Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-01-30

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amiss. as st. James q MM 6l
declares some do ~ M n
James 4:3. S-R HNr>
There is a differ AMNlA
ence between wor- NmvwNgWk NM\N
ship and prayer. &NM%@WNgMY w.
Any one may offer -
homage to the Lord "A
or express appreci-
alton. But the priv ~ Oh s1o,,s
ilege of making re-
quests is limited. The Jews were
privileged to pray, because they We're
in covenant relationship with God I'M
der the Law Covenant. But the Cen
tiles had no such privilege until the
Jewish favor had ended-three and a
half years after Jesus crucifixion.
While any one may worship, none
are privileged to pray except Jesus
~consecrated followers and their imma-
ture children. Everywhere Jesus
words. "Our Father" will be misin-
terpreted to signify 1.-The fatherhood
of God and the brotherhood of man"
The fact that consecrated disciples. not
mankind in general. were instructed to
pray Our Father will be ignored.
Jesus Usually Prayed Alone.
There is a general tendency to ignore
personal faith in the redeeming blood
the fact that no maj cometh unto the
Father but by the Son. John AS
Adam was created a son of God. but
his disobedience and death sentence
cancelled the relationship. which can
not be restored except in Gods APP
pointed way-through Christ. Prayer
is a wonderful privilege. 1t is not for
sinners. but for those justified by the
Advocate whom the Father has ap-
pointed-Jesus.
"After This Manner Pray Ye."
The model prayer which Jesus gave
His disciples is grandly simple. 1t
opens with a reverent acknowledgment
of the greatness and sacredness Of the
Heavenly Fathers name. or character.
The petition. THY Kingdom come" is
an acknowledgment of faith In Gods
promise that eventually His Kingdom
will be established on earth. n an
expression Of the suppliants heart
sympathy with God and righteousness.
"Thy will be done on earth. as 1t Is
done in Heaven" signifies full conf
dence that Satan will be bound; that
the reign of Sin and Death win end;
that the knowledge of Gods glory will
ill the earth and that all wilful OPP
posers will be destroyed.
The request for daily bread implies
our realization that our ~sustenance.
both temporal and spiritual. must come
from God. The failure to specify the
kind of food implies full resignation to
Divine providence.
When the justified pray. Forgive us
our trespasses." they do not refer to
original sin; for they were freed
from it In justification. Trespasses sig
Nifty those ~unintentional imperfections
which appertain to all and which Jesus
followers strive to overcome. The re-
quest that we shall have forgiveness
as we are forgiving towards those who
trespass against us Is a reminder of
the general terms of N relationship
with God. We cannot grow In grace
except as we cultivate the spirit of
love-a forgiving. generous spirit in
our dealing with others.
Abandon us not In temptation" In
dicates that we are aware that we are
surrounded by the powers of evil,
which we as New Creatures cannot
Withstand successfully without Divine
aid. Deliver us from the Evil One"
is a recognition that Satan is u great
Adversary: and that we are on the
alert to resist him, yet realize need
OF Divine assistance. I'VE are not ig-
norant of his TSatan's] devices; I'VE
wrestle not against flesh and blood
[merely1. but against wicked spirits in
high positions"
"Seek, Knock. Ashland Receive."
In the concluding verses of today's
Study. Jesus ~admonishes that prayer
be fervent-not merely formal words.
He gave the illustration of the man
who was finally moved by the earnest
ness of his friends
n~ofitfnn &O we arc