-13

12 When you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart […] 

HUMILITY Jesus: Lord, Son of David
Coming to Jesus on Jesus’ terms, using Hebrew titles
David is King (Messiah) Lord - Kurios - Kyrie Eleison

HUMBLE: 

1. Kneeling: She is more interested in God’s healing than her pride: HUMBLE. 
2. Jesus called her a wild DOG: not a pet dog, a RAT DOG. A Pest. 
3. She did not disagree with him. And in comparison to Jesus, she is a mangy mutt. SO ARE WE!!!!
4. She did not let her pride get in the way. She saw Jesus’ healing mercy as greater than her status or stature.

APPLICATION: 

• We need to remove our POSTURE OF PRIDE: 
• It does not work in a country club church
• We must become a HOUSE OF HEALING

Psalm 126:5-6

5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

Conclusion: Heaven Fall Down
I HAVE ONE JOB: To get you to heaven

1. We do not have to wait for you to die. 
2. On earth as in heaven … heaven and earth unite in the Church.

You can encounter heaven now: Like Jesus, James, and John on the mountain when Jesus became transfigured before them and shined brighter th

Thank you for listening!
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Transcript

0:09

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY I'M SO GLAD TO BE WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING UM I WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT THE LORD HAS BEEN PERCOLATING WITHIN MY HEART FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND JUST RECENTLY THROUGH UM THE REVELATION OF A SERMON GIVEN SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY YOU KNOW ONE OF THESE ONE OF THESE STATES IT'S IT'S NOT THE OLD YORK BUT IT'S A IT'S A NEWER YORK SOMEONE ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS SENT ME A SERMON THIS WEEK ABOUT UM THE SUBJECT OF REVIVAL IN A WAY THAT COMPLETELY TRANSFORM MY UNDERSTANDING OF NOT ONLY WHAT WE DO HERE AS SORT OF TRADITIONALIST STYLE CHRISTIANS BUT ALSO THE WORK THAT WE ARE ALSO BEGINNING TO GROW IN MANY OF US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EXPERIENCING THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY AND SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TALK ABOUT THIS SUBJECT THE NAME OF MY SERMON TODAY IS HEAVEN IS HERE ON THE FEAST OF PENTECOST THIS YEAR A FEW FEW WEEKS AGO WE HAD A BUSY DAY IN THE SCHUMAKE HOUSEHOLD MY YOUNGEST BABY BOY DOMINIC WAS GETTING BAPTIZED MY BEST FRIEND WAS COMING TO VISIT US AT CHURCH AND WE HAD A VERY BUSY SERIES OF ACTIVITIES WHEN I SAY WE HAD A LOT OF BUSYNESS I MEAN MY WIFE CAUSE I LIKE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MY WIFE DOES EVEN THOUGH SHE'S REALLY THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND RUNS EVERYTHING THAT WE DO UM I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO A A NURSING HOME DOWN THE STREET A RETIREMENT HOME A CARE FACILITY DOWN THE STREET AFTER CHURCH TO DISTRIBUTE COMMUNION AS I DO EVERY WEEK BUT ALSO TO PRAY FOR PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND ANOINT THEM WITH OIL EARLIER THE PREVIOUS WEEK ONE OF THE RESIDENTS SAID TO ME THAT SHE REALLY NEEDED ME TO SIT DOWN WITH HER AND PRAY FOR HER SPECIFICALLY TO ANOINT HER WITH OIL CAUSE SHE HAD A SHE HAD A CONCERN ABOUT A WHOLE HER RIGHT LEG SHE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SHE HAD BEEN MOBILE BUT WAS RECENTLY USING A WHEELCHAIR CAUSE HER MOBILITY WAS INCREDIBLY RESTRICTED SHE'S HAD A LOT OF PAIN AND SO UM I DIDN'T GO TO THE RETIREMENT HOME I WENT OUT FOR DINNER AND WE HAD IT WAS THE GERMAN RESTAURANT DOWN THE STREET IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TO THE SUGAR HILL DISTILLERY REALLY REALLY GOOD GERMAN FOOD IF YOU LIKE BEER REALLY REALLY GOOD BEER AND WE SAT DOWN THERE WITH MY FRIEND AND AS WE'RE SITTING DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN I START GETTING PHONE CALLS AND I LOOK AT MY PHONE AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE NUMBER WAS AND SO I JUST YOU KNOW PROMPTLY IGNORED