Praying in the Spirit: Unity and Dependence

Devotional

Day 1: Praying in the Spirit: A Divine Connection

Praying in the Spirit is about cultivating a profound connection with God, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and shape our prayers beyond our limited understanding. This practice requires humility and a deep recognition of our dependence on God, as we seek to align our prayers with His divine will. It is not merely about speaking in tongues or using specific words, but about opening our hearts to the Spirit's leading, trusting that He knows our needs and the needs of others better than we do. As we pray in the Spirit, we are invited to move beyond self-centered requests and to genuinely intercede for others, fostering a spirit of unity and love within the body of Christ. [29:48]

Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: Think of a specific situation where you struggle to pray. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers in that situation today?

Day 2: Unity in the Body of Christ: Building Up, Not Tearing Down

The church is described as a sacred temple, a holy dwelling place for God, where unity is paramount. In a world often marked by division and criticism, believers are called to strive for unity, ensuring that their words and actions build up rather than tear down. This sacredness requires a deep reverence and commitment to praying in the Spirit, seeking God's guidance and strength in all we do. By fostering unity, we reflect the love and holiness of God, creating an environment where all can grow and flourish in their faith. [46:46]

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

Reflection: Consider a recent conversation or interaction where your words may have caused division. How can you seek reconciliation and promote unity in that relationship today?

Day 3: The Challenge of Leadership: Leading with Love and Humility

In today's cultural climate, where authority is often disrespected and opinions are held with pride, leading with love and humility becomes increasingly challenging. Yet, believers are called to shepherd with patience and gentleness, even when it feels impossible. The Spirit helps in our weakness, interceding for us and aligning our actions with God's will. As leaders, whether in the church, at work, or in our homes, we are called to rely on the Spirit's strength, leading with a heart of service and humility. [06:21]

1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

Reflection: Identify a leadership role you hold, whether formal or informal. How can you demonstrate love and humility in that role today, relying on the Spirit's guidance?

Day 4: The Mystery of God's Presence: Awe and Reverence in Prayer

Prayer is a profound mystery that connects us to the divine, inviting us into the presence of God. This connection should fill us with awe and reverence, recognizing the sacredness of our relationship with God. As stewards of the mysteries of God, believers are called to approach prayer with a sense of wonder, acknowledging that it is through prayer that we experience the depth of God's love and the power of His presence in our lives. This mystery invites us to a deeper dependence on God, trusting that He hears and responds to our prayers in ways beyond our understanding. [15:18]

Colossians 1:26-27 (ESV): "The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt the presence of God in prayer. How can you cultivate a sense of awe and reverence in your prayer life today?

Day 5: Dependence in Prayer: Embracing Our Need for the Spirit

True prayer requires a posture of dependence, acknowledging our inability to pray as we ought without the Spirit's help. This humility opens us to the Spirit's intercession, aligning our prayers with God's perfect will. In recognizing our limitations, we are invited to lean on the Spirit, trusting that He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. This dependence is not a sign of weakness, but a recognition of our need for God's guidance and strength in every aspect of our lives. [30:13]

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV): "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. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you feel weak or uncertain. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to intercede and guide your prayers in that area today?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delved into the profound mystery and power of prayer, particularly focusing on Ephesians 6:18, which calls us to pray at all times in the Spirit. This passage challenges us to maintain a posture of alertness and perseverance in our prayers, especially for all the saints. It is a call to move beyond self-centered prayers and to genuinely intercede for others, fostering a spirit of unity and love within the body of Christ.

I shared my personal struggle with this command, confessing how often my prayers have been self-focused, seeking personal success rather than the flourishing of others. This realization led me to a deeper understanding of the need for humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit in prayer. We explored the concept of praying in the Spirit, which is not merely about speaking in tongues but involves a deep, spiritual connection with God, allowing the Spirit to guide our prayers according to His will.

In our current cultural climate, where authority is often disrespected and opinions are held with pride, leading with love and humility becomes increasingly challenging. Yet, we are called to shepherd with patience and gentleness, even when it feels impossible. The Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding for us with groanings too deep for words, aligning our prayers with God's will.

