Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-03-02

NeH po"cA posStsseO ana exercised
tor others good. Ones walk through
the world, their work for the world
and their warfare against the powers
Of darkness that overshadow the
world, are altogether dependent upon
prayer.
The Bible basis Of PRAYER Is found
In the relationship that exists between
God and His believing people. The
sons Of men become the sons Of God
through faith In Jesus Christ. Then,
because they are sons. God sends forth
the Spirit Of His Son into their hearts,
crying abba Father" "The Spirit
Himself beareth witness with our spirit
that we are the children of God" This
relationship is entered INTO by faith
and is made real in experience by the
lndwelllng Holy Spirit. From this
prayer issues as naturally as water
rom n spring. The prayer Of com
nunlon Is the necessary outcome Of
he relationship between Father and
.hild.
There is another relationship into
which Christians enter, as clearly seen
n Rev. 1856, where we read that
ghrist loved us and washed us from
our sins In His own blood and made
is to be kings and priests unto God.
Comparatively speaking, only a few
Of Gods people possess their posses
sions in this sphere, hence the limited
number of real intercessors-those who
pray for others. The priest is one who
represents man to God. one who re
spends TO the apostolic appeal found
n Tim. 2, II exhort therefore. that
frst Of oil suppllcatlons. prayers, inter.
session and giving Of thanks be made
Cor all men, for kings and for all that
are In authority. that we may lead a
Iuiet and peaceful life In all godliness
and honesty, for this is good and ac-
.eptable In the sight Of God, our Saw
lour, who would have all men to be
saved and to come Into knowledge Of
the truth" From the vantage ground
Of this two-fold relationship. namely,
sons Of God and priests unto God.
prayer is seen to be an absolute ne
cesslty. an infinite privilege. and a
solemn responsibility
!. Prayer is an absolute necessity.
Fitness for fruitful service is an out
growth OF prayer ''rhe achievements
of a soldier on the battle field" said
General Nogi. hero of Port Arthur,
are nothing but the Towering and
fruition of the work and training OF
his daily life in the time of peace"
Taking time to pray and mediate upon
the Scripture is an absolute neces-
slty as constant preparation for
fighting the fight of faith VIGOROUSLY
and meeting the crises of life success
fully. If prayer is anything It is every
thing. A world-renowned scientist re.
Gently declared that prayer is the
mightlest force in the universe and
that the Christian church is blind to
this fact.
2. Prayer is an infinite privilege.
Prayer changes things Notwith.
standing all that IL said by so-called
learned men concerning the universe
and the reign Of Law, God is more than
creator Of the universe; He Is the Fa.
Their of the great Family. for whose
sake, and In answer to whose requests,
He works in supernatural way, a way
unknown to any but the regenerated
way hidden from the worldly wise,
but reyenled unto the babes, the born
ones. Prayer does change things; be.
iieve 1t, act on 1t and you will become
convinced of Its power.
8. Prayer is solemn responsibility
Relationship always Involves respon.
sibility. This cannot be avoided IL YOU
are child Of God. The responsibility
\ IS as extensive as the relationship
Prayer is not an obligation for a priv.
legged few, but for all of the children
Of God. All His children have the
ability to pray by virtue of the rela.
tionship into which they have beer
brought by grace through faith. There
must be response commensurate VITA
| this ability. for only In this way car
we meet our responsibility. Too much
emphasis cannot be given to this mat
ter. There is at this juncture In hu
man affairs a responsibility for Chris
tians to pray for a revival throughout
the whole church Of God. Certain blind
leaders have In recent years made thu
fatal mistake of substituting an edu
cational program In the church for ths
regenerative work of the Holy Spirit
The result has been disastrous. Every
realm of human thought and life ha,
felt the blight and hurt of this greai
mistake. 1t fs incumbent upon Chris
tians to pray intelligently, plainly, per
slstently that the true work Of Cod II
the church may be speedily revived.