following may be mentioned as of paramount importance : * That we may be taught how to pray. Luke xi, 1. That God would pour upon us the spirit of grace and of supplications. Zech. xii, 10. That we may receive THE HOLY GHOST. Acts viii, 15. That THE HOLY GHOST may reveal CHRIST unto John xvi, 14, 15. us. That we may obtain mercy. Heb. iv, 16. That we may be reconciled to GOD. 2 Cor. v, 20. That we may be renewed in the spirit of our mind. Eph. iv, 23. That the very GOD OF PEACE would sanctify us wholly. 1 Thess. v, 23. That our whole spirit, and soul, and body may be preserved blameless. 1 Thess. v, 23. That we may be sincere and without offence till the day of CHRIST. Phil. i, 10. That CHRIST may dwell in our hearts by faith. Eph. iii, 17. That GOD would perfect that which is lacking in our faith. 1 Thess. iii, 10. That we may know the love of CHRIST. Eph. iii, 19. That our faith fail not. Luke xxii, 32. * In extempore prayer at family worship, it may be an assistance to have this part of the book open before you for the suggesting of holy thoughts and aspirations. That as our days are, so our strength may be. Deut. xxxiii, 25. That we may be strengthened by GOD'S SPIRIT in the inner man. Eph. iii, 16. That we may do the will of GOD from the heart. Eph. vi. 6. That we may love THE LORD our GOD with all the heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Mark xii, 30. That we may have fervent charity among ourselves. 1 Pet. iv, 8. That we may be patient toward all men. 1 Thess. That we may love one an other with pure hearts fervently. 1 Pet. i, 22. That we may be followers of GOD, as dear children. Eph. v, 1. That we may not grieve THE HOLY SPIRIT OF God. Eph. iv, 30. That we may find grace to help in time of need. Heb. iv, 16. That we may be led by THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Rom. viii, 14. That we may be spiritually minded. Rom. viii, 6. That we may set our affections on things above. Col. iii, 2. That our treasure and our hearts may be in Heaven. Matt. vi, 20, 21. Tit. iii, 2. That we may walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. Eph. iv, 1. That we may speak evil of no man. That our conversation may be as it gospel of CHRIST. Phil. i. 27. becometh the That we may speak the truth in love. Eph. iv, 15. That our love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. Phil. i, 9. That we may be filled with the knowledge of GOD'S will. Col. i, 9. That we may stand perfect and complete in all the Should we ask to be remembered in each other's prayers? Yes; the Israelites asked Samuel to pray for them unto THE LORD his GOD; and Samuel made this remarkable reply: 'GOD forbid that I should sin against THE LORD in ceasing to pray for you.' 1 Sam. xii, 19, 23. Daniel desired his companions that they would ask mercies of the GOD of Heaven, that he and they should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Dan. ii, 18. Paul beseeches the Christians at Rome, at Corinth, at Ephesus, at Colosse, at Thessalonica, and the Hebrew Christians generally, to remember him Rom. xv, 30. 2 Cor. i, 11. in their prayers. Eph. vi, 19. Col. iv, 3. 1 Thess. v, 25. 2 Thess. iii, 1. Heb. xiii, 18. What remarkable record have we of GOD'S hearing intercessory prayer? The record of Abraham's prayer for Sodom; wherein we see that the only limit to the extension of God's mercy to that sinful city, was the limit which Abraham himself set in his prayer. Every petition that he offered was granted. The record runs as follows: The men turned their faces thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before THE LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, 'Wilt THOU also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city wilt THOU also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from THEE to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from THEE. Shall not THE JUDGE of all the earth do right?' And THE LORD said, 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.' And Abraham answered and said, 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto THE LORD, which am but dust and ashes: peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt THOU destroy all the city for the lack of five?' And HE said, "If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.' And he spake unto HIM yet again, and said, 'Peradventure there shall be forty found there?' And He said, 'I will not do it for forty's sake.' And he said unto HIM, 'Oh let not THE LORD be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there?' And HE said, 'I will not do it, if I find thirty there.' And he said, 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto THE LORD: peradventure there shall be twenty found there?' And He said, 'I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.' And he said, 'Oh let not THE LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once : peradventure ten shall be found there?' And He said, 'I will not destroy it for ten's sake.' |