The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-07-19
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

/ .4.28 g 80. Mark i:S5; Luke 5:is. 6i2: ais
/ IN. public. Matt ll.25; 1885; Luke ~;
/ Nl9 26:26. Mark sal. Long prayers. IN
/ public and In private. John IL Mark 90;
Luke slS short eiaeulatory, brayserss.'
/ PRAYER for friends. Matt. 1913; Luke e2:32;
/ John n. Prayer for enemies. Luke 223i
Prayer for, himself (but always with ne
/ thought OF Othersl. Matt. 26N. 1915.
Christs teachings about prayer:
Group Group !. MAT MATT 81 81. s
Group 8 Matt6.s-l2
Group 4. Mark II :25, Matt. 5Ai
Group 5. Mark HEP. Luke II;6, Matt
n:a. Marx n:-s; Matt. i7'so; Mark n's';
Group Z Luke 1iil-i2
Group = Luke lS:9-iA
Group p. Matt tS;i9 20. 9:37 81
Group 10 John H.i2 Il; 1871. IS; is'2s'
1t was now late in the year A. D.
90 OF possibly early in 30. Jesus was
probably still in Perea. though the ex-
act locality Is unknown. Jesus. in
these teachings about prayer. repeats
the several petitions of that prayer
first given in his Sermon on the Mount.
He doubtless found Il necessary more
than once to teach thus particularly on
the all-important subject of earnest
prayer. and also would naturally give
form Of prayer; but the differences
noticeable in the two reports-Matt
| 6:9-13, and verses Pa before us-show
that he placed no emphasis upon the
exact words. lie sought rather. by this
model. to show in what spirit we
should approach God and what petit
tions We may bring to him with assur-
I 81 ~ "A Hn
teach the disciples TO pray "in his
name" That came later At this date
they could not have understood H.
They needed first TO learn 10 pray In
q ilial spirit, with and for others. and
10 continue praying il the answer were
delayed.
The Lords Prayer.-We somewhat
appropriately style the prayer which
Jesus taught the Lords Prayer" II
IS our prayer-the prayer for every
child Of God Its distinctive charac-
teristics-the filial spirit and the fra
ternal spirit. The Lords Prayer is thus
nothing else than the summary OF the
law put into practice; and this sum-
mary so realized In the secrecy Of the
heart will naturally pass thence into
the entire ife."-Godet. Il used 10
think the Lords Prayer was a short
prayer; but as I live longer. and see
more Of life. begin TO believe there is
no such thing as getting through u.
our Heavenly Father knows no
favoritism: he is just as willing TO an
swer the prayer OF his humblest child
as that OF the most mature saint But
Il Is true that we need 20 be taught 10
pray. Now the same Teacher who
taught the apostles and early disciples
has been the Teacher OF every one who
has been mighty in prayer since their
day. And he has not yet closed his
school, nor ever turned away one will
ing to be a scholar. To him we too
may come and with sincere hearts offer
the prayer which is our Golden Text:
Lord. teach us 10 pray" Jesus will
not give us some magic formula, for
saying prayers is not praying. but
through his own words OF teaching,
such as we have to-day before us. and
through practice drill. he will teach
and train us. so that we too may be
able to offer "the effectual. fervent
prayer" which "availeth much"
Jesus example. as well as his words,
taught those who were associated with
him tina. Il is mans high privilege 10
pray to the great God. At one time
they asked Jesus, Teach us to pray.
in replying he taught that we may
come to God as loving children to a
kind father, and that we may pray for
others as we'll as ourselves. Our first
petitions should be for the hOnOring OF
our Fathers name, the coming Of
Christs kingdom. and the accomplish
ment OF Gods blessed will among men.
The Oead-Prayer Omce-What be-
comes OF all the unanswered lettersi
Thousands Of them find their way to
the dead letter Office Some pever
/ reach the person TO whom they ere adj
dressed, because of the postage not be-
ing paid; some fail because they are
directed to the wrong Office; some can
not be sent because the address Is IL
/ legible; and some because the matter
Enclosed is illegible. These float
| through the mails, are examined at diff
| ferent Offices, marked "Missent," and
/ finally they fall into the dead letter
office. There they are opened and
read, and If valuable. are forwarded:
If not. they are given TO the flames.
Such is the accuracy and skill OF the
post Office department, that very few
fail to reach their destination. Some
prayers never reach God because they
are not addressed to his Office They
are directed to the audience. Gods Of
fee is not in our neighbors care, and
II we direct our prayers TO that point,
they will certainly go TO the dead let
ter Office. Each of the reasons why
letters go astray will hold good of I'M
answered rayers.--Adyocate.
Practical Points.
V. l. Only under the tuition OF d.
vine teacher can we learn to pray
aright--Rom. S:26. (Rev. Ver.)
V. 2. We should recognize God as our
loving Father and come 10 him with
holy confdence.-Ps. 1878.
| V. 9 We shall have our own and the
best way when we suffer the Spirit to
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