Te Kopara 15
[3] Te Kopara, Number 15, Gisborne, January, 1915.
‘Iti te Kopara, kai takirikiri ana i runga i te Kahikatea.’
Although the Bellbird is small, he plucks at the Kahikatea. [cf Nga Pepeha 908]
THE HOLY BIBLE.
‘The Bible is a great treasure.’ Perhaps all of us would be quick to agree with this saying. But were we asked why it is said to be a great treasure most would be perplexed to give an answer. There are some who do not know what things are found in the Bible but have only heard vague references to it. Some hear with their ears when some chapters are read in church but their minds are wandering elsewhere and they do not grasp what they are hearing with their ears;
and they do not take the trouble to pick up the book and read it and learn from it. There are some who possess the book, perhaps the Bible, perhaps the New Testament, which is carefully preserved and laid in a good place, but not touched with the hands or looked into by the eyes. Such people are not in a position to say that the Bible is a great treasure when they are ignorant of the things inside it. Rather the sort of person who can rightly make that statement is the one spoken of by the Apostle James who says, ‘But whosoever looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,’ (James 1.25 AV); such a person has learned God’s word, and they also meditate on it day and night.
Let us look at why it is said that this book is a great treasure. The main reason is that it contains the words of God to teach us that which a person’s mind is not able comprehend, namely:
1. That human beings have not just grown in the world but are created by God, Jehovah, to be like him.
2. The work of people created by God is to devote heart and mind and soul and strength to loving him and doing what he commands.
3. What God wants is that people have life and have what is good for this is why they were made.
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4. People have sinned, they have gone astray, they have become enemies to God, they cling to things that press down on them and which lead to death.
5. God still loves people and is strongly opposed to the sin that afflicts people and leads to death.
6. The way for people to become free from sin, to end their enmity with God, and to obtain eternal life, has been made clear by our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Had all these things been left solely for people to pass on to us verbally some would have been lost because of people’s forgetfulness, some would have been expressed differently, and the greatness of God’s goodness towards people would not be obvious. But it is the case that God thought to have those people in past times write those things in the Bible so that we can see and learn, and if someone puts some effort into looking there he will discover more.
SECRET PRAYER.
An article by Dr J R Mott entitled The Secret Prayer Life, translated into Maori by Frederick H Bennett.
I. Secret Prayer is a great treasure.
It is secret prayer that directs the prayers of the congregation; it is secret prayer that gives those prayers their power. In secret prayer is the spring of the power of congregational prayer or of prayer with friends. If there is no strong secret prayer there is a danger that in congregational prayer our thoughts become fixed on our friends and not on our God.
It is also the case that each person has their own troubles, temptations, besetting sins, heartfelt anxieties and desires, and they are more able to bring these things to God in secret prayer, for the presence of friends may be a hindrance to praying about these things.
There is another matter and it is that, since the main desire of faithful people is to become more and more like Christ, a person will seek to practise the presence of God, which is the main concern in secret prayer. And this is the real objective of true secret prayer, to enter into the life in Christ which Christ has decreed for us. It is not possible to dwell continually in Christ if a person is not engaged in
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heartfelt prayer at all times. The best prayer is secret prayer. It is prayer most free from insincerity. In secret prayer we are very unlikely to give voice to wrong things and in this way the true character of our prayers can be known; this is also the measure that God uses to judge our prayers.
II. The Hindrances to Secret Prayer.
The things that hinder secret prayer are easily seen and the nature of those things is obvious. A great hindrance is laziness since praying is very difficult; and there is nothing more important. It is more important than dwelling upon the things we want to find out It is more important than making decisions about a person. It is more important than making a speech to bring people around to our way of thinking. More important than anything else we may do is coming into the presence of God to talk with him who made the earth and who implements the prayers for the Kingdom. Therefore let us devote our hearts to this thing. David was able to say, ‘As for me, I will pray.’ Let us not deprive ourselves of this very great thing but let us enter with our whole beings into this very fruitful activity.
