Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Old Agege
23rd September 2019
Study 29 – THE UNCHANGEABLE CHRIST STILL DOING ALL THINGS WELL
Text – Mark 7:24-37
“The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter” (Mark 7:26). She brought the problem of her heart, home and daughter unto Christ. See the final result, “And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed” (Mark 7:30), peace, deliverance and calmness came to her daughter like the calmness is coming to your house tonight. “And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him” (Mark 7:32). They came asking for a favour.Jesus never said no to any request like that, and He will not say no to you, your family and neighbours. See the result “And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak” (Mark 7:37). That final testimony is the testimony we have concerning Jesus Christ. And this is the same testimony you are going to have as you connect with Christ in your spirit, heart, soul, character, behaviour and in everything that concerns you: ‘He hath all things well’. That was the testimony despite the opposition of the devils and men, in the face of rigid tradition and religion, confronted with unbelief and unbelieving men and sinners, among the impotent and incurable, when He touched them and healed; over the turbulence of the waves of the sea and the roaring storm, the testimony was that He had done all things well. If in your family there is any turbulence or harassment of the devil, by the time He’s done with you, your testimony will be He has done all things well. The Father testified about His Only Begotten Son, the Holy Ghost affirmed the very Son of God; the same thing in all the places He visited and the people he saved, He has done all things well. The sick rejoiced, their friends and neighbours rejoiced and affirmed with them that He had done all things well. The disciples observed, even the Pharisees and Caiaphas all whispered and said He has done all things well. All through past generations and until this generation the testimony is still the same, because Christ has not changed, He has done all things well. All who have had real encounter with Him, upon touching Him, the thing was uniform with everybody that He has done all things well. As you connect, look up to and reach out to Him today, at the end your testimony will be He has done all things well. We are talking about the Unchangeable Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the One that saves, heals and delivers. Tonight He is still active and alive, the Mighty, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent and Risen Christ is with you there, and that thing you call incurable and impossible He will cure; He will wipe away all your tears, break every yoke, and do all things well. There is going to be a song, joy and peace in your heart; everything gloomy and dark will be taken away from your life and you will testify to all around you that He has done all things well. The Lord confirm it in your life, in Jesus’ name.
3 points:
Point 1. THE PERSEVERANCE OF A GENTILE WITH GREAT FAITH
Mark 7:25
This gentile woman was the first person that came to Christ knowing that she was not going back empty-handed but would get something from Christ; that her great faith will not be disappointed. “The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter” (Mark 7:26). The Lord does not need a physical contact before that blessing can pass on to you. Even at a distance, where you are far away watching online, as the word and the Name of Christ come forth, you are delivered in Jesus’ Name. “But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs” (Mark 7:27). What Christ was saying here was that the children of Israel were the children of the kingdom, and the promises and provision belonged to them. The Gentiles were like dogs, and it was not right to give the children’s bread to dogs. What Jesus said was right because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But the Gentiles had sinned further and made themselves unclean and unacceptable in the sight of God. But this woman did not contradict Christ for calling her a dog, neither did she give up beseeching Him. She was wise, you will be wise. What you came for, if you stay, you will get. “And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28). Don’t ever contradict or argue, but be in agreement with what Christ says concerning you. The wisdom to pray, ask the Lord and demand what you need, will be given unto you. “And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter” (Mark 7:29). For that saying, the proper prayer, and giving the proper answer, the devil was departed out of the daughter. Three lessons here:
(i) The Prayer/Plea for Great Favour – Matthew 15:22-26; 17:15-18. What the woman came for was something that no physician in her nation or a Jewish priest could do for her. She came from the coast of Tyre and Sidon pleading with the Lord, not the disciples, for He is the Lord of all, not only of the Jews but also the Gentiles. She was not discouraged by the attitude of the disciples toward her. There are some people that are easily discouraged and annoyed by the behaviour or attitude of others, but not this woman; she came for something and she was going to get what she came for, whatever the attitude of those around Jesus (Matthew 15:22-24). “Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me” (Matthew 15:25). This woman still called Him Lord despite all the sayings to discourage her. The Lord will help you tonight. “But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs” (Matthew 15:26). This was a test of her faith; she passed and her daughter was delivered. You will pass your test. You will not go back home empty-handed, you will not be discouraged nor annoyed by the attitude of others. The Lord will answer your prayers. “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him” (Matthew 17:15-16). Here was another case of a man praying, pleading, asking the Lord for a great favour. He brought his son first to the disciples of Jesus, believing they had delegated power, but they could not help. He was not discouraged, but waited for Jesus to come down from the mount. So don’t go home with that problem, be patient and wait for Jesus, for the solution is near.
