CHAPTER 2
PRAYERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Our Heavenly Father has afforded us a multiplicity of prayer
forms; enabling opportunity to commune with Him at all times.
There are prayers of the heart, mind, and mouth. There are
prayers of petition, prayers of worship, and prayers of
intercession. One can meditate in prayer or even sing in
prayer.1 We also find supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and the giving of thanks all as available forms of communion with
God.2 Additionally, the Scriptures also reveal prayers of
agreement, praise, confession, and faith. It is not my intention
to address in detail these various forms of prayer in this book,
but we need to be aware of their existence and place in the
Christian life. God has made Himself available to us through a
wide variety of spiritual intimacies and all of them need to be
employed.
A LIFE OF PRAYER
The most effective form of prayer is from a life lived in
perpetual fellowship with God. We are commanded to "Pray
without ceasing."3 The only way we can conform to such a
Scriptural command is through familiarity with all forms of
prayer made available to us from God's Word. When our lives thus
become a continuous prayer to the Lord, we will be demonstrating
a renewed mind as a living sacrifice unto the Lord.4
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT
There is an often over looked, certainly neglected, form of
prayer identified from Scriptural observation that is called
"Praying in the Spirit." Paul made mention of this necessary
form of prayer as he taught on being prepared for spiritual
warfare: "And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit.5 Paul believed that such form
of prayer was an absolute necessity in spiritual preparation of
supernatural warfare and without it we must assume spiritual
vulnerability.
In Jude's epistle, we again find reference to this important
form of prayer: "But ye, Beloved, building up yourselves on
your most Holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost."6 Jude warned
against spiritual apostasy in the church and offered instructions
concerning building a solid foundation. The Greek term for
"building" in this text refers to building upon something which
has already been constructed; a foundation. This foundation is
"our most Holy faith." The perpetual act of construction is
performed through "praying in the Holy Ghost." Jude instructed
us to build ourselves up, therefore, by a unique form of prayer
called "praying in the Holy Ghost." Apparently Jude believed
that spiritual growth and development was achieved through this
form of prayer and that without such, we would find it difficult
to "earnestly contend for the faith."7
The New Testament closes with the Revelation of John which
he saw while exiled on the Island of Patmos for the cause of
Christ. John confessed that on the Lord's day he was "in the
Spirit."8 The subsequent revelation leaves little doubt that
John was indicating a state of intimate prayer preceding the
revelation.
The Scriptural evidence is definite. There is a powerful
and intimate form of prayer available to us as Believers known
by the early church as "praying in the Spirit." It should also
be clear that Romans 8:26-29 gives us specific doctrinal insight
to the subject and should be examine carefully.
PRAYERS OF THE SPIRIT
Before focusing specifically on the subject of praying in
the spirit, we need to briefly consider the nature of His prayers
as seen from our text.
CONCERN
"The Holy Spirit also helps our infirmities."
We share partnership with one who shows concern for what we
face and is willing to assist us in prayer to secure fellowship
with our God. He offers to "help" us with those weaknesses
through intercession.
CONFIDENCE
"For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
But the Holy Spirit..."
We often experience a lack of confidence when we pray. The
Holy Spirit, on the other hand, never lacks such confidence and
the contrast is clearly evident in our text: "But the
Holy Spirit." Although we may experience spiritual timidity, the
Holy Spirit; our partner, never does and His prayers are bold
and without hesitation.
CREDIBILITY
"But the Holy Spirit Himself."
As was mentioned earlier, it is the Spirit of God, Himself,
interceding for us. Thus the very nature of His prayers are
(Holy credible). Because of this supernatural credibility, we
can be assured that our Heavenly Father is not receiving (second-
hand) prayers.
CREATIVITY
"But the Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for
us."
The Greek term for "maketh intercession"in this part
of our text under study, literally means (to make prayers) or to
(form) prayers for us. Although we may encounter the inability
to express ourselves adequately before the Father in prayer, the
Holy Spirit has no such impairment. As God, the Holy Spirit is
always able to form [create] the perfect prayer as our
intercessor.
CONVICTION
"With groanings which cannot be uttered."
These are deep spiritual expressions of complete prayers
offered to the Father in our behalf which only the Holy Spirit is
capable of generating and only God is capable of understanding.
These are wordless, in the natural or earthly sense, and offered
with great earnestness and conviction.
COMFORT
"Likewise the Holy Spirit also helps our infirmities:
For we know not what we should pray for as we ought."
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is one of love and comfort.
He, the Comforter, is sensitive to our discomforts and seeks
spiritual stability by making intercession for us as the (One
called along side).
CONFIRMATION
"The Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God."
The Holy Spirit always seeks to confirm God's best for us as
we pray. Since His prayers are always perfect by nature, God's
will can never be breached. Thus, through intercession, the
Holy Spirit provides spiritual harmony through perpetual
agreement with God and His will for the Believer.
SPIRITUAL INTIMACY
Praying in the Spirit is spiritual intimacy with God. It is
experienced when, as an act of our will, we harmonize our prayers
with that of the Holy Spirit's. The Holy Spirit, as a conductor
of a great orchestra, provides balance, continuity, and
direction as we pray. When praying in the Spirit, we are
offered direct access to the throne of God; where all petitions
must be made known by the aid of the Holy Spirit. He conducts,
leads, and provides balance in order that our petitions are
presented within the will of God. In the following pages, we
will examine the true nature of, and purpose of, (praying in the
spirit), and how such partnership provides spiritual intimacy
with God as the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us.
FOOTNOTES FOR CHAPTER 2
1 I Cor. 14:15
2 I Tim. 2:1
3 I Thess. 5:17
4 Rom. 12:1-2
5 Eph. 6:17-18
6 Jude 1:20
7 Jude 1:3
8 Rev. 1:10
End Of Chapter 2
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT
BY
PHIL SCOVELL
Copyright 1989/2004
By Phil Scovell
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