Spirit-Led, Gospel-Centered Prayer

Romans 15:30–31 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

Paul makes an appeal to the church at Rome and he exhorts them to pray for him.

Paul often asked the churches to pray for him:

2 Corinthians 1:10–11 ESV

He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Philippians 1:19 ESV

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV

Brothers, pray for us.

In our text, Paul asks the church to strive together with him in their prayers. Notice the word strive together. It’s a call to strain together, to fight together, to agonize with.

It’s apparent that for Paul, prayer was not a passive activity, but a wrestling with God. It’s something he agonized over and he encouraged and invited the Romans to join him in.

Prayer is WORK. It’s deep work.

A second element that we see is there is a Trinitarian Formula to prayer.

The term "Trinity" itself does not appear in the Bible, but the concept is derived from biblical teachings. The doctrine of the Trinity expresses the Christian belief in one God who exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

The word "Trinity" comes from the Latin word "trinitas," which means "threefold" or "three in one." The Latin term was first used by Tertullian, a theologian from Carthage in the early 3rd century AD. Tertullian used the term "Trinitas" to describe the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, affirming their unity in essence while acknowledging their distinctiveness in personhood.

In Paul’s call to prayer, he instinctively appeals to the Church to pray in a trinitarian way, including all of the Trinity, the Threefold God in his praying

True Prayer Involves All Three Persons of the Trinity

We Pray:

1. To The Father

2. Through the Son

3. By the Power of the Holy Spirit

We see this pattern in the call to prayer by Paul.

Romans 15:30 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

In this we find a call to Spirit-Led, Gospel-Centered Prayer

Let me help you picture this. Imagine a symphony orchestra preparing for a performance. Each musician has their part to play, contributing their unique talent and skill to the overall masterpiece. The conductor stands before them, guiding and directing their movements with precision and grace.

In this illustration, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit represent the conductor and the orchestra. Just as the conductor brings harmony and unity to the musicians, so too does the Trinity work together in perfect unity to orchestrate the grand symphony of creation and redemption.

The Father, as the composer, conceived the masterpiece of creation, crafting every note and melody with divine wisdom and love. He is the source of all life and the giver of every good gift.

The Son, as the virtuoso soloist, entered the world to perform the most beautiful and sacrificial piece ever written – the symphony of salvation. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He reconciled humanity to God, restoring harmony and bringing redemption to a broken world.

The Holy Spirit, as the conductor, stands at the center of it all, directing the movements of creation and redemption with perfect precision. He empowers believers, illuminates the Scriptures, and intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26). He is the divine maestro, guiding us in prayer and orchestrating God’s purposes in our lives.

Just as each musician in the orchestra plays their part under the direction of the conductor, so too are we called to join in the symphony of prayer under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we yield to His leading, our prayers become harmonious with the will of the Father and the work of the Son.

In prayer, we have the privilege of participating in the divine symphony of the Trinity. Our prayers are not just individual notes but integral parts of the grand composition of God’s kingdom purposes. And as we lift our voices in prayer, we join with the heavenly orchestra in proclaiming the glory of the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who reigns forever and ever. Amen.

What does this kind of Spirit-Led, Gospel Centered Prayer Look like?

A God-Focused Scriptural Alignment (John 15:7, 14-15; James 4:3)

First we see that an important, and even an essential part of prayer is that prayer be aligned with scripture, but not just scripture, but really aligned with the purposes and will of God. Because the words of scripture are God’s words, then when we are in alignment with scripture we are in alignment with God.

John 15:7 ESV

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:14–15 ESV

You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

When you pray according to God’s will, revealed in His Word, you can pray with confidence and boldness, knowing that He hears and answers.

A Christ-Honoring Seeker's Heart (Psalm 63:1)

Psalm 63:1 ESV

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

A second key to prayers that are gospel-centered is that they should have a seekers heart. Now what do we mean by a seeker’s heart? A seeker’s heart, or as I like to call it, an open handed heart approaches the throne of GOd without preconceived allegiances to our own desires. It’s a heart that is open to what God wants, and particularly what Christ wants. In John 16, Jesus said:

John 16:23–24 ESV

In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John Piper rightly notes that ”Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing. And prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that he will provide the help we need." - Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist

So prayer at it’s core is an activity of submission to Christ’s will and an exploration of the heart of our Savior.

As Daniel Henderson has said, “Prayerlessness is our Declaration of Independence from God.

Imagine a majestic garden, lush with vibrant flora and teeming with life. In this garden, each plant represents a soul, flourishing under the nurturing care of the Gardener—the Divine Creator. Through prayer, these plants receive the essential nutrients of grace, wisdom, and guidance, enabling them to grow and bloom in harmony with the divine purpose.

Now, envision a solitary flower stubbornly refusing to turn its petals towards the sun, its roots firmly planted but its leaves wilting and its colors fading. This flower, in its refusal to engage in prayer, stands as a stark contrast to the others—a symbol of isolation and stagnation.

