Prayer Part 10: Praying in the Spirit

Introduction:

The preposition  “in” isn’t a word we normally think much about. We use it continually and usually understand what it means. It has several different meanings. Let’s consider some of them. I’ll say a sentence and I’d like you to tell me what “in” means in the sentence.

I’m in Mundelein. “In” connotes location.

We met in March. “In” expresses time.

What color is in this year? “In” has the sense of being fashionable. 

Come in, it’s cold out. “In” suggests movement toward something. 

He wrote in pencil. “In” sometimes indicates means. 

I wasn’t in on the joke. “In” means a participant.

Fade the music in. “In” means to make clear or distinguishable.

Pray in the Spirit. ??? Anyone sure of what it means? Praying in the Spirit is the topic for our message today.

Bottom Line: Praying in the Spirit enables us to pray as we've always wanted to pray!

Ephesians 6:18 ESV

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 20–21 NIV

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Jude 20 NIV

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

1. What we are to do “in the Spirit.”

The word “in” is the Greek preposition ἐν and can be translated “in” or “by.” The following are all things we do in close association with the Spirit. We might use the term to be inspired by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 NIV

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

We walk in the Spirit.

Order our lives according to the qualities the Spirit produces.

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

If those qualities are present and influencing all we think, say and do, we’re walking in the Spirit.

John 4:24 NIV

24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

We worship in the Spirit.

In the Spirit is different from truth. The sense here is the Spirit enables us to worship the Father, to give God glory and praise in a spiritual way.

1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV

3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

We speak in the Spirit. ,

Speaking to others in the way the Spirit would speak. Speaking in the Spirit guides the content of our words.

Luke 2:27 NIV

27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

We are led by or in the Spirit.

We are led to go somewhere or do something. Simeon went to the temple at the prompting of the Spirit. It was a nudge, an inclination, likely a subtle prompting.

Romans 14:17 NIV

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

We have righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit.

All that God wants us to have an enjoy is related to the Spirit’s involvement in our life. We have positive responses of acting right, having calmness of heart and mind and deep inner rejoicing as part of our relationship with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 NIV

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:15-20

Ephesians 5:15–20 NIV

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are filled by or in the Spirit.

It’s God’s will for the Spirit to fill us, fill our deficiencies so that we’re wise, make the most of every opportunity and have songs filling our heart.

Ephesians 6:18 NIV

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

We pray in the Spirit ,

with all kinds of requests

2. Praying in the Spirit is . . .

at all times

Luke 2:27 ESV

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,

in (the) Spirit

2. Praying in the Spirit is not . . .

At all times

In various ways

including prayer and supplication

It’s our choice.

to this end

we keep ourselves in God’s love

2. What praying in the Spirit is not

in/with all perseverance

It is not praying in tongues ,

is praying by “my” spirit not the Holy Spirit.

It is not passive.

3. Praying in the Spirit is . . .

by the Spirit’s influence and direction.

The content of our prayer is what the Spirit would pray. Consistent with what He wants.

The priorities of our prayer is the order of what Spirit would pray. We pray about what’s most important to Him

The attitude of our prayer is passion with which we pray. We pray as He would pray.

This means it is not just talking but listening.

What happens when you sit down to pray? Is your mind racing with thoughts? Have you learned to sit quietly and listen?

You say “When I try thoughts flood my mind?” What if you see those as issues

always possible.

It’s something every believer can do.

It’s something every believer can do anytime.

It’s an active choice on our part. We may or may not do it.

done in various ways.

There is no one way of praying in the Spirit. Paul says it prayer, specific requests and supplication, unknown requests.

Praying in the Spirit isn’t being swept off our feet by the Spirit into a trance.

1 Corinthians 12:8–11 NIV

8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

not praying in tongues ,

Praying in tongues are for some, praying in the Spirit is for everyone.

Biblical praying in tongues has to be done by the Spirit.

Praying in the Spirit isn’t limited to the biblical praying in tongues.

is praying by “my” spirit not the Holy Spirit.

in/with all supplication

4. Praying in the Spirit

for all the saints

At all times

and for me

In various ways

Jude 20 NIV

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

3. So that the Word will given

is how we keep ourselves in God’s love.

Praying in the Spirit is one of the ways we rest in God’s love for us and love God by obeying Him .

Praying in the Spirit.

Let’s do this now. Quiet your hearts. Turn your attention to the Father. Ask the Spirit to lead and guide you as you pray. When thoughts pop into your mind, pray about them.

Discussion

1. Why does “praying in the Spirit” seem like some special kind of praying that’s difficult to achieve?

2. Describe if you can a time when you prayed in the Spirit.

3. What will you do differently to try to pray more in the Spirit?