IT WE GET HOME AND WE'RE SITTING AND VISITING WITH MY FRIEND FOR A LITTLE BIT AND I GET ANOTHER PHONE CALL AND FINALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE EVENING I CHECK MY PHONE WHILE THIS WOMAN WHO I TOLD HER I WAS GOING TO PRAY FOR HER SHE CALLED ME AND SHE SAID SHE WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE SHE WAS EXPECTING ME TO BE THERE TO PRAY FOR HER I TOLD HER I WOULD BE THERE AND I DIDN'T SHOW AND SO SHE LEFT ME TWO NOT SUPER POLITE EMAILS THE NEXT DAY I GET SORRY VOICEMAILS THE NEXT DAY I GET TWO MORE PHONE CALLS AND THE DAY AFTER THAT UM I HAD ONE OF MY KIDS HAD A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO BIBLE STUDY SO SHE GOT IRENE'S PHONE NUMBER IRENE ALWAYS HELPS ME OUT OF THE NURSING HOME AND THEN SHE STARTED CALLING IRENE WHERE'S FATHER DAN WHY HASN'T HE PRAYED FOR ME YET WHY HASN'T HE HEALED ME YET AND SO I I EVENTUALLY SHOWED UP THE NEXT WEEK AT THE UH NURSING HOME FACILITY AT THIS THIS CARE FACILITY AND THIS WOMAN WALKED UP TO ME WITH A FROWN ON HER FACE AND SHE GOES I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN YOU I WAS EXPECTING YOU TO PRAY FOR ME TO ANOINT ME WITH OIL AND YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP SO YOU GOTTA DO IT NOW AND I SAID I'M SORRY I APOLOGIZE THAT WAS TOTALLY ALL ON ME AND I WAS IN THE WRONG AND SHE GOES YOU'RE FORGIVEN NOW GET UP THE OIL NOW THIS WAS DIFFICULT AND I GOTTA TELL YOU JUST AS SOMEONE WHO'S GOT SOME DEMANDS ON MY TIME IT WOULD I I STARTED TO GET TO THE PLACE WHERE I WAS SORT OF TAKING IT PERSONALLY WAS GETTING A LITTLE FRUSTRATED AND WHAT I DISCOVERED AT THE END OF THAT EVENT WAS A WOMAN WHO DIDN'T CARE AS MUCH ABOUT MY SCHEDULE DIDN'T CARE AS MUCH ABOUT LOOKING LIKE A JERK AS SHE CARED ABOUT RECEIVING GOD'S HEALING SHE BELIEVED THAT GOD COULD DO A WORK IN HER AND THAT SPECIFICALLY GOD WOULD BE SO BOLD AS TO USE EVEN MY HANDS THE HANDS OF A JERK WHO NEGLECTS TO KEEP HIS PROMISES TO DO INCREDIBLE WORK IN THE WORLD THROUGHOUT THE STORIES OF THE SCRIPTURES WE SEE PICTURES OF HEALING POP UP ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I LIKE TO MAKE THIS OBSERVATION TO US THAT THE HEALING THAT WE SEE IN THE SCRIPTURES IS SORT OF INCOMPLETE IT'S PROBLEMATIC AND I LIKE TO LIFT UP THE MOST INTERESTING EXAMPLE OF THIS IS IS IN JOHN CHAPTER 11 JESUS RESURRECTS LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT THE STORY INCREDIBLE EVENT REALLY BEAUTIFUL MOMENT ANYBODY KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO LAZARUS AT THE END OF THE WHOLE STORY AFTER HE'S RISEN FROM THE DEAD AFTER JESUS RISES YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO LAZARUS HE DIES HE DIES AGAIN AND EVERYBODY WHO'S HEALED IN THE BIBLE THOSE WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO WALK BUT THEN LATER WERE ABLE TO WALK THOSE WHO WERE BLIND BUT ABLE TO SEE YOU KNOW WHAT THE END OF THEIR STORY IS THEY ALL DIE AND SO WHAT I SEE IN THIS PICTURE IS AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN JESUS IS INTRODUCING TO US AND EXPERIENCING AMONG US THE POWER OF HEALING THE POWER OF TRANSFORMATION THE IMPORTANT THING TO GET OUT OF IT IS NOT THE MIRACLE OKAY HERE'S THE IMPORTANT CONCEPT HUMAN BEINGS WERE MADE FOR SOMETHING GREATER THAN THE BROKENNESS OF THE WORLD WE LIVE IN YOU KNOW THAT AND I THINK LIKE SOMEWHERE DEEPLY WITHIN THE CORE OF OUR IDENTITY THIS IS VERY CLEAR TO US THINK ABOUT IT HAVE YOU EVER HAD ONE OF THOSE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT LIKE THAT WERE SO GOOD AND SO PROMISING THAT YOU JUST COULDN'T WAIT TO VOTE FOR THEM OR YOU COULDN'T WAIT TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS HEY ARE YOU GONNA VOTE FOR THAT CANDIDATE THEY'RE SO I'M GONNA GIVE MONEY TO THIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN I HAVE ONE OF THOSE ONCE YOU KNOW WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING AFTER THAT PERSON WAS ELECTED AFTER THEY STEPPED INTO OFFICE I WAS DISAPPOINTED AND ACTUALLY EVERY LEADER I'VE EVER HAD THEY HAVE ALWAYS