Prayer: Always Just Do It! James 1:22-27

Rogate, The Sixth Sunday of Easter                           5-May-2024

Sermon Text: James 1:22-27

Sermon Theme: “Prayer: Just Do It!” I. Breathe Back The Word God The Holy Spirit Has Breathed Into You!(vs.22-24). II. Let the Lord Open Your Eyes To Cling To Jesus! (Vs.25) III. Follow Your Father’s Footsteps! (Vs.26-27) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! “Psa 66:20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!”The Psalmist sings. Jesus of Nazareth promises His followers: “ Joh 16:23-24 " Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (24) Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” “Rogate” from Latin “rogare” - “to ask.” Preparing to reconcile sinful humanity back to God the Father through His holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death upon the cross - Jesus calls us to pray.

     Prayer days - Rogation days - were common in the early church. They were days of penitence and prayer. Historically observed on April 25 (the Major Rogation, the celebration of which predates the observance of the Feast of St. Mark), and on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord. Rogation Days are said to have been introduced about the year 470 by St. Mamertus, Bishop of Vienna, when the ripening crops were threatened by volcanic activity. The historic observance of Rogation Days included a processional outside the church building following the Office of None -(a daily prayer service at 3p.m.), in which the Litany was sung, for the purpose of asking God to keep the crops healthy and bring forth a bountiful harvest. Starting at the foot of the Chancel, the processional proceeded from the church, continued around the village, praying the Psalms and the litany, ultimately returning to the altar to immediately celebrate Holy Communion.  

    What is the path of prayer? Where does prayer originate? The Holy Spirit teaches us through St. Paul, Gal 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (7) Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Prayer begins within the heart of the Triune God - the eternal loving conversation and communion between The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Mankind was created in God’s image to be in communion and conversation with His Creator. Satan’s lie, Adam’s rebellion, fractured that fellowship with our sin. Sin tears us from our Holy God. It is a chasm that sinful children of Adam cannot cross no matter how many good deeds they attempt.

       God - Love - did not destroy rebellious man. He spoke His Word and promise of the Christ to Adam and his wife. The Holy Spirit breathed new life into them - a life of faith in Jesus - to reconcile them back to God the Father. In the fullness of time the promise was fulfilled. The eternally only begotten Son of God was sent forth - born of a woman - born under the Law - to fulfill it for you - to reconcile you back to your Creator. He adopted you as His own beloved sons in baptism - sending forth His Holy Spirit through Jesus to cry out, “Abba, Father” to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven.”  

         Prayer is the birthright of the baptized. The Gift of the Triune God inviting you to conversation and communion with Him. “Prayer: Just Do It!” I. Breathe Back The Word God The Holy Spirit Has Breathed Into You!(vs.22-24). II. Let the Lord Open Your Eyes To Cling To Jesus! (Vs.25) III. Follow Your Father’s Footsteps! (Vs.26-27)

I.  History records, Gen 4:25-26 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." (26) And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.” Sin brings death, brother murders brother, families are torn apart. The Lord God had blessed Adam and Eve with many daughters, whose names are not recorded, along with their sons. Seth is born and the promise of the Christ is passed on to another generation. In the days of Seth’s son Enosh men begin to “call on the name of the Lord.” This encompasses both preaching the promise of Jesus and praying in His Name.

      James, the step brother of Jesus, instructs: (vs.22) James distills our Lord’s teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus ends the sermon preaching, Mat 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (26) "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." In the sermon Jesus - The Word- preaches - Mat 6:9-13 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. (13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

     Not only hear Jesus Word - do it! All that you learn in the Small Catechism is to be done - not only heard - and repeated - it is to be lived. Doctrine is life - for it is the very living Word of Christ. Why pray? God commands it in the 2nd commandment - “Call upon Me in the day of trouble!” Why pray? God the Father created, sustains, and protects you with daily life. God the Son, has purchased and won you back from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil to be His own. God the Holy Spirit calls and keeps you in the one true faith in Jesus through the Gospel breathed out within Christ’s Church. - You have God’s promise! “I will deliver you." - Pray for you have God’s command and promise: Psa 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."

