Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-16
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Topic for the Week Beginning FEB. -.
Comment by Rev. s. II. Doyle.

Topic for the Week Beginning Feb. -.
Comment by Rev. S. 81. Doyle.
ToPIc--How TO pray. Nehemiah's example.
Neh. |, b-l1; Jas. v, 1918.
The spirit of prayer is as universal as
the spirit of religion From the time of
Adams first petition to the last cry Of
an afflicted soul cloud of incense has
continually risen before God. Prayer
has been so universal because men have
believed that the One to whom they
prayed was able and willing to answer
their requests. Christians have been es-
pecially firm in this belief, with the nat
ural result that prayer has been constant
and earnest. In the Scripture and out Of
it we have numberless examples of pray
ing men. Such is Nehemiah Hearing
lhat his brethren in Palestine are faIing
poorly, he appeals to God in their .-alf
and leaves a model of how to ray.
What are some of the characterist Is of
true prayer as exemplified in the prayer
Of Nehemiah?
/. A proper acknowledgment Of God
(Neh. i, 81. This is expressed in his in
troductory address, which is, 20 Lord,
God Of heaven, the terrible God, that
keepeth covenant and mercy for them
that love him." Prayer should always
be introduced by proper acknowledg-
ment Of the greatness and grandness of
God. Thus Jesus in his model prayer
taught us to pray, when he began. ''Our
Father in heaven" The wonderful at
tributes of God make him such God as
it is good for us to pray to, and these at
tributes should be suitably expressed.
2. Earnest entreaty (verses o, 9. 6, III.
This is expressed in the appeals. II be-
seech thee" and Let thine ear be atten-
tive" etc. Nehemiah appeals to God.
He displays a spirit Of great earnestness,
showing his faith in Gods ability to
hear and answer his prayer, and show
ing also his great desire to be heard and
answered. Earnestness and importantly
are necessary to success in prayer So
Jesus taught us in the parable of the
judge who granted the widows request
simply because Of her Importantly. God
delights in our earnestness, and we
should in prayer have the spirit of Jacob
when he said, II will not let thee go. ex-
cept thou bless me-"
3. Humble confessions oversees Q, y. In
these verses Nehemiah humbly confesses
the sins of himself, his family and his peo-
pie. He confesses that they had mot
kept the commandments, nor the stat
utes, nor the judgments of the Lord.
Confession of sin is absolutely necessary
to success in prayer. John says, IF we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins" Humble confession
should always characterize our petitions
to God. We should confess our sinful
ness and utter unworthiness of all Gods
blessings. The Lord loveth humble
and contrite heart
4. A pleading of Gods promises oversees
5, 81. Remember the word that thou
Moses" God has promised
to hear and answer our prayers, and he
has taught us by precept and example
that we are to recall these promises and
plead them in prayer. Thus will we
have what james calls ", l6), 1.-THE ef-
fectual fervent prayer of righteous man
which, availeth much"
Bible References-Ex. Xxx, g; Kings |
xvii, i; Ps. c1x, So, 145; lv, II; Prov
xv, %; Dan. tx, all; Luke, xxi, AZ; John
", 22-24; Cor. xiv, 10; Eph vi, IS; Phil
v. 9; Thess. iii, 10; Tim. v. 8; Pet
". T.