Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21

expected visitor should go at night to bor-
row bread from friend. Although re-
fused at first, he would ultimately succeed
II persistent the friend being anxious to
avoid the annoyance. BY this illustration
Jesus does not insfnuate that our Heavenly
Father Is ever indisposed to mans request:
that there Is ever an unreasonable hour;
that delay in answering is occasioned by
his indisposition; that he finally complies
to be relieved On the contrary we know
from many passages that God Is ever wait
never a time when we may not approach.
Qsa.. lxv:24) The thought which Jesus
intended to convey was this-if friend. a
mere man. would yield under pressure to a
would God attend to the cry of His child
pertaining 20 such weighty matters. It is
not case Of parallel. but Of contrast
PROMISE. - After His illustration
precept and promise. ASK. seek,
knock" He says, keeping in mind the i'm
Fortunate man at the door of friend, and
referring to the progressive phases of gen.
uine prayer. In this He admits that men
need to be in earnest at the throne of
grace Games VIC not as q method or
moving God after the manner of moving
men, but as method of preparing and
ton develops the faith on which divine
blessing is conditioned (Matt.. xx:21-22).
We sometimes appear to wrestle with God
Gen. xxxii:2Q. when. in fact. we wrestle
WIN wi SSiNCS. but WITCH we nave at
tanned the spirit of prayer Jesus says the
answer will come. His word is out as
ground for confidence. He goes beyond this
promise and states a fact or law! Every
one that asketh receiveth." He is not deal
ing with historical and philosophical veri-
ties. There is failure on the part OF
God to bestow. All the failure. IL any
there be, is at the other end, limited wholly
to the spirit and mode of him who asks
Games iv:O.
SONSHIP-By this time encouraged
by what they knew of human friendship
and by their confidence In the Master. the
depths Of the subject of prayer, and Jesus
gave the closing words, designed to remove
all doubt II any remained. He sought to
make them know something of the divine
heart by reminding them of their fatherly
affection. None of them. If asked by
child. would refuse any good or substitute a
worthless thing. and they ought to give
their Heavenly Father credit for equal
goodness In this the endearing relation
becomes basis Of hope (Rom.. 10, the
very climax Of all Christian attainment
Rom.. viii:15. And then by a sudden and
surprising transition He holds up before
them the exalted privilege Of sonship; the
reward of prayer. the gift OF the Holy
Spirit. That is infinitely more than the
child asked. bestewment Of incalculable
value. The immediate inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, granted to the prophets. is not
intended but that regenerating and sanct-
flying influence which makes men saints.
And SO men pray for one thing and get
another. That for which they ask puts
them in harmony with God-that which
they receive is what they most need, which
He most delights to bestow.
CONGRESSIONAL taught by Jesus.
prayer is an exalted and exalting pursuit.
1t begins with the sense of brotherhood
Joined with the sense of sonship. "our
Father" 1t recognizes the disorders of this
world and desires to remove them by pro-
noting the glory and Kingdom of God. 1t Is
cry that earth may be like heaven. 1t
mi1ifes bodily needs and magnlfies spirit
ual longings q Cor. ix:2O. 1t rests on
surer basis than that of friendship. even
the word of Jesus and the unfailing love
of the Father of Spirits Heb.. xii;9). He
who prays though he may receive many
things beside for fathers gifts exceed
sons asking), will find that he has opened
up the channel and prepared the way for
the incoming of the spirit of life and
truth What is prayer. then. but the soul
OF man communing with God. and the spirit
Of God coming upon the soul of man? Be
hold Jacobs ladder, one end on the earth,
the other end in heaven Gen. xxviii:1).
the angels of mans desires ascending, the
angels of Gods blessing descending.