River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-12-16

- - # Cnelr own COLL
pany." Liberated from Jail, Peter
and John sought out kindred
spirits with whom they could
pray. Christians who believe in
prayer ought to meet frequently, that
they may pray together. "Fhese signs
shall follow them that believe" not
him that believeth. God will answer
the prayers of one man, but miracle
working power comes in answer to
the petitions of the whole spiritual
body of Christ.
2. 1t was intelligent prayer. They
knew why they needed to pray and
what to pray for. Peter and John re.
ported call that the chief priests and
elders had said unto them and when
they heard that" they began to pray.
God would not have us come to him
with vain repetitions that have no
meaning, asking for things which we
do not really need.
8. 1t was vocal prayer. "They lifted
up their voice." One can pray 81
lently, for God knows what we have
need of before we ask him and he can
hear the desire of the soul before it
is formulated into words. But to say
that all prayer should be silent is I'M
scriptural and foolish. Prayer ex'
pressed in words is apt to be more
unanimous and united than prayer
simply expressed in thought.
4. It was united prayer. sThey lifted
up their voice with one accord" They
all knew their danger and their need
There were no dissensions among
them. When they came to God they
were of one mind and heart. Chris
tians are usually united when ON their
knees before God in prayer. They
separate when they begin to discuss
controverted points.
5. 1t was direct prayer. "They lifted
up their voice to God" There was
no need of an intermediary. Each one
of them was a priest with the privi-
lege of access into the presence of
| God himself. 1t may be we'll for us to
ask other Christians to pray for us,
but we should never forget that we
have equal right with all others to
bring our petition directly into the
presence of the King If we meet the
conditions of faith and harmony with
Gods will, he will answer us, though
we be humble and obscure, as readily
as he will the greatest of earth.
6. It was prayer to God as creator.
They said, lord, thou art God, which
hath made heaven and earth and the
sea and all that in them is" 1t
STRENGTHENS faith to remember that
the God to whom we pray created the
universe and there is, therefore, moth
ing too difficult for him. There Is
nothing beyond the reach of Gods
power, for he made all the worlds.
Z. 1t was prayer to God as revealer,
who by the mouth of thy servant
David has said" The God who made
the universe has spoken through man
to man. He does not sit enthroned in
the midst of his worlds careless of
the need of his creatures. We have
the word which he spoke to David and
through David to the people. The
Bible is full of these words of God,
spoken through inspired men to all
his people.
8. It was prayer encouraged by full
filled prophecy. David said, why did
the heather rage and the people
imagine vain things? The kings OF
the earth stood up and the rulers were
gathered together against the Lord
and against his Christ" The apos-
ties see in their present surroundings
and position the fulfillment of this
prophecy. For of truth" they say,
against thy holy child Jesus, whom
thou hast anointed, both Herod and
Pontius PLATE with the gentiles and
the people of Israel were gathered to-
gether." Just as Herod and PLATE
conspired against Christ, SO the
scribes and elders are conspiring
against Christ again. The apostles
fairly inferred that if God has faith
fully fulfilled this prophecy concern
ing Christ he will fulfill every other
prophecy and promise.
9. 1t was definite prayer. They
prayed: First, that God would con-
slider their enemies, Nov, Lord, be-.
hold their threatenings." AS If to say,
see the danger that we are in and
come to our relief. We can always
afford to place our enemies in the
hands of God. Second, that God gives
them courage. Grant unto thy serv-
ants that with all boldness they may
sneak thy word" The apostles do not
ask God to prevent the threatenings
of their enemies or to shield them
from danger, but to give them cour-
age to do their duty while they leave
the result to him. Their one desire
is to speak Gods word and to do 1t
not timidly, but courageously. Third,
that God would do things beyond the
reach of human agency. "That signs
and wonders may be done by the
name of thy holy child Jesus" Signs
and wonders mean miracles, and mir
acles simply meant God himself at
work in a way that man could not
| initiate. The need of the church to-
day is the working of God in our
midst saving the lost and healing the
sick in such way that unbelieyers
cannot explain it without acknowI'
edging his presence.
Il