The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-06
VtNAbLE-ST. PASTOR
CITES NEED OF PRAYER
DIR. johnson Declares That Prayer In
Oar of Gods Methods of
Revelation.

Before a large congregation DR.. ].
r, johnson preached an Interesting
sermon last night in Nenab BILE Street
Baptist Church on Jesus al the Altar
OF PRAYER" lie said In part.
Special emphasis is being laid to-
dan upon the spirit of prayer: upon
the real attitude of the heart. Prayer
is spoken OF as the dominant desire
the settled craving of a mans heart
This surely emphasizes the emptiness
Of mere formal recitation OF prayers.
when the heart and mind may be on
something else, or the main desire of
The life in another channel II like
wise shows that mere act OF prayer
IS not enough. It-may be hypaeE.ey-
Still there is danger OF weakening
prayer as dedntte religious act We
need a prayer alter to which we may
come Ia ling aside all e,-st>d com
mune with our Father In heaven. We
need TO be calm, To wait and listen
10 what He has to say to US. The
prayer-lifs Of Jesus gives special en-
phasts to this need. No doubt he was
In the spirit Of prayer always. but this
WAS not enough for him. He had his
hours of prayer.
A study of his prayer-lite will bring
be fore you several very interesting and
helpful things. To see what 1t meant
TO His life Is enough TO encourage
as TO follow His example and 10 form
the habit OF praying in the secret
chamber.
Power of Prayer.
The relation of prayer TO power is
forcefuny brought out in His praying
at the baptisma1 scene. And praying
the heaven was open and the Holy
Spirit descended. This was His official
inauguration. the promised Amounting,
the enduement of the Holy Spirit. He
dared not commence His ministerial
work without this. 1t came In the
hour of prayer, In the consciousness of
this power He went forth and chaI-
lenged the devil on His own ground,
and won in the greatest battle of the
ages between sin and righteousness.
After day of strenuous service.
when he was all exhausted. he went
apart and spent the night in PRAYER.
Here He was reinforced to withstand
the temptation to be King. and was
empowered to go forth and still the
tempest about to bring destruction to
his disciples. 1t is at the altar of
prayer we get power. We must pray
before we can work.
Close Relation 10 work. -.
He has likewise shown us that
prayer sustains very close relation
work He was directed In his work.
as to what to do and how TO do il.
when praying. II was after a night of
prayer that He preached the sermon on
the mount, and selected the Twelve
Apostles. Indeed prayer was with him
a method of work. As he prayed the
Father worked 1t seems to have been
through prayer that Lazarus was
brought forth from the grave. God
has given us a very comforting teach
ing on this. If We ask ] will
do.s God works as we pray. This His
divine plan. Just as our work makes
it possible for God to give us corn and
wheat. Prayer has place in the plan
OF God 1t does not change his wish
for us, but It makes possible His doing
for us what He would not do other
wise.
Prayer Is one OF Gods methods of
revelation. Immediately after Jesus
had been In prayer with his deciples
He asked; Whom say e that | ann
Peter answered: The Christ of God
The church needs to give to the world a
new lesson on prayer. Ii has caused
many man TO accept Jesus as the
Christ and his Saviour. Fosdick has
said, Prayer is the inward measure of
any mans quality All. what valums
you speak in prayer. Prayer sustain ed
Jesus In his suffering and sorrow: in
his rejoicing and victories. His life
was one OF prayer. III He needed IL
and used u how much more we? Then
pray!"