The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-01-03

EEsM%$A w {EM#ssS taken upon me TO
@&&x&&aA IA aEaE4aM speak unto the
Lord. This Is accumulated by the ad-
dition of the words. who am but dust
and ashes" The recognition of the
difference between creature and Crea-
tor is a most helpful factor in the
prayer life. 1t prevents n from In
fringing on the divine holiness and
majesty of God.
this prayer is that of perseverance.
Encouraged by the answer to n petit
ton the man of God ,oes on to ask
for greater and still greater things,
and only when ne stops asking does
the Lord stop giving. That n should
Christ, is a challenge to those who
live nearly two thousand years after
Christ. If the secret of such praying
be sought it will be discovered in the
words Immediately preceding the
prayer, abraham stood yet before the
Lord"
Abraham's Acceptance With God.
This mar had a standing with God.
He was a justified man. Many years
before this prayer was offered, Abra-
ham had an experience which changed
his whole position and standing In the
sight of God. One day the word of the
Lord came to him saying: Look now
toward heaven and count the stars If
thou art able to. Abraham looked up
at the countless hosts and as he looked
a promise was given to him in these
words: $50 shall thy seed be-"
Abraham was an old man at the
time. Such q promise was impossible
of fulfillment in the plans Of nature.
but God is able to bring life out of
death. He is indeed the God of resur-
life. Abraham believed this. He
staggered not at the promise of God
through unbelief, but was strong in
faith-giving glory to God. and being
fully persuaded that what He had
promised He was able to perform.
was reckoned over to Abraham, and
he had from henceforth a standing be-
fore God, a place of conscious accept
ance.
Apart from. this none can pray.
There may be q cry, u seeking after
God. If haply they may find him, but
the prayer of communion, the prayer
OF petition. tne prayer or intercessIon
Is impossible apart from this CON
seriousness OF acceptance before God
on the grounds of righteousness
through faith. abraham stood yet
before the Lord and -.braham drew
nigh.' So must it always be. "They
that are Of faith are blessed with
faithful Abraham and to them 1t Is
given to draw nigh unto God.
Separated Ones Hear Gods Voice.
The place of conscious acceptance
before God is the place of separation
unto God, and the place of separation
Is always the place of instruction.
Separated ones have an ear for the
Word of God. In the midst of many
they listen for His voice and they
listen to it. "Shall I hide from Abra-
ham the thing which l do? No, the
secret of the Lord is with them that
fear Him, them that walk with Him,
them that are separated unto Him. To
them, as in Abraham's case, He speaks
of judgment to come upon the wicked
and unbelieving world. 1t was so with
Noah, as well as with Abraham. 1t
was sc with the Hebrew prophets, the
New Testament apostles, and the men
and women of God in all ages. The
place of separation nto God is the
place of instruction from God.
The place of separation and instruc-
ton becomes the place of deepest in
terest in the highest welfare of others.
This interest manifests itself not only
in an effort to persuade others to seek
the Lord, but also in microscopy
prayer. Abraham praying for Lot in
Sodom; Paul praying for his kinsmen
in the flesh; Luther praying for
Europe; Wycliffe praying for Eng
LAND; John Knox praying for Scot
land; William Cary praying for India
Hudson Taylor praying for China, are
all examples of justified and separated
men who, instructed by God and earn
estly DESTROYS of the highest good of
others, prevailed in prayer.
Impelled by the same spiritual force
men and women today follow their
example. Being justified by faith they
have peace with God. This constrains
to a life of separation and to a walk
with God. To such God reveals Him.
self and His purposes. This results in
a growing compassion and yearning
for others that can find expression
only in prevailing prayer.