328
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
September, 1934
The submission to the Father’s will is further seen in that there is always an ac knowledgment that the Father knoweth all things and hence is acquainted with the needs before we are. The question then arises : Why should we pray ? And the an swer is plain: Prayer brings the need more clearly before the mind of the believer, and the Father would have His children feel their need before He meets it. Many prayers are merely a repetition o f words which have no meaning either to the one who utters them or to the God to whom they are supposedly addressed. The proof o f this statement lies in the fact that many prayers are presented and then promptly forgotten. If the need were truly felt, the answer would be awaited with anticipation. 3. In confidence that prayer will be an swered. There must be full trust in God when prayer is offered—the trust that knows that, regardless of appearances, “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8 :28)— the trust that awaits God’s own time for answering (cf. 2 Cor. 12:7-10). i f T he M odel for P rayer (9-13). The form is not vital. Our Lord gave several form s; but the order in prayer is the important thing. If we will pray, ob- servering the order that the Lord gives, we shall have constant answers to our prayers. 1. There is to be a desire for God’s glory. This is the first consideration—not that the special object asked might be given, but that, whether or not it is given, the Fa ther’s glory might be seen. That glory is in view in the petitions concerning His name, His kingdom, and His will. Perhaps the reason that prayers are unanswered is found here—in the selfishness of the one who prays, the one who is occupied with self and self’s wants, instead o f being occupied with the Father and His honor. But where God is first,in the desire o f the believer, prayer takes on a new complexion, and the joy and delight of true praying enters the Christian’s soul. Some persons are afraid o f the will of God. They think of it as a sort o f strait- jacket which keeps one from all enjoy ment-something to which one is to be resigned, especially in times of trial and distress, but in which one can find no pleasure. But the will of God is what makes heaven what it is ; and the one who, on earth, lives at the center o f the will of God has a foretaste of the joys of heaven itself. The days o f such an one are as “ days o f heaven upon the earth.” 2. There is to be a reminder o f material needs. This subject occupies just one petition. In this petition, there is a recognition of daily dejpendence upon the Father and a confession that without Him there would be nothing—not even food for the body. We have to be reminded that whatever we have, even of food, is ours because God is pleased to give it. Without God, universal starvation would be the lot o f all peoples o f earth. 3. There is to be a remembrance of spir itual needs. The first o f these requirements is for giveness, and the manner in which we ask to be forgiven is the manner in which we forgive our debtors; that is, when we for give, we necessarily assume the debt our selves. The second request is for protection from and in temptation. And the third necessity is for deliverance from the evil one. W e are not to seek temptation, but when it comes, we are to pray for deliver ance from the evil one who tries to turn
BLACKBOARD LESSON PBEVAIUNÛ PBAYER,
our Lord had intended the prayer to be used as a form, surely He would not have left it incomplete, as He did also in Luke 11. When the early church drifted into formalism, it added the doxology and the “amen” in order that the prayer might be used as a form in worship. 5. Christ’s final teaching on the sub ject of Christian prayer forbids the use of the “Lord’s Prayer” as a form exactly as it stands in either Matthew or Luke. In John 14:13, 14 and 16:23, 24, He lays down a very important addition to His doc trine o f prayer. Up to this time, they have asked nothing in His name. From now on ward, they are to ask in His name. In the light of this plain command, it is actually sinful for us to omit His blessed name from our prayers. And if the “Lord’s Prayer” should ever be used, then His name should be added in obedience to His command—“ For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” For my self, I shall pray no prayer without His blessed name. I f that be narrow, then I am narrow. O f course, some will say that one can pray in the name o f Jesus even without re peating it audibly. To such an assertion it may be answered that we can pray with out repeating any form of words. And if there is any value in a form, there is value in a right form. I believe that one reason why our Lord