A Pastor Prays For His People! Ephesians 3:13-21

Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity                               19-September-21
Sermon Text: Ephesians 3:13-21
Sermon Theme: A Pastor Prays For His People. by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.

I.N.R.I. Three men imprisoned, three women mourning, could summarize the Scripture lessons for the sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. Two of the men are only sons who have been imprisoned by death. Two of the women are widows - the death of their sons crushes them with grief and leaves them alone in the world. The death of a child crushes a mother’s heart and brings forth tears of grief. The widow of Zarepheth, whom the Lord had called to sustain His prophet Elijah, cries out, “1Ki 17:18   "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?" The lifeless corpse of her son crushes her with the reality that she too is a sinner. Sin always and only pays out death - we are powerless to prevent it. Elijah, the man of God, should’ve been able to prevent it if only he had prayed harder. The other widow is walking towards the cemetery out of the town of Nain. Nain means “beauty”, but this isn’t a beautiful scene. No matter how much make up we put on a corpse - it is a corpse - to be carried to the grave to decay. This leads the mournful wailing procession in front of those carrying the lifeless body of her only son.
      Who is the third woman the mourns? Christ’s Bride - His Church - the congregation at Ephesus. She mourns for her son, her preacher, St. Paul has been arrested in Jerusalem, imprisoned in Caesarea Philippi, and finally sent to Rome with little hope of justice. She mourns because one of her members Trophimus was spotted with Paul in Jerusalem. The Jews from Asia accused Paul of bringing Trophimus into the inner Temple courts and demanded his death.
      Three men imprisoned, three women mourning - what hope do we have when all is lost? The widow at Zarepheth went to Elijah, the man of God. Elijah took the corpse into his room - laid him on his bed - and cried out to the Lord God in prayer. The widow of Nain’s mourning congregation marching towards the grave is met by another congregation joyfully entering her village. Led by Jesus. The groaning prayers of all who mourn are heard by Him. He stops the march towards the grave to bring life to her son. Instead of this young son - Jesus will lie lifeless in his bed - the tomb for three days. He will fully shoulder our sin and pay the debt of hell that we owe upon the cross. He will speak forth His Word to bring life to our dying world, hope to all who mourn, and peace to all who are broken by their sin. He will shepherd His chosen within His Church through men whom He calls and sends to pastor them.
        St. Paul, shepherded Ephesus for three years, learned from Jesus, as did the other apostles - that his office is carried out not by serving tables, but by giving himself over continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word of God. Listen as “A Pastor Prays For His People.”
        The letter to the Ephesians begins with the comforting doctrine of predestination. We are not members of a congregation because of our decision, but God choose us in Christ Jesus from eternity to be His own beloved children. Faith is the gift of God the Holy Spirit through the message of Christ crucified for us - not a work we perform. We were dead, corpses walking towards hell, but God merciful raised us to life with Christ Jesus and has set us in “heavenly places” His Church - our local congregation. Listen! (Vs.13) Pastor Paul had suffered, beatings, arrest, injustice, trials, shipwreck, and imprisonment. Paul doesn’t want his congregation to lose heart. When the wicked world spurred on by Satan seeks to silence Christ’s Word by arresting pastors for speaking the Truth of the Holy Bible - do not lose heart - it is for the Church’s glory that now she suffers. Does not our Lord Jesus tell faithful pastors, Joh 15:20-21 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.” Have you never heard of Jesus’ final blessing upon His Church, Mat 5:11-12 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. (12) Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” The cross of Jesus was tattooed upon our forehead and heart on the day of our baptism. It kills our old adam and raises the new man to a life that will never end. This is our glory which the world will never understand by its own reason or win by its own strength.
          Children on the playground used to argue, “My Dad is bigger than your Dad!” Children in intact families found security knowing from nature the one whom God held responsible for protecting his family - not only loved their mother and them, but would give all to protect them from harm. Your Father is bigger than the father of lies who rules this present evil age! (Vs.14-15). Paul assumes the posture of prayer. He kneels to pray - as a beggar before a merciful Father. Our body will follow our heart as we pray - whether we kneel, stand, sit, or lie upon a bed of illness - the true posture of prayer is one of Faith. God is our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Father in Jesus tenderly invites us to believe that He is truly our Father who loves us. He gives all - even His only begotten Son into our flesh, to fulfill the Law for us, to shoulder our sin, to die our death, to lie in our grave, to rise again to life, to ascend and prepare our Home with Him, and to come again to call our bodies from the grave - incorruptible, immortal, glorious to live with Him forever face to face. God the Holy Spirit opens our lips to pour out our grief and needs to our Heavenly Father with all boldness and confidence through Christ Jesus.
