The Coolidge examiner., 1936-03-13

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TOPIC-What Jesus Says About
Prayer.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Why Should We Pray?
Prayer is a matter which ought
! to be of great concern to every be-
lever, for, The Lord is nigh unto
all them that call upon him, to all
that call upon him in truth. He
will fulfill the desire of them that
fear him; he also will hear their
cry, and will save them" (PS. 145 ::
Is, 19). There was something
about the praying of Jesus that so
impressed the disciples that they
requested him to teach them to
pray Uuke lid. May everyone
OF us enroll at once in the school
of prayer with Christ as our Teach
er. In response to the disciples
request, Jesus set forth the fol-
lowing principles of prayer.
!. The Right Relationship of the
One Praying ". y.
/. Filial-"Father." The suppli-
ant in prayer must be child of
God. Gods gifts and blessings are
for his children. This relationship
can only be entered into through
regeneration. Not all men have a
right to say, Our Father when
addressing God. Only those who
are children of God by faith in
Jesus Christ can so address him.
2. Fraternal-"Our Father" God
has many children. His children
are bound up together in nature
and interests. Even in our secret
prayer we should address him as
Our Father" which is a recogni-
tion of the interest of others along
side of ours.
u. The Right Attitude in Prayer
". y.
/. Reverent adOration-"Hallow
be thy name" AS children we have
certain rights and privileges, yet
holy reverence becomes us.
2. Loyalty-"Thy kingdom come
When praying to God we should
come with spirit of loyalty which
cries out, Thy kingdom come" We
should not only receive him as the
Lord of our lives, but should loyal
ly labor with him in inducing 9th
ers to submit to his rule.
3. Submission THY will be
done" We should have no will of
our own regarding the rule of God.
We should let him direct us in all
things.
III. The Right Spirit in Prayer
(vv. 3-S).
l. Dependent faith-"Give us this
day our daily bread" ". 81. We
should realize that not only bread,
but life itself is ours to enjoy be-
cause of him and he is able to do
for us "exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think"
2. Penitence and love-"Forgive
us our debts" (v. ~. We should
come to him realizing that we have
sinned, and cry out to him for for
giveness. Our heart should be so
filed with love for others that we
will forgive those who sin against
us, as God has so willingly forgiven
us.
3. Holiness and caution-"Lead
us not into temptation" ". ~. Be
cause we are Gods children, and
realizing the depravity of our ma
lures and the consequent tendency
to practice chat which displeases
him, we should shrink from that
which, if INDUCED in. would dis
honor him. and earnestly cry unto
him to lead us not into the place
where we would likely fall.
4. Intercessory (vv. 5, g.. The
man who asked for bread did not
ask for himself, but for friend
Prayer which .pleases God is I'M
selfish in its requests.
| 5. Perseverance wv. l. 81. Though
the friend refused at first and Of
| fered excuses. because of the one
making the request would not take
NO" for an answer. he arose from
his bed and gave him as many as
he needed. Prayer pleases God and
gets results.
~. encouragement to Pray
(vv. 9-12).
l. Gods promise wv. Q. 1O). True
prayer cannot fail of answer, be-
cause God definitely promises that,
Everyone that aSketh receiveth; ;
| and he that Seeketh findeth; and to
him that knOcketh it shall be op-
ened."
.. Example of an earthly father
! wv. 11-1S). No father will give
a stone to his son who asked for
bread, nor a serpent instead of a
fish, nor a scorpion instead of an
egg. God is infinitely more will
! ing TO answer the prayers of his
children than earthly parents are
to give good gifts to their children.
V. The True Goal of All Prayer
(v. 13).
Gods best gift is himself in tho