THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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tain ty abou t unanswered prayer, it is possible th a t apprehension m ight stim ulate us to unusual diligence to elim in ate th e possibility of loss. Suppose th a t the ten th verse read on th is wise, “F o r nine out of ten who ask receive and ninety-nine out of one hund red who seek, find and unto nine hund red and ninety-nine out of a thousand who knock it shall be opened.” Would th e fear lest our petition fall into th is n a r row m argin of failure, stim u late to g reater earnestness and diligence? There is no contingency, however, and no exception. L et no t unbelief b lun t the sweeping inclusiveness of th e promise. Infinitely beyond th e kind ness of an earth ly p aren t is th e love of th e heavenly F ath e r. Who can m easure the stand ard and extent of the phrase “how much m o re?” Does th e possession of the Holy Spirit seem desirable? How singularly simple is th e sole condition! “How much more shall your heavenly F a th e r give th e Holy Spirit to them th a t ask him .” When th e disciples came to Jesu s urging Him to send th e m ultitudes away th a t they m ight buy bread, he replied “They need no t d ep art.” Matt. 14:16. Why should any one ever go away from Christ to have a real need met, w hether it be physical, m ental or sp iritu al? The simple indiscrim inate inquiry “ Is any sick among you?” must apply to th e household of faith . Cer tainly it is no t addressed to th e world. If it pertained to Jews alone, why are not th e ru lers of th e synagogue invoked, instead of th e elders of th e church? W hat have Jews to do w ith th e church save as they become Christians? The prayer of faith is th e Divine prescrip tion for th e sick. Experience teaches th a t it is honored of God even when exercised th rough o ther th a n ecclesi astical and official channels. Those who hold to th e literal in te rp re tatio n of Scripture can consistently and con scientiously comply w ith th e simple conditions here prescribed w hatever o th er means and methods they may or may not employ. It is unw ise to mag nify Divine healing to such an extent as to disturb the analogy of faith or d isarrange th e Gospel proportion. It is one of th e things “ th a t accompany salvation” and may be considered as related to the Gospel somewhat as a dime is included in a dollar. Since th e THURSDAY, Ju n e 12. Jas. 5:13-20. P ra y er F o r th e Sick.
ever, we may seek the artificial aid of th e secret chamber where we may be free from in tru sion and in terrup tion . By th is means we m aintain unbroken communion w ith God. I t has been well said 'th a t apostasy begins a t th e closet door. TUESDAY, J u n e 10. Duke 18:1-14. Persistency and H um ility in P rayer. The parable of th e u n ju st judge sets fo rth th e advantage of importunity. The poor widow by her persisten t plead ing finally won a hearing. The argu m ent is no t so much from th e less to th e g reater as by comparison and con trast. The judge responds from mo tives of selfish ease. God on th e other hand is moved by every consideration of p atern al love to answer th e prayers of H is children. The pharisee’s prayer was a soliloquy. He prayed w ith him self. He uses th e first personal pro- n6un five times. P aul uses th e per sonal pronoun eight tim es in Gal. 2:20. There is th is difference however. The Pharisaic pronoun is th e perpendicular ego. The P auline pronoun is th e pros tra te me. The publican’s prayer is a confession of unworthiness. He uses the definite article. “ God be merciful to me the sinner.” He seems to him self to be the g reatest if not th e only sin n e r' in th e world. Moreover, his prayer had a S crip tu ral basis and was in accordance w ith th e will of God. The word “m erciful” is th e one meaning mercy-seat, and makes th e prayer a plea for Divine p ropitiation on the ground of acceptable sacrifice. This is th e only prayer an unsaved man can offer, because its u tteran ce puts him on pray ing ground. It brings him into rela tionship w ith Christ th e Saviour in whose name all prayer must be offered and for whose sake all prayer is answered. WEDNESDAY, Ju n e 11. Duke 11:1-13. Efficacy of P ra y er P rayer is a t once the easiest and h ard est of sp iritu al exercises. The word “ ceased” in Luke 11:1, may be tran slated “ rested .” P raying is work ing. A fter a season of earn est prayer one feels the heed of rest. We may imagine th e disciples overhearing Jesus a t His devotions and then saying to one another, “We have not learned the a b c of p rayer.” They w ent to the Master saying “Lord teach us to pray.” If th e re was a m argin of uncer
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