The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-28
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,lEABERNACLE
Who May Pray, and for What?
Luke 11:1-13 February l
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ASK, ana ii snail be given you. seek,
and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you."-Luke 11:9.
Jesus usually prayed alone. On some
occasions He spent the entire night in
prayer to God. How inconsistent that
would have been If He Himself We're the
Father, who for a time was with men and
outwardly appeared as the Man Christ
Jesus!' But how consistent is the
thought of Jesus prayer to the Father
when taken in connection with His own
declarations: MY Father is greater
than T. John 14:2S); II came not to
do Mine own will, but the will of Him
that sent Me" (John 6.SS); "Of Mine
own self l can do nothing: as I hear (of
My Father), judge. John $3.50.
No doubt the disciples noted the Mas
ters frequency in prayer, and the bless
ing which He received therefrom. Jesus
by His example taught them to desire the
privilege of prayer. In due time they re-
quested instruction, saying, Lord, teach
us to pray!' 1t is well that we inquire
who may pray, and for what things else
we might pray without authority, or
pray amiss, as st. James declares some
do--James 4:3.
There is a difference between worship
doration-and prayer. Any one may Of
free homage to the Lord, or express thanks
and appreciation. But az for making
quests of God. prayers, this privilege is
distinctly limited. The Jews were priv
ileged to offer prayer because they were
in typical relationship with God under the
law covenant. But the Gentiles had no
such privilege until after the Jewish
favor had ended-three and half years
after Jesus crucifixtion. -
The first Gentle whose prayers were re-
ceived, according to the Bible, was Cor
nelius. And even his prayers were not
acceptable until he had been instructed
respecting Christs redemptiVe work and
had become follower of Jesus. Then his
prayers and his conservation were ac-
ceptable to the Father, and he was re-
ceived into Gods family. Then as a son
he had the right or privilege of prayer
Acts 10:25-4S.
So while any one may offer worship and
reverence to God, none is privileged TO
pray unless he has become consecrated
disciple of Jesus, except it be the imma-
ture children of consecrated persons. All
over the world today Jesus words, Our
Father" will be misinterpreted to sig
nifty "the Fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood of man." The fact that con-
secrated disciples and not mankind In
general, We're instructed to pray, Our
Father" will be ignored.
There is a general tendency to ignore
faith in the redeeming blood-to ignore
the fact that no man cometh unto the
Father but by the Son. tJohn 14:6)
Adam indeed was created son Of God.
But his disobedience and death sentence
cancelled the relationship, which cannot
be restored except in Gods appointed
way-through Christ. Prayer is a Won
derful privilege. 1t Is not for sinners, but
49, l.ae a
whom the Father has appointed-Jesus.
after This Manner Pray"
The model prayer which Jesus gave
His followers is grandly simple. II opens
with a reverent acknowledgment of the
greatness and sacredness of the Heavenly
Fathers name, or character. Next comes
an acknowledgment of faith IN Gods
promise that eventually His Kingdom Will
be esta blished in the earth. The petition,
Thy Kingdom come" not only maniIesls
faith in Gods promise to establish right
BUSINESS in the earth, out II means tnat
the suppliant is in heart sympathy with
God and His righteousness and out OF
sympathy with the reign OF sin ana
death.
The next petition is. Thy will be done
on earth, as 1t is done in Heaven. rms
signifies full confidence in Gods promise
that His kingdom will not be failure
tnat satan VIII Dt pouiu, 'h"'
of sin and death will end; that the hent
of the knowledge of the glory OF Goa VIII
fill the whole earth and triumph, oe-
stroying all wilful opposers.
The request for daily bread implies our
realization that our sustenance, both tenn
poral and spiritual, must come from Goa.
And the failure to specify any particu-
lar kind of food implies a full resisha-
ton to the provision of divine wisdom.
When the justified pray, Forgive US
our trespasses" they do not refer TO
original sin. for they were freed from
that condemnation in their Justification.
BY trespasses are signifed those uninten-
tional imperfections which appertain TO
all and which all Jesus followers are
striving to overcome. The request that
we shall have forgiveness of our blem-
ishes we are generous and forgivins
toward those who trespass against us Is
a reminder of the general terms or our
relationship with God. We cannot grow
in grace and abide in the sunshine OF
Gods favor except as we cultivate the
spirit of love, which is the spirit of God
a forgiving spirit, a generous spirit, in
our dealings with others.
abandon us not in temptation" indi-
Gates hat we are aware that we are
surrounded by the powers of evil, and
that as new creatures we would be una
BILE to withstand these successfully ex-
'cept as we have divine aid. Deliver us
from the evil ONE is recognition that
Satan Is our great adversary: and that