such praying by saying that these need j not expect any answer to their praying. ! They already have received their reward in the satisfaction they obtain from the display they make. Real prayer is a matter between man and God. It is a shut-door experience (v. 6). It is not for the purpose of making an impression upon men. Neither is there any virtue in empty words in praying. God is much concerned about the length of the prayers we offer. But He is much concerned about the reality of them. Do they have worthy content? Is there purpose in them? Or are they just an assemblage of mean ingless words offered out of a sense of duty? Now is a good time for a little examination. The Power of Prayer Matt. 7:7-11 Jesus encourages His followers to pray by telling them that God is on the giv ing hand. He is ready to listen to the voices of His own. Asking, seeking and knocking in the realm of prayer will re ceive a response. Jesus employs human illustrations to enforce God’s readiness to answer prayer. If human fathers are glad to respond to the requests of their chil dren, how much more is God glad to re spond to the need of His children. Oft- times it is true that the latter “have not, because ye [they] ask not” (Jas. 4:2). Occasions for Prayer Jas. 5 :1 3 -1 6 This passage presents two occasions I when it is the privilege of God’s chil dren to pray. Prayer may be offered in all sorts of situations. The Scriptures | teach— “ In everything by prayer and I supplication with thanksgiving let your | requests be made known to God” (Phil. ] 4:6). But two specific occasions for pray- j er are presented in the verses before us | — in affliction and in sickness. The afflic- I tion referred to is that of evil treatment i as in persecution. (Compare v. 10.) Prayer ; at such times is a sure relief for the soul. , Then when bodily sickness comes the j Christian can pray. A definite service for j the healing of the sick is provided for in I the passage before us. If it were carefully : followed there would not be such traves- | ties on divine healing as are being wit- j nessed in many places today. Sick ones are to call for the elders (masculine gen- j der) of the church for this service. Thei;e is no justification here for advertised heal ing meetings which draw great crowds. A plurality of elders is set forth here which guards against the danger of one person being looked upon as a divine healer. Oil is no doubt the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Confession of sin is connected with the service. The salvation spoken of (v. 15) has to do with the healing of the body, not the soul. It should be made clear that this service is not extreme unction but a blessed privilege for any child of God who has an illness of some serious ness. Helps for the Children When W e Pray Matthew 6 :5 -1 5 ; Luke 1 8 :9 -1 4 MEMORY VERSE: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). Do you remember what we said a CONTINUED ► '
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