The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-07-19
Jesus Teaching
How to Pray
Sunday School Lesson Tor July 1896
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


pies as 70 prayer: Prayers in secret Matt.
In public, Matt l:25: 2g.2s; luke III;
1919; 1926; Mark cal. Long prayers, in
public and in private. John II; Mark 1895;
Luke ss,;i2; short. ., ,eiaeulatory, prayers,
Prayer for friends, Matt. 1873; Luke 22 :s2;
John IL. Prayer for enemies. Luke %:
Prayer for himself Out always with The
Christs teachings about prayer:
Group = Matt. SiYf s:f, s.
Group 3. Matt6.9-f3.
Group I. Mark ii rs; Matt. 5:4L
na &qSs M15E iii!s Matt Matt iisS' hGS? Mark Mark MA mss;
Group 9; Luke ls:l;s; li;5-s.
Group s Luke is:s:i4a 80
.,Group TO- John h:i3. Il; 1871 ie; is:2s.
1t was now late in the year A. d.
20, or 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 It 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 "a before us-show
that he placed no emphasis upon the
exact words. He 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-
ance Of being heard. Not yet did he
teach the disciples to pray "in his
name" That came later. At this date
they could not have understood It.
They needed first to learn to pray In
a filial spirit. with and for others. and
to continue praying II the answer were
delayed.
The Lords Prayer.-We somewhat
inappropriately style the prayer which
Jesus taught "the Lords Prayer" II
is our prayer-the prayer for every
child OF God. "lts 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 life. ."-Godet. 81 used to
think the Lords Prayer was a short
prayer; but as | live longer. and see
more Of life, | begin to believe there is
no such thing as getting through It,"
Our Heavenly Father knows no
favorltism he is Just as willing to an
swer the prayer Of his humblest child
as that Of the most mature saint. But
It is true that we need to be taught to
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 cone and with sincere hearts offer
the prayer which Is our Golden Text:
Lord. teach us to 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 lis, 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 we'll as his words,
tarr 1t those who were associated with
I'm that 1t is mans high privilege to
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
Christ's kingdom, and the accomplish
ment OF Gods blessed will among men
The Dead-Prayer Office.-What be-
comes of Gil the unanswered letters? :?
Thousands of them find their way to
the dead letter office. Some never
reach the person to whom they are ad-
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 H.
legible; and some because the matter
inclosed is illegible. These float
through the mails, ere examined at diff.
ferent Offices, marked "Missent," and
finally they fall into the dead letter
Office. There they are opened and
read. and II valuable, are forwarded.
II 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 - addressed to his once. They
are dircs.sl TO the audience. Gods Of
nee Is not in our -eighbor's care. and
II we direct our prayers to that point,
they will certainly go to the dead let
ter ONCE Each of the reasons why
letters go astray will hold good Of un-
answered prayers.-Advocats.
Practical Points.
v. I. Only under the tuition of a d.
vine teacher can we learn to pray
aright,-Rom. S:26, (Rev. Ver.)
w, We shou.l recognize God as our
loving Father and come to him with
holy confidence. 103:13.
va. We shall have our own and the
best way when we suffer the Spirit to
conform oir Wills to Gods WILL
John 5:l4. Is.
v. 8. The divine plan is to feed only
the hungry.-Matt. SIS