Pray In The Spirit

“Pray In the Spirit “

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6)

1 Cor. 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. (1 Cor 14)

1. The Holy Spirit Is Personal and Holy in Trinity.

Jesus promised the Spirit would be poured out after his ascension. (John 14:16)

2. The Ministry of The Spirit in the Believer Is Multi-Faceted.

He is Helper, Teacher, Sanctifier, Gift-giver & Fruit-grower.

3. All Prayer Is Spirit-Enabled - The Spirit within us Cries Out: Gal. 4:6

4. When We Don’t Know What To Pray, the Spirit helps us: Romans 8:26

5. Paul goes a step further – He writes “Pray in the Spirit.”

See 1 Cor 14:15 & also Eph 6:18.

What does this phrase mean?

• Prayer in the Spirit is contrasted with praying with one’s mind (1 Cor 14:15)

• Paul indicates that praying in the Spirit is his frequent (mostly private) practise.

• In both the Old and New Testaments, anointed (ecstatic) speech is often indicative of the Spirit’s presence and power. The many languages heard on the day of Pentecost are a reversal of the confusion of language at the Tower of Babel (Babylon).

• Prayer in the Spirit is found in the context of spiritual conflict - Eph 6:18: “…pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers & requests.”

“Paul considered prayer to be above all an activity empowered by the Spirit…. the context is spiritual conflict …only praying in the Spirit will suffice.” (G. Fee)

• In Eph. 5:18 Paul also invites us to be “filled with the Spirit.”

• In Eph. 3:19 Paul prayed that believers be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” - another way to describe Spirit fulness.

• In Romans 8:6 Paul writes “the mind controlled (governed) by the Spirit is life and peace.”

The gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit complement praying in the Spirit.

A strong urge to pray for someone is likely a spiritual prompting resulting in praying in (accord with) the Spirit.

6. Jude Also Uses the Phrase “’praying in the Holy Spirit”: Jude 1:20

a. It was an understood & normative concept.

b. Praying in the Spirit means stimulated by, guided by, and infused by the Holy Spirit.

7. Praying In the Spirit Is Equivalent to Praying in the Name of Jesus – Which Jesus Invites Us To Do 6 Times in John 14-15-16.

“The church must not live out of its own resources but by the power of the indwelling Spirit, which breathes, strengthens, inspires and guides… more than churches full of people, God wants, and the world needs, people full of the Spirit. (C. Pinnock)

Prayer … Father, fill me with your Spirit and grow spiritual fruit within me. I desire to grow in prayer as you teach me to pray in the Spirit. Help me to listen to your voice and your promptings. Thank you, Father, for the gift of prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.