     Neglecting prayer is foolish. (Vs.23-24) One woman leaned over to another sitting in the pew with her and said, ‘I’m glad that sermon’s finally over!” “No it’s not.” the other whispered back. “What he’s going to preach more isn’t twenty minutes enough?” the other scowled. Taking her by the hand and looking the complainer in the eye she explained, ‘The sermon isn’t over until you live it!” We can despise preaching and God’s Word by being in Church every Sunday. If we treat preaching as entertainment and at the end of the year know just as much about the Holy Bible at the beginning of the year - we let Christ’s Word go in one ear and out the other.

      Imagine a man so forgetful that he looks into a mirror, walks away and immediately forgets what he saw. We live in the days of narcissism. Everyone loves to stare at their own “selfies” posted over social media. Yet with all the filtering, they present a false image - deceive themselves - and all their likes and friends - leave them empty, isolated, lonely. Sin has curved all humanity inward. Christ frees us from the prison of self - to see the Truth that sets us free!

   Look intently into the mirror of God’s Word. The Law will show you your sins - be honest - confess them to God in prayer daily. See your face now reflected in the still baptismal waters - behold Jesus clothed upon you - you are forgiven - redeemed - pray for the Holy Spirit to keep you in this truth trusting only in Jesus for salvation! Praise without ceasing. He cares for you! Pray! Cast all your cares upon Him! Breathe back the Word God the Holy Spirit has breathed into you - -read the Psalms out loud - pray them back to your God and Father through Jesus!

II. Pray: Psa 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.” For 176 verses the Psalmist sings forth the marvel of God’s Word in the 119th Psalm. How dull our hearts that tire of singing more than four verses hymning praise to our God. (Vs.25) Prayer isn’t a lottery ticket. Buy one to see if you win. Prayer is the conversation our heavenly Father invites us to in Jesus. He is our true Father, we are His true children, now with Holy Spirit breathed boldness and confidence - ask Him as dear children ask their dear father. Young children are persistent begging treats from their parents in the grocery store. Be like them! Ask! Ask! Ask! Your Heavenly Father loves you in Jesus. His will is always good and gracious! He gives you the greatest gift - God the Holy Spirit that you may know Him through Jesus whom He has sent for you!

      Open your Holy Bible - read it out loud - hear the Father’s voice calling you to His side through His Son by His Spirit. Sing forth the eternal hymns of heaven! God has given you His Word to bless you with forgiveness, life, and salvation in Jesus! Do it! Jesus lives! God is your Father, your God - He hears - He answers - He loves and cares to give you all your need for eternity and day by day.

III.   Jesus preaches,” Mat 5:44-45 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Follow in your heavenly Father’s footsteps.

        God the Holy Spirit sanctifies you through the Gospel - He frees you to make your life one of prayer. Prayer not only in words, but in action. (Vs.26) David teaches,”Psa 141:1-3  LORD, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. (2) Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (3) Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” The God or idol you cling to will manifest itself on your lips. If you accuse, gossip, curse, lie - your idols are deceptions of the father of lies - Satan - beware.

Watch your tongue - James warns, Jas 3:7-10 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. (8) But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (9) With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. (10) Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” Pray daily for the Holy Spirit to set a guard over your lips - that you speak the Good news of Jesus to others, forgive them as the Father forgives you freely and totally in Jesus!

         God the Father is mercy - He is Love - Follow Him! (Vs.27) Prayer fixes your eyes outside of yourself to serve your neighbor. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see in every widow, every orphan, every outcast as valuable - created by the Father, redeemed by God the Son, sanctified by God the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit given Christ centered Faith lives in loving service to neighbors in need. It acts before being commanded to reach out in love for in the hurting she serves her risen and ascended Christ Jesus! Praying for people opens our hearts to care for them and our hands to serve them.

      Prayer sets a guard against the world and its lies. Begin, end, each day with prayer - confess reality - the Creed - cast all care upon your Father - the Lord’s Prayer. Joyfully serve live the Ten Commandments caring for one another. Alleluia! Christ is risen! The world is overcome! Amen.