T h e K i n g ' s B u s i n e s s
December 1928
760
prayers, which are many. Not the rhetoric, however elo quent. Not the geometry, however long. Not the music, however sweet our voice. Not the logic, however argu mentative. Not the method, however orderly. Not the divinity, however good the doctrine.” God cares for none of these things. Prayers are to be from a humble and contrite heart and in the name of Jesus. What prayers would be uttered if we really told God the tru th ! Beecher said: “Our prayers would be like th is: ‘Oh, God, I helped a poor wretch of Thine today. He was a miserable, unwashed brat and I gave him sixpence, for which I have been miserable ever since.’ Or they would be like this: ‘Oh, Lord, I have signed those articles of faith, and, being a church member, I must show some sort of respectability. And it makes me feel very awkward at the dance and theater, lest I am caught there by someone who knows my profession. I lose a great deal of enjoy ment through it, but I mean to stick to it, as I suppose there is no other way to heaven.’ ” Prayers, to be answered, must be “in the name of Jesus”; that is, through the mediation of Jesus. He and God are one. If it is “in the name” it must also be “in the Spirit.” And “in the Spirit” means according to God’s most holy will. May we ask anything and get our prayers answered? May we ask for fire to destroy our enemies? May we strike people dead ? May we cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant? Yes; most certainly, if we are quite sure that it is in accord with the Spirit of Jesus. ' Bring large petitions and He will answer, if they are asked, “in His name.” The hall mark of true prayer i s : E-Love to Jesus. The moral condition of answered prayer is:—Obedience to Jesus. The efficacy of prayer is:— Fellowship with Jesus. Obedience is the necessary fruit of love and prerequisite of true and availing prayer.
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By Rev. Cornelius D. Mayhew 1 Unanswerable 8 j| RAYER is the heart’s desire, mirrored in words, * and we can only pray for that which has become g to us a habit of thought. Fleeting and passing W thoughts may be expressed in words of petition to God, but they are not true prayer. Prayer is the expression of the soul and not excitement of heart. It is the conviction of the soul that HE desires the petition and will answer it. Prayer is not the perambulation through the provinces of God’s Provi dences, but the practical participation in God’s plenteous promises. How often are we mistaken in our petitions, as were the disciples. They desired the primacy of heaven. Their eyes had seen tangible things. Their ears had heard of a kingdom. And they sought for that kingdom, which, to them, was a kingdom founded upon free loaves and fishes. They were mistaken in their prayers. Firstly : Note that some prayers are unanswerable. Jesus had said, “And greater things than these shall ye do.” But they understood not the spirit of “these things.” He had meant for His Father’s glory. They thought it was to be for their own. They wanted power to call down fire upon their opponents, as Elijah had done of old. But their, desire was not granted. Paul had desired the re moval of the thorn in the flesh; it was not granted. James most definitely stated: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Moses strikes the rock in Meribah, and says: “Must WE bring water out of this rock?” And when he desires of God to enter into the holy land of promise, his oft-repeated desire is denied him. Secondly: Note that true prayer is always answered. True prayer throbs with energy, is instinct with life, is saturated with sanctity, not sanctimony, and is fired by hope. Demosthenes was once asked to plead a cause. His interviewer told the story listlessly and Demosthenes heard him without attention. The man then cried, most in tensely : “Sir, it is the truth I am telling you.” “Ah,” was the reply, “now I believe you.” M aking L ife A P rayer Some say prayer is difficult and that public prayer, to them, is impossible. Faber said: “Prayer is incredibly easy.” Both ideas are correct and equally true. It is all a matter of viewpoint. If prayer is to be confined to set times and phrases, then it will be difficult. But, if in the spirit of Paul, when he writes his injunction “Pray with out ceasing,” we learn to make life a prayer, then, with Faber, it is incredibly easy. Every time, place and posture is fitting. In none can we be and not be able to supplicate God’s mercy-seat. Talent is not needed; eloquence is out of place; dignity is no recommendation. Thought is quick as lightning and quick as lightning can it multiply prayer. Our actions can be prayers; our sufferings can be the very gate of heaven to our souls. When prayers mount on wings of fervor to God, an swers come as quick as lightning from God. Bishop Hall had some •quaint sayings concerning prayer. He says: “The thing that matters is not the arithmetic of our
Prodigal Sons and Annuities T m ay p e rh ap s b e a new sug gestion to som e th a t these two subjects m ight b e helpfully com bined. Leaving bequests to some young p eo p le is in one sense like pou ring gasoline on a bu sh fire: it’s right d a n gerous ! T ak e th e case of a n anxious m o th e r’s solution of p ro te c ting a sp en d th rift son in view of h e r likely early decease: In stead of leaving a lum p sum to her boy, an annu ity p ay ab le m on th ly , nicely takes care of th e p ro b a b le loss o f capital an d a t th e sam e tim e keep s a po in t of co n tact b etw een him a n d a Christian organ i zation w ith a heart to help those needing good advice.
Life Annuity Rates Age • R ate 30-34::,!............. 4 % 35-39 ................... 4 40-44 ................... 5 % 45-49 ......._____ 5% % 50-54 ...................6 % 55-59 .................. 60-64 .......1 .........7 % 65-69 ................... 70-74 _________ 8 % 75-79 ................... 8% % 80-84 ______......9 % 85-89 ................... 9 %%
Bible In stitu te of Los A ngeles 536-558 So. H ope S treet Los A ngeles, Calif. G entlem en :
Please send me, w ith o u t obligation, y o u r Booklet AA concerning “A nnuity Incom e A greem ents.’’
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