In last night’s sermon, “Confidence with God,” Pastor Monte Knudsen shared from Romans 4:1-3.

• It’s not what Abraham achieved, but what he believed.
• God blesses Abraham even in his fear.
• Abraham repeated the same sin and God still blessed him.
• Our confidence is in what God does, not what we do.

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Mark 7:24-26, “From there Jesus set out for the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house there where He didn’t think He would be found, but He couldn’t escape notice. He was barely inside when a woman who had a disturbed daughter heard where He was. She came and knelt at His feet, begging for help. The woman was Greek, Syro-Phoenician by birth. She asked Him to cure her daughter.” The Message

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“The woman from the borders of Tyre and Sidon whose daughter Jesus healed is described as ‘a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race’ (Mark 7:26), and again as a ‘Canaanitish woman’ (Matthew 15:22). This seems to mean that she was of Canaanite descent, a native of the Phoenician seaboard, Greek in religion, and probably also in speech. The names of Syria and Phoenicia are both applied to the same region in Acts 21:2, 3. Syrophoenician may therefore denote simply an inhabitant of these parts….” biblestudytools.com/dictionary/syrophoenician

Jesus knew her ancestors. He knew her religion and where she lived. He knew everything about her and helped her anyway!

Matthew and Mark remembered their conversation a little differently. Yesterday we read Matthew’s account…

Matthew 15:28, “Jesus gave in. ‘Oh woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get.’ Right then her daughter became well.” The Message

Here is Mark’s account…

Mark 7:29, 30, “Jesus was impressed. ‘You’re right! On your way! Your daughter is no longer disturbed. The demonic affliction is gone.’ She went home and found her daughter relaxed on the bed, the torment gone for good.” The Message

Jesus knows my fears. He knows I fail repeatedly. He knows my ancestors and where I live. He blesses me anyway!

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