(ii) Her Perseverance with Great Fervency – Matthew 15:24-28. She did not allow her faith, perseverance to cool down. “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me” (Matthew 15:24-25). Even after Jesus said this, this woman still persevered. This woman did not have a promise but still came to the Lord as her Creator; such people will never be disappointed. For the people that know that Jesus Christ died for their sins on the Cross at Calvary and took the consequences of sin away, there must be solution; solution to your personal and family problems. You may not be able to point to any particular promise, but if God be God and Jesus the very Son of God, He will help you. “And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (Matthew 15:27). This woman will never accuse the Lord of saying anything wrong, for everything He says is the truth and factual. There are people that call Him Lord and yet accuse Him of being unfaithful and unfair, when anything goes wrong in their lives; they even almost get to the border of blasphemy. Yet they call Him Lord and Saviour. Stop all that argument and false accusation. Jesus knows more about you than you know about yourself. If when in your life storms are raging, mountains moving, and all accusations coming against you, you go to Jesus like this woman, that whatever they say or do He is your Lord and always faithful, you are not far from your miracle.
(iii) The Power of Great Faith – Matthew 15:28; Ephesians 3:20; 6:16. Faith will never fail. And since you have faith in Christ, and will not let go nor give up, faith that tonight you are not going back home without getting your miracle, all things are possible and you will not go back empty-handed. There shall be manifestation of what you are asking of Him. It is coming your way. “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour” (Matthew 15:28). What the Pharisees, Sadducees and Jewish people did not have, this woman got. What others do not have you will get. This is your hour and time; the Lord will not disappoint you. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh is us,” (Ephesians 3:20). God is able.With that great faith in the Lord you are going to be freed. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).
Point 2. THE PROMISE OF GOD AND ITS FULFILMENT
Mark 7:31-35
What God has promised, provided, pronounced, and as we look at this second part, the fulfilment came. No disappointment in your life but expectation and fulfilment in Jesus’ name. “And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.” (Mark 7:32). What motivated them to bring this man to Christ? Three things here;
(i) The Promise of the Almighty – Isaiah 35:4-5; 29:14,18; 32:3,4. It is good to study your Bible and know the promises of God so that whenever a problem arises in your family or Christian life, you will be able to lay hold on His promises to get your problem solved. “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4). You must know the promises of God so that if you fall into a dungeon, sin, shame, sickness, poverty or penury, you know He will come and save as you call on Him. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped” (Isaiah 35:5). These people understood and knew that Christ is the fulfilment of the promises of God, and they brought that dumb and deaf man to Him. There are many promises of the Lord waiting to be claimed, and you are going to claim them tonight.
(ii) The Possibility of His Authority – Mark 2:12; Luke 4:36; Psalms 33:9. They had heard what he had done in other places, so they said if He did that in those places, then He can do the same with this man with impediment in his speech. “And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion” (Mark 2:12). Your miracle and the touch of God upon your life is going to be immediate and instantaneous. The Lord will roll that painful thing out of your life immediately. He is the Creator, and He will manifest his Grace and Truth in every life. “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:9). He commanded unclean spirits and they came out; they couldn’t argue with Him, every evil spirit will come out.