The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1893-02-07
cARlsrlAN ENpsAvoa.
Topic for the Week DeginninB Feb. -
Comment by Eev. s. II. Doyle,

Topic for the Week Beginning Feb. -.
Comment by Rev. $. II. Doyle,
Topic.@-How to prny. NeliemIel.'s example.
Neh. !, b~il: las. v, 1918. ~ 4sp eng
The spirit of prayer is rs universal M
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 ont OF
it we have nulnbcrless examples of pray
ing men. Such is Nehemiah Hearing
that his brethren in Palestine are faring
poorly, he appeals to God in their behalf
and leaves model Of how TO pray
What are some of the characteristics Of
true prayer as exempliiied in the prayer
of Nehemiah!
/. A proper acknowledgment of God
(Neh. /, 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 acknowledge
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" Tho wonderful at
tributes OF God make him such a God as
it is good for us to pray to. and these at
tributes should be suitably expressed.
q Earnest entreaty oversees 5, 8. 3, 11l
This is expressed in the appeals. II be-
seech thee" and LET thine ear be atten-
tive" etc. Nehemiah appeals to God.
He displays 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. Il win not let thee go. ex-
cept thou bless me-" -..,.. ..,..,.
3. Humble confessions oversees 6, y. In
these verses Nehemiah humbly confesses
the sins of himself, his family and his peo-
Pile. 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 a humble
and contrite heart.
4. Apleading of Gods promises oversees
s, 81. Remember the word that thou
co1nmandest Noses" 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(v, 16), The eff
fectual fervent prayer of a righteous mar
(which availeth much"
Bible References-Ex. Xxx. 6; King:
xvii, /; Ps. cxix, So, las; lv, II: Prov
XIV. 80; Dan tx, Ali; Luke. xxi, 40: John
iv, 1924; Cor. xiv Is; Eph. vi, IL; Phil
iv. 6: Thess. iii, 10; Tim. v. 5: Pet
iy T.