LET ME DOWN AND I AS YOUR PRIEST YOU'LL DISCOVER AS YOU GET TO GROW IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME VANI'S NOT HERE YET BUT WE'LL GET YOU KNOW A COUPLE WEEKS VANI I'LL BE A SUPER DISAPPOINTMENT TO YOU TOO RIGHT THAT EVERY PERSON IN OUR LIFE ENDS UP LETTING US DOWN AND INSTEAD OF US JUST CYNICALLY SAYING WELL PEOPLE ARE MESS UP SCREW UPS I'M UPSET WITH WE ALWAYS FEEL DISAPPOINTMENT WHY WHEN WE HAVE PHYSICAL AILMENTS THAT RESTRICT US FROM BEING ABLE TO LIVE TO THE FULLNESS THAT WE ANTICIPATE IT SPEAKS TO US THAT SOMEWHERE WITHIN OUR CREATURELY NATURE WE EXPECT THINGS TO BE PERFECT WE DO WE HAVE HEAVEN WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU THAT THE MAIN REASON WHY HEALING HAPPENS IN THE SCRIPTURES THE MAIN REASON WHY WE GATHER TOGETHER WEEK BY WEEK TO WORSHIP IS BECAUSE EARTH WAS MADE FOR HEAVEN ALL HEALING THAT WE EXPERIENCE IN THE SCRIPTURES IS AN ANTICIPATION OF THAT UNITY THAT WE WILL ONE DAY KNOW WHEN HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE NO LONGER DIVIDED BUT LIVE TOGETHER IN FULL REVELATION WITH ONE ANOTHER SO WITH THAT IDEA IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS WHAT I WANT TO DO IS WALK THROUGH THE GOSPEL STORY OF THIS CANAANITE WOMAN IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 15 WHO COMES TO JESUS SO THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE HER DAUGHTER HEALED MY HOPE IS THAT AT THE END OF THIS CONVERSATION THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT HEAVEN IS INDEED HERE WITH US RIGHT NOW AND THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK OF TEARING THE VEIL BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH AS WE COME UPON THE STORY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK OF MATTHEW CHAPTER 15 WE HAVE A COUPLE INTERESTING THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE HERE'S THE FIRST THING THIS WOMAN WHO WALKS UP TO JESUS HAS FOR HIM ONE SPECIFIC REQUEST HAVE MERCY ON ME NOW AS SOMEONE WHO GETS TO DO BIBLE STUDY WITH PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS I ALWAYS LIKE TALKING ABOUT DEFINITIONS MAYBE YOU'VE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE I HAVE WHEN I TALK WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IDEAS IN THE SCRIPTURES I REGULARLY COME ACROSS THE REALIZATION THAT WE DON'T KNOW A LOT OF THESE WORDS THAT WE JUST THROW AROUND IN CHURCH ALL THE TIME GLORY MERCY FAITH GRACE FORGIVENESS AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO DO ON A REGULAR BASIS IS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING OUR VOCABULARY RIGHT SEE WHEN THIS WOMAN ASKS FOR MERCY FROM JESUS SHE'S SPECIFICALLY OUT OF BOUNDS RIGHT FROM THE GET GO OKAY BECAUSE MERCY IS BY DEFINITION NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE WHEN WE ASK FOR MERCY IT MEANS I DESERVED SOMETHING OTHER THAN MERCY THIS I TYPICALLY CONTRAST MERCY FROM JUSTICE JUSTICE IS WHEN YOU GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU DESERVE AND MERCY IS WHEN IN THE GOOD WAY YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU DESERVE SO ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION WHY WOULD THIS WOMAN ASK FOR MERCY IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO MERCY IF SHE ASKS FOR SOMETHING THAT SHE KNOWS SHE HAS NOT EARNED THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR THE RIGHT TO REQUEST WHY WOULD SHE ASK FOR IT BUT BY THE WAY IF YOU LOOK AT THE STORY I MEAN LET ME JUST READ A LITTLE BIT OF IT FOR YOU ONE MORE TIME IT'S ACTUALLY SHE'S NOT ASKING LOOK AT THE PHRASE JUST THEN A CANAANITE WOMAN FROM THE REGION CAME OUT AND STARTED SHOUTING HAVE MERCY ON ME SON OF DAVID LORD SON OF DAVID MY DAUGHTER IS BEING TORMENTED BY A DEMON BUT SHE BUT HE DID NOT ANSWER HER AT ALL AND THE DISCIPLES URGED HIM SAYING SEND HER AWAY FOR SHE KEEPS SHOUTING AT US SHE'S NOT ASKING SHE'S COMMANDING JESUS AND JUST AS IF YOU GUYS ARE INTO THE GREEK AND STUFF IN GREEK THIS IS A DIRECT COMMAND SHE'S ISSUING TO JESUS HAVE MERCY