"Prayer: Begging Our Father In Christ's Holy Name!" Proverbs 25:6-14

Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity                                     9-October-2022
Sermon Text: Proverbs 25:6-14
Sermon Theme: “Prayer: Begging Our Father In Christ’s Holy Name.” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. "No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service. The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by our Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will, even though He gives advice. He lacks nothing that is in the power of men to give Him. Oh, what a gracious Lord, who desires that people should perform for Him those things for which He holds Himself responsible! Day and night, moment by moment, everyone should express their most devoted gratitude to Him." ,wrote a man who is largely vilified by our crumbling culture of deception and death. We know his name as Christopher Columbus. On October 12,1492 landed in what we now call the Bahama Islands. He was among the first Europeans to set foot in these islands and South America. Marxists who view history as a greedy pursuit of wealth and dream that utopia will be reached when they forcibly redistribute it, paint Columbus as a money grubber with no respect for human life. They ignore Columbus’ own writings and remold history for propaganda.
      After his third voyage to the new world, Columbus wrote, “"At this time I have seen and put in study to look into all the Scriptures which the Lord has opened to my understanding.   "It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures... "I am a most unworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous presence. For the execution of the journey to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps. It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied... "The Lord made me a messenger of the new heavens and the new earth of which Isaiah speaks and St. John in the book of the Revelation. And He showed me the place where to find it...”   Columbus wasn’t a perfect person, he was a forgiven sinner seeking to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Like Lief Erickson centuries before him who had sailed to north America to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Columbus wanted to hallow God the Father’s Holy Name through Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit.   “When on October 12th they sighted land. Columbus was the first ashore. The men kissed the white coral beach. Columbus then christened the island, San Salvador--Holy Savior-- and prayed: "O Lord, Almighty and everlasting God, by Thy Holy Word Thou hast created the heaven, and the earth, and the sea; blessed and glorified be Thy Name, and praised be Thy Majesty, which hath deigned to use us, Thy humble servants, that Thy holy Name may be proclaimed in this second part of the earth."
    Like Columbus, we have been exploring this Trinity season. We have sailed through the waters of the ABC’s of Christian Doctrine. Learned again God’s good and gracious will for humanity in His Holy Ten Commandments. We have set our minds on the DayStar - The Faith - Christianity - confessed by the Apostles through Christ’s teachings summarized in The Creed. Today God the Holy Spirit invites us into the treasure house of God our Father through Christ Jesus - as He teaches us to pray.   Learn well: “Prayer: Begging Our Father In Christ’s Holy Name.”
      “Pro 25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:” King Hezekiah who lived 715-686B.C., was the Lord’s instrument to restore His Word to the nation of Judah. Two centuries after Solomon had written down these words of wisdom, Hezekiah orders his men to recopy them and make them available for all of Judah to hear and read. We do well to learn from his example to read God’s Word aloud daily within our homes, lest we loose it - as sadly Judah had done. What does the Holy Spirit teach us through King Solomon today? (Vs.6-7). Humility? Patience? Trust in the Lord’s timing? The One Greater than Solomon - King Jesus echoes his words. Teaching, Luk 14:11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." King Jesus, although He was equal with God the Father, humbled Himself and took our humanity into Himself - leaving all behind to shoulder humanities sinful rebellion and satanic pride to reclaim us as His own.
          Listen to King Jesus teaching you to pray. (LSB pg. 323 Lord’s Prayer - Introduction) With these words...History records, Luk 11:1-2 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." (2) So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” King Jesus, Wisdom in our Flesh, gives us His own Words to pray. God the Holy Spirit breathes through King Jesus’ Words tenderly inviting us to believe that God is our True Father and we are His True children.
          Satan, the fallen angel, in pride arrogantly sought to dethrone our Creator. When he failed and was thrown out of heaven, the father of lies came to capture humanity with the lie that God doesn’t love and care for us. A liar and murderer from the beginning Satan led Adam and his wife away from God’s Word and promise, to trust in their own wisdom, feelings, and ways. We live in the corruption of their decision - we die for we all have sinned - captive by Satan - we cannot free ourselves by our own reason or strength.

