Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 173

PART XIII. PRAYER AND PUBLIC WORs.h.i.+P

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The Groves Were G.o.d's First Temples. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High." Ps. 92:1.

Importance Of Prayer

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Ezra In Prayer. "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Luke 18:1.

1. By what t.i.tle does the psalmist address G.o.d?

"_O Thou that hearest prayer_, unto Thee shall all flesh come." Ps. 65:2.

2. Of whom does the Bible teach that G.o.d is a rewarder?

"A rewarder _of them that diligently seek Him_." Heb. 11:6.

3. How willing is G.o.d to hear and answer prayer?

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, _how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him_?" Matt. 7:11.

4. What above all else shows G.o.d's willingness to do this?

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:32.

5. Upon what conditions are we promised needed blessings?

"_Ask_, and it shall be given you; _seek_, and ye shall find; _knock_, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matt.

7:7, 8.

NOTES.-"Prayer is not the overcoming of G.o.d's _reluctance_; it is the taking hold of G.o.d's _willingness_." "Prayer is the opening of the heart to G.o.d as to a friend." Prayer does not change G.o.d; but it does change _us_ and our _relation_ to G.o.d. It places us in the channel of blessings, and in that frame of mind in which G.o.d can consistently and safely grant our requests.

"How shall we pray so as to be heard and to receive help? For one thing, there must be a real desire in our hearts. Forms of words do not make prayer: we must want something, and must realize our dependence upon G.o.d for it."-_J. R. Miller, D. D._

6. From whom do all good and perfect gifts come?

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from _the Father of lights_, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17.

7. If one lacks wisdom, what is he told to do?

"If any of you lack wisdom, _let him ask of G.o.d_, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Verse 5.

8. How must one ask in order to receive?

"But let him _ask in faith, nothing wavering_. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." Verses 6, 7. See Mark 11:24.

NOTE.-"Prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence."

9. Under what condition does the Lord not hear prayer?

"_If I regard iniquity in my heart_, the Lord will not hear me." Ps.

66:18. See Isa. 59:1, 2; James 4:3.

10. Whose prayers does Solomon say are an abomination?

"_He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law_, even his prayer shall be abomination." Prov. 28:9.

NOTE.-Contention and discord quench the spirit of prayer. 1 Peter 3:1-7. Many grieve the Spirit and drive Christ from their homes by giving way to impatience and pa.s.sion. Angels of G.o.d flee from homes where there are unkind words, contention, and strife.

11. What did Christ say concerning secret prayer?

"But thou, when thou prayest, _enter into thy closet_, and when thou hast shut thy door, _pray to thy Father which is in secret_; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matt. 6:6.

12. To what place did Jesus retire for secret devotion?

"And when He had sent the mult.i.tudes away, _He went up into a mountain apart to pray_: and when the evening was come, He was there alone." Matt.

14:23.

13. For whom did Christ teach us to pray?

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and _pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you_." Matt. 5:44.

NOTE.-We cannot hate those for whom we pray.

14. When praying, what must we do in order to be forgiven?

"And when ye stand praying, _forgive, if ye have ought against any_: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespa.s.ses." Mark 11:25.