Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-20
APrayer for the Tempted
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMI<INs.
Text: Psalm cxli.


help US. II is also we'll that we should
remember that our prayers are TO be
onercd not only for ourselves, but for
o'ntrs. When we stop for Il moment to
th'hh OF the many who are sorcly
tempted. some OF them too weak and
700 Ignorant to resist. and many OF
then Knowing nothing Of Gods wish
To help them, "a great sigh goes up from
our hearts-a sigh Of pity and of sym!
pathy. The thought OF the world OF
humanity everywhere tempted By the
power Of evil is almost overwhelming.
But ~e must meet II with the thought.
which is even stronger. that God is
waiting everywhere with outstretched
hands TO help those who are tempted
ana Is quick TO respond az soon as cry
escapes human lips. st. Paul gives us
a great and comforting truth when he
says There hath no temptation taken
you but such as is common to man; but
God is faithful. who will not suffer you
to be tempted above that ye are able.
but VIII with the temptation also make
way to escape. that yc may be able
TO bear IL" q Cor. K. 49,
WONDERFUL. POWER
PLACED AT OUR DISPOSAL
II poor David had prayed as earnest
- before his failure as he prayed after
wards he might have escaped his sin
II We would only realize this wonderful
power which IL at our comma nd-a
' peEhoHdi power coming from the rowing
and most tender Father--wc would hnd
II much easier to meet temptations and
we would go out fcarlessly in tho
strength Of our Savior's love TO help
others In their hour of need. We need
not be shedrtened because Of the uni
"ersal!ty OF temptation. God Is in His
world and whatsoever will may nave
HIS eternal might on his side. But II
certainly gives splendid opportunity
for US to help others when wc remem-
Der that NC can tell them OF this divine
power waiting for our call and when
we ourselves pray for them in our Sc
cret souls
How. then. should we pray? First.
there Is private prayer. the petition
which we offer In our hour Of sacred
communion with God ! wonder II ""
realize when We kncel down morning
and evening to pray. that We are not
only bringing our little needs 10 God.
but that We are entering into a won
derful conference with Him concerning
those near and dear to us: concerning
humanity in general and concerning the
world! II Is not real prayer when we
simply go through the form of words
or when we contine petitions TO our
selves. Prayer is the human touching
the divine and drawing upon the foun
tain Of infinite love that II may aow
speedily into the souls OF those for
whom we intcrcede. We Will And IL
far easier TO pray. and much more com
fort!ng. IL We viii only just bring our
quiet hour into the great atmosphere OF
Gods eternal care.
IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANS
MEETING. TOGETHER
Again. there must be our prayer in
public. And here touch church wor-
ship. Oh il is pitiful 10 think how mar
row the ordinary idea OF people is con-
corning church They think that II is
duty to go to church and worship
God that II is respectable thing. and
that, perhaps, IL may do some good In
II. way OF quictine nerves and bring
ing devotional spirit. But how few
realize that Christians meet together 10
bring before God the whole world with
its need and TO plead with Him that in
His great love He would save the world
and enable il 10 conquer this awful
power OF evil which is ever tempting
When we go to church it is really To
throw the whole OF humanity. as II
we're. at the feet Of him who died, IL
is 20 pray FOR the tempted everywhere,
and it is 10 ask His guidance as TO how
best we can serve Him i'll helping our
brothers and sisters everywhere. Does
IL not lift up the whole atmosphere OF
church worship? Does il not seem 10
tear off the roof from the church and
enable Us to see the armament OF Gods
glory shining therein when We thus
realize the meaning OF worship?
In all OF our public prayers which are
offered for US by the ministers we must
note how those who are weak and
tempted are prayed for and let our
hearts go up with the petition. There
are go many who know nothing about
the helpfulness OF church: they are
tempted even on the Lords Day. and
they do not realize how they might be
strengthened and enabled TO preserve
their self-respect If they would but en-
ter Gods house and plead not only for
nv nj d
friends.
PRAYERS MUST BE
QUITE DEFINITE
But our prayers must he quite def
mite also. That is, in praying for the
tempted. we must also pray against that
which Is the channel through which
the dcvi! tempts. When we pray, we
should ask God to destroy the saloon
and to show us how He would have us
work for it's destruction. When we
Gray we should ask God to destroy all
Of the places where temptation to ruin
is made bold and ask Him to guide us
in our purity campaigns. IT is foolish
to pray against temptation If we de-
Iiherately put ourselves In the way>of
temptation, and It is hardly worthy OF
intelligent people To pray for those
who are tempted if they suffer an en-
vironment which is poisonous to sur
round them. Work-strong philan-
we are to prove that our prayers are
| sincere Alas. that so often Chris tians
! pray earnestly and then do nothing,
Alas that the devil and his cmissaries
have grown to be bold because they
know our prayers can have little avail
since we do nothing! All along the line
to- day we have good news concerning
temperance. All along the line we have
at least an awakening concerning
| purity Peoples eyes are being opened
1 concerning the books they are reading
| which attempt to justify all kinds OF
| sin People are rebelling against I'M
worthy plays on the stage or pictures
In the movies There is strong
moral determination coming to birth.
even though the powers Of evil arc
gathered around in tremendous force:
and this glory OF higher moral ideal
lis bound to conquer.
SHOULD REMEMBER THAT