Praying in the Spirit

I’ve Never Been Angrier At Myself

Ken

In the movie, Top Gun (1986), Goose said to Maverick, “The Defense Department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.” When the devil gets the best of us, when we make careless, thoughtless decisions, real consequences occur for the Kingdom of God. Ask King Hezekiah, after he had shown the Babylonian envoys his treasures, because he was impressed that they had taken notice of Judah’s deliverance from Sennacherib (2Kings 18) and Hezekiah’s amazing recovery from his sickness, which was accompanied by the sundial miraculously going “back ten degrees” (20:9 KJV). Little Judah was receiving notice from the great Babylonian Empire, which was not good. Hezekiah was not careful about being flattered by the world, and they later would overthrow Judah after performing a military, economic reconnaissance of Judah through an unsuspecting-but-stupid Hezekiah. He should have known better! But, so should we! 

Listen to the prophet Isaiah analyze Hezekiah’s situation. 

“14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. 15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. 17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?” (2Kings 20:14-19). 

How to Prevent a Similar Replay of Hezekiah’s Actions in Our Own Circumstances 

First, the enemy exploits our weaknesses to turn them into sin, because there is no such thing as necessary sin. Our weaknesses are common to man. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13). 

Second, if we have sinned, confess it, and throw yourself at the mercy of God to preserve us from repeating it. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). 

Third, God is not simply in the business of forgiving sin, but He is interested in preventing sin. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11). 

Fourth, here’s where most of us have traditionally missed the fact that the Holy Spirit was given to the Church through the New Covenant for the express purpose of inspiring us to obey God — not forcing us. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). 

Fifth, we have neglected the giving of the Holy Spirit, because we have not viewed it as a cooperative act of ourselves pledging loyalty to Christ through a public display, in particular, at baptism. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). 

Sixth, because we quarrel about water or grace through faith saving us, we neglect that it is Jesus that is saving us, but only so we will walk in a sanctified, Spirit filled way. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). 

Seventh, we need to turn from merely a reactive, defensive walk into an offensive, mode of gaining souls for the Lord Jesus Christ, clothed with the “whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11), and in particular, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (6:18). 

I invite you to improve upon this plan, but we can’t sit and do nothing!

Lord Jesus, You are standing on the right hand of the Father, and have told us, “If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14 ). Stephen prayed and received Your answer in the salvation of Saul of Tarsus. May You raise up Your witnesses to this generation. Count us among that number! In Your Name, we pray. Amen.

Praying in the Spirit

Ken

In Scripture, the Holy Spirit has been present and at work since the “Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2 KJV). Specially commissioned crafters of the priests’ garments and the ark of testimony were given God’s Spirit to complete their work (Exodus 28:3; 31:3). God’s prophets, who penned Holy Writ, “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2Peter 1:21). But, the special feature of God’s New Covenant with us is the “gift of His Spirit” (Acts 2:38 NET) to inspire us to obey Him (Ezekiel 36:27). 

Prayer is especially the place of privilege for God’s people. Since the words of Scripture are inspired by the Spirit (2Timothy 3:16), we know spiritual prayer is in the language of Scripture. When we are unsure of the will of God in any matter, we are to commit that concern to the Lord in prayer with the assurance of the Spirit’s infallible answer. “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” (Romans 8:26). Rather than an indifferent petition, “Do whatever You think is best,” but instead, “I know what I desire [emotion], but is that the best thing [understanding]?” Once the Spirit directs our desires to understanding, then we can persevere in our petition. Even then, emotion has a legitimate place in our prayer life. “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me” (Genesis 32:26). Our emotions will motivate our perseverance — not simply repetitious “much speaking” (Matthew 6:7) — then, we can have reasonable assurance our request has been granted. 

Father, we know not what to pray for as we ought, so we desire Your Spirit teach us, what man cannot. Help us not to stifle the emotion that would cause us to persevere in our asking. Give us of the influence of Your Spirit, and cause us to be easily entreated to do Your will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Stranger in the Earth (Psalm 119:19)

Ken

“I am a stranger in the earth: hide not Thy commandments from me” (Psalm 119:19 KJV). Why would the Psalmist identify himself as a “stranger in the earth” (119:19)? If this world is God’s creation, isn’t this my Father’s world? Yes and no. The Almighty is the Creator and Master of All Possible Universes, but He did give our Original Parents authority over the entire world, as evidenced by His command, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). When the Serpent seduced Eve, and Adam acquiesced, all the world’s voting population of two effectively elected the Wicked One as the “god of this world” (2Corinthians 4:4). The godly suddenly became the stranger in the world, and this world was no longer truly home for the saint. “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:9-10).

God’s “commandments” (Psalm 119:19) include His promises of things for now and things to come. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). If God does not reveal the meaning of His commandments — “hide not Thy commandments from me” (Psalm 119:19) — they are hidden to us. Let us not take for granted His illumination in teaching us. Thank Him for His teaching, apply it, teach it, and ask for more. “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (19:8). Just as you love to teach a receptive child, God loves to teach us, when our hearts are ready. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night” (1:2). As God’s children, we are to walk carefully because of the obstacles and traps set by the enemy for our soul. And, by God’s grace, we shall overcome. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1Peter 2:11). 

Father, we are strangers in this world and cannot make it through life without You. The enemy is too strong for us. Grant us an abiding faith in You, but most of all, grant us the generous influence, protection, and inspiration of Your Spirit to teach us Your Word, direct our praying, and cause us to walk in loving obedience. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen. 

Awakening the Church

Ken

The Holy Spirit has always been the Church’s greatest secret, but especially for the fragmented Church, its greatest mystery. Our most valuable connections are not man’s devices, such as the internet or social media — which have their place — but the Holy Spirit. We are accustomed to other means because of their obvious utility. What has the Church always had as both its Source and resource, but the Holy Spirit? How did the Early Church achieve such incomprehensible results without our modern devices, but through the Holy Spirit?  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Disconnected from man’s devices, God is able to replicate and communicate His intentions and movement through the Holy Spirit. His Word is used to communicate to us by His Spirit. And, prayer is used to communicate with Him — and, to the rest of the Body of Christ. When His Spirit is moving upon us, then we can believe and pray He is similarly moving upon others. Use the assembling of the local church and the fellowship of disciples and believers, where possible and available, but do not neglect the Holy Spirit and prayer. Naturally, the enemy does not want us to fully appreciate our advantage. We neglect prayer because we do not well understand nor control it. “Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 60:12). LORD, inspire us to pray like we believe prayer is more effective and valuable than man’s devices. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.