 
Illustration. Ezra In Prayer. "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Luke 18:1. 1. By what title does the psalmist address God? “O 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. [pg 604]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. [pg 605]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. [pg 606]
Illustration. Jesus Teaching The Woman Of Samaria. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24. |
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