Episode Overview

Episode Title: Healing School #24 | The Canaanite Woman
Host/Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne
Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Date: August 21, 2021

In this installment of the Healing School series, Pastor Nancy Dufresne explores the story of the Canaanite woman from Matthew 15:21-28. The teaching centers on the principles of faith, persistence, humility, and the nature of God’s mercy in the context of seeking healing and deliverance. Through a verse-by-verse study, Pastor Nancy highlights how Jesus interacted with someone outside the covenant and illustrates what it means to approach God with great faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Jesus Meets the Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28)

• [01:04] Pastor Nancy sets the foundation by identifying the characters and the cultural context:
  • Tyre and Sidon were Gentile territories; Jews typically didn’t live there.
  • Gentiles, including the Canaanite woman, had “no covenant” with God at the time.
  • Jesus’ journey to these regions foreshadows the coming inclusion of Gentiles into God’s covenant.

2. The Power of What You Hear about God

• [05:05] Importance of hearing the right things about Jesus:
  • The woman approaches Jesus for deliverance for her daughter, having “heard of Jesus” (cf. Mark’s account).
  • “It matters what you hear about Jesus. If you hear the wrong thing, you believe the wrong thing.” – Nancy Dufresne [06:00]
  • Misconceptions about God (“God puts sickness on people to punish them”) can block faith.
  • “God can’t put bad things on you because he doesn’t have any bad things in heaven.” – Dad Hagin, quoted by Nancy [07:54]

3. Faith and Authority within the Household

• [11:15] The mother acts on behalf of her daughter, who’s under her authority:
  • When children are young, parents can exercise faith for them; as children mature, they must develop their own faith.
  • “You can’t borrow another man’s faith forever.” – Nancy Dufresne [12:40]

4. Seeking Mercy: The Heart of the Request

• [14:30] The Canaanite woman asks for mercy for herself, not just her daughter.
  • The situation not only tormented the child but disrupted the peace of the family.
  • “To be delivered from the power of the devil is a flow of the mercy of God.” – Nancy [15:07]
  • Mercy is the channel for all God’s blessings—healing, deliverance, provision.

5. True Heart vs. Religious Phrases

• [17:20] The woman addresses Jesus as “O Lord, thou son of David,” using Jewish terminology she’s likely heard but doesn’t fully own.
  • Jesus does not respond initially. “God doesn’t want to hear from you what you think he wants to hear. He wants to hear from you what you believe, what’s in your heart.” – Nancy [18:39]
  • Sincerity and authenticity in approaching God are emphasized over religious formulas.

6. Persistence as a Feature of Faith

• [22:56] The woman persists despite rejection.
  • “Persistence is a feature of faith.” – Nancy [23:22]
  • The disciples want to send her away, but Jesus is instead drawing her into a deeper place of understanding.

7. Worship and Sincere Prayer

• [25:32] The woman shifts her approach: she worships and simply says, “Lord, help me.”
  • “When you don’t know what to pray, this one always works: ‘Lord, help me.’” – Nancy [26:44]
  • This heartfelt, humble prayer receives a response from Jesus.

8. The Children’s Bread: Healing as a Covenant Right

• [28:20] Jesus refers to healing and deliverance as “the children’s bread.”
  • Bread symbolizes a daily staple; healing belongs “every day” to God’s children.
  • “Healing belongs on the table of their life. It’s a staple in their life.” – Nancy [29:50]

9. Gentile Identity and Not Taking Offense

• [33:20] Jesus uses the common term “dogs” for Gentiles—not to offend, but to state their covenant status.
  • “This was not a term to offend her…it was merely expressing that she is like a dog: no caretaker, no covenant.” – Nancy [34:33]
  • The woman does not get offended; instead, she humbly accepts the reality and presses for a crumb of God’s power.

10. Humility and Great Faith

• [36:30] The woman’s humility opens the door for her miracle.
  • “If people are going to hold to their pride, it can cost them their miracle. Don’t hold to your pride.” – Nancy [37:42]
  • She wasn’t looking for what belonged to others, just the “crumbs,” believing even that is sufficient.

11. The Result: Commendation and Healing

• [39:10] Jesus praises her, “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.”
  • Her faith and her refusal to be offended, along with her persistence and humility, turned “no” into “yes.”
  • “Great faith won’t get offended. Great faith won’t protect its personal pride. Great faith won’t quit.” – Nancy [40:19]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On What You Hear:

  • “If you hear that healing and deliverance and help is for certain people, but not for everyone, then that’s the wrong thing. And you’ll believe the wrong thing. The devil will say, 'Well, you’re one that it’s not for.' But if you hear the right thing… Jesus said, 'But I am come that you might have life.'” – Nancy Dufresne [06:20]

• God’s Method of Teaching:

  • “The way God deals with people is through His Word, not through sickness. He doesn’t deal with you through tragedy…God’s way of teaching is through His Word.” – Nancy Dufresne [08:06]

• On the Sincerity of Prayer:

  • “He doesn't want to hear practiced religious phrases. He wants to have a heart to heart fellowship with you.” – Nancy Dufresne [19:03]
  • “Lord, help me. When you don’t know what to pray, this one always works.” – Nancy Dufresne [26:40]

• Regarding the “Children’s Bread”:

  • “Healing is a staple in the life of my children. It belongs to them every day.” – Nancy Dufresne [29:50]
  • “No devil can partake [at God’s table]…The enemies are present, but they're not seated at the table with us…There is no chair for them.” – Nancy Dufresne [31:15]

• Humility and Receiving:

  • “If you’re going to argue with God, you’re going to dismiss yourself from something good. But she didn’t argue. She didn’t get offended, did she?” – Nancy Dufresne [37:10]

• On Great Faith:

  • “She just kept going. She didn’t start out with great faith, but because of his goodness of working with her…she ended up with great faith.” – Nancy Dufresne [40:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 01:00: Introduction and today’s passage: Matthew 15:21-28
• 01:04 – 05:04: Context: Gentile woman, covenant distinctions, Jesus’ visit to Gentile regions
• 05:05 – 11:14: Hearing the right things about Jesus and consequences of wrong beliefs
• 11:15 – 14:29: Parental authority in faith and the spiritual climate of the home
• 14:30 – 17:19: Mercy and its flow in healing and deliverance
• 17:20 – 22:55: Borrowed words, religious phrases vs. sincerity of the heart
• 22:56 – 25:31: The persistence and tenacity of faith
• 25:32 – 28:19: Sincere worship and prayer; getting God’s attention
• 28:20 – 33:19: The children’s bread: daily provision and healing
• 33:20 – 36:29: Gentile “dogs,” humility, and the non-issue of offense
• 36:30 – 39:09: Humility, faith, and forsaking pride to receive from God
• 39:10 – End: Jesus praises her faith; nature of great faith; closing encouragement

Conclusion

Pastor Nancy’s teaching on the Canaanite woman provides deep insights into the nature of faith, humility, persistence, and the all-encompassing mercy of God in the area of healing. She encourages listeners to lay aside pride and offense, approach God sincerely, and believe that just a “crumb” of God’s power is transformative—even for those who feel on the outside. The story is a powerful reminder that Jesus’ goodness reaches across every barrier through great faith.