Lord, Help Me

Kate Stevens • May 5, 2021

Summary of sermon on Matthew 15:21-31 from Pastor Ryan Lewis.

Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman is the story of a faith that Jesus called great!


We have to understand the context—Jesus, the second member of the Trinity, is sovereign in all he does. He went to this location for rest, and he knew it was heavily saturated with non-Jews.


He knew he would come across this woman, and he knew the importance of that for her and for us. 



Her Faith was Humble


This woman knew she had nothing to bring to the table. She knew she was a Canaanite and not a Jew. Because of this, she knew she was not entitled to the goodness of Jesus.


Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”


It was this mindset that she clings to the person of Jesus. In it she declares three simple yet powerful words. 


“Lord, help me.”


With these words she humbles herself, bows herself, and she places herself under Jesus because she is in such great need. 


Great faith must be directed at the right object.  The Canaanite woman’s faith was directed at Jesus. Is ours? What do we turn to when we are in need? Self sufficiency? A steady bank account? A secret sin? We must turn away from these things and seek the help of Jesus—like she did. 



Her Faith was Reverent


The Canaanite woman was also a mother who was petitioning the help of Jesus on behalf of her little demon-possessed daughter. 


“Hopeless and desperate as her case appeared, she had a praying mother, and where there is a praying mother there is always hope. Sometimes all we can do for our children is pray for them.” —J. C. Ryle


The woman knew she was empty. She trusted in the Lord, and we see that demonstrated in her reverent acknowledgment of Jesus’s sovereignty over the ability to answer prayer.



Her Faith was Persistent

Great faith does not give up—and the Canaanite woman had great faith. 


Here is a very probable thought pattern from the woman: “I'm a dog, and I deserve judgment. I am without God and without hope in this world, but I know who you are. I've heard stories of what you've done, and there's no way a man can do those things. You are different than any other man who's ever lived. Men don't just walk on water. Men don't feed 5,000. Men don't raise people from the dead, and I know who you are. You're the one.”—Todd Wagner


She never assumed a position for herself.  She just persistently poured out herself to Jesus on behalf of her sick daughter. This was obviously not a last ditch effort on her part. That is what the spiritually bankrupt do. 


However, spiritually mature believers are persistent in their faith and persistent in their prayers. 


John 6:35 says, “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’”


She knew this and had tasted this. And as a result of Jesus’s goodness, she approached in humility, reverence and persistency. Let’s join her and do the same when we need Jesus. Let’s start by simply saying:


“Lord, help me.”



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Discussion Questions: 


What are some ways that God spoke specifically to you during the worship and teaching time? 


How does the story of the Canaanite woman impact your faith? 


What are you currently asking the Lord for help with right now? 


Pray as a group for what is shared….




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