We also touched on the sacredness of the church as God's temple, emphasizing the importance of unity and the danger of division. The church is a holy dwelling place for God, and we must be careful with our words and actions, ensuring they build up rather than tear down. This sacredness calls for a deep reverence and a commitment to praying in the Spirit, seeking God's guidance and strength in all we do.

Key Takeaways

1. Praying in the Spirit: Praying in the Spirit involves a deep connection with God, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers beyond our understanding. It requires humility and a recognition of our dependence on God to align our prayers with His will. [29:48]
2. Unity in the Body of Christ: The church is a sacred temple, and we must strive for unity, avoiding division and criticism. Our words should build up and edify, reflecting the love and holiness of God. [46:46]
3. The Challenge of Leadership: Leading in today's world is challenging, with a lack of respect for authority and a culture of pride. Yet, we are called to lead with love, patience, and humility, relying on the Spirit's strength. [06:21]
4. The Mystery of God's Presence: We are stewards of the mysteries of God, and prayer is a profound mystery that connects us to the divine. This connection should fill us with awe and reverence, recognizing the sacredness of our relationship with God. [15:18]
5. Dependence in Prayer: True prayer requires a posture of dependence, acknowledging our inability to pray as we ought without the Spirit's help. This humility opens us to the Spirit's intercession, aligning our prayers with God's perfect will. [30:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Fellowship and Camaraderie
[00:32] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:18
[01:14] - The Call to Perseverance
[02:35] - Personal Confession and Struggle
[04:35] - Praying for Others
[06:21] - Challenges of Leadership
[08:31] - The Comparison Trap
[10:12] - The Power of Prayer
[12:52] - Experiencing God's Presence
[15:18] - The Mystery of God's Presence
[18:58] - The Battle Cry of Ephesians 6
[22:28] - Praying in the Spirit
[30:13] - Dependence in Prayer
[46:46] - Unity and the Sacredness of the Church

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Ephesians 6:18 instruct us to do in our prayer life, and how does it relate to the concept of praying in the Spirit? [00:32]
How does the speaker describe their personal struggle with self-focused prayers, and what realization did they come to? [02:35]
According to the sermon, what are some challenges of leadership in today's cultural climate? [06:21]
What is the significance of the church being described as a sacred temple in the sermon? [46:46]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of praying in the Spirit differ from simply reciting prayers, and what role does humility play in this practice? [29:48]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that unity within the church can be achieved, despite cultural challenges? [46:46]
How does the speaker's personal confession about prayer reflect a broader challenge faced by many believers? [02:35]
What does it mean to be a steward of the mysteries of God, and how does this relate to our understanding of prayer? [15:18]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own prayer life. Are there areas where your prayers have been more self-focused? How can you shift towards interceding for others more consistently? [02:35]
Consider a situation where you have struggled with respecting authority or have witnessed others doing so. How can you lead with love, patience, and humility in such circumstances? [06:21]
Think about a time when you felt disconnected from the church community. What steps can you take to foster unity and avoid division within your church? [46:46]
How can you cultivate a deeper connection with God in your prayer life, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers? What practical steps can you take this week to achieve this? [29:48]
Identify a person or group within your church that you can commit to praying for regularly. How will you ensure that your prayers are aligned with God's will for them? [30:13]
Reflect on the sacredness of the church as God's temple. How can you be more mindful of your words and actions to ensure they build up rather than tear down? [46:46]
What specific action can you take this week to demonstrate humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit in your daily life? [29:48]

Sermon Clips

I was asked to speak on Ephesians chapter 6 verse 18 specifically and let me just read it it says praying at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication to that and keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all of the saints before I talk about praying at all times in the spirit I want us to look at the end of that verse where's this to that and keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints. [00:35:54]

I believe the Lord gave me this this passage to preach I was assigned this because I haven't been great at this I haven't been great at praying for all of the saints and so I can say as I started studying this passage the first thing I did was to start trembling added and thank God I don't pray that much sometimes I'll come to a gathering like this and not really have prayed for all the saints really from the Spirit praying in the spirit and saying god I love these men I love these these men and women I love my brothers and sisters. [00:59:10]

Sometimes I get so focused on me God speak through me God give me the words to say me me me me me and and it really hit me this is where the Lord was just showing me my sin was how often do you pray for the other speakers how often do you deeply from your heart keep your mind alert persevere and go no no I pray the Kevin de Young nails it I pray that he nails I pray they had so much joy so full of life I pray something amazing just breaks through. [00:52:33]

I mean here's how sick my heart is sometimes I will show up in a conference and in part of me there's part of me that hopes the speaker before me isn't that good I miss being honest with you it's there it's been there I mean I don't want to exaggerate my never think okay I hope piper bombs okay but I do hope for mediocrity you know I do I'm just saying that is how sick like God was showing me that how that's in you like I mean we laugh at it but there is such an evil in that a lack of kingdom mindedness like what is that how can I be so into me. [00:55:45]

I've been praying for you because of this passage I've been praying for you and God has been giving me just as I pray in the spirit for you he's given me a love for you I mean seriously like a love for you things that were coming to mind as I was praying for you was just it's so difficult to lead nowadays it's different it's different than when I first went into the ministry like 30 years ago it's different sometimes it feels M it can feel impossible to lead people. [01:02:50]

We live in a time when people don't respect authority there's there's a real pride and it's it's it's it's it's almost like a competition who can say the most biting harsh thing let me use the fewest words possible say the harshest things about the most powerful people or the people in authority and then all davidic spirits of of seeing Saul as God's anointed is any of that and yet you're called to lead and and to the to patiently and gently and lovingly not get angry but to care and to Shepherd these people. [01:05:32]

I read scripture and I read about how God wants unity and there's times when I'm just like lord I don't know how that's gonna happen one mind one spirit like I've tried to figure it out in my mind like how is that gonna happen when these people don't think this is a sin I definitely I can't go with that I don't know Lord I don't know how this is going to happen but maybe the answer is this verse maybe if we trembled over God's word that says to keep alert with all perseverance making supplications for all the saints. [01:09:56]

Praying in the spirit as to the point where I didn't want to I seriously did not want to leave San Francisco yesterday I mean not just because it's ugly out here but I just I really didn't want to leave the people the church and everything that's going on it was first time it's like that axe to where everyone was feeling a sense of awe like what's happening here like we're just loving being in his presence loving this adoring of him but it started with praying in the spirit. [01:14:45]

We are stewards of the mysteries of God so how am I supposed to explain praying in the spirit well the Bible says well I'm a steward of the mysteries of God sometimes some of us are better at giving answers than giving mystery then really stewarding mystery and we just want to get into the explanation and if we just get into some of the explanation and and some of the answers to the questions it's like we can miss the point we can miss the point of even praying in the spirit. [01:22:59]

Paul has just said this is a profound mystery and I'm talking about Christ in the church it's a profound mystery that we are members of his body so you're telling me there is a God who dwells in unapproachable light think the Sun think an atomic bomb unapproachable you don't just go grab the Sun you don't just I just want to see what it feels like you don't do that and this is the creator who shines brighter than the Sun and somehow this God who is an unapproachable light says that we are members of his body and he nourishes and cherishes us. [01:33:59]

I believe it starts with humility because if you look a few verses later in acts 8 it says verse 26 likewise the spirit helps us in our weakness listen to this 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 and he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because the spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God we do not know what to pray for as we ought. [01:41:00]

I need your Holy Spirit to help me pray do you come not just dependent on prayer but dependent in prayer saying I need you because if I just start praying in the foot I'm just gonna start asking you for things that Francis once and I want to pray according to your will and the Spirit knows your mind I need him I need him to intercede for me man be so careful about this guys I mean how many people do you know who are dependent in prayer how many people come desperately like I really need you because I'm about to pray right now. [01:48:17]

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