The Raymer enterprise., 1914-12-17

u and promise OF
God, who has
said that every one believing in
his son has eternal life. Not to be-
lieve that statement is to make God
a liar 1012). 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 unchangeable word
and promise of God.
u. Assured Answer to Personal and
Individual Prayer IA, 15). The
thought of assurance of salvation
leads to that of boldness in prayer.
II We know that We have eternal life
We know that we have boldness. II
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 1t is
hardly a limitation, for Gods will is
always best. And indeed 1t 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 1t might be a
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. q
IT seemed you could not wait the time OF
asking.
So urgent was your heart to make It
known.
Tho years have passed since then, do
not despair
The Lord will answer you, sometime,
somewhere
Unanswered yet? Nay. do not say un-
granted:
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly
done;
The work began when nrst your pray'r
was uttered
And God will finish what he has begun.
II you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see, Sometime some
where ~
Hnanswerede Faith cannot he unan-
swered
Her feet were firmly planted on the
Rock; N-
Amid the widest storm pray'r stands un-
Nor quails before the loudest thunder
She knows Omnipotence has heard her
pray'r
And cries "1t shall be done. sometime,
somewhere"
III. Assured Answer.to Intercessory
Prayer t1e, ~. 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;
ASK" 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 a 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
the conversion of the willful reject II
OF Christ, we may nevertheless ASH
God in his behalf, and inasmuch as
this sin unto death is left underlined
We are therefore free to TASK" for all
men. Here is our attitude toward
our SHINING brother-a blessed minis
try OF intercession;, pray and God will
give life.
~. Assured Victory Over Sin ne,
1s). 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.
v. An Assured knowledge Of God
In Whom We Have Believed (1s.2n.
To know that we have not been mis-
taken in the person in whom we have
reposed our confidence and faith Ia
something worth knowing. The Chris.
tian has the assurance that he knows
MIN 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. !