The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-03-14

" llt NiNihS
will: These are all primal in the
model prayer. 81 On our human
side there are three petitions. The
first concerns our physical sub
Sistence: Give us day by day our
daily Bread The second concerns
our spiritual cleansing: Forgive
us our sins; for we also forgive
every one that is indebted to us"
The third concerns our victory
over the trials and temptations Of
life: Lead us not into tempta-
ton" Would not the answer Of
these. prayers capacitate us for
spiritual efficiency? He who
prays them from the heart will
be happy and useful in the Chris
tian life.
THE PARABLE OF PRAYER
.(Luke IL: 5-S.)
l'ersevering prayer was incul-
Gated in the story of the I'M
friendly neighbor. Probably the
greatest deficiency; in our prayer
lives is due to our lack of perse-
verance. We become impatient
and impetulant when our petit
lions are delayed and seemingly
denied. We need to learn the les
son which our Saviour gave to
the disciples. Suppose one having
used up all the food prepared for
the day were to have a friend
travelling after nightfall, as usual
! in the East, claim his hospitality
at midnight. he would call upon
neighbor to lend him sufficient
bread for his guest. Suppose, how
ever, that the neighb0r were I'M
accommodating and because Of
! the Inconvenience were TO deny
him the requested loan. Yet if nc
were persistent in his request the
unfriendly neighbor would finally
arise from his couch and let him
have all that he needed. 1t was
u picture true to life at the time
and was designed to set forth the
single point that prayer should
, be persevering. 1t does not teach
that God must be. importuned on
the ground that he is unfriendly
but rather for the sake Of the
recipient
THE CHALLENGE OF PRAYER
Uuke 11:9-lO.)
Confident prayer lays hold OF
the divine promise that asking will
/ be answered, seeking will be sue
cessful, and knocking will gain ad-
mittance to the Kingdom of God.
On the basis Of what has been
said,. the Master gives to the dis
ciples this remarkable challenge
Of prayer widening in variety
and rising in intensity; Ask
Seck-knockw The assurance Of
the answer follows "For every
one that asketh receiveth; and he
that secketh fpdeth; and to him
that knocketh it shall be opened"
, Persevcring prayer is always pre-
, vaiing prayer. If the object for
which it originally asks is not spc-
officially granted, something bet
ter is sure to be granted in It's
THE ANALOGY OF PRAYER
(Lukc II: 11-l3.J
Receptive prayer is Illustrated
by the child obtaining all that is
needful from an earthly father.
To a hungering son asking for
bread would 4 father give Il
stone? 1t may look like q loaf
but it cannot nOurish. Will he !
give poisonous serpent when a
wholesome fish is requested? In
stead of an egg, will venomous
scorpion be given? To ask these |
questions is to answer them. A
father, though fettered in the |
flesh and though unregenerate,
knows how to give good gifts to
his children. The application is
clear: "Much. more shall your
Heavenly Father give the Holy |
Spirit to them that ask him" In !
finitely better is he than earthly i
parent, and infinitely better is
the gift he will bestow upon us !
for the asking. lord, teach lis
LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY"
Cd Pray. Prayer is the souls !
sincere desire. 1t is the Chris
TONS vital breath. 1t is a great |
privilege. 1t is an imperative duty. |
(2) Pray in imitation Of Jesus.
See him at prayer! Follow him to
the Throne of Grace. Desire to
be like him in this respect above
all others.
go Pray in the name Of Jesus. |
If we receive, we must ask in
his name, believing. Our prayers |
must 60 by way of Calvary if |
they ever reach heaven.
ca Pray to pray right. The
Apostles prayed to Jesus that he
would teach them how to pray.
How much more we need to do
the same thing! -.
(5) Pray for the right things.
If we do not mind, we shall put |
some very foolish requests in our
prayers. The model Jesus gave
should help us at this point.
CO. Pray perseveringly. Do
not stop praying if the answer is
delayed, or diverted, or denied.
Keep on; the blessing desired, or
greater, will surely come.
CD Pray believingly. We must
not only believe on God in gen
eral, but believe in his readiness
and power to answer specific Pc
titions. Over the wire of faith
comes the power of prayer. |
tS) Pray submiSsively. AS the
child trusts the earthly parent to
give, good gifts, so we as benefit
Charles of divine bounty should
submit to the divine will.
(9) Pray sincerely. Put heart
and soul in prayer. Call upon
God Gin truth" Insincerity in
prayer makes it empty vanity, if
not outright mockery.
lOl Pray effectuallY. God will