left the original prayer un finished was that the whole doctrine of prayer was unfinished at the time. If that prayer is to be finished by any form of words, it should be with the words supplied by our Lord rather than by those o f man. Golden Text Illustration When a pump is frequently used, the water pours out at the first stroke, be cause it is high; but if the pump has not been used for a long time, the water gets low ; and when you want it, you must pump a long while, and the water comes only after great effort. It is so with prayer. If we are instant in prayer, every little cir cumstance awakens the disposition to pray, and desire and words are always ready; but if we neglect prayer, it is difficult for us to pray, for the water in the well gets low. — F elix N eff . How to Pray M atth ew 6:5-15 Memory Verse: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1). Approach: Besides studying G od ’s Word, there is another way to keep in touch with God, that is, by praying to God. Through prayer, we may tell God of our great love for Him, we may thank Him for what He has done for us, and we may
THE BEiET PLACE
THE B E ./T TIM E
P E R S IS T E N T L Y _ W I T H P R A IS E RESTING ON THE PROM ISES ACCORDING TO GOO'S WILL YIELDING YOUR. O W N - W I L L E N T IR E L Y R E L I E V I N G R E S I S T I N G T H E E V IL O N E __________ THE BE.TT W A V ___________
the testings o f God into temptations to sin. The prayer is to be offered in a spirit of confidence, because it is directed to the Father. It is to be offered with intelligence, based upon a knowledge of the Word and of the Father’s will. It is to be offered with importunity resulting from some under standing of the assaults o f the enemy, the attractions o f the world, and the allure ments of the flesh. And it is to be con cluded with an expressed recognition that God is over all, that His is the kingdom, His the power, and His the glory forever. III. T h e C aution , for P rayer (14, 15). It is noteworthy that forgiveness is the only idea in this model prayer to which the Lord refers at the close of the prayer. This forgiveness is not in connection with personal salvation, but with God’s govern ment. The Father exercises discipline ac cording to the child’s condition. It it judi cial forgiveness that is pictured here, not the absolute forgiveness found in the Gos pel o f John. In our teaching, we should be careful that we do not leave the impres sion that our acceptance of God’s salvation depends upon our forgiveness of the wrongs done to us. But our discipline by the Father is governed by how we treat others in this matter. W e are not saved be cause we forgive offenses committed against us. But we are to forgive freely because we are saved—thus revealing that the life we have received is truly from God. Points and Problems There has been a great deal of contro versy over the so-called “ Lord’s Prayer” of this lesson. Unquestionably, it was given for a purpose. But for several rea sons I do not think our Lord ever intended it to be used as a mere form o f words. 1. Before giving the prayer, Christ spe cifically warned against such a use. “Use not vain repetitions” (v. 7). Yet this is exactly what the greater part of Christen dom has done. Who has not heard the hackneyed formula, “ Let us repeat the Lord’s Prayer” ? 2. Christ did not say, “ Pray this prayer.” He did say: “After this manner . . . pray ye.” And this instruction suggests the real purpose of the prayer; it is intended to be suggestive. And what an inexhaust ible field it is in teaching us what prayer should and should not be! 3. Our Lord gave this prayer upon two occasions (cf. Lk. 11 :l-4 ), yet did not give exactly the same form o f words. If He had intended it to be used as a form, surely He would have used the same words. This one fact proves that true prayer cannot be tied to any set form of words. 4. It is also generally agreed by textual scholars that the doxology and the “amen” of the prayer were not given by our Lord, but were later additions. Therefore, the Revised Version omits the latter part o f verse 13. It is found in a number of an cient manuscripts, but with variations. I f
ask Him to do for us the things which we think we need. L esson S t o r y : When t h e L o r d Jesus was here on earth, His disciples asked Him how to pray, and it was then that’ He taught them the prayer which we c a l l the “ L o r d ’s Prayer.”
In it He calls God “our Father which art in heaven.” W e are to go to God, our heavenly Father, for things which we need, just as a child would go to its earthly fa ther. God is a holy God, and we must re member that, so Jesus prayed: “ Hallowed be thy name.” Then Jesus prayed: “Thy kingdom
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker