Connecticut western news., 1890-06-04
TEACHING HOW TO PRAY.
LESSON X, SECOND QUARTER, IN-
 TERNATlONAl SERIES, JUNE 8.


 [Compned from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per mission of H. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel- phia.l
 All that is recorded between the last lesson and this one is the most interesting and in- structive incident of Jesus in the house of Martha (chap. \, 3S42. I have no doubt but that both women were true disciples of Jesus (see John xii, 5, 2O and that Mary was as willing to do housework as Martha; but the attitude of soul which Jesus commends in Mary, and which was lacking in Martha, was the greater interest in the things unseen than in the things of this life. Mary was increas- ing in riches which she would never lose; while Martha, though just as safe as Mary, was more careful about the many things of this life which sooner or later must all be left behind.
 l. "And it came to pass, that as He was praying in certain place." Luke records more instances of the Saviour's praying than either of the others, In Luke alone do we find that He prayed at His baptism, at His tranSfguration, after He cleansed the leper, and before He chose the twelve 6ii, 21; k, 29; v, 1b; vi, 12, 13). The incident of our lesson also is found only in Luke. If we were more intimate with our Father in Heaven, we would more often be found in communion with Him; the earth would be a more lonely place to us, and we would have more heart craving for Christ himself.
 "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples" In the sermon on the mount Jesus had already taught how to pray Matt vi, 9-19, but as it was after that the twelve were chosen, it is probable that the disciple who asked this question was not pres ent at that time
 9 'sAnd He said unto them, When ye pray, n.,r Eof fhorp pvh arti in, Iy, His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Your Father which is in Heaven," or 'your Heav- enly Father" eight times, 'Thy or your Father" sever times, My Father which is in Heavenn once, and "Our Father which art in Heaven" once.
 "Hallowed be Thy Name" In His last prayer with His disciples Jesus said to His Father, 'I have manifested Thy Name;" ssI hsyA declared unto them Thy Name" At another time he prayed, Father, glorify Thy Namen John xvii, 6, 26; xii, 2S.
 "Thy kingdom come" The God of Heaven shall set up kingdom which shall break in pieces and consume all the kingdoms of this world and it shall stand forever.
 Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so in earth" When this petition shall have been manifestly answered, then the kingdom shall have come. But until Gods will is done on earth as it is in Heaven let no one say that the kingdom has come. In proportion as we now delight to do His will we shall individu- ally have a foretaste of the kingdom in our hearts and lives
 & "Give us day by day our daily bread" Sustenance for body and soul each day shall require; but one day at a time. "A daily rate for every day all the days of his life" was what a certain king gave to one who was his captive QI Ri. 1v, SOh
 { "And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us" When He taught them this prayer in the ser mon on the mount, He added: Eff ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
 "And lead us not into temptation, but de- liver us from evil" God did tempt, or try, or prove Abraham; and James says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation" ;" but he also adds, "God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man" Gen. xii, 1: Jas 1, 12-15. Temptations, in the sense of trials, are our greatest blessings Uas. i, 9; Pct. iv, 12, 18 and God is faithful who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we arc able q Cor. X, 1S). Perhaps the best e1- planation of this petition will be found in the light of Matt. iv, 1, .Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil," and in the fact that He, knowing what it means, would as far as possible spare us.
 t7. Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and have nothing to set before him." Jesus now uses the illustration of friend coming to a friend, on behalf of another friend, and at a very unreasonable hour, but with very urgent request; and the request is denied, for the man of whom the request is made thinks more of the comfort of his children, who are in bed with him, than of the need.
 & Because of his importantly he will rise and give him as many as he needeth." The word for importantly is used only this once in the Bible, and signifies literally shame lessness" or ''impudence" or trough earnest ness" Here is an earnestness, not very seem- ly, but which accomplishes its end, even at the expense of the children's comfort. He seems to teach us that there is taking hold - of God in prayer as Jacob did when in his helplessness he clung to the angel, saying, '1 will not let thee go, except thou bless me-"
 g. "And 1 say unto you, Ask and it shall be given you" "An things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall re- ceive." "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will do, that the Father may be glorihed in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name. I will do it." "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" CMatt. xd, g; John xiv, IS, IA; xv, 9. These are . few of the many plain, emphatic words of our Lord upon asking and receiving, but who believes theml Who thus asks and receivesi
 ''Seek and ye shall find" ''Ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart" ''Those that seek me viii, F, R. VI When we seek according to the mind of God and with the whole heart when we seek spiritual good as men seek sil yer or hidden treasures Pr. ii, Al, then we may expect to find
 .sKnock, and it shall be opened unto you "In Christ Is redemption" in all its fullness and lin Him are hid all the treasures of wis Ills door can knock in vain, for his owI promise Is, "Him that cometh to me will ir no wise cast out" Eph. i, z; Col. ii, 8; JohI vi, SD. How sad the contrast in Rev. iii, 20 the church that bears His name, but He | shut out; and He asks so pitifully if there i any individual that will let him in, that Ht may sup with them
 10 "For every one that asketh receiveth, T etc. And these promises and statement about asking, seeking, knocking, are prefxet by His emphatic "I say unto you" How comforting are the words of l John V, 14, 15 "And this is the confidence that we have il Him, that if we ask anything according tt His will, He heareth us; and if we know tha he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know tha we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
 II, 12. 'n 8 son shall ask bread of any O you that is father, win he give him stonel In the previous illustration He encourages t, ask, and now He encourages to expect wha we ask for.
 IS. stHow much more shall your Heayenl, Father give the Holy Spirit to them tha ask Himr' If father will give to a friend how much more will a father give to his son Two Hundred Years Hence.
 IScene-Ebrary of an elderly gentleman somewhere in Australia. Old gentlema telegraphs to kitchen and waiter is she mn in a pner1mafic tuha