The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1947-01-02
SER MON EFT E

can see need in our lives for pray
er. It is because we are sure that
we have need too great to be met
with our own inherent energy that
we pray. All of us are called to
become what we can never become
unless we are men and women of
prayer. We are to have the disposi-
tion of Christ, to love as ne loves,
to forgive as he forgives. Of course
this is impossible within ourselves
Christ always contacts us at the
point of our extremities if he ever
contacts us at all. When Christ met
the man with a withered hand, He
told that man to do the impossible,
to stretch forth that withered hand.
When He met the man who was par
alyzed He challenged him to do the
impossible, to stand up and walk.
He challenges us all to be like Him
self, that my friends is utterly i'm
possible without prayer. That gives
us the very need for prayer.
All of us have obligations and
responsibilities which we cannot
meet without God, without the pray
er life. To some the guest at mid
night will come in the form of chill
dren. Do we have the proper Spir
itual food to set before them?
think not unless we call upon God
in prayer. To another the quest at
midnight comes in the form of a
Sunday school class, perhaps a
group of young people. That class
will meet with spiritual starvation
unless the teacher makes trip to
the house of a friend, and knock
upon the door of the heart of God.
To all who profess Christ comes
the challenge to feed my sheep, we
cannot do so without prayer, with
out knocking on the doorway of
our heavenly friend and Father.
This embarrassed host prayed be-
cause he had a friend to whom to
pray. We must have the sense of
need, but that is not enough. Pray
er is knocking upon the door of
God, the door of friend. Jesus tells
us, ito him that knocketh it shall
be opened" The fact that God is our
friend, means that he really cares,
that he is eager to open the door
when we knock. More eager than
we are to knock. For there is no
sorrow upon earth that is not felt
up in heaven, beyond that door
upon which we knock in prayer.
Let US notice also that the en-
barasSed host went to that friend
of his directly. He did not have
anyone to go for him. When we seek
the help of God, the best way to do
it is to do it personally, as a friend
talking to friend. The poorest per-
son is as welcome here as the most
wealthy.
This embarrassed host was frank
with his friend, he told his needs
and all about the situation. He did
not ask for everything under the
sun, he was specific. We should pray
thus to our friend, the most high
God 1t is a privilege to lay all our
burdens at the feet of Christ, and
feel the great relief which comes
by talking things over frankly and
specifically with God.
And lastly this man of the par
able was persistent. He was per-
SiStent for two reasons, first, because
he was in earnest. He felt that he
simply must have the Wherewithal
to entertain the guest 1t is the earn
est and fervent prayer, according to
James, which availeth much. 1t is
the earnest soul who receives an
answer to prayer because it is sim
cere, and only the sincere souls can
receive God. God know not the
hypocrite.
Then this man was persistent be-
cause he had faith in his friend. He
did not believe that this friend
would fail him. We must have faith
in God that He will answer our
prayers, if we expect an answer.
We must be persisten in our prayers
not to change God or force Him to
answer, but because we are sure
that in Him we have a friend who
will not fail us, unless we have first
failed Him.
May God grant unto us a true
knowledge of our deep spiritual
needs and faith that we have
friend who will not fail us even if
we should call at the hour of mid
night. Amen.