Lesson 220 – When the Spirit Prays

Jude 20-21

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

While there are few biblical references as to praying in the Holy Spirit, some have made this a doctrine unto itself, making it the end all goal for reaching spiritual maturity. While I certainly don't to go that far, I think the church would do well to consider our need to pray according to the Spirit's touch, for when we pray in the Spirit, we can be sure our prayers are according to God's will.

Here, Jude tells us that praying in the Spirit is part of the church being built up in spiritual maturity, providing protection from those who divide our fellowship sensual living and mockery (see Lesson 219). By praying in the Spirit, we receive God's power, keeping us pure for the love of God, ever thankful for God's mercies and looking always for our Lord's return.

But still, Jude doesn't offer much in terms of what it means to pray in the Spirit. As far as I can tell, the Bible never really explains this kind of praying, so we're left to understand it by drawing upon what it tells us about the Spirit and prayer.

My first conclusion is that all believers have the ability to pray in the Spirit, for the Lord indwells the life of all those who come to Jesus in faith. Therefore, praying in the Spirit is not something reserved for some kind of super-spiritual Christian. It is for all of us, for in every believer indwells the Spirit.

Also, since we've learned the Spirit prays whenever we cannot express our words, that is one time in which we are surely praying in the Spirit. When we don't know how to pray, or when we don't understand the will of God, or not grasping the Lord's mind, we need to give our hearts over to the Spirit to pray on our behalf in God's will. We need to pray in the Spirit.

But still, I think praying in the Spirit goes beyond those times when we don't know how to pray. There is no indication here that Jude didn't know how to pray, yet he was praying in the Spirit.

This leads me to conclude that praying in the Spirit occurs whenever our hearts are in tune with God through the Spirit. It is the result of fellowship with God, influencing our prayers as we seek to abide by God's will in our hearts.

The Bible warns that we have not what we ask for because we pray with wrong motives. By being in touch with the Spirit as we pray, our motives are purified to bring honor to God.

LORD JESUS

Lord, I ask that your Spirit indwell me and your church in such a way that we only pray according to your Spirit. I invite you to cut away any prayer that seeks to honor my life over yours, replacing my prayers with the words of your will, giving you all glory. Amen.