Cleveland County herald., 1919-06-12
LESSON FOR JUNE 15
PRAYER.

lii.
 GOLDEN TEXT-Be careful for noth- ing; but in everything by prayer and sup plication with thanksgiving let your re- quests be made known unto God.-Phil. 4:6
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Gen. IS. .23- 33, Ex 32:Sl, 32; Matt. 26:90-46; Luke IL: l-l3; John H:l-26, l Thess. 5:17; James 5:
 PRIMARY ToPIC-Talking With the Heavenly Father.
 JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus Teaches How to Pray.
 INTERMEDIATES TOPIC-Prayer a Privilege and a Duty SENIOR AND ADULT T0PfC-The Christian Conception of Prayer
 |. The Proper Motive in Prayer (Matt. 6 :5-S).
 The righteousness which counts with God is doing right deeds with the right motive. Righteous as the act of praying is it may be an abomina- tion unto God:
 l. If it be to be seen and heard of men C. g. Much of the public pray ing is false-when there is more thought of what the people think than of what God thinks. In praying the individual is dealing with God there fore if he be engaged in it to attract mems attention it is blasphemous. It is not wrong to pray on the street cor her and in the synagOgues; that which is condemned is doing it to be seen of men.
 9 If there be the use of vain repe- titions (y. D. This does not mean that we should ask but once, for we have examples of Christ and of Paul pray Ing three times for the same thing (Matt. 25; 39-46; II Cor. 12:7-S), but meaningless repetitions as done by the heathen. The reason assigned is that your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him" (v. 8. God is pleased with true pra@er (v. @. We should have a real desire for fellowship with God. Since prayer is transaction of the soul with God, we should go to our inner chamber, where only God can hear, and there commune with him.
 II. The Model Prayer (Matt. 6:9-15).
 1. Night relationship. Our Father" | Only those who have become children of God by faith in Jesus Christ tGal. :26) can pray alright.
 ?. Right attitude. "Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come" When we realize that we have been delivered from the power of darkness and trans lated into the kingdom of his dear Son (Col. 1:130 by being made the chil- dren of God we cannot help pouring out our souls to him in gratitude and praise, longing for the coming of his kingdom.
 8. Right spirit CD That of trust which looks to him for daily bread. CD That of love which results in the forgiveness of others. God will not ar unforgiving spirit. (3) That of holiness which moves us to pray not to be led in temptation, and longs to be delivered from the evil one.
 4. The ascription of praise. "Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever"
 III. Persistency in Prayer (Luke IS: 1-S).
 The teaching of this parable is that men ought always to pray and not to faint (v. D. The context shows that praying should be the business of the church while the Lord is absent Hav- ing referred to the coming of the Lord at the close of the preceding chapter he uses this parable to enforce the ob- ligation of the church under the fig ure of a widow crying day and night unto God. Though the unjust judge had neither fear of God nor regard for man he avenged her of her ene- mics. Much more, then. will the ten der loving Father God, avenge his own elect (v. D. God is pleased with those who consistently pray, or, as popularly expressed, 'pray through"
 w. The Proper Attitude in Prayer Uuke IS S:9-14).
 This is brought out in striking con trast by two men praying. The Phar- sees sense of self practically excluded the consciousness of God The poor publican had a most keen sense of God, and therefore sought his mercy. The Pharisee presented personal ere dentials, while the publican cast him. self upon Gods mercy The publican was justified, while the Pharisee was rejected. Let us come into the pres ence of God with humility, for God is holy.