Another enemy of secret prayer is impatience. For Isaiah says, ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.’ [Isaiah 26.3 AV] This does not happen if you run away, if you quickly return outside. Another saying points this out: ‘They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.’ [Isaiah 40.31 AV] This means that those who seek to pray thoughtfully to God will appreciate what it means to cling closely to God and that there is no other source of strength for them. They will forsake depending on the flesh and receive the strength given by God. This can only be received through by long seeking.
Mere recitation in prayer. A real hindrance to secret prayer is formality, just reciting prayers. Do we not know occasions when we kneel down and our body language indicates that we are praying but we are not conscious of the words we are saying, and, worse than this, we do not understand the meaning of what we are saying, and, even worse, we do not appreciate the closeness of the one we are calling upon? This is the mere repetition of prayers.
Clinging to sin. Sin cuts the sinews of prayer. Has God answered prayer that has come from a sinful heart? ‘The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’ [James 5.16]
III. The Place fir Secret Prayer.
Muslims say that one prayer offered at Mecca (their sacred city) is equal to 80,000 prayers in different places. And some other religions have similar beliefs, but Christ says: ‘Believe me, the hour cometh, when
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ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father…. 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.’ {John 4.21 & 23 AV] But Christ has pointed out the best place to pray, a secret place. ‘But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and they Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.’ [Matthew 6.6] In these words Christ is teaching the importance of the hidden place for prayer. Landor says, ‘The secret room is the place just outside the actual presence of God, and when you kneel you are really in that presence.’ Is this not the time to point out the great importance of a secret place, when we are encompassed by many troubles and there is much work to be done?
That man is not doing wrong when he abides for a long time in the presence of God. If a man says that he gets more from praying with others than from secret prayer is his soul not in peril of drifting towards death? He is putting trust in his friends and their faith rather than in the power of abiding in his God.
IV. The Time for Secret Prayer.
A person should carefully arrange times for secret prayer. In the days of Daniel people prayed three times a day – perhaps seven time in the days of David – but it is for each person to arrange their own times and it may be three times a day. It is a good thing to pray to God when one awakes, and in prayer one may bring to a close the things of the day. One may also call upon him at midday. But it need not be only like this – one should seek a time for extended prayer about very important matters just a Christ did when he was choosing the Apostles, and when people were wanting to make him a king, and when he was preparing himself for his great work of offering himself as a sacrifice – he extended his prayers. The events of each day will provide matter for prayer, but prayer does not stop with this. One’s heart should be alert to call upon God whether we are alone or with a group of people. By such prayers we will be able to suppress temptations and continue on the right path to God.
There was one young man who was devoted to God and who spent a whole day each month praying to God. How long do you spend in prayer? Robert McCheyne said, ‘It is a good thing to use the best hours of the day for prayer, for this is the most fruitful work, the most noble work, therefore do not diminish it.’ [See his actual words below.] And it may be that a Christian person will achieve by prayer the things that will grow the Kingdom of Christ, and nothing fruitful can be done
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without prayer. Many great victories will be seen if Christian people were to recognize the power involved in their priesthood to God and fulfilled the responsibilities of that priesthood. Yes, indeed, what length of time should we give to secret prayer? Time is of great value but God gives us this instruction – it is by spending more time that we will deepen our spiritual lives; it is better that we devote less time to other things rather than cut down on the time for prayer. Have you ever met anyone who regrets the time he spends abiding with God? Henry Martyn lamented that, while he spent a long time working for people, he did not spend the same amount of time drawing near to God. It has been truly said, ‘He who cuts short his prayer time, loses that time.’ And if anyone devotes his time to drawing near to God will find in this time blessings and power and fruitfulness.
