Creflo Dollar 2017, The Purpose & The Essence of Prayer - Oct 16, 2016

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." -- Ephes. vi.18.

In the last place we consider the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer.

Creflo Dollar 2017, The Purpose & The Essence of Prayer - Oct 16, 2016

It appears from Scripture, more than has been emphasized, that in the holy act of prayer there is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit working both in us and with us Creflo Dollar 2017, . And yet this appears clearly from the apostolic word: "Likewise the Creflo Dollar 2017,  Spirit helpeth also our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered. And He that knoweth the heart, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Rom. viii.26, 27). Christ expresses this with equal clearness when He teaches the woman of Samaria that "God is a Spirit, and the true worshipers worship the Father in spirit and in truth" (John iv.24); for, so He adds, "the Father seeketh such to worship Him." In almost similar sense St. Paul writes to the Ephesians: "Praying always with all  Creflo Dollar 2017, prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Ephes. vi.18)

They already possessed the ancient promise to Zacharias: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication" (Zach. xii.10). And this promise was fulfilled when the apostle could testify concerning Christ: "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephes. ii.18). In the "Abba, Father" of our prayers the Holy Spirit beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God (Rom. viii.15). And in her longing for the coming of the Bridegroom, not only the Bride, but the Spirit and the Bride pray: "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." Upon closer examination, it appears that prayer can not be separated from the spiritual rule that we must pray: "Not as tho we  Creflo Dollar 2017, had received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, that we might know the things that are freely given us of God"; a prayer which we then offer, "Not with the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Cor. ii.12, 13).

Creflo Dollar 2017, The Purpose & The Essence of Prayer - Oct 16, 2016

Hence there can be no doubt that even in  Creflo Dollar 2017, our prayers we must acknowledge and honor a work of the Holy Spirit; and the special treatment of this tender subject may bear fruit in the exercise of our own prayers. We do not propose, however, to treat here the entire subject of prayer, which belongs to the explanation of the Heidelberg Catechism on this point; but we wish simply to emphasize the significance of the Holy Spirit's work for the prayers of the saint.

In the first place, we must discover the silver thread that, in the nature of the case, connects the essence of our prayer with the work of the Holy Spirit.

For all prayer is not equal. There is a great difference Creflo Dollar 2017,  between the high-priestly prayer of the Lord Jesus and the prayer of the Holy Spirit with groans that can not be uttered. The supplications of the saints on earth differ from those of the saints in heaven, those who rejoice before the throne and those who cry from under the altar. Even the prayers of the saints of earth are not the same in the various spiritual conditions from which  Creflo Dollar 2017, they pray. There are prayers of the Bride, that is, from all the saints on earth as a whole; and prayers of the local assemblies of believers, supplications from the circles of brethren when two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus; and supplications of individual believers poured out in the solitude of the closet. And distinguished Creflo Dollar 2017,  in the root from these prayers of the saints are the prayers of the still unconverted, whether regenerate or not, who cry unto God whom they do not know and whom they oppose.

The question is whether the Holy Spirit is active,  Creflo Dollar 2017, either in one or in all these prayers. Does He affect our prayers only when, in the rare moments of exalted spiritual life, we have intimate communion with God? Or does He affect only the prayers of the saint, excluding those of the unconverted? Or does He affect all prayer and supplication, whether from saint or sinner?

Before we answer this question, it is necessary accurately to define prayer. For prayer may be taken in a limited sense, as a religious act requesting something of God, in which case it is merely the expression of a desire springing from a Creflo Dollar 2017,  conscious want, void, or need which we ask God to supply; an application to the divine power and providence, in poverty to be enriched, in danger to be protected, in temptation to be kept standing. Or it may be taken in a wider sense and include thanksgiving. In the Reformed Church the Service of Prayer always includes the Service of Thanksgiving. In this sense the Heidelberg Catechism treats it, calling prayer the chief part of thankfulness (q.116). In fact, we can scarcely conceive of prayer, in the higher sense, ascending to the Throne of Grace without thanksgiving.