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XIII.
Prayer and Public Worship
Chapter 140
:
Importance of Prayer
1. BY what title does
the psalmist address God?
"Thou that hearest prayer,
unto Thee shall all flesh come." Ps. 65:2.
2. Of whom does the
Bible teach that God is a rewarder?
"A rewarder of them that
diligently seek Him." Heb. 11:6.
3. How willing is God
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 God'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
God's reluctance; it is the taking hold of
God's willingness." "Prayer is the
opening of the heart to God as to a friend."
Prayer does not change God; but it does
change us and our relation to
God. It places us in the channel of
blessings, and in that frame of mind in
which God 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 God 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 God, 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 passion.
Angels of God 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 multitudes
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 trespasses." Mark 11:25.
15. With what should
our prayers be mingled?
"Be careful for nothing; but in
everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God." Phil. 4:6.
16. How often should we
pray?
"Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Eph.
6:18. "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thess. 5:17.
"Every day will I bless Thee; and I will
praise Thy name forever and ever." Ps. 145:2.
17. How often did David
say he would pray?
"Evening, and morning,
and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:
and He shall hear my voice." Ps. 55:17. See Dan.
6:10.
18. What is said of
Cornelius and his family?
"A devout man, and one that feared
God with all his house, which gave much alms
to the people, and prayed to God alway."
Acts 10:2.
19. In whose name did
Christ teach us to pray?
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in My
name, that will I do." John 14:13.
20. Why did the unjust
judge answer the widow's prayer?
"Though I fear not God, nor regard
man; yet because this widow troubleth me,
I will avenge her, lest by her continual
coming she weary me." Luke 18:4,5.
NOTE.-The lesson of the parable is that "men
ought always to pray, and not to faint."
Verse 1. If this woman, by her persistence
in asking, obtained her request from such a
man, surely God, who is just, will answer
the earnest, persistent prayers of His
people. though the answer may be long
delayed.
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