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XIII.
Prayer and Public Worship
Chapter 143
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Answers to Prayer
1. HOW does God
anticipate the needs of His children?
"And it shall come to pass, that
before they call, I will answer and while
they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isa. 65:24.
2. Is there any limit
to God's ability to help?
"Now unto Him that is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think." Eph. 3:20.
3. How fully has God
promised to supply our needs?
"My God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus." Phil. 4:19.
4. Do we always know
what to pray for?
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought." Rom. 8:26.
5. Does God always see
fit to grant our petitions?
"For this thing I besought the Lord
thrice, that it might depart from me. And He
said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2
Cor. 12:8,9.
NOTE.-Paul's affliction, it seems, was
impaired sight. Acts 9:8,9,18; 22:11-13. The
retaining of this imperfection would be a
constant reminder to him of his conversion,
and hence a blessing in disguise.
6. If an answer does
not come at once, what should we do?
"Rest in the Lord, and wait
patiently for Him." Ps. 37:7.
7. Why was the parable
of the importunate widow given?
"And He spake a parable unto them to
this end, that men ought always to pray, and
not to faint." Luke 18:1.
NOTE.-The importunate widow got her request
because of her persistency. God wants us to
seek Him, and to seek Him
earnestly, when we pray. He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek
Him. Heb. 11:6.
8. How did Elijah pray
before obtaining his request?
"Elias was a man subject to like
passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly
that it might not rain: and it rained not on the
earth by the space of three years and six
months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave
rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
James 5:17,18. See Rev. 11:3-6.
9. Upon what condition
does Christ say we shall receive?
"Therefore I say unto you, What
things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have
them." Mark 11:24.
10. Without this faith,
will God answer prayer?
"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." James 1:6,7.
11. What petitions may
we confidently expect God to hear?
"And this is the confidence that we
have in Him, that, if we ask anything
according to His will, He heareth us: and if
we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we
know that we have the petitions that we desired
of Him." 1 John 5:14,15.
NOTE.-God's will is expressed in His law,
His promises, and His Word. Ps. 40:8; Rom.
2:17,18; 1 Peter 1:4.
12. When Daniel and his
fellows were about to be slain because the wise
men of Babylon could not reveal to
Nebuchadnezzar his dream, how did God answer
their united prayers?
"Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in
a night-vision. Then Daniel blessed the God
of heaven." Dan. 2:19.
NOTE.-In 1839 the sultan of Turkey decreed
that not a representative of the Christian
religion should remain in the empire.
Learning of this, Dr. William Goodell, an
American missionary to Turkey, came home to
his friend and colleague, Dr. Cyrus Hamlin,
the first president of Robert College,
Constantinople, with the sad news: "It is
all over with us; we have to leave. The
American consul and the British ambassador
say it is no use to meet with antagonism
this violent and vindictive monarch." To
this Dr. Hamlin replied: "The Sultan of the
universe can, in answer to prayer, change
the decree of the sultan of Turkey. " They
gave themselves to prayer. The next day the
sultan died, and the decree was never
executed. See Dan. 4:17,24,25.
13. When Peter was
imprisoned and about to be executed by Herod,
what did the church do?
"Peter therefore was kept in prison:
but prayer was made without ceasing of the
church unto God for him." Acts 12:5.
14. How were their
prayers answered?
"Behold, the angel of the Lord came
Upon him, . . . and he saith unto him, Cast thy
garment about thee, and follow me. . . . And
they went out, and passed on through one street
; and forthwith the angel departed from him."
Verses 7-10.
15. Because Solomon
asked for wisdom rather than for long life and
riches, what besides wisdom did God give him?
"Because thou hast asked this thing, . . .
behold, I have done according to thy words: lo,
I have given thee a wise and an understanding
heart. . . . And I have also given thee that
which thou hast not asked, both riches, and
honor." 1 Kings 3:11-13.
NOTE.-The following are some things we are
taught in the Scriptures to pray for:-
(1) For daily bread. Matt. 6:11. (2) For the
forgiveness of sin. 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps.
32:5,6; 1 John 1:9; 5:16. (3) For the Holy
Spirit. Luke 11:13; Zech. 10:1; John 14:16.
(4) For deliverance in the hour of
temptation and danger. Matt. 6:13; John
17:11,15; Prov. 3:26; Psalm 91; Matt. 24:20.
(5) For wisdom and understanding. James 1:5;
1 Kings 3:9; Dan. 2:17-19. (6) For peaceable
and quiet lives. 1 Tim. 2:1,2. (7) For the
healing of the sick. James 5:14,15; 2 Kings
20:1-11. (8) For the prosperity of the
ministers of God and the gospel. Eph.
6:18,19; Col. 4:3; 2 Thess. 3:1. (9) For
those who suffer for the truth's sake. Heb.
13:3; Acts 12:5. (10) For kings, rulers, and
all in authority. 1 Tim. 2:1,2; Ezra 6:10.
(11) For temporal prosperity. 2 Cor. 9:10;
James 5:17,18. (12) For our enemies. Matt.
5:44. (13) For all saints. Eph. 6:18. (14)
For all men. 1 Tim. 2:1. (15) For the Lord
to vindicate His cause. 1 Kings 18:30-39.
(16) For the coming of Christ and of God's
kingdom. Matt. 6:10; Rev. 22:20.
PRAYER makes the darkest cloud withdraw;
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.
Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian's armor bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
WILLIAM COWPER.
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