V. Preparing for Secret Prayer.
While secret prayer is important to us we do not carefully prepare ourselves for it If we are called upon to make a speech we devote a long time to preparing what we will say. Beforehand, a wealthy person will set aside ten minutes for a conversation with him, and if what I have to say to him is of great importance and is designed to gain his friendship, then I will spend long hours preparing the words which will make that interview worthwhile. And I will be embarrassed if I have not thought beforehand and prepared to draw near to God. Let us take care lest we are like the one cautioned by the Preacher who said, ‘Let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God, for God is in heaven and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few.’ [Ecclesiastes 5.2 AV] It is not the length of our prayers which enhances our lives but the sincerity of those prayers. If we have an hour for secret prayer it will be a good thing if we use some of that hour to prepare ourselves to pray.
What will make secret prayer effective? Here are some suggestions.
1. By devoting sufficient time to seeking and thinking about it. These are examples of what we should be asking ourselves: Who am I approaching? What am I coming for? What justifies my coming? What is it I really want? What do I hope for?
2. Seek out some of the materials already prepared as subjects for prayer for each day by some of the organisations seeking to bring the Gospel to the whole world; such prayers are set out so that one prays for different people each day of the month.
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3. Look carefully into the Bible’s instructions about prayer. The Bible alone is the truest guide to prayer. It is from the Bible that we come to know God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is from the Bible that we discover what we are truly like, what others are like, and what the world is like, as seen by God. Looking into the Bible gives us subjects for our prayers, gives them life, and gives them authority. If the Bible is not studied with a thoughtful heart, one will not draw close to God. We must always remember that secret prayer is not a one-way thing but a one-to-one conversation. Many have grown cold in prayer because they have neglected to study the Bible carefully. Certainly, it is only by the careful study of the Bible that the power of the practice of prayer and its fruits will become clear.
4. The supreme helpers in prayer are Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is only as we are united with them and only through them that we will discover the true preparation which gives prayer its power, ongoing, living prayer. Let us continue in the school where we learn what Christ teaches about prayer, where he teaches us his own practices, his own prayers, and gives us his own guidance, rules and words of revelation with respect to prayer, so that we continually understand more and confess, ‘for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.’ [Romans 8.26-27]
[The above is my translation of Bennett’s Maori text. I reproduce below Mott’s original English Version from Addresses and Papers on the Spiritual Life by John R Mott, An Address delivered to students at Calcutta, India, January, 1896.
http://www.watchword.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=197&Itemid=6
This lacks the English text translated in Section V of the Maori version.]
‘Secret prayer is essential as a preparation for public prayer. The power of all social or public prayer lies in the hidden springs of secret prayer. Without a very real secret prayer-life there is a danger of us in our public praying of becoming more conscious of the presence of men than of God.
Its importance is also seen in the fact that each man has his own individual needs, temptations, besetting sins, soul struggles, and longings which he can lay before God with far greater freedom in secret than in the presence of others. More importantly, to become Christ like, which should be the ambition of every true Christian; we must practice the presence of God...To live the abiding life which Christ has commanded, the secret prayer life is implied. It is impossible to be consciously abiding in Christ without real and frequent secret communion. In a word, secret prayer is prayer at its best. It is prayer most free from all insincerity. It is the true gauge of our prayer-life; for it is the standard by which God judges it.
The Hindrances to Secret Prayer.
Those things which spoil our secret communion with God need only be mentioned in order to be recognized. Idleness and laziness is a decided hindrance to secret prayer. Real prayer is the most intense act a man performs. More important than the most earnest thinking upon a problem, more important than a personal interview to influence an individual, more important than addressing and swaying an audience-far more important than these and all other forms of activity is that of coming into vital communion with the great God of the universe and wielding the forces of the prayer-kingdom. Surely this demands our best. David was able to say, "I give myself unto prayer”. Let us not be satisfied with bringing to this supremely important work only a part of our being.
Haste is equally an enemy to secret prayer. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee," not whose mind simply now and then turns to Thee. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength," not they that glance at Him and run away. This passage is even better rendered: "They that wait upon the Lord shall change their strength," that is, they that spend enough time in actual communion with God to become really conscious of their absolute dependence on Him, shall exchange the energy of the flesh for the power of God. It takes time to accomplish this transfer.
