Prayer is the most precious privilege God has given to us as His children. Prayer is God’s invitation to shut out the world and have a time of personal, intimate communion with Him.
- However, our concept of prayer is shallow and superficial.
- Prayer is not a magic formula where we say the right words, and God releases the power of heaven upon us.
- Prayer is not begging God or pleading with God to do what we want Him to do for us.
- Prayer is not naming and claiming God’s supernatural power over a particular life situation or circumstance.
- Prayer is not a burden or a quota system – i.e., the more times we pray, or the more time we spend in prayer, or the more religious words we use, the better chances we have of being heard.
- Prayer is not a ritual or duty we must perform on a regular basis or God will not let us into His heaven.
True prayer links our lives with God’s omnipotent power. When we pray, God moves into action to empower us to accomplish His will in and through our lives.
- Prayer is the vehicle through which we acknowledge our need, dependence, trust, hope, and faith in God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
- True prayer is coming before God, searching His Holy Word, to find His will and His ways, and then walking in obedience to that discovery, regardless of what it may require of us.
Romans 8:26-34
“Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. “Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”
Notice the TWO INTERCESSORS:
- Verses 26-27 – the Holy Spirit
- Verse 34 – the Lord Jesus
The Lord Jesus serves as our COUNSELOR before God – John 14:16 – “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, to be with you forever.” “Another Comforter” – i.e., of the same kind. Jesus had been with them up to that point, but the Father would send them “another comforter” just like Him, who would be with them forever.
- “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.” 1 John 2:1
- Christ intercedes for us at the right hand of God – Romans 8:31
- He is there because of what He did for us. Therefore, He is our advocate with God the Father.
- His counsel is not affected by our emotions or spiritual condition but only by His will for our future.
- Christ makes US the object of His prayers before the throne of God.
The Spirit serves as the COUNSELOR to man – John 14:16: –
– “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, to be with you forever.”
- He is our counselor who prays for us when we cannot pray for ourselves because the burden is too great.
- He is sent to comfort us in those times when our burdens are heavy.
- We can grieve the Holy Spirit through disobedience and through the neglect of spiritual growth.
- The Holy Spirit makes us the vehicle of His praying, yet He helps us in our weakness.
Romans 8:11-16:
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
- Who does the crying out? We do!
- Who inspires us to cry out? The Holy Spirit!
Romans 8:26-27:
“Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
- Who does the praying? We do!
- Who does the interceding? The Holy Spirit!
- The Holy Spirit needs us to accomplish His ministry!
- We need the Holy Spirit to accomplish our ministry, for:
- He becomes our strength in times of weakness.
- He becomes our knowledge in those areas of ignorance.
- He becomes our wisdom in those areas of confusion.
- He becomes our understanding in those areas of conflict.
- He becomes our counselor in times of depression.
- He becomes our assurance in times of fear.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21
