The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-06-12
LESSON FOR JUNE is
PRAYER.

LESSON TExTs-Matt. s6-i5. Luke 10:
liz
GOLDEN TExr-Be careful for moth.
ing but In everything by prayer and sup
pics'ion with thanksgiving let your re
guests be made known unto God-Phll
&c
ADDITIONAL MATERiAI,-Gen u.2s
~. Ex. 1Si. 80 Matt 5000. Luke II.
islsi John l7:i-8. | Thess 5:i7. James s
PRIMARY TorIc-Taking with tn.
Heavenly Father
JUNIOR ToPic-Jesus Teaches How to
Pray
INTERMEDIATE ToPIC-Prayer (.
Privilege and Duty
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPiC-Th,
Christian Conception Of Prayer
!. The Proper Motive In Prayer
Matt. 6:5-s).
The righteousness which counts with
God In doing right deeds with the
right motive. Righteous as the act
OF praying Is II may be an abomina-
ton unto God:
1. II II be 10 be seen and heard Of
men ". ~. 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 II dealing with God. there
fore II he be engaged In II TO attract
mems attention II is blasphemous II
Is not wrong to pray on the street cor
ner and In the synaRogues that which
IL condemned IL doing II TO be seen
OF men.
2 II there be the use Of vain repe-
titions ". ~. 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
Ciatt. 25 394G: II Cor. - :7-s). hut
meaningless repetitIons ms done by the
heather. The reason assigned Is that
your Father knoweth what things 20
have need 81 before We ask him" ~
-. God II pleased with true prayer
". o.. We should have real desire
for fellowship with God. Since prayer
IL transaction 81 the soul with God
We should go 20 our inner chamber
where only God can hear. and there
commune with him.
u. The Model Prayer (Matt. 6;9-l5).
I. 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. "llallowed 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 ~ his dear Son
tCol. l :lO 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.
g. Right spirit ~ That Of trust
which looks 10 him for daily bread.
t2) That Of love which results in the
forgiveness Of others. God will not
listen 20 the prayer Of the one who has
an unforgiving spirit. (3) That OF
holiness which moves us 10 pray not
e. be led In temptation, and longs 20
be delivered from the evil one.
T. The ascription Of praise. Thine
II the kingdom. the power. and the
glory forever"
~. Persisteney In Prayer duke IS;
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 the business Of the
church while the Lord Is absent. Hav-
ing referred 10 the coming Of the Lord
AT the close OF the preceding chapter
he uses this parable 10 enforce the OBJ
legation OF the church under the hg-
ure Of 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 enc
mics. Much more. then. will the ten
der loving Father. God. avenge his own
elect ". ~. God Is pleased with those
who perslstently pray. or. ms popularity
expressed. pray through"
~. The Proper Attitude In Prayer
Guke ls;9lD.
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 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 II
holy.