The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-04-23

that, as he was praying in a certain
place, when he ceased, one of his disci-
pies said unto him, Lord, teach us to
pray, as John also taught his disciples.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Teaches Us
TO Pray.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jesus Teaches Us to
Pray.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-What Is True Prayer?
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Why Pray?
.. "Men Ought Always to Pray"
". u.
Prayer is absolutely necessary to
the spiritual life 1t is to the spiritual
like what breathing is to the physical
Life. Men ought to pray under every
variety Of circumstances-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 an
swer is not Immediately seen. "An
men pray at times" To the Christian
alone belongs faith-flled and persistent
prayer.
u. The Urgent Prayer of a Widow
wv. 2-S).
The picture here is Of a 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 JUS
tice Of her claim by her persistence.
Even this did not gain access to his
heart for he feared not God nor re-
garded man. He complied with her re-
quest to get rid of her. The point
here is not that God is like this unjust
Judge, that he can be leased into COM
pliance, but rather the teaching is by
contrast. If such action can be secured
on the part Of goddess judge by per-
sistence, how much surer will the help
OF God be given to his elect who cry
unto him day and night. The helpless
widow pictures the church in this age
suffering the deprivation of her rights.
It is not the church praying for ven
geance upon her enemies, but suing
for the possession of her rights by
virtue Of her covenant relation in
Christ. The inheritance of the church
will be actualized at the coming Of
Christ. This is why the truth concern
ing the coming of Christ is so vital
to Christianity, and why so disastrous
consequences follow the loss of this
blessed hope. Every prayer offered by
the church will surely be answered.
The apparent delay in the vindication
OF the church may dishearten some
and cause others to mock (II Peter
3:4). Jesus question should be SOL
emn warning against allowing appar-
ent delay of the coming Of the Lord
to crowd out our praying. Though
many may give up, we should be as
sured that genuine faith will abide
and that the divine promise concern
ing the coming of Christ shall be full
filed.
III. The Prayer OF the Proud Phar.
isee wv. 9-12).
1. He took a striking attitude ".
11).
The Jewish custom was to stand
while praying, but the word stood"
implies the assumption of an osten-
tatious position. He was self-righteous
and trusted in himself.
2. He prayed with himself wv.
IL, 12).
He used the name Of God, but it
was really soliloquy. He pretended
to be thanking God when he was real
" complimenting misunderstanding
his own goodness. His whole thought
conferred in himself. He congratulated
himself for his morality ". ~. He
thanked God that he was not as other
men are, such as extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as the publican
who was standing afar off. One who
has been kept from these gross sins
ought to be grateful to God but should
not set himself above his fellow men
because of it. He congratulated him.
self for his religious merits ". 12).
He tasted twice week and gave
tithes of all he possessed. He thus in
formed God that he did more than
what was required. implying that God
was under obligation to him.
~. The Prayer of the Humble Pub
Ilcan ". 13).
In contrast with this supposed saint
stood the publican, whose shame kept
him from even looking up to heaven,
beating upon his breast as a sign of
anguish of soul and crying out to God
to be merciful to him, sinner.
v. chrisfs Testimony ". 14).
Christ declared that the publican
went away justified rather than the
Pharisee. The one great and urgent
need on the part Of men is the con-
fession of sin and a willingness to
cry unto God for mercy.