Pray In the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Today we continue our series titled ‘Having Communion with God’. A series focusing on the Holy Spirit. Thus far we looked at:
The Overview / Introduction
The Promise
The Power
The Performance
The Presence of the Spirit
Then we began examining the commands concerning the Holy Spirit - what God expects of us in our interactions with Him.
Be Filled with the Spirit
The Cause of the Filling
The Contrast of the Filling
The Culmination of the Filling
(What it looks like when someone is Filled with the Spirit)
Last week, we looked at the book of Galatians, Walking in the Spirit
Walk in the Spirit
The Circumstance (of the Epistle)
The Gospel was being Perverted
The Law was being Distorted
Men were being Misguided
The Correction
The Difference between Liberty and Bondage
The Spirit has Ability the Flesh Doesn’t
Walking in Liberty of the Spirit Leads to Love and Service
Walking in Licentiousness Demonstrates Depravity
The Concept
Implies Progress
Intimates Consistency
Indicates Exercise
The Completion
Acknowledge the Spirit
His Power
His Place
His Performance
Allow the Spirit
Be in Awe of the Spirit
Today we’re going to look at another command of God concerning the Holy Spirit - and that is to Pray in the Spirit
The first passage we’re going to look at is The Admonition to Pray in the Holy Ghost
I. The Admonition (Jude 20)
I. The Admonition (Jude 20)
Jude 20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”
It’s Importance
Today we’re going to look at various passages of Scripture concerning praying in the Spirit / Holy Ghost.
Till now & in the next messages, the admonitions concerning the Holy Ghost are in single passages.
Now, if the Bible says it once, it’s important. When God repeats a matter multiple times - as it does in this case - it’s vitally important that we pay attention to it!
Under His Influence
Let me begin by saying: There’s a DIFFERENCE between praying, and praying IN the Holy Ghost. Many Christians pray, but far less pray ‘IN’ the Holy Ghost.
In this verse we see that he said to pray ‘IN’ the Holy Ghost. What this indicates is the closeness of the subject. You can’t be closer to something that when you are in it.
It didn’t say ‘Pray along side’, or ‘Pray nigh unto’ the Holy Ghost, but ‘Pray IN’.
(Ill.) Right now I am IN this church. Much of my time is spent ‘just outside of’ this church, as I live right out back. But while I am close to the church when there, I’m not only closer but I a literally can’t get any closer than being IN the church than I am right now. AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!
To pray IN the Holy Ghost, it means:
You’re encompassed by Him
Nothing of you is showing, only Him (Ill.) You could stand outside of this church and look all around it and never know that I was in here by the appearance!
All YOUR wants & wishes are HIDDEN IN HIM - it’s not about YOU anymore, it’s about HIM!
To pray in the Holy Ghost is to be completely under HIS influence in prayer
Under the Influence - and this leads me to the next point - in His Ideology
In His Ideology
Ideology (def) a systematic body of concepts - it’s a set of principles, beliefs or characteristics
So when we’re talking about the Ideology of the Holy Ghost, we’re talking about the principles & beliefs that are important to God. And all too often, what’s important to God isn’t very important to us.
(Ill.) I thought of a few different illustrations, but settled on this one. Taylor Swift & I have different ideologies. We have different desires, goals & things we want to come to pass. So if I was to pray with the ideology of Taylor Swift, my prayer would be something like: “Dear Lord, please let me hit all my dance moves tonight. Please let my album sell 10 million copies. Please let all my Hollywood buddies know that I am so against traditional values and I support their gender confusion & CHOICE.”
Now, how many of you could see me typically praying a prayer like that? Not a chance. Because MY ideology and hers are polar opposites.
But that’s the thing: Oftentimes, what God wants to do in and through us are not what we would pray ourselves!
When we’re praying IN the Spirit, it’s selfless. It’s a recognition of God’s power and authority in our lives, and seeking ‘His Will be done’.
In His Ideology
As an Imitation
As we have looked at, the Holy Spirit moved in the life of Jesus Himself.
He was Baptized in the Spirit
Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”
He was Led of the Spirit
Matthew 4:1 “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
He worked in the Power of the Spirit
Luke 4:14 “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”
He declared the Spirit was Upon Him
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”
When this Man teaches how to pray - you need to listen!
(Read) Mat. 5:5-13.
Prayer is not for show (v5-6)
Prayer need not be repetitious (v7-8)
Prayer should Recognize Who He is, and Where He’s at
Pray for HIS Will (v10)
Prayer can be simple
Pray for necessities (v11)
Pray for OTHERS (v12-13 - ‘us’)
Which leads to the next point…
In Intercession
A large part of Praying in the Spirit, involves intercessory prayer. What I mean by that is praying in the Spirit of others.
