The Dolores star., 1923-02-09

LESSON TEXT-Luke lS:l-u.
HOLDEN TE%T-The sacrifices of God
80 "roheh spirit, broken and contrite
aeart' God. thou wilt not despise-
Psalm 5I.I7.
i'Lf EliENCE MATERIAL-Matt Go
d, Luxe l5-S-2i. John I.23, a.
Prayed. "e'
JUNIOR TOPIC-How to Pray
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
prayer that God Answers.
1OCNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
secret to Prevailing Prayer.
!. 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
u circumStance-in times of sorrow
ana burdens for strength to endure :;
II times of JOY and success for grace
10 hehaVe Alright. Prayer ought to he
persisted in even when the answer Is
not Immediately seen. God does hear
ana answer prayer even when we do
not understand the mysteries of delay.
u. The Urgent Prayer of a Widow
ivy. 2-S).
The picture here is of helpless
widow who was being cheated out of
her property rights, coming to a 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 complied with her
request in order to get rid of her.
The point here is not that God is like
his unjust judge and can be teased
into compliance, but rather that if
such action can he secured on the part
Of 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
covenant relation in Christ. The in
hcritnnce of the church will be actual
zed at the coming of Christ. This
IS why the truth concerning the COM
ing of Christ is so vital to Christian
ity. and why such disastrous conse-
luences follow the loss of the Blessed
Hope.
The apparent delay In the vindica-
lion of the church may dishearten
some and cause others to mock QI
Peter 3 ~. Jesus question should be
solemn warning against allowing
.he apparent delay Of the coming of
the Lord to crowd out our praying.
Though many may give up we should
le assured that genuine faith will
abide, and that the divine promise CON
! -prning the coming of Christ shall be
fulfilled. We can he sure of God.
III. The Prayer Of tho Proud
9harisee wv. 9-12).
I. He Took Striking Attitude
". 1D. The Jewish custom was to
stand while praying, but the word
stood" implies the assumption of an
os.entatious position. He was self
| .ightcous and trusted in himself.
.. He Prayed With Himself wv. H.
| i2). He used the name of God, but 1t
vas really soliloquy. He pretended
o be thanking God when really he
vas renearsing his own goodness
| ,onIpInenting himself. His whole
hought centered in himself. He con-
yratulated himself for O his morality
(yy III. He thanked God that he
| Vas not as other men are. such as
.xtortiuuers. unjust, adulterers, OF
| wen as the publican who was stand
NJ afnr off. (2) His Religious Merits
~. FL. He tasted twice a week and
-aye tithcs of all he possessed. He
thrs Informed God that he did more
nan was required, implying that God
rms under obligation to him.
w. The Prayer of the Humble
Publican ". 13).
In striking contrast with this sup
,oscd saint stood the publican whose
,home kent him from even looking
nm 10 Heaven, beating upon his breast
,s n sign of anguish Of soul, crying
,,t 70 God to be merciful to him, a
sinner. He took his place as sinner
and called upon God for mercy.
v Christ's Testimony ". 14.
ue declared that the publican Went
.,,,.;fad rather than the Phari
see The one great and urgent need
IN the part of men is confession OF
sIn and a willingness to cry unto Goo
for mercy.