Praying in the Spirit

Promise for Today - Day 6 of 10 sharing The Christian's Armor devotional by Alistair Begg.
Today's devotional is titled, Praying in the Spirit

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Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Ephesians 6:17–18

What does it mean to pray “in the Spirit”?

One answer is to tie this text to 1 Corinthians 12 and speaking in tongues, but that was probably not Paul’s intention. Paul certainly did not speak in tongues “at all times” as he prayed. Instead of thinking of this as one way to pray among many, we should recognize that praying “in the Spirit” is the only way to pray.

Jesus’ exchange with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 is instructive for us on this point. During their dialogue, the woman raises the issue of Gerizim and Jerusalem as potential places of public worship, over which there was disagreement between Samaritans and Jews. In response, Jesus says, “The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23).

People sometimes suggest that what Jesus is saying here is that anyone can worship anywhere, as long as they’re sincere. But He’s not actually saying that! Instead, He’s revealing that only those who receive the Holy Spirit can worship God at all. It is only in the Spirit, by the Spirit, and through the Spirit that worship—and, by extension, prayer—that is pleasing to God can even take place.

Paul also illuminates what he means for us in Romans 8:15-16: “You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” God has given us His Spirit, and it is by His Spirit in us that we cry out to Him, even—perhaps especially—in our weakness (v 26).

This is why “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). Sure, someone might say the words “Jesus is Lord,” but no one can really mean them apart from the work of the Spirit in his or her life. So it is with prayer: our adoption into the family of God, including our receiving of the Holy Spirit, is the foundation of our prayer life.

When you come to God in prayer today, then—perhaps even as you finish this reading—and call God “Father,” you will be “praying in the Spirit.” Depend on the Spirit, who by faith lives in you. He will help you. He will prompt you. He will guide you. And He will remind you of what a wonderful, undeserved joy it is to be able to speak to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and address Him as your Abba, Father.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

 How is God calling me to think differently?

 How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

 What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Not of the Same Mind

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Galatians 5:13-17 NLT

There's the answer to the reason why we often feel at odds with ourselves and even with others. Flesh and Spirit. They are not of the same mindset. So which one do we choose? We must acknowledge and then remember that life paths are decided by our thoughts, words, and deeds. Keep in mind that our physical bodies are inclined to evil, but the Spirit is not. 

Let's stop and take inventory of our recent mindsets. Are we focused on following Christ? Are we seeking direction from the Holy Spirit? Are we praising and making melodies in our hearts for the Lord? Are we stressed about the economy? Worried about our jobs? Envious or jealous of a friend or co-worker? What is at the forefront of our thoughts? Given that knowledge, are we headed on the right path? 

Prayer:

Father, 
           Your Word tells us that the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Help us to always be living in the Light of the Spirit.
           We choose to belong to Your Son and as such, we have nailed the passions and desires of our sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. We choose to follow the Spirit. Help us to follow His leading in every part of our lives. Cause us to be always mindful of where our thoughts, words and deeds are leading us. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Something Different for May - Day 15 - Life In the Spirit

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 

Romans 8:1-17 NLT

Prayer  Day 15

Father, 

          What comfort today! There is now no condemnation for people who, like me, are in Christ. You’ve set us free from the law of sin and death! Your Spirit testifies still today that I’m Your child. I’m a co-heir with Christ. I’ll share in His suffering—and in His glory. Amen!

Praying Through Romans     www.crosswalk.com

Something Different for May - Day 13 - No Longer Bound to the Law

Now, dear brothers and sisters - you who are familiar with the law - don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living? For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the One who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Romans 7:1-6 NLT

Prayer - Day 13

I see today, Lord, an example from marriage. When a husband dies, the wife is no longer bound by the law of marriage. Likewise, I’ve “died” to the ancient Law so I might belong to You instead. I’m released from the law, and sin, and can now serve You in the strength of Your Spirit. Help me to live this truth today. Amen!

Praying Through Romans        www.crosswalk.com

* Your Whole Heart

The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
1st Samuel 16:7b NLT

Have you ever wondered how different a potential relationship might have been if instead of judging you by your outward appearance, someone took the time to really know you - who you are on the inside? Here's your opportunity.

John 4:23 NLT tells us, ...the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 

What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? As I understand it, Truth is the Word of God, so worshiping God for who He really is as defined in Scripture. That's Truth. What about in spirit? We say our spirit is who we really are inside this body, so to worship Him with everything that's within us? (Psalm 103:1b, And all that is within me, bless his holy name.)

If we're standing in the sanctuary worshiping God (which by the way is NOT the only place or way to worship), but if we are standing there, it could become easy to go through the motions of worship while thinking of sleeping in, or going to lunch, or 'I don't like this song', or "somebody's off pitch..." Have you ever done that?  And probably no one around you is any wiser... but God is. What IS within me? What am I worshiping Him with? 

People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. You know, the heart. How often have we said something like,"My heart is with you" or "I wish you could hear my heart." Is it our whole heart or only the part that cares for them?

Prayer:

Father, 
          We want to worship You with our whole heart, not just parts. Create in us a right spirit. Give us clean hands and a pure heart so that we may worship You in Spirit and in Truth, no matter Who is looking. In Jesus' Name we pray.