Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost October 19-20, 2024
“Prayer Changes Things” II Kings 20:1-7
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
At our preschool the mind of some of the children has already moved forward a few months. Recently I found out that Christmas is on the mind of some of the kids. Do you know what they like? They like presents. They like asking for presents. They like seeing the packages of presents under the tree. They like opening the presents. And they like playing with the presents. And it is only October!!
When I think how we are in our relationship with our powerful and gracious God I think we are much like those kids. We like presents. Wonderful, meaningful presents. Gifts from Him that make a difference in life. And God, our God, loves to give us presents.
As I go to visit our homebound this month I decided to base my devotion on the Reformation. I have used one word again and again in my words to them. The word? Alone. Usually the word is a difficult one. We don’t like to be alone. But many of our homebound are alone. They have lost a spouse. They face life much differently now than they did for the majority of their lives. Alone at a meal. Alone in the evening. Usually the word “alone” comes with a tinge of pain.
But the word “alone”, in our understanding of God’s gifts, His presents to us, bring us ultimate confidence and security. Trusting in our God alone means that we are never alone. Listen to this gift: “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” A few verses later he goes on, “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.” (Romans 3:21-24, 27-28)
How will I stand before God on the day of judgement? I stand in the work of Jesus – alone. How do I know I am forgiven of all sin? In Christ alone. Alone is a good word when that word says I know where my strength and hope and security lie. Christ alone. Faith alone. Grace alone. Scripture alone. Our God loves to give gifts. Freely, of His own plan He presents to us Jesus and all that Jesus brings to us.
You have to love the clarity of the hymn, “Rock of Ages”. (LSB 761, verse 3)
Nothing in my hand I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling.
Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.
We are people gifted by God. Here’s a gift – your Baptism. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27) We have something much than our sin and our failings, even our own goodness – we have the clothing of Christ put over our own clothes. Now we are dressed wonderfully. Now we can stand before God with confidence and wholeness.
Do you like gifts? Don’t miss this one. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28)
My!! A feast from a piece of bread and a drink of wine. His body and His blood for you. For forgiveness and for new life.
Do you like gifts? Here’s a gift. Prayer. Listen to the text I have chosen for today – II Kings 20:1-7. This all happened right about 700 B.C. Hezekiah was a good king in Israel. But he was sick, very ill, some type of infection, I believe. Isaiah, quite the famous prophet, comes to him with somber news, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” (II Kings 20:1) Hezekiah was only 37 years old. This was not the news that he wanted to hear. It says that “He wept bitterly.” Why me? Why now? I’m only 37!! But he knew God. He knew about the power of prayer. He knew about the power of God. “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” (II Kings 20:1-2)
And God changed His plan. Hezekiah asked for more years and God said, “Yes.” Isaiah, God’s voice to the king, came back and spoke what God said, “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hands of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.” (II Kings 20:5-6)
God delights in giving gifts. He gives, freely, His love when He sent Jesus to earth. Freely, you are saved from hell and sin and death. It is a gift – for the asking. The table of our Lord is a gift. “Take and eat. Take and drink.” Your Baptism is a gift. “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16) And prayer, asking God for His mighty hand is a gift.
Prayer changes things because prayer is an act of ultimate confidence in the will of God for us. Does God answer every prayer? Does He add on fifteen years of life to our days? God answers every prayer but at times His answer is no, or wait – I’m not going to do this right now – and sometimes, like with Hezekiah, His answer is yes.
When we pray, with a simple faith in the goodness of God, as well as trust in His sovereignty, “Thy will be done” we are saying that we believe in the perfect plan of God for us, or for others. Do you remember the Old Testament prophet, Elijah? He was in a constant battle with Jezebel, the evil queen. She was intent on making his life miserable and he was on the run for his very life. He had a prayer, not for making his life longer, but for making it shorter. “He came to a broom tree, sat under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.” (I Kings 19:4-5) He didn’t get his wish. He didn’t die. God brought him life.
And God answered his prayer. God said no. He still had a purpose and a plan, a good one for Elijah and what God would work through him.
Prayer changes things. And sometimes it changes us!! Do you remember Simeon in the New Testament? The Bible tells us that Simeon was waiting for the birth of the Messiah – the Christ. In Luke 2:26 it says, “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” When Jesus came to the Temple in Jerusalem on the 40th day of his life, Simeon takes up the baby Jesus in his arms and offers up this prayer of joy, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32) Now he could die. Now he had seen God’s gift. Now he had peace and joy.
What joy is given us when we are given gifts. Someone thought of us. Someone wanted to make our day. Someone gave us a gift of great love.
God has given us His gifts fully in Jesus. With joy He presents them to us. Take them. Open them. Receive them. You’ll be blessed by all of them. Amen!!
Pray always