The Sunday Sermon

Teach Us to Pray ( Part 3)

by Billy Sunday 

Edited by R.P. Woitowitz Sr.  

“And so it was, 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.” 

The Gospel of Luke Chapter 11 Verse 1

Pride Hinders Prayer

Pride keeps us from proper prayer. Being chesty and big-headed is responsible for more failures than anything else in this world. It has spoiled many a preacher, just as it has spoiled many an employee. Some fellows get a job and in about two weeks they think they know more about the business than the boss does. They think he is all wrong. It never occurs to them that it took some brains and some knowledge to build that business up and keep it running till they got there.

Here's two things to guard against. Don't get chesty over success, or discouraged over a seeming defeat.

"And when he prayed he said: 'Lazarus, come forth'; and he that was dead came forth" (John 11:43). If we prayed right we would raise men from sin and bring them forth into the light of righteousness.

"And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered" (Luke 9:29).

If you are devoting your time and thoughts to society, your countenances will show it. If you pray, I can see that.

Every man who has helped to light up the dark places of the world has been a praying man. (Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16;) I never preach a sermon until I've soaked it in prayer. ( 1 Kings 8:28-29, 38, 45; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 54:2; Matthew 21:22; Acts 6:4;)  Never. Then I never forget to thank God for helping me when I preach. (Psalm 30:12; Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:17; Hebrews 13:15;) I don't care whether you read your prayers out of a book or whether you just say them, so long as you mean them. A man can read his prayers and go to heaven, or he may just say his prayers and go to hell. We've got to face conditions. When I read I find that all the saintly men who have done things from Pentecost until today, have known how to pray.