In many instances formality is a hindrance to prayer. Have we not often found ourselves upon our knees, nominally and religiously in the act of prayer, yet not conscious of the words we are uttering; worse than this, not conscious of what our words involve; and still worse, not conscious of Him to Whom we are addressing our words? This is formality, a hindrance which multiplies iniquity and cuts the nerve of all prayer. Has God ever been known to hear a prayer from a heart in which any form of iniquity was fostered or tolerated? It is "the supplication of a righteous man" which "avails much in its working."
The Place for Secret Prayer.
Moslems tell us that one prayer offered in Mecca is worth 80,000 prayers offered anywhere else. The followers of some other religions entertain similar beliefs. A few months ago, as we traveled along the base of Mount Gerizim, the words of Christ in this connection were brought vividly to memory: "Believe me, the hour will come, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father......But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth"---wherever they may be. Yet Christ clearly taught that there is a place for prayer to which He attaches special importance. Where is that place? It is the secret place. "But when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut the door, pray to your Father which is in secret, and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you." In this short passage, by a threefold reiteration, He strongly emphasizes the importance of the secret place.
Is there not a need of emphasizing the advantage and need of solitude in this age of so many organizations and social movements? There is no danger today that men will spend too much time alone with God. When a man says that he obtains more help from public prayer than from secret prayer, is he not in spiritual peril? There is danger that he is depending more upon the presence and faith of others than upon a personal and vital contact and communion with his God.
The Time for Secret Prayer
Each person should have a regularly scheduled time for private prayer. We shall remember that Daniel had three such seasons. One reference would lead us to infer that David, during a part of his life had at least seven regular seasons for prayer each day. Each one must decide for himself the number and the distribution of the times we will give to these spiritual exercises. It would seem that we all might agree upon the importance of having a regular prayer season three times a day. Surely the most appropriate way to begin the day is with God; it is the only fitting way to close the day; and what is more needful or helpful than to slow down the machinery at mid-day that we may hold close communion with God? But we would plead not only for regular, but also for special seasons for secret prayer.
Such was the custom of Christ. We all remember His special and prolonged prayer before the choosing of the twelve; how He went apart for special prayer at the time of great temptation, when the people wished to make Him king; and how He nerved Himself for the final crisis of His life. The time we give to special prayer will be determined by the special emergencies, temptations, difficulties, and opportunities which confront us in our daily experience. In speaking of special seasons for secret prayer, the importance of spontaneous prayer cannot be too strongly urged. This means the looking up to God many, many times in the day, no matter where we are, whether alone or in a crowd. He who has not learned what spontaneous prayer means has not learned the principal secret of overcoming temptation or of living the life most pleasing to God.
One of the most helpful features in several conventions recently attended has been the holding of a quiet day by the delegates assembled together. Why not carry out this same idea personally in secret? One of the most Christ-like young men I have ever met in the colleges had a habit of spending almost an entire day at the beginning of each month in communion with God. What time in the day should we devote especially to secret prayer? It would seem that Robert Murray McCheyne has answered this question in the best way possible: "I ought to spend the best hours of the day in communion with God. It is my noblest and most fruitful employment and is not, therefore, to be thrust into any corner."
It is possible for a Christian to accomplish more for the Kingdom of Christ through faithful secret prayer than by the most active public life without it. What mighty triumphs the Church would witness if individual Christians everywhere would recognize the possibilities of their priesthood unto God, and humbly fulfill their responsibilities.
How much time shall we devote to secret prayer?
Time is the most expensive coin which we can pay, and yet God requires us to use this kind of coin. Without a doubt it takes time to become spiritual. It will pay us to cut down anywhere else rather than in the time we devote to prayer. Did you ever know of a man who regretted spending too much time alone with God? At the close of his wonderfully spiritual life, Henry Martyn mourned that he had devoted "too much time to public works and too little to private communion with God." It is indeed true that "He that saves his time from prayer shall lose it. And he that loses his time for communion with God shall find it again in added blessing, and power, and fruitfulness."’
THE WAR.
