Praying In The Spirit Series

1Co 14:14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Ro 8:26 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.

A great privilege that Christians are entitled to is The Help of the Spirit in Prayer

Now observe,

1. Our weakness in prayer: We know not what we should pray for as we ought.

(1.) As to the matter of our requests, we know not what to ask.

We are not competent judges of our own condition.

Eccl. 6:12 For who knoweth what is good for a man in this life?

We are short-sighted, and very much biased in favor of the flesh.

Matt. 20 when James and John’s mother came to Jesus with her petition?

Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

Jesus said… Ye know not what ye ask

The same is true in prayer… we know not how to pray as we ought.

I mean, it’s hard enough to put the flesh into subjection and pray anyways let alone to know what to pray for.

The apostle speaks of this in the first person: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought.

• He puts himself among the rest.

• weakness, and distraction in prayer, are what all the saints are complaining of.

• If so great a saint as Paul had difficulties with praying, certainly you and I will as well.

So we need the Spirit to help us pray

He helps our infirmities, meant especially of our praying infirmities

What are some praying infirmities?

Fatigue / distractions / temptations

Asking amiss /

• Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

Lack of faith /

So the Spirit helps us, that is, with us doing our Endeavour, putting forth the strength we have.

We must not sit still, and expect that the Spirit should do it all;

So the Spirit helps us do what?

• makes intercession for us,

• dictates our requests,

• makes our petitions,

• draws up our plea for us.

Christ intercedes for us in heaven,

the Spirit intercedes for us in our hearts;

Now this intercession which the Spirit makes is, (1.) With groanings that cannot be uttered.

1 Sam. 1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

This praying without words… It is not the rhetoric and eloquence, but the faith and fervency, of our prayers, that the Spirit works, as an intercessor, in us.

I want to challenge you to Pray in the Spirit.