The Holy Spirit allows us to operate “in the Spirit” Ephesians 6:18

by the late Sumner Wemp

       

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" Ephesians 6:18. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost" Jude 20.

 

"In the Spirit" As "walking in the Spirit" means walking in a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit, so "praying in the Spirit" means "praying" in a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit. First, to "pray in the Spirit" you must be yielded to, depending on and "filled with the Holy Spirit," controlled by the Holy Spirit and "walking in the Spirit." Carnal Christians just cannot pray in the Spirit.

 

Haven't you heard people just "blabber" in prayer. They go on and on, so much carnal asking for earthly things, so little of praying for the things God tells us to pray for Matthew 6:7. Often people pray for just temporal things. There is very little thanksgiving but full of gimmie's. Matthew 6:8. Then you have heard people repeat clichés they heard someone else pray. Years ago, it seemed the common thing to close your prayer was to pray, "lead, guide and direct." That is simply "vain repetition" and Jesus said "don't do it." Matthew 6:7.

 

God conscious When you pray in the Spirit you are far more conscious of God than those around you. Hannah was praying in the Spirit when she "poured out her soul before the Lord" 1 Samuel 1:17 and she got what she requested.

 

You have great liberty when you pray in the Spirit, for "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty" 2 Corinthians 3:17. In private prayer your heart becomes so full and prayer is just the overflow from your heart, as was Hannah's. (1 Samuel 2:1ff).

 

God hears "And God heard their groaning" Exodus 2:24. And praying in the Spirit, God not only hears but "God had respect unto them" Vs. 25. You will get your prayers answered. Remember, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" Psalm 66:18.

 

Oh, dear people, "the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought" Romans 8:26. We must bring the Holy Spirit into our prayer life and "pray in dependence on the Spirit" if we are going to have a really effectual prayer life.

 

MEMORIZE: "But the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober (serious) and watch unto prayer"