Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-06-12
LESSON FOR JUNE IS
PRAYER.

PRAYER.
LESSON TExTS-Matt. 6:5-15; Luke rs:
lila
GOLDEN TEXT-Be careful for moth
ing: but in everything by prayer and sup
plication with thanksgiving let your re-
quests be made known unto God.-Phil.
as
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Gen. 1923
49, Elk. 1921. 80; Matt 26:3N46; Luke IL:
1-13; John 17a-26; l Thess. 5:17: James S;
1913
PRIMARY ToPIC-Talking With the
Heavenly Father.
JUNIOR TOPFC-Jesus Teaches How to
Pray.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-Prayer a
Privilege and Duty.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-7'l,e
Christian Conception Of Prayer.
I. The Proper Motive In Prayer
Matt. $3.50.
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. If it be to be seen and heard OF
men w. 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 Cod there
fore If he be engaged in it to attract
mems attention it is blasphemous. 1t
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. If there be the use of vain repe-
titions ". y. This does not mean that
we should ask but once, for we have
examples of Christ and of I'@ul pray
ing three times for the same thing
Matt %; 39-46 II Cor. 1878, but
meaningless repetitions as done by the
heather. The reason assigned is that
"your Father knoweth what things We
have need Of before We ask him w..
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.
II. The Model Prayer Matt. :9-15).
l. Right relationship. Our Father"
Only those who have become children
of God by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal.
3.26) can pray Alright.
2. 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. :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
i kingdom.
3. Right spirit G) 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. (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"
Ill. Persistency in Prayer duke IS:
1-S).
The teaching of this parable is that
men ought always to pray and not to
faint ". y. The context shows that
| praying should be the business of the
j 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
i legation of the church under the fig
ure of widow crying day and night
J unto God. Though the unjust judge
had neither fear of God nor regard
! for man he avenged her of her enc
| mics. Much more, then, will the ten
der loving Father, God, avenge his own
elect ". y. God is pleased with those
who persistently pray, or, as popularity
expressed, pray through"
~. The Proper Attitude in Prayer
duke 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 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.