The Doctrine of Christ

LESSON EIGHTY-TWO Acceptable Prayer

1. Prayer demands the exercise of faith. Hebrews 11:6; James 1:6-8. TDOC 261.5

2. Prayer involves the purpose to turn away from all known sin. Psalm 66:18; John 9:31; Psalm 145:19; James 4:3. TDOC 261.6

3. Prayer must be earnest and constant. Jeremiah 29:12, 13; Daniel 9:3; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 18:1-8; Psalm 55:16, 17. TDOC 261.7

4. Prayer should be offered both publicly and privately. Psalm 22:22-25; Matthew 6:5, 6; 1 Kings 8:22. TDOC 261.8

5. Prayer presupposes complete submission to the revealed will of God. Proverbs 15:8; 28:9. TDOC 261.9

6. Prayer must be accompanied with the spirit of forgiveness and love. Mark 11:25; Matthew 5:44; Luke 23:34. TDOC 261.10

7. Prayer must be in the name of Jesus. John 14:13, 14; 15:16; 16:23, 24. TDOC 261.11

NOTES

Read the chapter in “Steps to Christ” on “The Privilege of Prayer.” TDOC 261.12

Influence of habit an the life

The, influence of this habit on the life of Daniel shows how the Father, which sees in secret, rewards openly. The king and all the nobles noticed there was an excellent spirit in Daniel. The world may not be able to appreciate orthodoxy of religious opinion, or fervor of religious sentiment; it may not be able to me the height of your lofty doctrine, or the depth of your spiritual affections; but the world notices the excellent spirit of a man, his tone, the tenor of his life, his unfeigned humility, his unostentatious love of good works, his kindliness of heart, his integrity, his firmness and constancy; they recognize the man who is actuated by an inward principle and a heavenly influence.” TDOC 261.13

The most natural seasons for prayer

“Morning and evening are the most natural seasons of prayer. Each day we rise, let us bless God. As every morning is a renewal of our natural life, let it be also a renewal of our true life, which is hid with Christ in God. Jesus speaks of our taking up our cross daily; does not this imply a daily dedication of ourselves unto God! It is good to we the face of God ere we see the face of man, and to breathe the atmosphere of eternity, before we commence our earthly and transitory occupations.” TDOC 262.1

“Evening prayer has a retrospective character. It is a time of looking back on the past day; of confessing sin and praying for forgiveness; of giving thanks for blessings received, for work done by God’s aid, of collecting and fixing our heart, which may have been scattered during the day; and of committing ourselves, in childlike faith, and with perfect peace, into the hands of our heavenly Father.” TDOC 262.2

“The morning and evening sacrifices, which were offered in the temple by the priest in the name of Israel, are fulfilled now in the intercession of our Savior at the right hand of God; and it is a blessed thought that, while Christ is praying for us from morn to eve, and from eve to morn, we unite more especially our supplication and worship with his at the beginning and conclusion of the day.” TDOC 262.3

Praying in Christ’s name

“Praying ‘in Christ’s name is not so easy an achievement as we are apt to think. Praying in Christ’s name means, no doubt, that we go to God, not in our own name, but in his. He has given us power to use his name, as when we send a messenger we bid him use our name.” TDOC 262.4

“But praying in Christ’s name means more than this. It means that we pray for such things as will promote Christ’s kingdom.... To pray in Christ’s name is to seek what he seeks, to ask aid in promoting what he has at heart. To come in Christ’s name and plead selfish and worldly desires is absurd. To pray in Christ’s name is to pray in the spirit in which he himself prayed and for objects he desires. When we measure our prayers by this rule, we cease to wonder that so few seem to he answered Is God to answer prayers that positively lead men away from him! Is he to build them up in the presumption that happiness can be found in the pursuit of selfish objects and worldly comfort? It is when a man stands, as these disciples stood, detached from worldly hopes and finding all in Christ so clearly apprehending the sweep and benignity of Christ’s will as to see that it comprehends all good to man, and that life can serve no purpose if it do not help to fulfill that will it is then a man prays with assurance and finds his prayer answered.”-“The Gospel of St. John,” Marcus Dods, D. D., Volume II, pp. 148, 149. TDOC 262.5

“To pray in the name of Jesus is something more than a mere mention of that name at the beginning and the ending of a prayer. It is to pray in the mind and spirit of Jesus, while we believe his promises, rely upon his grace, and work his works.”-Steps to Christ, 105. TDOC 263.1