The present situation in the war differs little from the situation over the past few months. There is still fierce fighting between the French and English allies and the Germans and men are still being killed in each engagement. But the commander of the English soldiers, General Kitchener, thinks that the real fighting has not yet begun. The situation now is just a holding position, preventing Germany from making reinforcements. However in May or June that man will bestir himself to fight. It seems to me that this man’s statements are bluffing, even mad, designed to make people happy in the face of the news of the deaths of our soldiers at the hands of the Germans. But perhaps his statements are right because most of the total number of English troops, those of the British Empire, have not yet arrived at the war.
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However he is making preparation and putting in place his large guns and other things needed in war.
The fighting between Russia and Germany is intense. In this conflict Russia is very strong. Russia has attacked the major German forts, making rapid progress along the banks of the River Vistula. There has been fighting at that river for two weeks. Germany has suffered great losses; the river is almost filled with dead men. From this place, it is said, Russia is only one hundred miles from the capital city of Germany, Berlin. The situation is the same in the fighting between Russia and Austria. The fierce fighting now is occurring on the high mountains of Austria (Carpathian Mountains) and as far as the plains. In this conflict one sees the strength of the Russians because they are a people used to fighting in the cold of winter, in the snow and ice. It is said that this part of Russia is two hundred and fifty miles from the capital of Germany. Because the Russians are fighting so strongly, Germany has begun making overtures to procure a peace settlement with them. However, Russia has not consented. At least not until the great Russian flag flies over the capital city of Germany.
Since the month of January the German airships (Zeppelins) have been flying to England. It is thought that three or four of those airships have arrived. They fly from the capital, Berlin, at four in the afternoon and arrive over England at night. One of those airships is able to carry eight tons, and so that is the weight of munitions carried by them. As they go they drop those bombs on various places in England so that many houses are destroyed and burnt. They are hoping with luck to kill King George with their bombs. However the King was not in the places where they dropped their bombs. Germany plans for a time when there will be a second attack on England by those airships, but that will depend on them having forty or sixty of those airships.
OTHER ITEMS.
We have heard that the nurse (Nurse Cormack) who has been caring for the Maori of Te Karaka, Turanga, and other places is going as nurse to the soldiers going to the war. This woman is famous amongst the Maori People for the good and appropriate work she has done amongst Maori. There is not trace in this
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woman of the contemptuous attitude that Pakeha have toward Maori. So it is right that the Maori of this district are sad at the departure of this nurse. Who can know, who can say whether the one who replaces her will be the same?
During the first week of February Tama Te Kanapu began his work in his new parish of Te Karaka. He is a colleague and helper of the Pakeha minister of that parish, the Rev G N Watson.
The Bishop has agreed with the request of Tuhoe that their minister, the Rev R P Hakiwai, stay amongst them for another year. He is doing very good and effective work in that place and amongst that tribe, Tuhoe. All the tribes are amazed at the results of the the work of the minister of that parish, the new minister of Tuhoe, Tamati Te Kanapu, who was ordained on 20th December. This is a sign of the goodness and the strength of the work of the Holy Spirit in that part of our Lord’s vineyard.
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RULES OF THE PAPER.
1. Te Kopara is published monthly.
2. The subscription for the paper is five shillings (5/-) a year paid by postal note or stamps.
3. Anyone wishing to take Te Kopara should send the money with the covering letter.
4. Articles are welcome from all parts of the country, but the Editor reserves the right to decide on what to print. Write clearly.
5. Address all letters to:
Te Kopara,
Te Rau,
Gisborne.
A NOTICE
To those wanting a Prayer Book or Hymn Book. I now have plenty of books. The prices are:
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Prayer Book, New Testament and Hymns, superior cover, 5/6
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Naurea, Gisborne
People wanting a Bible or a New Testament should apply to the Bible Depository Sunday School Union, Auckland.
Bible, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6. Enclose a postage stamp for 1/-.
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Printed and published by H W Williams at Te Rau Printing Works, Berry Street, Gisborne, New Zealand.
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