Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1911 — OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES.

THE VALUE OF PRAYER. Nehsmiah’s Petition For Israel. Nehemiah j— Nov. 26 "The effectual, fervent prayer of o riyhteoue ma» acaileth much."—Jama r, JS. CHIRTEEN years after Kxra’a company returned to Jerusalem, Nehemiah went thither with an escort and full authority from the king of Persia to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and to restore Its gates. It would appear that Ezra's reformation, while very helpfoj to the people, brought against them the violent opposition of their neighbors, as was to have been expected. The Jews, now considerable In numbers, were despised by their neighbors, who wished to drive them out of the land. The wall of the city was poor and did not withstand the attack. Josephus says that Nehemiah, wealthy and favored of the king of Persia, resided in the king’s palace at Shushan. He was a pious man and deeply Inter-

ested in the land of his fathers. While walking one day he overheard two men talking in the Hebrew tongue, and accosted them. They had been to Jerusalem and had returned. He gladly inquired respecting the holy land, the

holy city, God’s temple, and concerning the Jews who had returned from Babylon. The sad story of their trials and the desolation of the city and its exposure to enemies touched his heart and led him to prayer. That prayer Is the subject of this lesson. Undoubtedly the recorded prayer of Nehemiah is merely an epitomized statement, for we read that he made the matter a subject of earnest prayer for four months before he reached the point of action where God used him In the fulfilment of his own petition. The Soul's Sincere Desire.

The Poet has well defined prayer as being “the soul's sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed.” Another has well declared that it “is the Christian’s vital breath”; that is to say, Qbristian character cannot be maintained without prayer any more than a human life could be maintained without breathing. Who has not noticed that all the great Bible characters used of the Almighty were accustomed to go to Him regularly in prayer and to seek for guidance from Him in respect to every matter? Even the great Redeemer, holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners, needed to pray to the Father—needed His fellowship and communion—needed to be in touch with the Infinite One. Several of His prayers are recorded, and we are told that He spent the entire night in prayer on some occasions. Some may ask. Would the Almighty change His plans in answer to our petitions? Assuredly He would not. Indeed, on the contrary, we are cautioned in tl\e Scriptures to ask only according to His will We are warned that if we ask amiss our petitions will not be answered. Hence the necessity for studying God’s Word and being enlightened thereby. The Redeemer gave ns the keynote to this, saying, “If ye abide in Me and My words abide in yon. ye may ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” (John xv, 7.) Alas! how few seem to note the two limitations of this promise: (1) The one asking must be in Christ —abiding in Him. This means that the petitioner has turned from sin, has accepted Christ and the terms of dlscipleship. It implies that he has made

a full consecration of bis life to the Lord and become a new creature in Christ Jiesus, Such, abiding in Christ may pray to the Father. (2) After having come into membership and fellowship with the Head, the Messiah, these must ask in har-

mony with God’s Word and promises; in order to know what things to ask for they must search the Scriptures, which are sufficient, “that the man of God may be thorougMy furnished.” God is pleased to make nse of the little talents possessed by His consecrated people Those who pray for opportunities to serve the Lord and His cause and who watch for the fulfilment of their prayers in the open doors of opportunity will sorely have them. “He that seeketh findeth.” What to Pray For. Those in Christ may pray for earthly necessities, as in the Lord’s prayer. “Give us this day our daily bread;” but we are not to pray for more than the bread and water which the Lord has authorized His people to pray for. The true .Christian, instead of thinking about what he shall eat. what he shall drink, and wherewithal he shall be clothed—instead of making earthly things the subject of his prayers, will he thinking of and praying about his Mgher. his heavenly interests.

"Prayer in secret ."

“Father, If it be possible, let this cup pass from me."