The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-12-13

GOLDEN TENT-Ask. and II shan he
sNen you; seek. and ye shall end. knock.
anu IL snail be opened unto you-Luke IL g.
Teach us to prayi
The request Of the apostles was
not that He should teach them how
to pray, for He had already done
that (see Matt. 6:5-7) in the Sermon
on the Mount. What they needed,
and what we need, is not so much
to learn how to pray. but actually
10 pray. Prayer is more talked
about than practiced. We discuss
the doctrine OF prayer, the time OF
prayer. the manner Of prayer. pos
ture in prayer; but how much do
we really pray?
This Is very important and plain
question which we must face per-
sonally. do pray. or do l only
talk about praying?" Let us not try
to dodge it or excuse ourselves; let
us face it honestly, do something
about it, and know Gods richer and
fuller blessing for our lives.
We have in our lesson,
L. A Principle Of Prayer ". o..
The one who has a right to call
God his Father" ". q has a right
to come and TASK" God for what
ever he needs. God expects His
children to ask. and many "have
not, because We ask not" DANES
4:O. Give God a chance to an
swer you by asking, but be sure to
ask Alright, not for your own selfish
purposes DANES 4:3). The real
asker is also a seeker-he doesn't
ask and run away empty-handed-
he persists. He not only Seeks"
but he knocks" at Gods door. A
knock Is an evidence of faith-ex-
pectancy, and often persistency-all
essential in real prayer.
ii. The Promise Of Prayer wv.
9-l3).
Here is the promise of our Lord.
We are quick to claim the promises
Of OUR friends, business associates,
the government; why are we so slow
In claiming the promises Of God?
Can It be that we have less conf
dence In Him than we have In our
neighbour Asking means receiving,
seeking results In finding, knocking
brings the open door Of His bless
ing. Why not do It? =,
God Is our Father. Even a man
rightly bearing the beautiful title
father" Is loving and considerable.
Will not the heavenly Father then
give us every good thing7 In fact.
the Holy Spirit Himself is ours in
all His fullness, and In Him there
is every other gift.
iii. A Parable Concerning Pray
er wv. 5-8).
The point of this story is that we
should be persistent in prayer. I'm
portunity carries with it q sense of
being troublesome, bothering some
one until the desired result is at
tanned. God encourages His chill
dren to a holy boldness which does
not give up (see Luke 1918; Matt.
15:21-28). II a man who is only a
friend will at the impossible hour of
midnight supply need which should
have been anticipated to feed one who
Is stranger to him, will not our
Father, who neither slumbers nor
sleeps" who knows and loves US
all, meet our deep spiritual need7
Indeed He will. exceeding abun-
dainty above all that we ask or
think" (Eph. 3:20).
Nv. The Practice Of Prayer wv.
1-).
There is no one who can teach us
to pray better than Jesus, for He
"practiced what He preached" He
prayed. 1t was seeing Him pray
that led the disciples to ask Him to
teach them to pray. To profess
is one thing, but it is far better TO
practice. The teacher who does not
practice prayer will accomplish lit
tie in teaching this lesson, but the
one who prays, though able to say
but little, will cause many to say,
Teach me to pray"
For he practice of prayer, Jesus
taught His disciples a model pray
er. This does not mean that this Is
the only prayer to be offered, nor
that II IL the only form of prayer.
AS suggested, 1t is rather a model.
This prayer opens with a recog-
milton of God as Father, followed
by q reverent petition that His name
may be hallowed; that 10, that He
may have glory as His will is done
and His kingdom established In the
hearts Of men. Those who have that
spiritual life and attitude are ready
to ask for the supply Of daily needs,
and above all forgiveness of sin and
deliverance from temptation. Note
that verse 4 IL not the prayer of the
unsaved for forgiveness and regen-
GRAFTON, for that is all Of grace (Eph.
2:8). The man outside (of the king
dom) gets his forgiveness with no
condition; but once he Is In the king
dom of the Son Of Gods love, he
lives within the laws Of that king
dom. Then he does not get forgive
ness unless he Is ready to forgive,
unless he has forgiven" (Morgan).
Nothing more surely destroys COM
munion than the unforRiving spirit
Matt. 6:14, IS; Mark 1888. The
fact that we forgive others Is not
the ground on which God forgives
US, but It Is the condition Of our en-
Toying Gods forgiveness (Eph. III;