The Spirit Empowers

Prayer Requests

About ten years ago, when Zoë was five we were planning to take our first trip to pick strawberries together as a family.

When I told Zoë our plan, she replied “Daddy, you don’t pick strawberries. You buy them from the store!”

In a world where everything is easily bought at a store, many kids don’t know where there food comes from.

But before we judge these kiddos too harshly, we ought to look in the mirror and ask ourselves how often we do the same thing.

When we look at the fruit in our own lives—our prayer lives, our skills and abilities, our growth in relationships, our spiritual maturity, our spiritual knowledge—how often do we assume that we are the ones responsible?

How often do we forget that the good fruit in our lives doesn’t come from our own efforts, but from the Holy Spirit?

Main Idea: The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do what they could never do on their own.

Four Areas where the Holy Spirit Empowers Us…

1) The Spirit Helps Us to PRAY

A) He Prays For Us

Romans 8:26—Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Paul assumes weakness is normal for Christians.

The problem is not merely that we don't pray enough.

Sometimes we genuinely do not know what God's will is.

Should I pray for healing or endurance?

Should I pray for deliverance or perseverance?

Should I pray for this door to open or close?

The Spirit never prays the wrong prayer.

Even when our prayers are confused, incomplete, or inarticulate, the Spirit intercedes perfectly.

Think of a small child trying to explain a need to a parent. The parent understands what the child cannot express.

Don't stop praying because you feel inadequate.

Your confidence in prayer is not your eloquence but the Spirit's intercession.

B) He Prays IN Us

Ephesians 6:18—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

Jude 20—But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit

"Praying in the Spirit" is not a special prayer language. It means praying under the Spirit's influence and guidance.

Spirit-filled prayer is prayer shaped by Scripture and dependent upon God.

Why we need help...

We need help knowing what to pray

Many believers pray almost exclusively about: health, finances, circumstances

The Spirit teaches us to pray for: holiness, wisdom, evangelistic opportunities, endurance, God's glory

We need help knowing how to pray

ACTS model

We need help waiting after we pray

Most Christians struggle here. We want immediate answers. God often answers slowly. Waiting is part of trusting.

2) The Spirit Helps Us to SERVE

1 Corinthians 12:4–7—Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Explain Tom Schreiner’s chart

A) Remember Jesus is LORD over spiritual gifts

He gives gifts as He wishes to whom He wishes

If you aren’t faithfully submitting to His Word, whatever you claim about your spiritual gifts is meaningless

You can’t use your gifts as an excuse for sinful behavior

B) Don’t obsess over DISCOVERING your gifts

Most people discover their gifts the same way they discover their talents—by serving.

Instead of asking: "What is my gift?" Ask: "Where can I help?"

My concern with spiritual gift tests (unbelievers should score zero)

C) Don’t BOAST about your gift(s)

Did you choose your gift? Did you earn your gift? Then why boast?

Besides, one gift isn’t better than another, they’re just different!

D) Don’t be JEALOUS over other’s gifts

Eyes need hands. Hands need feet. (1 Cor 12)

Public gifts are not more important than private gifts.

Some of the most important ministries in a church are largely unseen.

E) Use your gift to serve the CHURCH

The primary purpose of gifts is not personal fulfillment.

It is: building up believers, strengthening the church, advancing Christ's mission

Who is stronger because of your service?

Who is being encouraged because of your gift?

F) Remember gifts are worthless without LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:1–3—If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

After talking about gifts (and before talking in detail about “sign gifts”) Paul highlights the necessity of love

3) The Spirit Helps Us to GROW

A) He Helps us grow in KNOWLEDGE

Ephesians 1:16–18—I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints

This is not: secret revelation, mystical experiences

Rather: deeper understanding of truths already revealed

The Spirit opens blind eyes to see and understand the truth about God

The Spirit does not replace Bible study. He makes Bible study fruitful.

B) He Helps us grow in HOLINESS

Galatians 5:22–23—But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The Spirit is the One who produces this good fruit in us!

4) The Spirit Helps Us to SUFFER WELL

Jesus is preparing His disciples for persecution.

He does not promise: escape from suffering or protection from opposition

Instead, He promises: help in suffering

Matthew 10:17–20—Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Stephen in Acts 7. Paul throughout Acts. Many faithful martyrs throughout church history.

Final Application...

Be Humble

You cannot: pray rightly, serve faithfully, grow spiritually, or suffer well in your own strength.

Every aspect of the Christian life is dependent upon the Spirit.

The Spirit leaves no room for pride.

Be Bold

Because the Spirit lives within you, you can: Pray boldly. Serve boldly. Pursue holiness boldly. Endure suffering boldly.

Romans 8:11—If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.