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1. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3. Give us day by day our daily bread.
4. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
5. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
6. For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I can not rise and give thee.
8. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Golden Text: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9.
Suggestive Questions.
(1) On what occasion did the disciples of Jesus approach him for instruction? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What did they ask him to do? Same verse. (3) How did he reply? Verses 2, 3, 4. Note 2. (4) With what incident did Jesus illustrate answer to prayer? Verses 5, 6. (5) How might the earthly friend respond? Verse 7. (6) But what would he do? and for what reason? Verse 8. Note 3. (7) What general rule is given on the subject? Verse 9. Note 4. (8) With what truth in fact is this supplemented, or established? Verse 10. (9) How is the lesson illustrated from human conduct? Verses 11, 12. (10) What is the conclusion? Verse 13. Note 5.
Note.
1. He was praying.—As teaching concerning prayer we have no higher example than the example of Him who is our pattern in all things leading to life. Inglis' “Bible Text Cyclopedia” refers to twenty-one instances where Jesus prayed, besides the general statement in Heb. 5:7 that “in the days of his flesh” he had “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears,” and “was heard.” His prayers were in public and in private, and for various purposes, but perhaps none is more wonderful than the short prayer of Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Thus was manifested his spirit toward his enemies. One thing we should bear in mind, Jesus needed to pray, and he needed to pray for himself—not for self, but for strength to complete his mission of saving others. If the need of the Son of God was thus great for divine help, how dare we limit our own need? Our constant—moment by moment—prayer should be for divine assistance and grace.
2. When ye pray, say, etc.—Here follows the14Lord's prayer. It is given in fuller form in Matt. 6:9-13. It was not intended that the disciples were to pray this prayer, and no other. While they might pray in these words, if they so chose, the design was to teach them the spirit that should underlie whatever form of expression the occasion might indicate. Each thought and expression of this wonderful prayer is worthy and capable of unlimited expansion. In fact, the mind of man can not grasp it in its fullness, for it leads into the deep things of God. The more it is studied and contemplated, the more will its meaning unfold to the earnest seeker after light. It bears the same relation to the field of prayer as does the law of God to the varied and individual application of universal principles concisely summed up in the Ten Commandments. As suggestive for study, take “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” It is not simply my Father. Our takes in all. Consider who is meant. See Acts 17:26. Why “Father”? What are the relations of a father? If “Father,” then we are children. See Rom. 8:16, 17. Note the Father's abiding place, and compare Acts 17:27; Isa. 41:13; Jer. 23:23, 24. Note that his “name” represents his character, and all that he is; and in this connection to hallow is to hold sacred, holy, in reverence, to sanctify. See Prov. 18:10; Isa. 8:13; Eze. 36:23; 1 Peter 3:15. Follow a similar analysis and study of the whole prayer.
3. Because of his importunity.—This is not a comparison of the attitude of God and of man. It is rather a contrast, and a marked one. The Lord is not annoyed or disturbed when petitions ascend to him. He is full of mercy, his thoughts are ever thoughts of peace, and he is willing to pour out blessings even more than we can receive. Isa. 55:7; Jer. 29:11; Mal. 3:10. The thought is, if a selfish man, who has no sympathy for others in need, can be induced to grant a request through the persistent asking of the one in need, how quickly will our Father in heaven, who is all sympathy, and whose love and mercy are ever overflowing towards his children, answer an earnest petition. But the Lord always knows better than we what is best for us, and often when we ask amiss, he bestows that which answers the spirit of the prayer, rather than bestowing the thing prayed for. No prayer of faith is ever unanswered, but the best thing will be given. See 1 John 5:14, 15. But is the importunity necessary?—It may, and it may not be, according to the petition. Jesus passed whole nights in prayer to his Father, and Gethsemane was an hour of agonized pleading. Many wonderful prayers are on record from holy men of God. Very often it is necessary that time should be taken in order that the suppliant may realize the importance of the matter presented before the throne of grace, and his own weakness. But the Lord is the same forever, and with him even the silent prayer of faith is not unheard.
4. Ask . . . seek . . . knock.—The asking will receive an answer, but there is the seeking and searching. We are to seek to know the right way, seek to enter into life, and to search for wisdom. These are all matters for presentation to our heavenly Father, on whom we are dependent for all things. We knock at a friend's door, and may reasonably expect that the door will be opened. So if on the invitation of our Father we knock at the portal of his treasure house, why may there not be absolute assurance of a response? He is always in. These broad assertions are supplemented or reinforced by the statement that he “that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth.” Verse 10. In all this there is implied action on the part of the petitioner. The Lord always answers prayer in a practical way. Energetic doing after the petition is presented is sometimes said to be the best answer to prayer. It is only because such doing shows faith in the Lord's promises. A listless waiting for something to turn up shows a want of faith.
