Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-30
| GLDTESfAnENT Ilr,Es 4
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.f7lABERNACtF
M .BEHIF STUDIES.
.RERLF STUDIES.
PRAYER A GREAT PRIVILEGE
Matthew vi, 1-12-June 2.


ing. IN all these lie denounees hypoc-
risy, theatrical display His followers
are to be aetuated solely by desire to
please the Heavenly Father and have.
His approval
The point which the Great Teacher
makes is the motive actuating us. Ii
we are actuated by selfish motive, If
we ere seeking show and applause or
earthly gain, the procedure cannot
bring Divine approval or blessing. We
may be seen to do good. or TO pray. or
TO fast. but we are not to do our chart
ties. our praying and orr fasting to he
seen. Of such the Lord says "rhey
have received their reWard"-nothing
more is coming to them; they get the
publicity sought.
The Privilege of Prayer.
Jesus did not command His disciples
TO pray, nor did He even give them 4
form Of prayer until they requested it.
g'he Lords people must feel their need
Of Divine grace and help in order to
appreciate the privilege of approaching
the Throne OF Heavenly grace
II win be noticed that our Lord did
not tell about how the world should
pray. but merely taught His disciples,
when We pray As a matter Of fact
the GentiIes, the world Of mankind in
general have no access to the Throne
Of grace. This may cause surprise to
some. SC general is the custom of en-
couraging and exherting everybody to
pray. \ brief glance at the situation.
however, shows as the fixed principle
underlying the matter
FFa1. L i
was alieHated from God through wick
ed works. Adam was under a covenant
with God by which he enjoyed the priv
ilcges Of a son of God. THIS included
fellowship, communion prayer and Di-
viae supervision and care even to the
extent of everlasting life But Adam s
disobedience broke that covenant. abol-
isaed that covenant-relationsh and
81 its privileges. CHosea vi :, r. W
| The only ones who now enjoy the priv
! ilege Of prayer are those who have ac-
i cepted of God back into eoyenant-rela-
tionship. The natural Israeite was 50
accepted under the Law Covenant;
| hence The Temple at Jerusalem was
| called the House of Prayer.
/ our Lord. on the basis of His better
sacrifice Tor sins, made holy and accep-
/ table To still higher privileges of prayer
such as became His disciples. His foot
| step followers. These, from Pentecost
onward, were called SONS of God. and
| enjoyed the begetting OF the Holy Spir-
| it. At first these We're only Jewish be-
| levers, but in due time the middle wall
/ of partition between Jews and tientiles
was broken down and all Gentle be-
/ levers. from the time OF Cornelius on
ward, were accepted as spilit begotten
sons.
| Instead of exhorting our friends and
! neighhors to pray TO God and to trust
! for the fulfilment Of then prayers, we
should give them the Scriptual counsel.
| 10 repent Of sin and by faith accept the
| forgiveness OF their sins. according TO
the testimony of Gods Word. by max
ing aNfull conservation of themselves to
| be the footstep followers of Jesus. Then
| as sons of God they would have all the
privileges of sonship in this present
time. as well as the glorious prospects
hereafter.
| Vain Repetitions of the Heather.
All are heathens, or Gentiles, who
| have not left the world and come into
lcovenaRt- Relationship with God through
| Christ. such outsiders vainly suppose
that they will be heard for their much
speaking, and therefore repeat their
| PRAYERS. Some use praying wheels;
| others use beads; and still others re-
| peat hundreds of times certain elacula-
tons None are heard save disciples,
land Jesus eounsels these not to think
| that the length of their prayers will
make them acceptable with the Father.
Your Father knoweth what things We
| have need of before We ask Him., Why
then should ne ask at all2 because this
| is tho Divine arrangement, and evil
IDENTIFY with the purpose of stimuiat-
| ing our faith and of giving us the
| greater and the more frequent bless
ings. When Jesus had long prayers TO
/ offer they were never uttered in public
He went apart into the mountain.
So with Ills followers; they are to go
aside and have their communion with
| the Father chiefly in private, although
| Fellowship in public prayer in gather
/ ings of the Lords people is distinctly
| approved.
A Form of Sound Words.
| Responding to the request of His dis
I eiples Jesus gave a sample of a proper
| praye9. We note its breyity, its sim
| plicftv, its dlrectness. its orderliness.
\ "a 1t opens with an ascription of
praise and plea that We arc coming
i as children to Father: "Our Father,
which arr in Heaven. hallowed (adored,
honorad) be Thy Name
| CD Next in order We acknowledge the
| Divine rule. authority. This expresses
our confidence in the Divine power and
promise lhat ultimately the Divine will
shall lie as fully done in the earth as 1t
is nov done in heaven: Thy Kingdom
| Come, Thy will be done on earth, as it
is done in heaven" In this we recog-
| nize The coming of Messiah's Kingdom
and Indirectly our own hopes connected
with that Kingdom-that we, il faith