    Calling upon the Name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we are comforted in a fallen world. (Vs.15) We are members of a family whose ties are never broken. We sing, “Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above...When here our pathways part, We suffer bitter pain; Yet, one in Christ and one in heart, We hope to meet again.”(LSB 649:1,4) Every Sunday we gather with our family as a congregation - here we are united with those who sing around the throne of Christ the Lamb of God as they await the resurrection on the Last Day. Here we are united with all Christian brothers and sisters around this globe who call on the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ empowered by God the Holy Spirit. Paul and his congregation though separated by chains and seas -were united with each other in the prayer of the Church. At Nain in Jesus the congregation marching toward death met the congregation following Life. Death lost - life was restored - joy was given to a grieving mothers. This is the reality of what happens here every Sunday in the divine service. Life - Christ Jesus comes to meet us on our march towards the grave - He unites us with angel, archangels, and all the company of Heaven. He places upon our lips the food of immortality - His living forgiving blood and eternal life filled body - and we are comforted with joy and depart in peace.
      Remember the Name you bear! It is the Holy Name of the only true and living God. (Vs.16) God’s Holy Name is echoed in your ears every Sunday as it is taught in its truth and purity. As His beloved child you bear His Holy Name into your home and the world as you live a holy life according to His Word. Serving your neighbor in love by living the Ten Commandments in your daily callings. Standing against Satan’s lies by confessing the Truth - The Apostles’ Creed. Serving your neighbor by being constant in prayer to Our Father who is in Heaven.
      We pray according to the riches of God’s glory. His glory was to send His only begotten Son to become your Brother and Substitute under the Law. Christ’s glory was to be raised up on Calvary as the One Sinner to bear God’s just judgment for all time. His glory was to call you by Name - that you believe His Holy Gospel Word and lead holy lives of trusting only Jesus’ gift of forgiveness of all your sins, life now and eternally, and salvation as freely gifted to sinners in His flesh and blood.
The Father’s good and gracious will is the cross. He breaks and stops our own sinful stubborn flesh and opens our ears to hear His Word that God the Holy Spirit strengthens the inner man. He keeps us in His Word and Faith until we die.
      The Father’s good and gracious will is to make His Home with us through Christ’s Word and by His Spirit! (Vs.17-19) Paul prays and all pastors join him - that you know the love of Christ. Your Savior who doesn’t shun you as a poor miserable sinner. He roots and grounds you in His love, which is the Father’s love for you. Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches - His life flows through our veins. He dwells in your hearts through Spirit breathed Word certified faith. Faith roots you firmly in God’s love in Jesus and declares you saints - forgiven. His love for you is immeasurable you cannot get your mind around its width, length, depth, or height. His love passes all human knowledge. Every day as you read, study, and inwardly digest His Word the Holy Spirit fills you with the fullness of God. He opens your lips to pray - breathing back to God the Father the Words Christ Jesus always prays with you, for you, through you, and through all our family on this globe - ‘Our Father.”
      Two sons restored to life. Two widows praise God and the Man of God sent to bring us from death to life. Paul restored to life by the prayer of the Church - even eventual martyrdom wouldn’t rob the Church of the victory of Life Christ Jesus sealed upon him in baptism. Our prayer concludes with a high doxology. (Vs.20-21) Dear Christian never say there is nothing you can do. Never look at prayer as some last ditch effort or a waste of time. As the family of God we need to learn again to pray trusting our Father in heaven. He is abundant and able to do more than we ever think. His Spirit works in us. We give Him all glory now and forever more. Then we close our prayers with confidence that they are heard and our Father will deliver us from every evil. He will grant us a blessed death as He takes us from this valley of sorrow to Himself. He will deliver us from the evil of the grave, raising us up from the dust of death through Christ’s Word breathing forth the Lord and Giver of Life on the Last Day. We confess, “This is most certainly true.” - or in Hebrew “Amen.”   Amen.