5. If ye then . . . know how to give good gifts.—A father after the flesh will take no pleasure in tormenting his son, or in beholding suffering. He delights, rather, in giving him whatever is best. So it is, only to an infinitely greater degree, with the heavenly Father, from whom cometh “every good gift and every perfect gift.” James 1:17. Then how reasonable to ask for, and how reasonable to expect, the Holy Spirit, with all his blessed influences. This was the conclusion of the lesson on prayer. This is the best gift the Father can bestow upon his children in this life. Having this, they will be guided into all truth, and will understand the will of the Father, for self and selfish desires will be submitted to that will.
International Sabbath School Lesson
“Study to show thyself approved unto God.”
Lesson XI.—Sabbath, March 14, 1896.
The Image and Mark.
Review Questions.—(a) What does the beast represent? (b) What is the Papacy? (c) What is represented by the two-horned beast? (d) What is its character, and how represented? (e) What would it deceive the people into doing?
1. What is an image to the beast? Ans.—A union of church and state, by which the church will use the state to accomplish its own objects.
2. What have we already seen accomplished in this direction? Ans.—The churches in various ways have brought pressure to bear upon the government until the government has committed itself in its several departments to the principle of religious legislation. See note .
3. What further step may be taken by the Federal Government? Ans.—The next logical step of the government would be to change the organic law so that it would conform to the decision of the Supreme Court, tho all this may be accomplished irregularly by some construction of the Supreme Court. Man does not know what phase the movement will take.
4. When governments legislate on the things of God, what are logically considered the highest laws and the most heinous crimes? Ans.—The laws relating to man’s duty to God and their violation.
5. With what is the violation of the highest laws generally punished? Ans.—With death. See note .
6. What part of the prophecy would be thus easily fulfilled?
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Rev. 13:15.
The Mark of the Beast.
7. Against what does God warn us besides the beast and his worship?
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.” Rev. 14:9.
8. What must the mark of the beast be? Ans.—The badge of his authority, the sign of his power.
9. What does the mark show him who receives it to be? Ans.—A servant. It was a custom anciently to brand slaves with the mark of their master, as men now brand cattle. The mark showed to whom the slave belonged and whom he served.
10. Of whom would the mark of the beast show men to be worshipers?
“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” Rev. 13:12.
11. In worshiping the beast whom would we serve? Ans.—To worship the beast is to serve him instead of God. The real essence of worship is service. Matt. 4:10.
12. What would therefore mark the difference between the worshipers of the beast and the worshipers of God? Ans.—The difference in the service rendered.
13. What would regulate the conduct of the two classes of servants? Ans.—The law and spirit of their respective earthly governments?
14. What is the rule of God’s government?
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12:13.
15. What have we found to be the sign, mark, or badge of his power? Ans.—The Sabbath. Eze. 20:20.
16. What would therefore be the mark, or badge, of the rival worship, the worship of the beast? Ans.—The rival sabbath, or that part of the law of the beast which differs from God’s law.
17. What change has the prophet declared this apostate power would make in God’s law? Dan. 7:25, R. V.: “The times and the law.” Spurrell: “The appointed times and the law,” referring directly to that part of the law relating to God’s appointed times, the day and the week, the crown of which is the Sabbath.
18. How would this power thus exalt itself?
“Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thess. 2:3, 4.
19. What does the Papacy claim as the mark of its power?
Ans.—“Q.—How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days?”
“A.—By the very act of changing Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants themselves allow of. . . .”
“By keeping Sunday they [Protestants] acknowledge the church’s power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin.”—Abridgment of Christian Doctrine. See “The Lord’s Day,” pp. 83 to 85, for other testimony. See also note .
20. What is there to show that the churches of this country are using the civil power to enforce the mark of the beast? Ans.—Almost every effort thus far made to unite church and state in this country has had for its center the Sunday question, and has had Sunday legislation or establishment as its object.
21. What, therefore, in the light of the prophecy, is the mark of the beast? Ans.—Sunday enforced by civil law. See note .
22. Under what penalty will it be enforced?
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their forehead.” Rev. 13:15, 16.
23. What solemn warning has God given concerning it?
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Rev. 14:9-11.
Notes.
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By Editor
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The Testimony of History to the Truth of Scripture.
By Rev. George Rawlinson, M.A., author of “Seven Great Monarchies.” This is a pamphlet of 240 pages, takes up the most recent archæological discoveries, and shows how thoroughly they agree with the Bible record. “The religion of the Bible, unlike almost all other religions, has its roots in the region of facts,” are his opening words in this valuable work, and the whole book is just as forcible and to the point as this opening sentence. We say again, it is a valuable aid to those who wish to briefly study the subject. Price, paper covers, 35 cents.
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Illustrated Tract.
One of the late issues of the Bible Students' Library, entitled “The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast.” Contains 4 original illustrations. The subject is one of vital interest to all, and now is an opportune time to circulate this tract widely. Order B. S. L. No. 130. Address your State Tract Society, or PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., Oakland, Cal.; Kansas City, Mo.; New York City, N. Y.
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Send for a circular. Address,
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CYCLONE WASHER.
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For particulars and circulars address,Coon Bros., 137 South Washington Street,Battle Creek, Mich.
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