The Brinkley argus., 1914-01-30

 given unto you; seek. and ye shall ma knock and it shall be opened unto you. - Luke 11:9.
 The only record we have of this par able Is in this gospel. This portion Of Scripture is usually thought of as be- ing great teaching on prayer. It is that. and 1t is more than that. It is great illustration of the sound princi- pies of pedagogy employed by that wonderful Bible teacher, our Lord and Savior
 1. Teaching by example (v. D. There was that in the prayer life of Jesus that was different than that of the for malistic religionists of his day. some thing that inspired the request. Lord teach us to pray" His prayer life was different. 1t was effectual Notice, in passing, the respect of the disciples when he had ceased" If there is one lesson the oncoming generation needs to learn 1t is that of reverence. His prayers were too sacred to permit of any intrusion. His praying also awoke in their memory the prayer life of John the Baptiser. There is deep psy- chology here. Observation, memory, perception, concept. all in their logical order.
 Most Wonderful Prayer.
 II. Teaching by formula (vv. 2-4. The human mind Is weak and needs that assistance which is to be found in clear statement of truth. Not always can we have the benefit of strong personality. Hence Jesus gives us a formula. or prayer. often called the Lords Prayer" but moro correctly termed "the disciples prayer" This is in some respects the worlds most wonderful prayer. certainly the most familiar Lacking in personal pro nouns. it begins with that matchless conception of God, "our Father" it de- scends step by step from a considera- ton of his hallowed name, his king dom. and his will (Luke 22:42) in heaven and upon earth, down to the question of our need of daily food. It then sweeps backward through the re- lations of mankind to each other, to temptation, to the power of sin, back Matt. 6:13) to God once more, back to the Alpha and Omega. In it is in- vocation, supplication and adoration, It sweeps the whole gamut of mans need. physical. mental and spiritual. It begins in heaven, 1t encircles the earth 1t rebounds to those realms of glory from which the Son came, and to which he returned A study of the ought to be more emphasized. This kingdom here mentioned is yet to be fully established A kingdom de- mands king (Rev. 22:20) its begin ming. though, Is in the hearts of men; 1t implies entire submission to Gods will Uuke 22:42); it delights in doing that will (Johp 6::3S, Eph. 6:6); it de- mands an entire sanctification of our lives, and desire that his will shall rule in the earth q Thess., 4:3). The fifth petition Is not the prayer of the unsaved sinner (John 9:31). Fellow ship with God depends upon our will ingness to forgive others (Matt. CHA, IS; Mark 11:25); but that is not the ground of Gods forgiveness (Eph IT; 4:32). God does not tempt men Gas. 1:13); he does permit temptation to assail us, such as modern economic conditions (Mark 1:12, 13), but God never allows us to be tempted above what we can bear q Cor. 10.13). Vol umes have been written about this prayer and yet its fitness has not even been suggested. The teacher who really prays cannot be failure, for he has the power of God behind his labor. He must, however, not limit himself to his prayer only (Phil. 4:6; Jas, 5:13, IA. The Christians prayer must be in the name of Christ, which is not named here. for he was not yet cruci- fled.
 Tho Holy Spirit.
 III. Teaching by parable (vv. 6-10) "A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning" Only the teacher who can translate truth into terms of "it is like" has really begun to teach. Let us beware, however. of a wrong comparison and of to vivid details. This is not picture of God, only by way of contrast is he suggested. There are three friends here: CD The needy one in his journey; (2) the needy one who was host. and (3) the needy one who was selfish neighbor The pau perism of the second was inexcusable (Phil. 4;19); the wandering of the first at night time cannot go unchal- lenged (Matt. 2S:20). As for the third, 1t was most unreasonable hour and his friends insistence was unrea- sonable, yet. his insistence emphasized the urgency of the request and the con fidence of friend.
 ". Teaching by contrast (vv. 11-13) Pedagogically considered this is the application. Notice 1t Is introduced by the word flor" and the summary is the sum and substance of all good. the Holy Spirit. Jesus contrasts bread, that which preserves life, with stone. y-kich Is dead and lifeless. He con trasts fish. one of the most common meat foods, with serpent, which sig nifies deception, and an egg, which is not only nutritious out reproductive as well. with scorplon, which has in 1t the sting of death. Each promise is predicted upon command Gas. 4:2), ask, seek, knock