The Holy Spirit's Role in Our Prayer Life

The Spirit helps the unbeliever in this matter of prayer none whatsoever it's entirely confined to the Saints indeed we remember that statement made by The Blind Men referred to in the ninth chapter of John's gospel he said a very profound thing God heareth not Sinners he said you remember this man had been healed by our Lord. [13:06]

The Spirit only helps the Saints because they are the only people who have any standing in the presence of God who have any access into his holy presence then let us go on to a third point which is what I would call types of prayer now what I mean is this I noticed that some of the commentators draw a deduction like this. [21:11]

The Bible is full of similar teaching look at the many prayers that are recorded in the scriptures some of the greatest and the most wonderful prayers that have ever been offered they're recorded here in the scriptures look at many of the Psalms most of those psalms in a sense are prayers but they're in words and very wonderful words. [24:00]

The Christian as a child is to talk to his father he is to commune with his father he is to speak to him and to listen to him it is to be this constant conversation as it were that is prayer that is true worship even as our Lord himself did so are we meant to do therefore let us beware. [27:38]

Whenever you find yourself in this position that you don't know what to pray for as you want what can you do well I'll tell you what you can do you can always worship God you can always adore him you can always praise Him ah but you see I'm in difficulties now yes I know you're in difficulties. [31:19]

Spiritual requests are always right because because they are always in accordance with God's will spiritual requests what do I mean well I mean this prayer for the success of God's work and God's kingdom that's always right you can always pray for that but the trouble with us all is of course that we're so concerned. [34:53]

I would lay it down as a general principle that we should exercise great care and caution concerning purely personal requests apart from what I've already said I've been dealing with personal spiritual requests for growth for a knowledge of God for greater love and so on but now I'm concerned now about requests for ourselves. [37:53]

If you and I are too urgent and insistent in our particular requests with regard to personal things that we desire we may very well bring upon ourselves most undesirable results let me read a terrible verse to you Psalm 106:15 and he gave them the request but sent leanness into their soul now that's a reference. [38:53]

Never demand anything of God never claim anything of God there's a great deal of teaching along this line today claim this or that when you realize who God is you don't claim you make your request known don't claim people claim healing and many other things they get some sort sort of answer to their requests. [44:58]

There is nothing that is wrong but everything that is right in telling God when we're in this position that we don't know the what to pray for as we ought at that point as I've been trying to indicate there is nothing wrong in groaning or in sighing God knows our sigh he counts our tears he that searches. [47:03]

There is such a thing as the prayer of faith what is that James talks about it you remember the prayer of faith shall save the sick heal the sick what does Mark 11:24 mean what things soever ye desire when he pray believe that you receive them and you shall have them what's that how do we do that. [48:10]

The Assurance of it was given by the Blessed Holy Spirit himself well may God bless to us these considerations concerning this vital and important matter of prayer thank God that we have behind us always this ultimate consolation that when we know not what to pray for as we ought the spirit himself maketh intercession. [51:59]