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Of Prayer 45 Lord's Day Question 116 A. Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us:(1) and also, because God will give His grace and Holy Spirit to those only, who with sincere desires continually ask them of Him, and are thankful for them.(2) (1) Psa 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and
pay thy vows unto the most High: (2) Matt
7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; Question 117 A. First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who has manifested Himself in His word,(1) for all things He has commanded us to ask of Him;(2) secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may deeply humble ourselves in the presence of His divine majesty;(3) thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that He, notwithstanding that we are unworthy of it,(4) will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer,(5) as He has promised us in His Word.(6) (1) John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we
know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (2) Rom
8:26 Likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray
for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. (3) John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is,
when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:
for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. (4) 2 Chron 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee. (5) Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and
rejoice with trembling. (6) Rom
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved. Question 118 A. All things necessary for soul and body;(1) which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer He Himself has taught us.(2) (1) James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is
no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (2) Matt
6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Question 119 A. Our Father which art in heaven,
46 Lord's Day Question 120 A. That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, He might excite in us a childlike reverence for and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer, namely, that God is become our Father in Christ,(1) and will much less deny us what we ask of Him in true faith, than our parents will refuse us earthly things.(2) (1) Matt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. (2) Matt
7:9
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a
stone? Question 121 A. Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God's heavenly majesty,(1) and that we may expect from His almighty power all things necessary for soul and body.(2) (1) Jer 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. (2) Acts
17:24 God that
made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and
earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. 47 Lord's Day Question 122 A. "Hallowed be Thy name";(1) that is, grant us, first, rightly to know Thee,(2) and to sanctify, glorify and praise Thee, in all Thy works, in which Thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed;(3) and further also, that we may so order and direct our whole lives, our thoughts, words and actions, that Thy name may never be blasphemed, but rather honoured and praised on our account.(4) (1) Matt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. (2) John
17:3 And this
is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom Thou hast sent. (3) Psa 119:137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and
upright are Thy judgments. (4) Psa
115:1
Not unto us, O LORD,
not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's
sake. 48 Lord's Day Question 123 A. "Thy kingdom come";(1) that is, rule us so by Thy Word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to Thee;(2) preserve and increase thy church;(3) destroy the works of the devil,(4) and all violence which would exalt itself against Thee; and also all wicked counsels devised against Thy Holy Word; till the full perfection of Thy kingdom take place,(5) wherein Thou shalt be all in all.(6) (1) Matt 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (2) Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes! (3) Psa 51:18 Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. (4) 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the
devil; for the devil (5) Rev
22:17 And the
Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let
him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely. (6) 1 Cor 15:15 Yea, and we are found
false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up
Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 49 Lord's Day Question 124 A. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven";(1) that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will,(2) and without murmuring obey Thy will,(3) which is only good; that every one may attend to and perform the duties of his station and calling,(4) as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.(5) (1) Matt 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (2) Matt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto His
disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (3) Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done. (4) 1 Cor
7:24 Brethren,
let every man, wherein he is called, therein (5) Psa 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. 50 Lord's Day Question 125 A. "Give us this day our daily bread";(1) that is, be pleased to provide us with all things necessary for the body,(2) that we may thereby acknowledge Thee to be the only fountain of all good,(3) and that neither our care nor industry, nor even Thy gifts, can profit us without Thy blessing;(4) and therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it alone in Thee.(5) (1) Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread (2) Psa
145:15 The eyes
of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. (3) Acts 17:25
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing
He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. (4) 1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch
as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (5) Psa 62:11 God hath spoken once; twice have
I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. 51 Lord's Day Question 126 A. "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors";(1) that is, be pleased for the sake of Christ's blood, not to impute to us poor sinners our transgressions, nor that depravity which always cleaves to us;(2) even as we feel this evidence of Thy grace in us, that it is our firm resolution from the heart to forgive our neighbour.(3) (1) Matt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (2) Psa
51:1 Have mercy
upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude
of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (3) Matt 6:14 For if ye forgive men
their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 52 Lord's Day Question 127 A. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"; (1) that is, since we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment;(2) and besides this, since our mortal enemies, the devil,(3) the world,(4) and our own flesh, (5) cease not to assault us, do Thou therefore preserve and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare, but constantly and strenuously may resist our foes(6) till at last we obtain a complete victory.(7) (1) Matt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (2) Rom
8:26 Likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray
for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. (3) 1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (4) Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (5) Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members. (6) Matt 26:41 Watch and
pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak. (7) 1 Thess
3:13 To the end
He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our
Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. Question 128 A. "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever";(1) that is, all these we ask of Thee, because Thou, being our King and almighty, art willing and able to give us all good;(2) and all this we pray for, that thereby not we, but Thy Holy Name, may be glorified for ever.(3) (1) Matt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (2) Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between
the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call
upon Him. (3) John
14:13 And
whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. Question 129 A. "Amen" signifies it shall truly and certainly be, for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of Him.(1) (1) 2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God
in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. |