Begging On The Outskirts

“I have seen few persons whose minds were spiritually darker that was his when he came into my Sunday School class; and I think that the committee of the Mount Vernon Church seldom met an applicant for membership more unlikely ever to become a Christian of clear and decided views of Gospel truth, still less to fill any extended sphere of public usefulness.”   A Member of Young D.L. Moody’s Church 

“If we base God’s character on his response, then when he says no, then God is not good. If though, we see God’s answers through his character, when God says no, yes, or wait, then we can accept his
answer, because we trust him.”

Mark 7:24

24Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.

Mark 7:27-28

27 “First let the children eat all they want,”he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
28“Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

“First let the children be satisfied . . .”

“. . . for it is not right to take bread and toss it to the dogs.”

Mark 7:35

35At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

Isaiah 35:5-6

5Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.

“Prayer is not begging God to do something for us that he doesn’t know about, or begging God to do something for us that he is reluctant to do,
or begging God to do something that he doesn’t have time for. In prayer we persistently, faithfully, trustingly come before God, submitting ourselves to his sovereignty, confident
that he is acting, right now, on our behalf.”    Eugene Peterson

“As the noonday hour drew near, the watchers at the bedside noted the approach of death. Several times Mr. Moody’s lips moved as if in prayer, but the articulation was so faint that the
words could not be heard. Just as death came Mr. Moody awoke as if from slumber, and said, with much joyousness: “I see earth receding; Heaven is opening; God is calling
me,” and a moment later he had entered upon what one of his sons described as “A triumphal march into heaven.”    The New York Times at Moody’s Death