Praying in the Spirit
Introduction:
• One of the greatest ways to understand God’s Word and to understand the deep things of Scripture is to study Systematic Theology.
• Systematic Theology looks at the Bible topically instead of looking at individual books. We derive Systematic Theology from the way Paul wrote Romans.
•Chapters 1 and 2: God’s Wrath Revealed
Chapters 3-5: Doctrine of Justification
Chapters 6-8: Doctrine of Sanctification
• In Romans 8, Paul talks to Believers about the importance of the Holy Spirit in the Christian Life. It’s important to be living after the Spirit, led by the Spirit, and listening to the Spirit.
• One of the greatest areas that the Spirit works in is Believers Prayer Life. E.M. Bounds stated, “The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give to it.”
• God saw our inefficiencies in prayer, and He gave us a helper in the Holy Spirit.
I. The Spirit Teaches Us What to Pray (v. 26a)
The first thing we need to know about the work of the Holy Spirit in our prayer life is that He teaches us how to pray appropriately.
Notice what Paul says in verse 26 that the Spirit “helpeth our infirmities”, or our weaknesses. That word “help” indicates to us that the Spirit is joining with us to lend a helping hand.
This word is also used in Luke 10:40 when Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to get in the kitchen and help her with the dishes.
Martha said “Lord, I need help! I cannot serve alone.” Likewise, we need a helper in our prayer life. God has provided us with the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit helps us in our areas of weakness. That word “weakness” (Gr. astheneia) does not pertain to sin or even suffering, but it indicates weakness in strength.
In fact, that weakness is our lack of understanding regarding our prayer life. We know God is listening to us, but the problem comes in what exactly we should pray for.
Have you ever thought about what it would be like if you sat down and prayed for everything?
One preacher put it this way, “Prayer that is elective is most effective.” We have to be specific in what we pray for.
How do we pray? Often times, our problem in prayer is that we don’t know the right things to ask for. What does the stem from?
1 Corinthians 13:9 says “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
Because of our spiritual dimness, the Holy Spirit helps us in that weakness and teaches us how we ought to pray. Thus, we learn how to “walk by faith, and not by sight.”
How do we learn how to pray in the Spirit? Look back in the book of Romans to 8:5, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
When we live after the Spirit, there is a natural desire for us to pray. There is a need to have communication with God.
Not only is there a desire to pray, but to pray in the Spirit. Praying in the flesh will never accomplish anything. Our prayers will be void and remain unanswered until we get in unity with the Spirit of God.
When we learn to pray in the Spirit, there is no limit to what God can do. Look at Acts 4:31 “ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.”
Think about what God could do with a bunch of people praying in unity and in the Spirit. We must allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us in our prayer life.
II. The Spirit Translates For Us When We Pray (v.26b)
Not only does the Spirit teach us what to pray for, but He also translates our prayers as they are sent.
Paul teaches us that the Spirit makes intercession for the Saints unto God. That word “intercession” carries with it the idea of pleading on behalf of someone.
Not only do we often have a problem with what we should pray, but then we also struggle with how to pray for what we want.
So, the Spirit makes intercession for us. That means that He “asks God on our behalf.”
The Holy Spirit takes the energy of our prayer and then makes it a request to God.
How does the Holy Spirit intercede for us? He intercedes with “groanings which cannot be uttered.” God the Father and the Holy Spirit are in such communion that there is no need for words.
Paul says that these groans cannot even be expressed with words. We come to God with long, drawn-out prayers full of fancy words. However, Paul indicates to us that the most spiritual type of prayer can be wordless.
There are times when you don’t even know what to pray and you fall on your face before God. The Spirit knows your needs without you even saying what they are and God searches the Spirit and hears those requests.
Sometimes all I can say is “God, you know what I need.” Sometimes our needs are too deep for words.
There are three groans mentioned in this passage:
o Natural Creation groans (8:22)
o Believers groan (8:23)
o And the Holy Spirit groans (8:26)
III. The Spirit Transforms Us As We Pray (v. 27)
Verse 27 teaches us an important truth about what happens to us when we pray in the Spirit. When we begin to pray in the Spirit, God begins to do a transforming work in our lives.
Look at what Romans 8:11 teaches us, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
When we begin to pray in the Spirit then we begin to get in agreement with the Spirit, and when we are in agreement with the Spirit then we are in agreement with the will of God.
Then, when we begin to pray, our prayers are made in the will of God. Why? Jesus knows what the mind of the Spirit is because the Spirit makes intercession according to the will of God.
The requests of the Spirit are always in agreement with the will of God.
So, people ask: How do I know God’s will for my life? Pray in the Spirit. How do I know how to witness to my co-worker? Pray in the Spirit. How to do I know how to parent my children or lead my ministry? Pray in the Spirit!
When began to pray in the Spirit, God can use us to do mighty works. God no longer sees us as the world sees us, but He sees as Spirit filled people.
Look at what He said about David in 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Then, in Jeremiah 17:10 He tells us “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
God knows the heart, and He sees the prayers of those who pray in the Spirit of His Son. That’s why He can give us promises like Romans 8:28.
Even past the individual level, if we as church will pray together in the Spirit of God and in a spirit of unity, there is no limit what God can do with us at this church.