ON ME THERE'S NO PLEASES THERE'S NO THERE'S NO IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT THERE'S SIMPLY THE COMMAND TO JESUS HAVE MERCY WHAT SORT OF WOMAN WOULD DO THIS I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS WOMAN WHEN WE READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY WE HEARD THAT THIS WOMAN IS A CANAANITE WHICH IF YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BIBLE NERD HISTORY THIS MEANS THAT SHE'S NOT A JEW SHE'S NOT ONE OF THESE SHEBREWS OR JUDEANS RIGHT SHE'S ACTUALLY SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT BELONG TO JESUS OR HIS PEOPLE NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE A THROWAWAY CONCEPT BUT IF YOU'RE A HEBREW LIVING IN HEBREW TERRITORY YOUR EXPECTATION WRITTEN INTO THE LAW IS THAT YOU DO NOT MINGLE WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT MINGLE WITH GOD YOU DON'T HANG OUT WITH NON JEWS NOW YOU CAN ENCOUNTER THEM IF YOU GOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM FINE BUT THIS WOMAN IS BREAKING A HUGE CULTURAL CUSTOM OKAY IT WOULD BE LIKE WEARING A PACKERS JERSEY AT A VIKINGS GAME RIGHT RIGHT OR OR SAYING Y'ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF CANADA NOBODY EVERYBODY WOULD WOULD TURN THEIR HEADS WEIRD AT YOU OKAY HOWEVER DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE'S FROM THE WRONG CULTURE THAT SHE'S NOT BEING POLITE SHE IS PERSISTENT AND INSISTENT IN VERSE 22 WHICH I JUST READ SHE IS SHOUTING AT JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES IT'S SO BOTHERSOME THAT THE VERY DISCIPLES WHO BY THIS TIME HAVE DEVELOPED A SORT OF TOLERANCE FOR ANNOYING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE FOLLOWING JESUS SHE THEY SAY TO HER LORD YOU GOTTA SEND HER AWAY SHE SHE'S BUGGING US SHE KEEPS SHOUTING AT US AND I WANT JUST TO POINT OUT FOR A MOMENT THIS WOMAN'S APPROACH WHY IT'S WRITTEN FOR US IN THE SCRIPTURES THIS WOMAN HAS AN ATTITUDE OF BEING AGGRESSIVE AND SHE IS NOT WORRIED THAT SHE IS GOING TO PUT JESUS OUT SHE IS NOT WORRIED THAT SHE'S GONNA BOTHER JESUS SHE IS GOING TO CONTINUE AFTER JESUS UNTIL SHE RECEIVES THIS HEALING EVEN IF IT MEANS SHE BUGS THE HEALER IN THE PROCESS SO WE GOT TO ASK OURSELVES IF THIS WOMAN HAS NO RIGHT TO ASK FOR MERCY SHE'S FROM THE WRONG CULTURE WHY WOULD SHE DO THIS AND THE ANSWER IS SO SIMPLE IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL IS BECAUSE THIS WOMAN IS BELOVED BY GOD THINK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND JUST UNDERSTAND THAT MERCY MERCY IS NOT ABOUT THE RECIPIENT MERCY HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE GIVER OF MERCY SO I HAVE THIS PHRASE I'VE WRITTEN DOWN I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE NOTE OF IT MERCY IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON THE WORTHINESS OF THE RECIPIENT BUT IT IS DEPENDENT ON THE KINDNESS OF THE GIVER AND OUR GOD IS ETERNAL IN HIS KINDNESS HE'S INCREDIBLY WILLING TO SHOW US MERCY AND THROUGHOUT THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES WE HAVE ONE BIG WAY THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS IN TERMS OF GOD'S PERSONALITY GOD'S CHARACTER IT'S THIS FUNNY HEBREW WORD I WANT YOU TO SAY OKAY SO IF YOU HAVE SPIT GUARDS JUST COVER OVER YOUR MOUTH OKAY IT'S THE WORD CHESED TRY IT CHESED OKAY IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE PHLEGM COMING OUT IN FRONT IF YOU GET HIT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD THAT'S ALL PART OF THE PRACTICE OKAY CHESED AND IF YOU'VE READ THE PSALMS WITH ME THIS IS A ENDURING CONCEPT OKAY IT REFERS TO THE IDEA THAT GOD'S LOVE IS WEIGHTY GOD'S LOVE IS THEY'LL USE THE WORD STEADFAST AND IT REFERS TO A LOVE THAT IS LOYAL TO HIS PEOPLE HESED REFERS TO A LOVE THAT RESPONDS WITH UNDESERVED MERCY AND KINDNESS IT'S ABOUT WHO GOD IS SLOW TO ANGER AND ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE THIS WOMAN IS MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE THIS WOMAN IN HER BROKENNESS SOMEHOW KNOWS ABOUT GOD'S