Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-07-19
Pastor RusselPs Sermon

Many nave mixed Tor themselves tne0-
logical potions, in which a form Of
godliness combined with worldiness is
producing lethargy as respects good
Bible study, Christian character and
the service Of God as His ambassadors
We would like to awaken these, to
have them know that they are trifing
with the Gospel call, and unless they
take the decisive step they will be for
ever outside the High Calling and priv
ileges Of the Church.
For What May Saints Pray7
Not only is the privilege Of prayer
confined to the consecrated people Of
God. "sanctifed in Christ Jesus" but
even these are restricted in respect to
what things they may properly pray
for. st. James calls attention 10 the
fact that many prayers are entirely
unheard, because the petitioners have
asked amiss"-for the qualification Of
their own selfish desires.
The Master tells US the conditions
upon which we may have the assur-
ance Of the Divine response. He says,
If ye abide in Me, and My words
abide in you, We shall ask what ye
will. and 1t shall be done unto you"
! John 1910 At first this appears to
give Gods cOnsecrated people the
| right to ask for anything and to expect
everything.
But note again the conditions: ~
IF We abide in Me-" Those who are
in Christ are New Creatures; to them
'Old things have passed away, and all
things have become new" Those who
have thus come into membership in
the Body OF Christ. the consecrated
Church, have given up their own wills.
have set aside earthly aims and pros.
poets, and have accepted instead the
will Of the Lord and the Heavenly
hopes and prospects set before them
in His Word. These therefore. do not
wish to ask for earthly things, but
merely to request the Heavenly things,
which would assist them in making
their calling and election sure.
Then comes the other consideration;
~ "lf My Words abide in you" This
signifies that the petitioner not only
has new will-the will Of the Master
but that he has sought to know what
that will is. as expressed in the Mas.
ter's words, or teachings. And all
such pupils in the school Of Christ are
taught Of Him and guided into the
understanding Of the Scriptures, hence
are able to rightly divide the Word Of
Truth, to appreciate the promises
which belong at the present time to
the Church, and to dlfferentiate these
from the promises for the world in
the next Age. These know what to
ask for. and having the Masters spirit,
would ask for nothing else Thus all
their petitions, being for spiritual
things promised In the Scriptures.
would have a rich fulflment
"Pray Without csasins."
When st. Paul urges the consecrated
Church to 'pray without ceasing" and
sin everything give thanks" he evi.
dently does not refer to formal pray
ers, but rather to that prayerful atti
tude of the heart which under all cir. |
cumstances and conditions looks to
God--either for wisdom and guidance !
to do His will, or with thanksgiving |
and praise for blessings received and |
prayers answered.
Nothing in the Apostles language in.
dicates that the Lords people should |
be always on their knees, or on the
other hand that they should never 90
upon their knees, but merely that they
should uplift their hearts to God at all
times and in all Of llfe's affairs. The
priests In the type offered the morn
ing and the evening sacrifices before
the Lord, and 30 the Royal Priest
hood surely desire that every morning
and every evening Divine mercy and
blessings should be acknowledged with
thanksgiving and appreciation
Not only So but parental duty prop.
erly requires that the Christian parent
so far as possible, should worship with
immature children for whom he stands
as secondary priest, and that he should
offer with these thanksgiving and
praise, and petition for wisdom and
guidance to the knowing and doing of
the will Of God.
The Church, of Christ, the Royal
Priesthood, is a special family OF God.
"All ye are brethren. One is your Mas.
ter" and zone Is your Father" When.
ever these meet worship and praise
should constitute part OF their nc.
knowledgment OF the Heavenly Fa.
ther Hymns Of praise should prop
erly be considered prayer, united
worship, In which all may participate
But IL any Of the Lords family, the
Royal Priesthood, have gotten into sin,
he should hesitate to take any public
part In prayer or worship He should
consider himself, because Of his en-,
llghtenment, to he one Of the wicked
and hearken to the message, Unto the
Wicked God saith, What hast thou to
do to declare My statutes. or that thou
shculdest take My covenant in thy
mouth' seeing thou hatest instruction
and easiest My words behind thee"
Psalm 50l6, r.
An, what changes would be wrought
In Christendom II this principle were s
understood and applied! Many costly ,
cholrs of unbelievers would be dis.
missed, The congregational singing ,
would be much behind lis present
musical standard for a time at least
hut much more acceptable to God
Who can dispute that some time the c