In Jesus Holy Name September 15, 2024
Text: Mark 9:28,29 Redeemer
“Do Our Prayers Matter?”
After the healing of the man who was deaf and unable to speak in last week’s gospel lesson Jesus and three of his disciples when up on a nearby mountain to pray. There the disciples saw Him transfigured. They heard the voice of God. They saw the glorious dazzling white robe, the glory that He would possess after His resurrection. They were overwhelmed. They wanted to stay, no, something important was waiting for them on the valley floor.
At the foot of the mountain two kingdoms are on a collision course. The kingdom of God in Jesus and the kingdom of Satan who was possessing this boy, throwing him to the dirt.
On the mountain, Jesus had told the disciples, Peter James and John, that he was going to Jerusalem where he would be arrested, tried, crucified, and murdered, and then rise on the third day, in order to reestablish peace and forgiveness between human beings and our God. The did not understand these comments of Jesus about “rising from the dead.”
As the disciples and Jesus were heading back down the mountain, He saw a large crowd had gathered. Upon arriving, Jesus discovered that a man was asking the disciples to heal his son who was possessed by a demon.
In Colossians Paul reminds us that the full deity of God the Father dwells in Jesus. “Jesus often said: “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” In other words “I’m standing here. I am the kingdom incarnated. Not only in what I do, but in who I am.” (Jesus Manifesto Sweet p. 107) Because Jesus has all authority on heaven and on earth, He commanded the demon… Get out and never come back!”
This prayer of the father, doesn’t sound courageous or confident. It was the prayer of a desperate parent with a demon-possessed son in need of a miracle.
Most of our prayer lives could use a tune-up. Sometimes our prayer lives lack consistency. Other times we need sincerity. And some honestly wonder if prayer makes a difference. We are tempted to wait to pray until we know how to pray. No, we never really learn how to pray, even if we read books by the same title.
Prayer is talking to God, calling Him into action in our personal history. Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. Remember, the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. (Max Lucado)
The truth is that the Jesus who walked the shores of Galilee is the same person who indwells the church today. The Jesus who lived in Galilee had a preexistence before time, before creation, but chose to enter time, and He has given His Spirit to every believer. There is no circumstance too hard for Him. Do not be distracted, there is no circumstance too hard for Him.
Take the Lord’s prayer seriously every day. Lord deliver us from the evil one. This same spotless, sinless, Jesus who was put to death by the power of Rome on a cross. Yes, beaten bloody, naked, mocked, and shamed, a public spectacle, causing Satan to laugh. This same Jesus defeated the powers of darkness and took back the keys of death, hell and the grave. He did this by His resurrection. This same Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, a faithful “high priest” constantly hearing our prayers and interceding for us. (Leonard Sweet Jesus Manifesto p. 167)
Read Philippians 2:6-11
I’m going to repeat the answer to why Mark has written his gospel from 9 weeks ago. Question #1 What is Mark trying to tell his reader when he records each miracle and each confrontation with Satan’s power on display?” The answer: Jesus is the visible presence of the invisible God. “I’m standing here. I am the kingdom incarnated. Not only in what I do, but in who I am.”
“What is Jesus to do?” Redeem Creation from Satan’s grip and each of us.
1. Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s one command, several things have happened. Death became a human reality. Everything dies. Harmony and peace with our Creator and our fellow human beings has been lost. God now expects us, like the father in our gospel lesson, and like the mother of the demon possessed daughter in Sidon, to pray. To ask.
God’s plan for our world is stated every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer. “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
For Mark the true mission of Jesus was played out in an ongoing “cosmic war” between God and Satan over the control of the God’s creation, both the earth and the human body.
In the “Cosmic war” Satan’s goal was to destroy God’s perfect creation. When Satan entered God’s perfect Garden it was as if this evil angel was pointing a finger at “his” creator and said… “I’m going to destroy Your perfect world and Your perfect creation.”
After living an absolutely perfect life Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified. He died on a Roman cross for you and me and all of humanity, to redeem our bodies and souls from eternal death. He rose from the grave on Easter morning, thus stripping Satan of His power to hold people in the fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14) All of your broken commandments were nailed to His cross and left there. (Colossians 2:14)
In baptism God has given us His Holy Spirit and we are the “image bearer’s” of God. If we are God’s partners in this world, and we are. We are to imitate Jesus. We are to use the power of prayer and pray: “May Your will be done on earth as in heaven.” becomes reality.
1. We are created to do the good works which He has prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10)
2. Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain, Jesus looks at the 12 disciples who are still missing the point. Jesus said quit arguing. There are demons that Satan uses to tempt us, demons to trap human beings into the slavery of drug abuse, demons to wreak havoc on society by destroying rules meant to protect society, and even demons to possess the bodies of those who invite Him in. Then to make His point. Jesus said: “Prayer drives out the evil.”
(Have the congregation read Luther’s morning prayer. (each given a copy))
“From birth we have been learning the rules of self reliance as we struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Prayer flies in the face of those deep seated values. To people in the fast lane, prayer is an embarrassing interruption. Prayer is alien to our proud human nature. And yet, all of reach the point of falling on our knees as did tis distraught father and ask Jesus for help.
Skeptics may argue that answered prayers are only coincidences, but as an English archbishop once observed, “it’s amazing how many coincidences occur when one begins to pray.” There is no circumstance to difficult for our God.
I want share with you this morning the power of prayer from a woman some of you may know who lives here in Fresno. Her name is Helen Ramming. Her book is entitled “A Stroke of His Presence” (A mother’s journey of faith)
Her daughter, Michelle, age 35 suffered multiple strokes. She was in the Modesto Hospital for several days then 79 days at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, then home for 2.5 years of rehab. She may or may not have full recovery, but she is doing well. At each step in the journey God answered prayer. We will be using Helen’s book in our Thursday Morning Bible Class.
She writes: “We could not reach our daughter for several days. We knew something was wrong. “I stood p. 14) helplessly at my kitchen counter, crying out to God in prayer. ‘O god, You have got to help us as there is noting further we can do. Give us a break through and help us reach Michelle. Little did I know that this
first prayer would be the first of many God answered. The police were able to enter her apartment and 911 was called.
Once at the hospital, and being thoroughly exhausted, the Lord called me awake and I was impressed to pray. (p. 22) two verses came into my mind. Psalm 91:14-16 and John 15:7 ( I read from the book) inserting her name “because Michelle loves me”…… Repeatedly we saw God provide exactly what we needed.
The medicine at Modesto was not working. She was having more small strokes. Again we prayed not knowing what to do. We found out later that our friends were also praying that the doctors would find a suitable facility and bring healing.
The doctor came by the room and told us Michelle should be moved immediately to John Muir Hospital. At the time we though Stanford or Davis. As it turned out Standford and Davis required a 48 wait, which she did not have and John Muir in fact was the only hospital that specializes in stroke or brain injury patients and there was no waiting. Another answer to prayer. The out come was incredible.
God’s timing and planning are perfect. Through this journey we prayed through distractions, much like the father at the foot of the mountain in our gospel lesson. I truly trusted my All Knowing God, He has my best interests at heart. And I remembered Isaiah 55:8-9 “My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways….”
End the sermon by reading: 4:4-7
Yes, Our Prayers Do Matter.
