10/07/2021
As believers, and Christians, we focus, and pray, to God and Jesus Christ, but too many of us neglect the importance, and power, of the Holy Spirit in our prayers, praise, worship, and indeed, every aspect of our faith lives. We lean on God’s Word with the limited understanding of men, yet without the true understanding the Spirit brings, we intercede alongside Jesus without the direction and remembrance of our helper, the Spirit, and when our hearts are overwhelmed, and our prayers begin to fall silent as a result, we forget to ask for the comforter’s help… for the Spirit to step in and pray for us.
““If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”
John 14:15-16 ESV
It is good to consciously invite the Holy Spirit into our prayer closets, sanctuaries, and to acknowledge his help each time we lift our hearts in praise and worship. He gives us insight and understanding into God’s Word that no man can give. Too often we retreat into our own understanding, or commentaries written by men, when we seek clarification of the Word, but there is no greater authority on scripture, and the thoughts of God, than the Holy Spirit… if we will only ask for his help.
“these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 ESV
Have we been in a gospel conversations and had things that Jesus spoke pop into out minds at just the right moment? Have we been praying and instantly recalled the words of Jesus as we folded them into our prayers? This too is the work of the Holy Spirit as he brings to our remembrance long forgotten scriptures, and allows us to recall all that Jesus has said as we witness to others, pray in intercession, worship, and praise God.
““These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 14:25-26 ESV
The Spirit also enhances our everyday prayers. Are there times in prayer when you have been praying so fervently that you are moved past the boundaries of the spoken word, and all that you are able to do is moan, or make strange utterances? This is the handiwork of the Holy Spirit as he begins to pray for you, and is giving expression to your heart and soul in mysterious ways, and through feelings, that your mind is unable to bring forth. Similarly, have tears streamed down your face while viewing something incredibly beautiful, or have you simply lost your breath as the presence of God has overwhelmed you with awe in the majesty of a moment with Him? These too are responses of the Spirit.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Romans 8:26 ESV
Then there are those times when we do extraordinary things such as preach, teach, heal, or discern the spirits of others. These too are facilitated by the Holy Spirit as he overcomes our shortcomings, gives us gifts we need to accomplish God’s will, or strengthens our faith in the face of such circumstances as emergencies of faith, or even martyrdom.
““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.””
Luke 4:18-19 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit that is with us and in us. Thank you for breathing him onto us at Pentecost. Thank you Jesus for asking the father to give him to us for not just a brief moment, but forever. Lord, help us to be strengthened by him at all times as we open ourselves up to the comfort, help, and understanding he brings us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has sent your Spirit to dwell within us always, and to give us insight into you that man alone is incapable of. Praised be your name for every moan we utter from our soul in prayer, glimpse of understanding we gain into your Word, and every verse of scripture that we mysteriously recall. Merciful are you who opens our hearts, minds, and souls to believe in you, and whose grace brings us to eternity through the redemption of your son Jesus, and the continued help and understanding we gain as a gift through your Spirit. Wash us in the blood of Jesus, and let your Spirit guide us in your Word forevermore. Call us your sons and daughters, and be pleased with who we have become in our faith and Spirit.
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 ESV
Rich Forbes