Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-06-13

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JUNIOR ToPIC-Jesus Teaches How to
Pray.
INTERMEDIATE ToPIc-Praysr
SENIOR AND ADULT roplc-Ths
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 1t may be an abomina-
ton unto God:
l. II II be to be seen and heard Of
men ". 81. 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 1t to attract
mems attention 1t Is blasphemous. It
is not wrong to pray on the street cor
ner and In the synagogues; that which
Is condemned is doing It to be seen
Of men.
2. II there be the use of vain repe-
titlons ". u. This does not mean that
we should ask out once, for we have
examples of Christ and Of Paul pray
Ing three times for the same thing
Matt. rs; 1916; II Cor 1878. but
meaningless repetitions rs done by the
heather. The reason assigned Is that
"your Father knoweth what things We
have need Of before ye ask him" ".
81. God is pleased with true prayer
". 81. We should have 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.
u. The Model Prayer Matt. 8:0-15).
/: Right relationship. "Our Father"
Only those who have become children
OF God by faith In Jesus Christ (Gal.
8:28) can pray Alright.
2. Right attitude. "Hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come" When
we realize that we haze been delivered
from the power of darkness and trans
lated into the kingdom Of his dear Son
Col. 1 :13) by being made the chill
dren of God we cannot help pouring
out our souls to him in gratitude and
praise, longing for the coming Of his
kingdom.
3. Right spirit (1) That of trust
which looks to him for daily bread.
(2) That Of love which results in the
forgiveness Of others. God will not
listen to the prayer Of the one who has
an unforgiving spirit. (9) 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 duke 10:
1-S).
The teaching of this parable is that
men ought always to pray and not to
faint ". ~. The context shows that
praying should be tie 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 OBJ
legation Of the church under the fig
urc 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 w. y. God is pleased with those
who persistently pray, or, as popularity
expressed, pray through"
w. The Proper Attitude In Prayer
Uuke 1919.
This is brought out in striking con-
trast by two men praying. The PharI-
sees sense of self practically excluded
the consciousness of God. The poor
publican had most keen sense Of
God, and therefore sought his mercy.
The Pharisee presented personal Gre
dentials, while the publican cast him.
self upon Gods mercy. The publican
was justified, while the Pharlsee was
rejected. Let us come into the pres
ence of God with humility, for God Is
holy.