HESED AND BECAUSE OF THIS HAS THE RIGHT AND THE AUTHORITY TO CALL OUT ON GOD'S MERCY NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS NATURE OF GOD BECAUSE IF OUR GOD TRULY IS A GOD OF HESED ENDURING MERCY ENDURING LOVE LOYAL LOVE IT IS OUT OF GOD'S HESED THAT HE ASKS US TO DO THIS STRANGE THING PUT HIM FIRST THINK ABOUT IT IF GOD IS SO TRULY ENDURING IN HIS LOVE WHY WOULD HE ALLOW US TO SUFFER RIGHT NOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HEAR IT IN MY VOICE I WOKE UP THIS MORNING FOR SOME REASON NOT BEING ABLE TO SING HIGH NOTES AND IF YOU LIVE IN MY HOUSEHOLD YOU'LL KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING I SPEND A LOT OF TIME DOING AND SO YOU COULD ASK THE QUESTION WELL IF GOD REALLY IS A GOD OF LOVE IF GOD REALLY IS A GOD WHO DESIRES WORSHIP WHY WOULD HE ALLOW YOU TO SUFFER YOU'D THINK THAT A LOVING GOD WOULD TAKE AWAY SUFFERING FROM THE WORLD AND IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE TRUTH BECAUSE GOD IF HE LOVES US WOULD ACTUALLY DESIRE THAT WE WOULD EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY TO GROW IN LOVE IT'S NOT UNLESS WE EXPERIENCE SUFFERING AND KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO NOT LIVE IN LOVE THAT WE DESIRE TO LIVE IN LOVE IT'S ONLY IN THE DARKNESS THAT WE REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LIGHT GOD IS SHOWING US IN HIS ETERNAL LOVE IN HIS HESED THAT DESPITE THAT GIVING US DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THIS TEMPORARY LIFE ALLOWS US TO SEE THAT GOD IS GIVING US HIS HIS ETERNAL LOVE IF WE LEARN HOW TO DEPEND ON HIM IN THIS TEMPORAL WORLD WE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE DEPENDENT ON HIM IN THE ETERNAL WORLD AND ALL OF THIS EVINCES THIS IMPORTANT CONCEPT ABOUT HEAVEN BEING HERE NOW EVERYTHING IN THE STORY TELLS US THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAY THAT CULTURE TELLS US WE INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT JEWS AND GENTILES JEWS AND NON JEWS SHOULD BE HANGING OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE FIRST AND FOREMOST CREATIONS OF GOD THEY ARE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE MADE TO BE REDEEMED AND REFORMED AND ESTEEMED AND GOD IS TRYING TO PUT US INTO THIS PLACE WHERE WE WILL RECOGNIZE OUR DEPENDENCE ON HIM JEREMIAH 29 VERSES 12 AND 13 SAYS THIS WHEN YOU CALL UPON ME AND COME AND PRAY TO ME I WILL HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME YOU WILL FIND ME IF YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART GOD DOESN'T WANT JUST SUNDAY YOU GOD DOESN'T WANT JUST A PART OF YOU GOD WANTS YOU TO COMPLETELY HAND OVER YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO HIM YOU GUYS MIGHT REMEMBER THE COMMAND IN DEUTERONOMY YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND MIND THE IDEA IS ALL OF YOU EVERY PART OF YOU YOU NEED TO SURRENDER WELL THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN HOW TO DO THAT IS TO BE DESPERATE FOR HIM LET'S CONTINUE FORWARD IN THE STORY WE HEAR THIS WOMAN AFTER SAYING HAVE MERCY ON ME SHE REFERS TO JESUS BY SOME STRANGE WORDS SHE FIRST CALLS HIM LORD AND THEN CALLS HIM SON OF DAVID NOW WHAT I FIND SO BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THIS IS THAT A CANAANITE WOMAN PROBABLY SHOULDN'T KNOW THESE WORDS A CANAANITE WOMAN PROBABLY WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY ADDRESS JESUS SO ONE LIKE COULD ASK THE QUESTION SORT OF IN THE BACK OF THEIR MINDS HOW DID SHE LEARN TO CALL JESUS THIS PHRASE IN THE FIRST PLACE IT'S A GOOD QUESTION OKAY BUT I WANT TO JUST PICK A PART FOR A MOMENT WHAT THESE TWO PHRASES MEAN FIRST OF ALL WHEN SHE CALLS JESUS LORD SHE'S USING THE WORD IN GREEK THAT THEY TRANSLATED IN THE BIBLE TO REFER TO GOD'S NAME YAHWEH NOW IT'S NOT A TITLE IN THE IN THE GREEK OLD TESTAMENT IT'S NOT A A THROWAWAY WAY OF SAYING MASTER SHE'S USING THE WORD THAT THEY USE IN THE BIBLE TO NAME GOD'S NAME THIS IS INCREDIBLE BECAUSE BY THE TIME OF THIS WRITING THIS WORD IS REALLY ONLY