Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6
Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God. He is the 3rd member of the Trinity. He fully possesses all of the divine attributes of God. He is a Person, just like the Father and the Son, with His own personal characteristics. He executes or carries out that which the Father wills and the Son secures.
What does the Holy Spirit do? Well, there are an innumerable number of ways that the Holy Spirit works, but these are the major ones we’ve discussed thus far in this series:
1. Convicts the Lost unto Salvation 8. Inspired the Writing of the Bible
2. Convicts Believers unto Confession 9. Illuminates the Meaning of the Bible to Believers
3. Restrains the Rise of the Antichrist 10. Seals Believers Until the Day of Redemption
4. Effects All Aspects of a Believer’s Salvation 11. Comforts Believers in Their Distress
5. Baptizes New Believers Into the Body of Christ 12. Guides Believers in the Truth
6. Adopts New Believers Into the Family of God 13. Cultivates Christian Character (Produces Fruit)
7. Gives Spiritual Gifts to All Believers
In today’s sermon we will add 2 more works of the Holy Spirit as we discuss the topic of prayer.
I. PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL
Prayer is fundamental to the Christian life. It is the means by which believers speak to God. It doesn’t have to be formal or lofty, but rather should be personal and sincere. Through prayer, a person exalts God, offering Him adoration and praise. Through prayer, a person expresses their thanksgiving and gratitude to God. Through prayer, a person confesses their sin and seeks His forgiveness. Through prayer, a person offers their petitions and supplications to God.
The Bible has a lot to say about prayer, including the importance of praying according to God’s will. Jesus modeled this when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion. In His humanity, He didn’t want to face the suffering to come, but He surrendered His will to that of the Father and obediently endured the cross (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42).
The reason many Christians never seem to receive the things they ask for when they pray is because they are asking for the wrong reasons (James 4:3). In order to have an effective prayer life that gets results, it is important for believers to pray according to God’s will. Scripture says that if someone prays in accordance with His will, God will hear them and give them what they’ve asked for (1 John 5:14-15). But how can we know the will of God?
Of course, reading the Bible is the primary method of learning God’s will. As we have discussed previously in this study, the Holy Spirit helps Christians understand God’s Word through illumination and guides them in the truth as they apply it to their personal lives and decision making. The Holy Spirit, who knows the mind of God, also assists believers in praying within His will. In fact, the Holy Spirit is even called “the Spirit of supplication” (Zechariah 12:10).
II. HE HELPS US PRAY
Jude urged Christians to pray “in the Spirit” (Jude 20). In the original Greek, this phrase means to pray with the help of the Holy Spirit. In other words, a person should be sensitive to and pray following the Holy Spirit’s direction. They should pray for the things that He leads them to pray for. Such prayer is aligned with the will of God.
Some have sought to equate praying in the Spirit with praying in tongues. However, Scripture instructs believers to pray for specific things while they are praying in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18-20). Elsewhere it clearly states that a person speaking in tongues is not mindful of what they are saying (1 Corinthians 14:14). How can someone intentionally pray for specific things when they do not understand or perhaps even have control over what they’re saying? Friends, praying in the Spirit has nothing to do with tongues. Again, it means to pray with the help of, by the leading of, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that the Holy Spirit helps us when we pray? He helps us to discern the Lord’s will and to pray accordingly. If we pray “in the Spirit”, we’ll ask for the things that God knows are best for us and that He already wants to give us!
III. HE INTERCEDES FOR US
The Spirit of God’s Son, yet another of the many Biblical names of the Holy Spirit, lives in the hearts of all of God’s children. From there, He cries out “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:6). The Holy Spirit is crying out to God on behalf of a believer regardless of whether they are actually praying or not. Amazing!
Paul taught that the Holy Spirit intercedes for believers even when, in their weakness, they don’t know how to pray as they should. Perhaps, out of their ignorance and/or unawareness of their need, they are either praying amiss or not at all. Even in their silence or when their discernment is lacking, the Holy Spirit prays for the saints according to God’s will. His prayers are fervent, sincere, and inexpressible in human words (Romans 8:26-27).
While this series is about the works of the Holy Spirit, it is worth mentioning that Jesus also prays on behalf of Christians. That’s right. The risen and ascended Jesus, who currently sits in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father, also intercedes for those whom He has saved (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). Think of it! Both the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ are praying to the Father on behalf of believers. That’s a pretty good duo to have in your corner!
CONCLUSION
To be honest, I have never been very good about praying with other people. I feel much more comfortable praying by myself. I guess I am a private person. As such, over the years I’ve not prayed together with my wife and children nearly as often as I should have. I am not proud of this, but it's the truth. But, even when I am praying by myself, I’m not alone. The Holy Spirit is praying with me, leading me to seek and follow the will of God. He helps Christians to pray more effectively.
I consider myself to be very fortunate because over the course of my life there have been several people who’ve prayed for me regularly. While they were living, my grandparents prayed for me every day. My mom still does. I have several friends and colleagues who pray for me also, and I for them. And many of you, my beloved congregation, pray for me, too. I am so thankful for your prayers! But even if there is no other person in your life praying for you, if you’re a Christian the Holy Spirit is. He intercedes on behalf of believers.
Let me wrap it up with a simple statement. The Holy Spirit prays with you and for you. Hallelujah! Aren’t you glad He does?
Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God. He is the 3rd member of the Trinity. He fully possesses all of the divine attributes of God. He is a Person, just like the Father and the Son, with His own personal characteristics. He executes or carries out that which the Father wills and the Son secures.
What does the Holy Spirit do? Well, there are an innumerable number of ways that the Holy Spirit works, but these are the major ones we’ve discussed thus far in this series:
1. Convicts the Lost unto Salvation 8. Inspired the Writing of the Bible
2. Convicts Believers unto Confession 9. Illuminates the Meaning of the Bible to Believers
3. Restrains the Rise of the Antichrist 10. Seals Believers Until the Day of Redemption
4. Effects All Aspects of a Believer’s Salvation 11. Comforts Believers in Their Distress
5. Baptizes New Believers Into the Body of Christ 12. Guides Believers in the Truth
6. Adopts New Believers Into the Family of God 13. Cultivates Christian Character (Produces Fruit)
7. Gives Spiritual Gifts to All Believers
In today’s sermon we will add 2 more works of the Holy Spirit as we discuss the topic of prayer.
I. PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL
Prayer is fundamental to the Christian life. It is the means by which believers speak to God. It doesn’t have to be formal or lofty, but rather should be personal and sincere. Through prayer, a person exalts God, offering Him adoration and praise. Through prayer, a person expresses their thanksgiving and gratitude to God. Through prayer, a person confesses their sin and seeks His forgiveness. Through prayer, a person offers their petitions and supplications to God.
The Bible has a lot to say about prayer, including the importance of praying according to God’s will. Jesus modeled this when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion. In His humanity, He didn’t want to face the suffering to come, but He surrendered His will to that of the Father and obediently endured the cross (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42).
The reason many Christians never seem to receive the things they ask for when they pray is because they are asking for the wrong reasons (James 4:3). In order to have an effective prayer life that gets results, it is important for believers to pray according to God’s will. Scripture says that if someone prays in accordance with His will, God will hear them and give them what they’ve asked for (1 John 5:14-15). But how can we know the will of God?
Of course, reading the Bible is the primary method of learning God’s will. As we have discussed previously in this study, the Holy Spirit helps Christians understand God’s Word through illumination and guides them in the truth as they apply it to their personal lives and decision making. The Holy Spirit, who knows the mind of God, also assists believers in praying within His will. In fact, the Holy Spirit is even called “the Spirit of supplication” (Zechariah 12:10).
II. HE HELPS US PRAY
Jude urged Christians to pray “in the Spirit” (Jude 20). In the original Greek, this phrase means to pray with the help of the Holy Spirit. In other words, a person should be sensitive to and pray following the Holy Spirit’s direction. They should pray for the things that He leads them to pray for. Such prayer is aligned with the will of God.
Some have sought to equate praying in the Spirit with praying in tongues. However, Scripture instructs believers to pray for specific things while they are praying in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18-20). Elsewhere it clearly states that a person speaking in tongues is not mindful of what they are saying (1 Corinthians 14:14). How can someone intentionally pray for specific things when they do not understand or perhaps even have control over what they’re saying? Friends, praying in the Spirit has nothing to do with tongues. Again, it means to pray with the help of, by the leading of, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that the Holy Spirit helps us when we pray? He helps us to discern the Lord’s will and to pray accordingly. If we pray “in the Spirit”, we’ll ask for the things that God knows are best for us and that He already wants to give us!
III. HE INTERCEDES FOR US
The Spirit of God’s Son, yet another of the many Biblical names of the Holy Spirit, lives in the hearts of all of God’s children. From there, He cries out “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:6). The Holy Spirit is crying out to God on behalf of a believer regardless of whether they are actually praying or not. Amazing!
Paul taught that the Holy Spirit intercedes for believers even when, in their weakness, they don’t know how to pray as they should. Perhaps, out of their ignorance and/or unawareness of their need, they are either praying amiss or not at all. Even in their silence or when their discernment is lacking, the Holy Spirit prays for the saints according to God’s will. His prayers are fervent, sincere, and inexpressible in human words (Romans 8:26-27).
While this series is about the works of the Holy Spirit, it is worth mentioning that Jesus also prays on behalf of Christians. That’s right. The risen and ascended Jesus, who currently sits in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father, also intercedes for those whom He has saved (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). Think of it! Both the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ are praying to the Father on behalf of believers. That’s a pretty good duo to have in your corner!
CONCLUSION
To be honest, I have never been very good about praying with other people. I feel much more comfortable praying by myself. I guess I am a private person. As such, over the years I’ve not prayed together with my wife and children nearly as often as I should have. I am not proud of this, but it's the truth. But, even when I am praying by myself, I’m not alone. The Holy Spirit is praying with me, leading me to seek and follow the will of God. He helps Christians to pray more effectively.
I consider myself to be very fortunate because over the course of my life there have been several people who’ve prayed for me regularly. While they were living, my grandparents prayed for me every day. My mom still does. I have several friends and colleagues who pray for me also, and I for them. And many of you, my beloved congregation, pray for me, too. I am so thankful for your prayers! But even if there is no other person in your life praying for you, if you’re a Christian the Holy Spirit is. He intercedes on behalf of believers.
Let me wrap it up with a simple statement. The Holy Spirit prays with you and for you. Hallelujah! Aren’t you glad He does?