In this illustration, prayerlessness is akin to the flower's refusal to bask in the life-giving rays of the sun. It is a declaration of independence from the Gardener, a misguided attempt to assert autonomy and self-sufficiency. The flower, in its prideful stance, believes it can thrive on its own without the need for external nourishment.

Yet, as days pass and seasons change, the consequences of prayerlessness become evident. While the other flowers bloom vibrantly, drawing sustenance from the Gardener's loving presence, the solitary flower withers and fades, unable to tap into the abundant resources available to it.

In its isolation, the flower misses out on the opportunity for growth, transformation, and communion with the Gardener. It remains trapped in a state of spiritual dormancy, unable to fulfill its true potential or experience the fullness of life intended for it.

Prayerlessness in this illustration is not just neglecting communication but a rejection of the divine invitation to intimacy and connection. It is a futile attempt to thrive apart from the source of all life and vitality—a choice that leads only to spiritual poverty and alienation.

Prayer that changes us seeks the Father like a plant seeks the light.

A Spirit-Filled Gospel-Sensitivity (Eph. 6:18)

The Puritan Pastor William Gurnall stated that ”prayer is the creature’s act, but the Spirit’s gift."

What a beautiful statement. Prayer is our obedient act, but at its core, prayer is a gift of the Holy Spirit. We think of prayer as merely communication with God. It’s simply us talking to God. And in a sense that is true. But true prayer, true lifegiving prayer is more than that.

There are two types of prayer: The Prayer that touches heaven and the prayers that don’t.

Luke 18:9–14 ESV

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Notice what Jesus said, one prayer exalted himself. It was “ME” focused. Me focused praying is a prayer that is horizontal only. It’s a prayer that is a show, either to others who hear the prayer, but just as tragically is when we pray not for the hearing of a crowd, but to convince ourselves we are seeking God.

This type of prayer is flat and lifeless.

But True prayer is the kind of prayer that is vertical. It’s a conversation between the divine and the common. It’s not just us talking to God, it’s the Holy Spirit communicating to and through US.

- John Piper, "To be spiritually sensitive in prayer means that we are led by the Spirit, who helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us according to the will of God."

Ephesians 6:18 ESV

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

The Late Dr. Charles Stanley, "To pray with spiritual sensitivity means to seek God’s perspective and to be guided by the Holy Spirit. It’s about tuning our hearts to hear His voice and responding in faith."

A prayer life that is not sensitive to the Spirit of God has little power to change anything: either in the world around us, or in our own hearts. Prayer is a DIVINE CONVERSATION.

If your prayers are flat, perhaps you need to ask GOd’s Spirit to converse with your heart…and wait and listen for him.

We need to be like Elijah

1 Kings 19:11–13 ESV

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Sometimes we must wait for the Spirit to come.

A Life-Giving Submissive Attitude (Matthew 6:10)

Matthew 6:10 ESV

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

A final part of prayer that is Spirit-filled and Gospel-Centered has to do with the fourth member of our praying. We all know we pray to God. We recognize that we must seek to be God focused and scriptural in our prayers. We understand that we need to be Christ-honoring and connected to our Savior in prayer. We see clearly that we must be Spirit-led in our time of communion. But the fourth member of our time of prayer is me and you. Real prayer means that we are Submissive following prayer.

Puritan Pastor Thomas Watson, "Prayer is the soul’s breathing itself into the bosom of its heavenly Father. Submission in prayer is the true act of faith, wherein we resign ourselves to God’s wisdom and providence."

John Bunyan agreed, "When you pray, it's better to have a heart full of feelings with no words than to have words with no heart. True prayer with a submissive heart is more than just speaking; it’s the deep desire of your soul to align with God’s will."

Prayer that moves heaven is a prayer that cries out, “Your kingdom come, your will be done.”

The problem is we view prayer as primarily a way for us to move the hand of heaven. We see prayer as a supernatural event by which we make God do things for us. But that’s never the biblical pattern of prayer. Prayer is less about what we can get God to do, and more about what God does in us.

I think this fundamental misunderstanding is at the heart of our prayerlessness. If we view prayer as a spiritual remote control by which we can control God like the Claw Machine at Chuck E Cheese then we will miss the purpose of prayer.

So here’s the big idea for you today:

The Purpose of Prayer is less about moving the hand of God to our will and more about moving our hearts to his will.

That’s what Paul means in Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

"Effective prayer is not about getting what we want but about aligning ourselves with God’s will. A submissive heart in prayer says, ‘Lord, Your will be done,’ and truly means it." - Sermon on "The Power and Priority of Prayer", John MacArthur

and the late Tim Keller agrees:

"In prayer, we don't change God's mind, but He changes ours. It's not about getting what we want, but about wanting what God wants for us."

Prayer is about God changing us.

So what does the Spirit want to change in you today? What specific sin is the Spirit convicting you of? What specific discipline is the Spirit convicting you you need to work in? What personal relationship is the Spirit seeking to correct or improve? In other words, “How is God, through His Spirit seeking to change you today?”