USED TO DESCRIBE TWO DIFFERENT CHARACTERS EITHER THE GOD OF THE HEBREW BIBLE OR THE CAESAR OF ROME WHO BY THE WAY BY THIS POINT IN TIME WAS CALLING HIMSELF GOD AND SO THIS TITLE IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW MEANS THAT THIS WOMAN UNDERSTANDS WHO JESUS IS AND FOCUSES HER LANGUAGE IN MAKING SURE SHE DECLARES WHO HE IS FURTHERMORE SHE TAKES A STEP FURTHER SHE NOT ONLY REFERS TO HIM AS LORD MEANING GOD BUT ALSO SHE CALLS HIM THE SON OF DAVID NOW NOT TO SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE WHOLE OLD TESTAMENT BUT THIS IS THE GUY WHO WAS SWINGING A ROCK AND HIT GOLIATH YOU REMEMBER THIS GUY DAVID AND GOLIATH HE BECAME THE KING OF ISRAEL HE WAS THE GUY THAT WAS FAITHFUL TO GOD THROUGH THICK AND THIN AND WHEN HE DID HAVE ONE BIG OFFENSE AGAINST THE LORD HE REPENTED OKAY SO ALL OF THE THE KINGS OF ISRAEL THAT ARE FAITHFUL TO GOD ARE CALLED THE PHRASE SON OF DAVID THIS WOMAN IS REFERRING TO JESUS AS GOD AND KING NOW I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE THIS FOR JUST A MOMENT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS THAT THAT THIS WOMAN IS DOING WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO AS CHRISTIANS WE OUGHT TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF NAMING WHO GOD IS AND DECLARING HIS GOODNESS AND HIS POWER AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE WORLD WE GOTTA PUT OURSELVES IN A POSTURE ON A REGULAR BASIS OF UNDERSTANDING WHO GOD IS AND NAMING IT FOR ALL OF THE WORLD TO SEE OKAY THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN WE USE THE WORD WORSHIP WORSHIP WHEN YOU WORSHIP GOD IT MEANS THAT YOU ASCRIBE TO GOD VALUE OR WORTH OKAY SO WE'RE ACTUALLY WE GET THE WORD WORSHIP FROM THE CONCEPT OF WORTHSHIP RIGHT WHEN YOU HAND OVER OR SCRIBE WORTH TO GOD THAT IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP SO THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT WE DO IT AS CHRISTIANS RIGHT WE DO IT BY PAYING TITHES RIGHT YOU ASCRIBE VALUE TO GOD BY SAYING LORD YOU DESERVE MY MONEY WHEN YOU TAKE THE ENERGY TO COME TO CHURCH RIGHT WHAT DO YOU SAY LORD YOU ARE WORTH MY TIME WHEN YOU TAKE THE ENERGY AND TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHO GOD IS AND NAME IT EVEN IN WAYS THAT MIGHT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE THIS ALL THE MORE GETS US INTO THAT POSTURE OF WORSHIP AND THIS IS WHAT SHE DOES SHE NAMES JESUS FOR WHO HE IS LORD AND KING GOD AND KING AND THIS IS AN ACT OF INCREDIBLE HUMILITY WHEN SHE REFERS TO JESUS AS GOD WHEN SHE REFERS TO JESUS AS HER KING SHE DEMONSTRATES HUMILITY AND THE POSTURE OF THE WHOLE STORY IS INCREDIBLE SHE'S SHOUTING BEFORE JESUS SOME DEPICTIONS OF THIS WOMAN IN OTHER FORMS OF LITERATURE AND IN PAINTING HAVE HER ON HER KNEES BEFORE THIS MAN SHE'S NEVER MET BEFORE AND THE STORY AS IT UNPACKS SORT OF TAKES A FUNNY TURN LET ME JUST READ IT FOR YOU BRIEFLY JESUS SAYS TO HIS DISCIPLES NOT EVEN TO HER I WAS SENT ONLY TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL BUT SHE CAME AND KNELT BEFORE HIM SAYING LORD HELP ME HE ANSWERED IT IS NOT FAIR TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S FOOD AND THROW IT TO THE DOGS SHE SAID YES LORD YET EVEN THE DOGS EAT THE CRUMBS THAT FALL FROM THEIR MASTER'S TABLE YOU GUYS SEE WHAT JUST HAPPENED JESUS THE THE NICE GUY WHO'S ALWAYS NICE TO EVERYBODY JUST REFERRED TO A WOMAN THAT HE'S NEVER MET AS A DOG NOW I KNOW WE COULD THERE'S TWO WORDS FOR DOG BY THE WAY IN GREEK ONE OF THE WORDS MEANS MAN'S BEST FRIEND LIKE WHEN YOU THINK OF LIKE YOUR LOYAL DOG I WISH I HAVE ONE OF THOSE RIGHT WHEN YOU THINK OF THE IDEA OF A DOG SOMETIMES WE IN AMERICAN CULTURE THINK OF THAT DOG THAT'S ALWAYS GONNA RIGHT BE BY OUR SIDE AND PROTECT US AND LOVE US JESUS DOESN'T USE THAT WORD FOR DOG HE USES THE WORD DOG VERMIN TO DESCRIBE TO THIS WOMAN YOU GUYS MIGHT KNOW IN INDONESIA IN MOST OF RUSSIA IN MANY PLACES IN SOUTH AMERICA AND MEXICO INSTEAD OF HAVING RAT PROBLEMS OR MOUSE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE