May, 1935
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
190
NOTES on Christian Endeavor B y M a r y G. G o o d n e r
O soul of mine, redeemed by love, Wilt thou not own the Master’s sway And rising early in the morn, Behold His face, and thou, too, pray?
Many Christians have been puzzled and distressed by the directions for prayer as given in Mark 11:20-26. Here, as always, the interpretation of difficult statements in Scripture must be determined in the light o f the remainder o f the W ord of God. The faith which assures God’s answer to prayer (vs. 22-24) must be linked with a knowl edge o f His will and a desire that only His will may be done (cf. Rom. 8:26, 27; 1 John 5:14, 15). In this passage, as in Matthew 6:12, our obtaining of God’s for giveness seems to be dependent upon our forgiveness of our fellow men. But this conditional forgiveness was proclaimed in the age o f law. In this age of grace, since the death and resurrection o f Christ, the order is changed. Forgiveness of others is to flow from the heart of the forgiven Christian* as we read in Ephesians 4 :32. In love to our great Redeemer, let us enter into the fullest possibilities for prayer as revealed in the Word of God. Leader’s Helps I. T he P rayers of J esus I. Secret Prayer. 1. His general habit (Lk. 5:15,16). 2. Prayer before toil (Mk. 1:35). 3. Prayer after toil (Mk. 6:45, 46). 4. Special prayer (Lk. 6:12, 13). II. Private Communion, but in the Pres ence o f Others. 1. His disciples (Lk. 11:1-4). 2. The centurion (Lk. 23:46, 47). III. His Prayers Honored o f God. 1. At His baptism (Lk. 3:21, 22). 2. At His transfiguration (Lk. 9:28, 29). 3. At the grave o f Lazarus (John 11:41-44), 1. Prays for individual disciples (Lk. 22:31, 32) . 2. Prays for His disciples (John 17:9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20-24). 3. Prays for His enemies (Lk. 23:34). 4. He ever liveth to make interces sion (Heb. 7 :25). —R obert G orry . II. “A nd T here P rayed ” M ark 1 :35 W e cannot enter “there” with H im ; W e do not know what words He said; Our hearts can only bow in awe To read, “A place”—and there He prayed. We know the day just past Was full O f teachings great, and kindly deeds—• They brought Him all that were diseased; He healed them all—and met their needs. “At even, when the sun was set,” His work o f kindness still went on— For all the city gathered there To claim a blessing from the Son. But, “ in the morning,” see Him then Rise up a while before the day, T o seek a “ solitary place” Where He could to His Father pray. IV . Prayer for Others.
JUNE 2, 1935 JESUS A S A M AN OF PRAYER M ark 1 :35; 11:20-26 Suggestions for the Meeting Hymn—“ Sweet Hour of Prayer.” Hymn,—“More Like the Master.” Hymn—“I Would Be Like Jesus.” Prayer. Hymn—-“Where He Leads Me.” Scripture—Mark 1:35; 11:20-26. S olo—-“The Beautiful Garden of Prayer.” . Leader’s Message. Quiet Hour. Hymn—“ Constantly Abiding.” Benediction—Psalm 19:14. Meditation on the Lesson The will of God for every believer is conformity to the character of the Lord Jesus Christ and to His plan for the world. In no other way can we become so effective as we will be if we steadfastly seek to follow our Lord in His prayer habits. If our Lord and Master needed to take time to pray, how much more do His servants! Let us look carefully at Mark 1 :35. There we learn, in the first place, that our Lord rose early, “before day.” Every pray er warrior has testified to the great value of using the early morning hours for com munion with God. The mind is fresh, the day’s duties lie ahead, new grace is needed, fresh manna must he secured, guidance for any new problem is necessary, and thanks and praise for safe-keeping through the night must be rendered. In the statement, “He went out, and de parted into a solitary place,” we have sep aration and solitude, two necessary ac companiments o f vital prayer. O f course, we know that communion with the Father may be had anywhere and at any time by the Spirit-led believer. But just now we are considering prayer in that larger sense of sustained devotion, meditation, and communion. “When thou hast shut thy door” was the Lord’s description o f that secret fellowship which is made possible by shutting out the world and shutting oneself in with God alone. In coming to earth as Man, the Lord Jesus Christ had laid aside His prerogatives of deity, and His earthly life was one of complete subjection to His Father. Thus as We meditate upon this incident in our Lordis prayer life, our imagination may suppose that He was praising His Father for the marvelous power that had been given Him on the previous day when He had cast out demons, had restored Simon Peter’s wife’s mother, and had healed “many that were sick o f divers diseases.” Then we may reverently imagine that He was securing strength for the preaching tour to follow. And there could not fail to be the blessed holy time when He and the Father had communion with each other that no man could share. If we are to obey our Lord’s command, “ follow me,” we will find ourselves walking where He leads to the secret place of prayer.
—M. G. G,
IIL H eaven ’ s R oyal E ngineers
It was once necessary for Dan Crawford to hurry to his station from a trip afield in the African jungle. In his haste he came to a deep stream which had to be crossed and found it flooded, with no bridge or boats in sight. He and his party camped and prayed. As they were thus engaged, a tall tree that had withstood torrents for scores o f years, began to totter and fall. It fell directly across the stream 1 As Mr. Crawford put it : “The Royal Engineers of Heaven had laid a pontoon bridge-for God’s servants .”—Moody Church News. JUNE 9, 1935 H OW TO CONQUER ANGER R om an s 12:19; E ph esian s 4 :26, 31; M atth ew 5 :21-24 Suggestions for the Meeting Hymn—“Day Is Dying in the West.” • Hymn—“Dear Lord and Father o f Man kind.”. Prayer, Hymn—“Lead On, O King Eternal.” Scripture—Ephesians 4:26, 31. Quartet—“Moment by Moment.” Testimonies. Leader’s Message. Quiet Hour. Hymn—“More of Thyself in Me, My Father.” Benediction—Numbers 6:24-26. Meditation on the Lesson Anger in itself is not wrong. The Scrip tures speak plainly in several places o f the wrath of God and o f the Lamb. God’s wrath is but the reverse aspect of His holiness and love, for God, who is right eous, must necessarily hate the sin which defiles the objects of His love. There should be a burning indignation in the heart of every child o f God when he sees injustice done to another. If any believer can look with indifference or toler ation on wicked practices, he has not the mind of Christ. Do you recall the occasion on which Christ entered the temple and found the money changers and those who sold doves? He, whose compassion is in finite, and whose heart is overflowing with tenderest love, was filled with indignation ‘at the lack of reverence in the temple. It is Christlike to be indignant at evil. Ephesians*4:26, however, gives us the key: “Be ye angry, and sin not,” or, as the command might be paraphrased, “ Sin not in being angry.” Distinguish between the offender and the offense. Love the wrongdoer even while you are righteously angry with the sin. And when the injury is a personal one, there is very definite instruction in God’s Word : “Dearly beloved, avenge not your-
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