    King Jesus humbles Himself to death upon the cross. He brings us back to our God and Father. Proclaims us reconciled in His resurrection. Sends forth the Holy Spirit to rebirth us in Holy Baptism, comforting us with the truth that we are forgiven - brought back to our heavenly Father by the blood of Christ Jesus. From prison, St. Paul reminds us of baptismal freedom - Eph 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, (2) with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, (3) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (4) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; (6) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
  Speak these Words of King Jesus! “Our Father”... don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king....but you dear sinner have been exalted by the King’s Word - “I baptize you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son an dof the Holy Spirit!” Confess with St. John, 1Jn 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” As dear children, come to your dear Heavenly Father with all boldness and confidence - pray to find help in time of need. Fear, love, and trust in Him above all things.
    King Solomon taught (vs.8-10) Our fallen nature demands our rights. We want to get all that we deserve, looking down on others. King Jesus was invited to feast on a Sabbath day in the house of a pharisee. A lame man is brought before Him - to test Jesus - to see if He’d break their man made Sabbath laws. They had no compassion on the suffering man, only wanted to puff themselves up in pride.
      King Jesus humbles Himself. He takes this man’s infirmity into His sinless flesh and carries its weight to the cross. He wants to bless us with a “new name.” (LSB pg. 323 Lord’s Prayer - 1st Pet. W.D.T.M?) Our greatest needs aren’t physical, although King Jesus promises to provide day by day all we need to support this body and life. As King Jesus teaches us to pray He sets before us our greatest need: Luk 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" We need to be freed from the evil spirit - Satan, and be given the Holy Spirit through the flesh and blood of Jesus.
    God’s Name - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - are the greatest holiest most precious treasure in all of creation. Do you believe this? Or do you think other things are more important - defending your own reputation above all things - rather than confessing that you are a “poor miserable sinner”? We pray, “Father make your Name Holy among us by your Holy Spirit through Your Son - our Savior!
    How? (LSB pg. 323 Lord’s Prayer - 1st Pet. How....?) Wise King Solomon teaches(vs. 11-13) King Jesus speaks His Word breathing out His Life giving Holy Spirit. Better than silver and gold jewelry - He places the Holy Name of the Only True and Living God upon us in Holy Baptism. He calls us to repent, turn from evil and sin which only brings death. He washes us forgiven - sending forth His preachers of the Cross to refresh our souls with the healing meal of Christ’s body and blood.
      God’s Name is kept Holy when Christ’s Word is taught in its truth and purity. The sermon doesn’t end with the “Amen.” It is to be lived in your life. We begin and end the Divine Service with the Triune God placing His Holy Name upon us to bless us. We are sent forth to live a holy life - a life of faith in King Jesus redeeming blood. A life of humble service - like King Jesus - serving fellow sinners giving freely to care for them. We cannot do this without God the Father strengthening us by His Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus. We pray - “Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!” He does! Boldly and confidently beg Him in King Jesus!
      Sadly King Solomon didn’t follow his wise words!(vs.14) He talked the talk, but didn’t walk the walk. He allowed his 700 wives and 300 concubines to turn his heart away from the God of his father David - to idolatry. Anyone, even wise King Solomon, who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word - profanes His holy name. Did King Solomon repent? He isn’t listed in the hall of fame of faith in the New Testament - Hebrews 11. Though if he is the preacher of Ecclesiasties - he humbles himself writing, Ecc 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. (14) For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” King Solomon humbles himself confessing that all his striving was vanity. Humbly he repents and calls all back to faith - “fear God” and love - “keep his commandments.” He knows that he cannot hide his sin, but looks forward to the blood of Jesus Christ to wash it all away and make him new again.
      Learn from fallen king Solomon to pray, “Protect us from this heavenly Father!” God has blessed you with His Holy Name - you are His dear child, washed forgiven, made alive by His Holy Spirit through His Word spoken. Call upon His Holy Name in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. The Gospel has rang in your ear - through sinful men and women - who like Christopher Columbus strove to be missionaries - speaking of Jesus. Amen.