The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-07-11

Cold mountains and the midnight air
witnessed the fervour of his prayer
1t was seeing him engaged in PRAYER that led
his disciples to ask that they might be taught TO
pray None can teach better to pray than Tesus
himself. He could say Father, l thank thee that
thou mast heard me. And | know that thou
nearest me always!' By his spirit he is ALWAYS
teaching his disciples to pray, showing them their
need, and so quckening them that they call upon
his name. f
Our lesson has three evident parts l. The
prayer which he taught p The parable which
assures us of answer; and g. The promise he
most graciously adds
l. Inc prayer is not SO much the Lords pray
er as 1t is the disciples prayer 1t is not so much
lorn OF prayer as 1t is model on which to
form all prayer. 1t is the prayer that NAV be Of
tered by all who with faith can call God their
Father "Ye are all the children of God by faith
IN Christ Jesus" Since the completion of Christs
work as our High Priest, offering himself to God
on the cross we offer this prayer and all prayer
IN His name. 1t is not MY Father" but 'FOur
Father coming in fellowship with the great bodv
OF his children The first petition "Hallowed be
tiny name! expresses the first and deepest desire
OF the renewed heart THE chief end of man is
to glorify God!' All the needs and claims and de-
sires OF all humanity as nothing compared
with the rights and glory of the Maker and
rather OF all. Then ask for the coming of
the Kingdom and the accomplishment of Gods
VIII, here on earth. "as it is in heaven" That
10 What makes heaven 1t belongs to the soul of
the Christian believer that he longs and yearns
Tor the triumph of the Kingdom in all the earth
and the submission of all men to the will of God
Nothing can ever be more wise and more happy
Tor all men than that they learn to do the will of
God. He that doeth the will of the God abdeth
forever Notice that permitted and in
vited to pray for daily bread, and so far all
earthly good. 1t is in the power of Gods provi-
dence to give to withhold bread In spiritual
needs, the first is the forgiveness of sins and
there are none on earth that do not need to ask
forgiveness every day and to the end. LEAD us
not into temptation or bring us not into temp
tation God does not tempt men, but he does
bring men into places where they are tempted
But deliver us from evil" by which we are con-
stantly surrounded, especially "the evil one"
g. The Parable. VS.. So. To give assurance
and illustration of the certainty of to pray
er, our Lord spoke the parable of the Impor-
tunate Friend" The central thought is, that if
we do not get what ask of God the first time
we ask, to keep praying until we do A friend
came at midnight and asked for bread with which
he would feed his guest. The difficulties were
great. 1t was at midnight, the neighbor was in
the bed, and his household asleep. This led
to delay. Not even his friendship would induce
him to overcome the difficulties and give that
which was asked. But the importantly" the
persistence in asking, at last prevailed. God de-
lights in that persistent faith, that holy bodness
that will not be put to shame, and will not go
away without a blessing
3. The Promise. VS. o-I3. Now the lesson
rises into the direct distinct teaching and promise
of the Lord Jesus. "And say unto you" This
means the assertion of his divine authority. It
is not as the prophet said: "Thus saith the Lord"
but 81 say unto you" There are three commands
and three promises Obeying the commands the
promises are kept-"Ask-seek-knoc SO he
teaches the need of earnestness and downright
persistence in prayer. eff we then being evil" so