The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1893-02-10

First Presbyterian church Sunday
Feh IL, 1t 81. M
Baptist church Friday Feb 10. at 2
p m.
We give below the lesson that will
he discussed by the Baptist aud Pres
byteriAn societies.
TorIc.-How 70 pray. SehemIahs exsu
pie. Nsh i.s u: las.v '. 1913.
The spirit Of prayer is a. universal lis
the spirit Of religion, From the time Of
Adams FIRST petition Ii the last cry Of
an afflicted soul ]. cloud 81 incense has
continually risen before God. Prayer
has been So universal because ilIan have
believed that the One TO whom they
prayed was able and willing to answer
their requests. Christians have been e.
pecially firm In tins belief with the nat.
stiral result that prayer has been constant
and earnest. In the Scripture and ont Of
il we lave nynnherless examples 81 nray
ing men. Such is Nehemiah Heaiang
that his brethren N Palestine are flring
poorly, he appealsto God in their behalf
and leaves d model OF how to pray
What slre some Of the characteristics Of
true prayer as exemplitied ia the prayer
gof Nehemiah
{. !. a proper aclknowle dgmeni ~ God
Och. !. 3. This is expressed in Ills in
troduetory address. winch is. 20 Lord
God Of, heaven, the terrible God. that
keepeth coventat and mercy for them
that love him. Prayer houiaalways
be introdneed by a proper aclinowledg-
mint OF the greatness and grandness Of
God. Thus Jesus Ia his model prayer
taught US to pray when he began, 'Our
Father in heaven. The wonderful at
tributes of God make him such i God us
tits good for us to prayto. and these at.
tributes should be suitably expressed.
2, Earnest entreaty VERSES 5. q 8. II,
This Is expressed in the appeals Il be
seech thee and Let thine ear be atten.
tive etc. Nehemiah appeals to God
he displays a spirit Of great earnestuess.
showing his faith in Gods ability to
hear and answer his prayer, and show.
ing also his great desire 70 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 widow s request
simply because of her importantly. God
delights in our earnestness, and I'VE
should in prayer have the spirit OF .lnrob
when he said, II will not let thee 20. OK
cept thou bless me. q
3. Humble confessions verses go. In
these verses Nehemiah huinbly confesses
the sins OF himself, his family and hisp
pie. He confesses that they had mot
kept the commandments, nor the sts.t.
utes, nor the Judgments. of the Lord
Confession Of sin Is absolutely necessary
to success in prayer John says II we
confess our sins he is faithful and Just tt
forgive us our sins. Humble confession
should always characterize our petitions
to God. We should confess our sinful
ness and utter uls~orthiness Of I'LL Gods
blessings, The Lord loyeth Il humble
and contrite heart.
4. Apleading Of God promises verses
8, 81. Remember the word that thou
co1nmandest Moses. God has promised
to hear and answer our prayers. and de
has Taught us by precept and exilinple
that we are to recall these promises aud
plead them in prayer Thus viii We
have what James calls ~. i6). The ef-
fectual feryent prayer Of d righteous man
(which ayaiieth much
Bible References EA. Xxx. q: / Kings
xvii, !; Pss cxix. IS, l45; III. IL; PROV.
". g: Dan. IL. "A (; Luke, xxi, 4e; John
". 2ees2si,, ! Cor xiv, Is; Eph Vi. is; Phil.
". q ! Thessl III. 10; Tim. v. .: ! Pet