DOG PROBLEMS AND DOGS ARE FULL OF INFECTION AND THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT SURVIVING IN HARSH CLIMATES THIS IS THE WORD THAT JESUS USES TO DESCRIBE THIS WOMAN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEE THAT JESUS IS NOT ACTUALLY INTENDING TO BE OFFENSIVE TO HER WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IS ILLUSTRATE AND PAINT THE PICTURE OF HOW WE'VE HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ALL ABOUT BUT BECAUSE OF THIS WOMAN'S HUMILITY SHE SHE COULD HAVE DEFENDED HERSELF SHE COULD HAVE SAID DOG DOG VERMIN WHAT DO YOU MEAN I DID THIS AND THIS AND THIS AND THIS DON'T YOU KNOW ALL THE SUCCESSES I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE I'VE KEPT A CHILD ALIVE FOR THIS LONG THAT'S GOT TO BE WORTH SOMETHING NO SHE DOESN'T SAY ANY OF IT ACTUALLY SHE AGREES WITH HIM YOU KNOW WHAT FINE I'M A DOG COMPARED TO YOU LORD I AM A DOG BUT EVEN A DOG WOULD EAT THE SCRAPS FROM THE MASTER'S TABLE CAN YOU SEE HERE THE POSTURE OF HUMILITY THAT JESUS ALLOWS THIS WOMAN TO BE IN HE DESCRIBES IT AS AN ACT OF GREAT FAITH I THINK THIS BECOMES FOR US A SOURCE OF CONFLICT AS WELL THAT INSTEAD OF COMING TO JESUS WITH HUMILITY WE EXPECT THAT JESUS'S HEALING IS SOMETHING THAT WE DESERVE THAT I'M ENTITLED TO LORD I SHOWED UP I PAID SOME PORTION OF MY TITHE I WENT TO CHURCH YOU KNOW THAT ONE WEEK THREE YEARS AGO SO I DESERVE A VERY NICE PEACEFUL LIFE IF YOU THINK THAT WAY YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT RIGHT EVERYBODY WANTS JESUS TO BE THEIR SAVIOR THE THING IS HE ALSO HAS TO BE YOUR LORD IN THE STORY HERE THIS WOMAN DEMONSTRATES THE HUMILITY THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD SHE DOES NOT ALLOW HER STATURE OR JESUS'S POWER TO GET IN THE WAY SHE SIMPLY ACCEPTS ACCEPTS THE TERMS OF JESUS'S AUTHORITY AND THEN IN AN ACT OF FAITH RECEIVES HEALING NOW I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO RECONSIDER THE WAY THAT WE VIEW THE VERY CONCEPT OF CHURCH FROM THE GROUND UP AND I'VE SEEN THIS A LOT OF TIMES I'VE TALKED TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST WHAT ARE WE DOING AT CHURCH HERE TODAY WHAT'S THE POINT WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF OUR BEING HERE I SEE SO MANY CHURCHES THAT ARE SORT OF LIKE MINIATURE COUNTRY CLUBS RIGHT WHERE WE COME IN WEARING OUR SUNDAY BEST RIGHT WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ALL PUT TOGETHER EVEN IF WE HAD A REALLY AWFUL WEEK RIGHT WE WANNA PRESENT OUR VERY BEST AND IF WE HAVE STRONG EMOTIONS OR DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES WE SHOVE IT DOWN AND HIDE IT JUST TO MAKE SURE NOBODY KNOWS HOW TOUGH OUR LIFE IS IT'S WRONG IT'S WRONG THE CHURCH WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A COUNTRY CLUB JESUS REFERS TO IT AS A HOSPITAL JUST IMAGINE RIGHT BEING IN A HOSPITAL YOU COME TO THE HOSPITAL DRESSED IN YOUR BEST MEANWHILE YOUR LEG IS LIKE AT THIS ANGLE RIGHT AND YOU WHEEL IN THE DOCTOR SAYS HOW CAN I HELP YOU MA'AM AND YOU SAY WELL SIR IF YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME TIME WOULD YOU PLEASE SHOW UP AND TEND TO THIS LITTLE SITUATION IT DOESN'T HURT IT'S FINE BUT JUST IF YOU GOT A MOMENT NO YOU'RE NOT GONNA RESPOND LIKE THAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY FIX ME MY LEG'S BROKEN THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GATHERING OF BROKEN PEOPLE AND THE ONLY THING THAT GIVES YOU THE CAPACITY TO BRING HEALING TO SOMEONE ELSE IS THAT YOU'VE HAD THAT BANDAGE ON THAT WOUND BEFORE YOU'VE MET THE GREAT PHYSICIAN AND YOU KNOW THAT HE'S HEALED THOSE WOUNDS THIS IS WHAT THE POSTURE OF THE CHURCH IS IT'S A HOUSE OF HEALING SO WE NEED TO LEARN AS A CHURCH TO INCREASE IN OUR HUMILITY TO PUT OURSELVES OUT OF A POSTURE OF PRIDE AND INSTEAD SEE OURSELVES AS RECIPIENTS OF THIS HOUSE OF HEALING AND I COULD JUST PREACH ABOUT THIS SUBJECT ALL DAY LONG BUT LET ME SUFFICE IT TO SAY WHAT GOD IS DESIRING FOR US IS FOR US TO REALIZE OUR DESPERATION FOR HIM

