From the Pen of Paul. . .

Lord, Teach Us to Pray (2)

As we closed our first article in last week's bulletin, we had begun a discussion of the secrets of an effective prayer. For prayer to be effective, it must be directed to God as Jesus instructed: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:6). Three verses later we are told, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matt. 6:9).

Effective prayer must be unceasing. Paul wrote, "Pray without ceasing" (I Thess. 5:17). The Christian should be able to pray to God at all times. I am always reminded of Daniel as an example of the meaning to "pray without ceasing." A decree was signed forbidding anyone to make a request of any god or man for 30 days (except the king). Those who disobeyed the decree would be thrown in the lions' den. We are informed, "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime" (Dan. 6:1-10). For Daniel, praying without ceasing meant praying each day to God and not permitting anything to prevent him from doing so. A spirit of prayer and devotion should be cultivated and maintained in every Christian's life. This requires a great deal of effort on our part and in other passages where this is urged upon us, it is combined with the duties of watchfulness and steadfastness. "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2) "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Eph. 6:18). "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer" (Rom. 12:12). We must be on guard that the occasion of prayer does not escape us and we must take care not to become weary in addressing everything to God. Another example is found in Acts 12:5 where we are informed, "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."

Effective prayer must be united. Jesus told His disciples, "if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven." The above-cited instance in Acts 12:5 is an example of this. Paul calls it a striving together; "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayer to God for me" (Rom. 15:30).

If prayer is to be effective, it must be accompanied by obedience. John tells us, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (I John 3:22). The implications of this statement are also clear; failure to keep His commandments and failure to do those things that are pleasing in His sight, will result in our not receiving whatsoever we ask. In conjunction with our being obedient in keeping His commandments and being well-pleasing in His sight, we are to ask according to His will. "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" (I John 5:14-15). God's will is clearly set forth in His word; thus, we should not expect to receive anything that is contrary to the teaching of God's Truth (John 17:17).

Effective prayer must be in faith. "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. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering [doubting, PMW]. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" (James 1:5-7). Since faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17), this lends support to the requirement previously seen to ask according to His will. We certainly cannot ask in faith and ask for any thing that is contrary to God's will as given in His word.

Prayer is effective only if we abide in Christ. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" said Christ (John 15:7). And it must be in His name (John 14:13-14). And of course, effective comes only when we do not faint (quit) (Luke 18:1).
—Paul M. Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

Evolution Taught in Public School

"What do you think about evolution being taught in the public school system?"

I do not think very highly of such. Evolution is false to the very heart and core. I am totally against teaching a lie on any subject any place at any time. These folks who teach evolution as a fact are either dishonest, misled, or ignorant.

Evolution is a theory. It has always been a theory and will forever be. Now some may try to make it sound factual and actual, but trying is one thing and being true is another. Some seem to wish that evolution were true, but wishing does not make it that way!

There are some mighty big steps of faith in evolution. Notice I said faith and that faith is a plunge in the dark for the evolutionist. He just shuts his eyes and jumps in. To believe in evolution, one must accept the following: the world and all the wonders of it just happened. The sun just happened to be where it is to give us proper light and heat. The moon just happened to be where it is to control the tides of the seas and other functions. The stars are where they are just by sheer accident. Male and female human beings just happened to be what they are, and they evolved at the same time. One time, a non-human just turned into a human. All the various parts of the human body and their functions just happened. Nature, with all its unanswered questions, just happened. On and on we could go.

Now, if the evolutionist says he can answer these and a million other things by proof, then let him step forth and do so. He cannot do any such thing, and he knows he cannot. He can answer a number of things about evolution only by supposition. Notice I said supposition! If we will let him suppose a few million things, then he can prove his point. I read the other day that an evolutionist said that some people want too much proof. He said some did not allow enough room for theory. What he is saying is "just allow me to go where I want and believe all that I tell you and do not ask for proof." In essence, he is saying that he does not have proof for his teaching. So, I am glad to see at least one of the atheistic evolutionists say he is in the hypothesis business up to his neck! I have known this all along as well as millions of others. The evolutionist can teach a lie without reprimand, and yet when we teach the Bible fact about the origin of all things, our government says we are out of place. Such nonsense!

The answer to the existence of all things is "In the beginning God created" (Gen. 1:1). I can prove there is a God. Is there anyone who can prove there is not a God? If so, let him step forth and let us hear it.
—Malcolm L. Hill