Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-12-25


ieve that statement is to make God
liar q0-12). The word know" here
does not mean merely to perceive, but
to know with a settled and unques-
tioning knowledge. The ground of as
surance of salvation lies not in our
feeling but in the Interchangeable word
and promise of God. And yet those
who accept the word of God may have
the concurrent testimony of the Holy
Spirit with their spirit, thus produc-
ing the feeling even of assurance.
II. Assured Answer to Personal and
Individual Prayer "a, 15). The
thought of assurance Of salvation
leads to that of boldness in prayer.
If we know that we have eternal life
we know that we have boldness. If
we are sons then we can speak freely
with the father, and may rest assured
that God not only hears but also an
swers our prayers. The words "ac-
cording to his will" may be called a
Limitation of prayer, and yet it is
hardly limitation, for Gods will is
always best. And indeed it is just
this seeming limitation that makes us
free to pray; were it not so we should
not feel free to open our lips to ask
a blessing for fear it might be
curse, but when we know that what
we ask is according to Gods will we
know that it can be nothing but good
for us.
Unanswered yet? The pray'r your lips
have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope depart
ing,
And think you all in vain those falling
tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your
pray'r;
You shall have your desire, sometime.
somewhere
Unanswered yet? Tho when you first
presented
This one petition at the Fathers throne.
1t seemed you could not wait the time of
asking,
So urgent was your heart to make II
known.
Tho years have passed since then, DO
not despair;
The Lord will answer you, sometime.
somewhere.
Unanswered YETI Nay. do not say un-
granted
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly
done;
| The work began when first your pray'r
was uttered,
| And God will finish what he has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see, sometime. some
where.
Unanswered? Faith cannot be unan-
| swered;
Her feet were firmly planted on the
Rock;
Amid the widest storm pray'r stands un-
Nor quails before the icudest thunder
shock;
She knows Omnipotence has heard her
pray'r
And cries, Ut shall be done. sometime.
somewhere"
III. Assured Answer to Intercessory
Prayer ne, ~. We are encouraged
here to pray for others and our en-
couragement lies in the fact that God
has promised to hear and answer
prayers. Two words are used In con-
nection with prayer in this verse;
TASK" and pray" the former being
used of an inferior to superior, the
latter of an equal to an equal. Some
conditions of life, such as are meant
by those SHINING sin unto death, per-
nit us to ''ask" only, while other con-
ditions permit us to pray" So, while
we may not demand with certainty
4 he af fha mil f.,1
of Christ, we may nevertheless ask
God in his behalf, and inasmuch as
this sin unto death is left underlined
we are therefore free to ask" for all
men. Here is our attitude toward
our shining brother-a blessed minis
try of intercession; pray and God will
] give life.
| w. Assured Victory Over Sin (1s,
1877. In these verses we are assured
that Christ, the begotten of God, keep
eth the Christian. Victory over sin
comes through the indwelling of Christ
over whom Satan has no power. The
words "keepeth him" denote inward
power so that there would be no fall
from inward weakness. "Toucheth
him not" means that he shall be de-
livered from outward assaults. Vic
tory over the evil one is assured. The
world may be completely in the power
of Satan but the Christian is not
v. An Assured Knowledge Of God
In Whom We Have Believed (19-2D.
To know that we have not been mis-
taken in the person in whom we have
reposed our confidence and faith is
something worth knowing. The Chris
tian has the assurance that he knows
him whom he has believed, and he is
| persuaded that he has not believed
any cunningly devised fable, but has
trusted in the living God and Savior
of the world.