PSALM 1: 30:08

26 SAYS THIS MAY THOSE WHO SOW IN TEARS REAP WITH SHOUTS OF JOY THOSE WHO GO OUT WEEPING BEARING THE SEED FOR SOWING SHALL COME HOME WITH SHOUTS OF JOY CARRYING THEIR SHEAVES GOD IS TRYING TO PUT US IN A POSTURE OF INCREASING AND INCREASING DESPERATION FOR HIM IT REQUIRES YOU TO RECOGNIZE JUST HOW BROKEN YOU ARE IT REQUIRES US TO SEE THE WORK OF THE CHURCH AS A PLACE OF HEALING AND REDEMPTION AND NEW LIFE NOW I'M NOT TO SAY THAT YOU SHOULDN'T DRESS NICELY FOR CHURCH I HOPE YOU DIDN'T GET THAT FROM WHAT I COMMUNICATED BUT THAT WHEN WE COME TO THIS PLACE GIVING GOD OUR BEST GIVING OUR GOD OUR BEST MEANS WE ALSO HAVE TO GIVE HIM OUR HEARTS PUT OURSELVES IN A POSTURE OF WORSHIP AND BY THE WAY WE KNOW THIS IF WE THINK ABOUT IT RADICALLY WE HAVE THESE ALTARS WITH KNEELERS SO WE GET IN A POSTURE OF PHYSICAL HUMILITY BEFORE CHRIST THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES AND THROUGHOUT THE PSALMS GOD IS CALLING US TO PUT OURSELVES IN PLACE OF HUMILITY WHERE WE DO THINGS LIKE SURRENDER TO HIM WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF ALL OF THIS IT'S SO THAT WE INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZE WE ARE DESPERATE FOR HEAVEN AND I WANT TO CONCLUDE BY TALKING TO YOU ABOUT MY JOB FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE HEARD MORE THAN TWO SERMONS FROM ME YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS ONE PHRASE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN I HAVE ONLY ONE JOB IN MY LIFE YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL ME WHAT IT IS THAT'S IT RIGHT AND THE FUNNIEST PART OF THAT JOB TO GET YOU INTO HEAVEN IS I ACTUALLY CAN'T DO ANY OF THE WORK RIGHT YOU HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND JESUS IS THE ONE THAT SAVES YOU OKAY BUT I THINK I HAVEN'T BEEN TELLING YOU THE WHOLE STORY CAUSE IF YOU THINK FOR A MOMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO DIE BEFORE YOU GET TO HEAVEN YOU MISSED THE IDEA HEAVEN IS RIGHT HERE IT'S RIGHT NOW AND YOU COULD IN A SINGLE MOMENT BY REACHING OUT YOUR HEART TO THE LORD EXPERIENCE ALL THE INCREDIBLE NATURE OF GOD'S POWER AND GLORY AND TRANSFORMATIVE HEALING RIGHT NOW IT JUST MEANS THAT WE'VE GOT TO BE REQUIRED TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO HIM I GOT ONE JOB Y'ALL YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL YOU DIE FOR YOU TO SEE THE FRUIT OF IT WE PRAY THE PRAYER THAT JESUS GAVE TO US LET YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN WE DON'T SAY THAT IN THE FUTURE WE MEAN NOW LORD BRING HEAVEN TO EARTH NOW LET US ENCOUNTER HEAVEN NOW AND I LOVE USING THE EXAMPLE OF THE TRANSFIGURATION WE CELEBRATED THREE WEEKS AGO JESUS TOOK JAMES AND JOHN AND PETER TO THIS MOUNTAIN AND THEY SAW HIM FOR HOW HE TRULY WAS YOU GUYS REMEMBER THE STORY HE IS SO FILLED WITH GOD'S GLORY THAT HE'S SHINING IN PERPETUAL LIGHT AND I THINK THAT THE TAKEAWAY OF THIS WHOLE CONCEPT THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION IT MEANS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE CHURCH WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HOUSE OF HEALING IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF CONSTANT REVIVAL FOR THE LORD IS BRINGING UP AN AWAKENING IN HIS CHURCH THAT DESPITE THE REALITIES AROUND US DESPITE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS AND SUFFERING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE HEAVEN IS BREAKING DOWN NOW AND WE NEED TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT OF EXPECTATION OF HOPE SO THAT WE CAN TEAR THIS VEIL THAT STANDS STILL BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH LET ME ASK THE QUESTION ANOTHER WAY WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU SAW JESUS WHAT WOULD YOU DO WOULD YOU RUN UP TO HIM AND EMBRACE HIM WOULD YOU FALL DOWN ON YOUR FACE BEFORE HIM WOULD YOU GO UP TO HIM AND SAY I WE GOTTA TALK MAN I'M REALLY UPSET ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS HE'S HERE AND HE IS GONNA BE WHEN YOU FINALLY DIE AND YOU SEE HIM FACE TO FACE YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE THE FACE FACE FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE GONNA REALIZE THAT HE HAS BEEN REVEALING AND UNCOVERING HIS FACE TO YOU OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN YOU JUST NEED TO LOOK YOU JUST NEED TO OPEN YOUR EYES EXPECTING TO SEE HIM AND THIS IS MY GOAL MY JOB IS SO THAT YOU GET TO HEAVEN SO LET'S TEAR OPEN THE VEIL NOW LET'S NOT WAIT FOR DEATH LET'S EXPERIENCE IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD IN OUR PRAYERS IN OUR EXPECTATION OF THE MOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT LET'S EXPECT HIM TO BREAK DOWN NOW SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY FOR YOU CAUSE IF IT'S YOUR PRIDE THAT YOU MIGHT LOOK FOOLISH ONLY YOU CAN REMOVE THAT IF IT'S YOUR FEAR THAT COMING TO JESUS MEANS EVERYBODY SEES ALL YOUR BAGGAGE GUESS WHAT WE GOT IT TOO WE GOT TO AIR OURS TOO LET'S PUT OURSELVES INSTEAD OF A POSTURE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW WHERE HEAVEN IS COMING DOWN TO EARTH WHERE JESUS IS STANDING IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM AND ALL WE'VE GOT TO DO IS REACH OUT OUR HANDS AND FALL AT HIS KNEES