The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-18
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FoR
MARCH 15.
Lesson Text: "Teaching About
Prayer" Luke xi., l-io-
Golden Text: Luke XII, y
commentary.

u1or5 reach US to pray" Thus spake
ona ~ His disciples to Him as He was pray
inc In a certain place. He was much given
to nrayer. much in communion with heaven
and IN His life on earth always pleasing the
Father. Luke records five instances OF His
praying which do not seem to be recorded
by the other evangelists Chapters ill.,, 81;
", 16; vi, IL. 13; ix., 20, and here). 1t
should be great comfort to us that. though
we know not what we should pray for as We
ought, the Spirit Himself maketh interces-
sion for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered and He maketh intercession accord
ing to God (Rom. viii, 2d. 27).
2. when ye pray say, Our Father which
art in heaven" This seems to have been on
another occasion than that referred to in
Math. vi, 9, a repetition and Endorsement OF
this beautiful summary and sample OF all
prayer. Only Christians can truly use it. for
none but the redeemed can truly say "Our
Father Compare John viii, "A, with j., IL.
Inasmuch as the carnal mind Is enm1ty
against God, none but the redeemed can
honor His name, and only such will desire
His kingdom to come and His will to be done
on earth as in heaven.
8. "Give us day by day our daily bread.
The whole teaching Of Scripture is that we
have to live but one day at u time ana not to
allow to-morrows cares to intrude upon to-
day. "As thy days thy strength That
which they have need of, day by day without
fail" "A daily rate for every day, all the
days Of his life" "Take therefore no thought
for the morrow, for the morrow shall take
thought for the things Of ITSELF (Deut.
1xxiii., %; Ezra vi, 8; II Kings xXv.. 30;
Math. vi, 34).I
a. "And forgive US our sins II we con-
fess our sins, He is faithful and just to for
give US our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness q John j., g.. 1t is under
stood, however, that confession includes, on
our part, the forgiveness from the heart OF
all who have injured us (hath. vi, IA, 10;
Mark III, 26). As to temptation. God cannot
be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He
any man (Jas. l., 13. 14), and yet it is written
"God did tempt Abraham" (Gen. xii. y.
but Heb. XII. II, says that Abraham, when
he was tried, offered up Isaac God tries
His people for their good (Deut. viii. l6;
Cor. X, 49,, but never temDts them to do
wrong.
S. (Which of you shall have friend?"
Abraham is the only man mentioned in Scrip
ture by name as the friend Of God Oh Chron.
xx.. 7; Isa. xii, 8; James il. 23). but Jesus
said to His disciples "Henceforth l call you
not servants, but have called you friends,
that whatsoever ye shall ask Of the Fatherin
MY name. He may give it you" (john Xv.,
Is, l6l. And this in connection with fruitto
the glory Of God.
6. II have nothing to get before him.
What condition of emptiness and helpless
ness. but Just such is our condition apart
from our Lord Jesus Christ no matter how
hard we may toll. His own words are
'severed from Ne ye can do nothing (John
xv.,.5). When the disciples had toiled oil
night and Jesus in the morning, from the
shore. said "Have We any meat?" they had to
opcuar In IJOhn ri 4 81.
T. my children are with me in bed.
cannot rise and give thee" Children come
closer than friends, and while it is good 10
be a servant of God. be ter to be friend. it
js best of all to be q child OF God by faith in
Christ Jesus. father will keep nothing
good from his children. and as to all our
need Jesus has said your heavenly Father
knoweth that We have need OF all these
things" (Math vi, 32).
8. BECAUSE Of his Importantly, he will
rise and give him as many as he needeth.
There is somewhat of the same teaching in
chapter xviii. Is. What do we know Of the
heart that says Il will not let thee 60 eX-
cept thou bless me- (Geu. NxXii.. 26). Do
we understand anything OF prayers and sup
plications with strong crying and tears?
(Heb. w. y.
o "Ask. seek. knock y One has said,
"Ask with the humility Of Il beggar, seek
q
fiden,ly as :; friend" Some helpful words
on each Of these will be foand on task
in John xiv. l3. "A; wv, I: Mark yi.. "a;
"seek,' Prov. H.. s: viii. II. r. VI; Jer.
xyiy, Is: "knock.' Col H., 3: John vi; 81;
Rev. ill.,. 20. We are apt to think OF asking
or seeking something for ourselves. but
Jesus never sought anything for Himself
(John vi, IS; viii, SOY; always and only for
God
10. For every one tha, asketh receiveth.
The limitations are given elsewhere as,
That God may be- Z orifled ""According to
His will I'm the name OF Jesus Gohn
xiv, 13. II; John v, l4). Could we but
live solely and wholly to hallow His name, to
hasten His kingdom. without thought for
ourselves, we would then know the meaning
and power of the words 'Seek ye first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all these things shall be added unto you
When we live uprigbtly unto Him, We may
ask what we will for His glory and receive
it, and be perfectly sure that He will see we'll
to all that concerns lis without our asking
ANYTHING NIath. vi. 80: Ps. lXxxir., 11.)
II. Il. |If son shall ask bread Of any OF
you that is father" No parent would ever
give stone for bread, or a serpent for fish;
or Il scorpion for an egg. or anything to
harm his child instead Of something good.
If q man will crafty his friend at the cost Of
his cNllQrtu = cOIuJOEl- lON IAuCh ulOTc Will
he give what is good and needful to his chill
drcn. The thought running all through the
lesson seems TO be that Of "Our Father" and
His children. Others may have to ask and
seek and knock, but u child is ut home in its
fathers hons, and counts all that the fcther
has aS IFS own (chlEter Nv. 30.
13 If We t!Ien. being evil. know how to
give good gifts unto yourchildrcn. how much
more shall your heavenly Father give the
Holy Srri. 20 them that ask Him This
confirms what | said on the last verse, that
the Whole tcpic is one OF our relationship to
Got as our Father by faith in Christ Jesus
and tho privileges Of thar relationship which
should insure /" Us the most absolute rest Of
soul and frrraom from all care Of self be-
cause He rareth. The only way to this
freedu;n from self care and II whole heart
for His kindom is to be filed with His
Spirit. which. ly comparing this verse with
Niath. VII. II. you will see to be the sum
and substance Of MI good things. If filled
with the Spirit (Eph. V. Is). the life will be
right. thoughts. words and actions all SUBJ
jett TO Him selt-subdmcd, the whole being
for God. Christ magniiied in our bodies and
q sample Of the reign Of Christ seen in our
lives. Lesson Helper.