The Holly chieftain., 1923-02-08
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY !
THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER

THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER
LESSON TEXT-Luke 1S:1-li.
GOLDEN TEXT-The sacrifices of God
arc a broken spirit: broken and eontrite
heart. Cod, thou wilt not despise-
Psalm 5l:lT.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt. S:5-
.5; Luke l5:20-24: John 4:23. "A.
PRIMARY TOPIC-How Two Men
Prayed.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How to Pray.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Prayer that God Answers.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Secret to Prevailing Prayer.
I. Men Ought Always to Pray ". ~.
Prayer is absolutely necessary to the
spiritual life. 1t is to the spiritual life
what breathing is to the physical life.
Men ought to pray under every variety
of circumstance-in times Of sorrow
and burdens for strength to endure;
In times of joy and success for grace
to behave Alright. Prayer ought to be
persisted in even when the answer Is
not Immediately seen. God does hear
and answer prayer even when we do
not understand the mysteries Of delay.
II. The Urgent Prayer Of a Widow
wv. 2-S).
The picture here is of helpless
widow who was being cheated out Of
her property rights, coming to god
less Judge for redress. Her only
means of getting help was to prove the
Justice of her claim by her persist
ence. Even this did not gain access to
his heart, for he feared not God nor
regarded men. He compiled with her
request In order to get rid of her.
The point here Is not that God is like
this unjust Judge and can be teased
into compliance, but rather that II
such action can be secured on the part
VI goddess Judge by persistence, how
much surer will be the help of God
to those who cry unto Him day and
night.
The helpless widow pictures the
church In this age suffering the de-
privation Of her rights. 1t is not the
church praying for vengeance upon
her enemies. but suing for the pos
scsSiOh VI Hci ilShtS ny Nituc VI hci
covenant relation In Christ. The in
heritance of the church will be actual
lied at the coming of Christ. This
ls why the truth concerning the COM
Ing of Christ is so vital to Christian
lty, and why such disastrous conse-
quences follow the loss of the Blessed
Hope.
The apparent delay in the vindlca-
tion of the church may dlshearten
some and cause others to mock III
Peter 3:4). Jesus question should be
a solemn warning against allowing
The apparent delay of the coming Of
the Lord to crowd out our praying.
Though many may give up we should
be assured that genuine faith will
abide, and that the divine promise con-
rerning the coming Of Christ shall be
fulfilled. We can be sure of God.
III. The Prayer Of tho Proud
Pharisee wv. 9-12).
1. He Took Striking Attitude
~. III. The Jewish custom was to
uand while praying, but the word
stood" implies the assumption of an
,stentatious position. He was self
righteous and trusted In himself.
2. He Prayed With Himself wv. II,
i2). He used the name Of God, but 1t
vas really soliloquy. He pretended
to be thanking God when really he
vas rehenrsing his own goodness
,omplimenting himself. His whole
thought centered In himself. He con-
graduated himself for ~ his morality
wv. 1D. He thanked God that he
was not as other men are, such as
,xtortioEers. unjust. aduterers, or
even as the publican who was stand
'ng arnr of. t2) His Religious Merits
". l2). He tasted twice week and
rave tithes of all he possessed. He
thus Informed God that he did more
.hnn was required, implying that God
vas under obligation to him.
". The Prayer Of the Humble
Publican ". 13).
In striking contrast with this sup
posed saint stood the publican whose
shame kept him from even looking
up to Heaven, beating upon his breast
as sign Of anguish of soul, crying
out TO God to be mcrcifnl to him.
sinner. He took his place as a sinner
end called upon God for mercy.
v. christ's Testimony ". 14).
He declared that the publican went
away justified rather than the Phari-
see. The one great and urgent need
on the part Of men Is confession Of
sin and willingness to cry unto God
for mercy.