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God the Holy Spirit and Prayer

 

ÒLikewise 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.Ó (Romans 8:26)

 

Though we are freed from all condemnation, blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, and secured from all possibility of separation from the love of God in Christ, still we are weak and needy creatures. Our weaknesses great! Our infirmities are many! Without the indwelling Spirit of God, we are nothing and we can do nothing!

 

Our Ignorance and Sin

Particularly, Paul says, ÒWe know not what we should pray for as we ought!Ó Like the disciples of old, we feel our need to cry daily, ÒLord teach us to prayÓ (Luke 11:1). All of us are apt to ask for things that are not good for us, because we do not know what is best. We do not know what we need (Job 3:1-3; Exodus 32:32-33; Jonah 4:3; 2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

      What is worse yet, as James tells us plainly, our prayers are often nothing but the expressions of our own carnal lusts and fleshly desires (James 4:3).

 

GodÕs Overwhelming Grace

Here is GodÕs overwhelming grace. — ÒBut the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.Ó We are fickle; but God is faithful. He who began his good work of grace in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). The Author of our faith will be the Finisher of it (Hebrews 12:2).

      Paul says, the Holy Spirit Òmaketh intercession for us.Ó But how? We know that Christ alone makes intercession for sinners with God. He alone is the Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5-6). The Holy Spirit does not intercede for us with God the Father; but rather he intercedes with us and for us. As Christ is our Advocate in heaven, he is our Advocate in our hearts.

      God the Holy Ghost, dwelling in us, intercedes for us in the sense that he teaches us to pray. All true prayer is his work in us. He shows us our needs. He stirs our hearts to prayer, putting in our hearts the desire for what God has purposed. He gives us liberty and boldness at the Throne of Grace, through the sprinkling of the blood of Christ.

      And God the Holy Ghost, dwelling in us, puts within us Ògroanings which cannot be uttered,Ó sighs that baffle words. Like Moses and Hannah, who prayed silently, though ardently, the saints of God are caused by the Spirit to pour out their hearts to God, though often we are unable to express in words the great burden of our hearts. Often our natural desires and our true, spiritual desires conflict with one another; and it is our true, spiritual desires which are the work of God the Holy Spirit.

      Like our dear Savior in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38-39), when we pray, if we truly pray, what we really want is the will of God and the glory of God. We subject all our desires to those two things, bowing our will to his will and his glory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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