Consider Jesus - as He’s there in the garden. He had dipped the bread in the sop and gave to Judas after washing his feet and said “That thou doest, do quickly” (Joh. 3:27) So He goes and it says: Luke 22:39–42 “And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
What was ‘the cup’?
His pain, suffering, heartache, humiliation, rejection - all of those things that HE would have to endure… yet He said ‘NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE’.
Jesus’ prayer here was putting others first! It was making sure that His will came AFTER the needs of others!
Praying in the Spirit will lead you to focus on OTHERS
We see the Admonition in Jude 20. Secondly, I want to look at the Armament
II. The Armament (Eph. 6:18)
II. The Armament (Eph. 6:18)
Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
The Connection
As we consider this verse, we need to take a look at it in context - and it’s direct context begins in v10. (Read Eph. 6:10-20)
As Paul is giving the illustration of the Christian Solider using the garb of a Roman solider. In doing so, he speaks of the various things and calls it the ‘Armour of God’. (List them) and in doing so, the only offensive weapon that He mentions is ‘the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God’.
And while the Sword is the only particular part of the Armament that is offensive, there is something equally important - and though it’s not so much the armament, but an attitude - and that’s the attitude of PRAYER!
Church, we are in constant battle as Christians. We fight every day, because we’re attacked every day. Not physically - but Spiritually. 2 Corinthians 10:4 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” One of the weapons that we have is the attitude and mindset of prayer.
(Ill.) I’ve watched my share of war movies… and one of the things that happens often in them. The good guys will be overwhelmed and they’re taking on a lot of fire, so the sergeant will call out ‘Send in Reinforcements!’
Church, life is not easy. Yet, I’m thankful that God has supplied us with ENDLESS and MORE THAN ADEQUATE REINFORCEMENTS!
We see the Connection
The Continuance
Notice the word ‘always’.
Prayer is not something we should be engaged in periodically. Nor of just the morning, evening & before meals. We must be in a prayerful Spirit ALWAYS!
No matter where we’re at, or what we’re doing - praying in the Spirit means praying always.
When we’re in a ‘Praying Always’ it does something for us:
It keeps us with the right attitude
It keeps us from sin
And if there’s two bigger things in the life of a Christian that that speaks directly to their effectiveness as a witness and quality of life, I don’t know what they are.
The Continuance
The Content
Not only is it ‘always’ but ‘with all prayer’.
Do you know what that means? That means ‘IN’ everything, ‘THROUGH’ everything. No matter what’s going on in your life, you’re praying about it. You’re looking to God, fellowshipping with Him and getting His guidance.
Regardless of whether you’re on the mountaintop or in the valley.
Oftentimes, when things are going well, what happens? We forget about God. Agur said in: Proverbs 30:8–9 “Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, And say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And take the name of my God in vain.”
We must be diligent that IN and THROUGH everything, we’re in constant communication with the LORD.
The Content
We see the Admonition in Jude 20or Praying in the Spirit. The Armament of Praying in the Spirit. Lastly, we see in Rom. 8 the Ability of Praying in the Spirit
III. The Ability (Rom. 8:26-27)
III. The Ability (Rom. 8:26-27)
Romans 8:26–27“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. 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.”
Understands our Infirmities
Rom. 8:26a “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
The first thing to note is that God understands our Infirmities. In other words - He understands what we need - whether we do or not.
(Ill.) Has anyone ever experienced going to God in prayer - oftentimes when we’re out of hope & answers… yet we don’t know what to pray for?
GOD KNOWS WHAT WE NEED - HIS SPIRIT THAT LIVES WITHIN US! HE FILLS THE GAP / VOID AND PRAYS FOR OUR NEEDS
He Understands our Infirmities
Knows our Inadequacies
Secondly, the Spirit knows our Inadequacies. In other words - He knows that we are limited.
Sometimes our view on things sometimes is skewed.
We may not know the full picture of the situation
We may not understand what God is looking to accomplish in the situation.
God understand that we’re not perfect.
God understands that we have limited knowledge, vision & understanding
This is why… He makes intercession for us!
Makes Intercession for Us
I’d spoken earlier how praying in the Spirit is prayer of intercession. How we must make intercessory prayer a large part of our prayer life.
And one might think - we’ll if I’m praying for others all the time, who’s praying for me? God Himself! God Himself is interceding on your behalf!
(If that doesn’t do something for you, I don’t know what will!)
God makes intercession for the Saints ‘according to the Will of God’
Church let me ask you - do you want the Will of God in your life? Pray in the Spirit then & watch God work!
The Ability of the Spirit is that He makes Intercession for us!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Church let me ask you - hows your prayer life? Are you Praying in the Spirit? If not, why don’t you come & commit your prayer life unto God and say ‘God, I understand my prayer life is lacking. I am committing not only to be filled with and walk in the Spirit - but to Pray in the Spirit as well.