Week 6

As we get closer to Central's Prayer meeting on July 27th, we need to realize what a heavy responsibility prayer is. It's not just a list of things we're asking God to do, it's a tapestry woven with threads of praise, confession, petition, intercession and thanks. It is the dance that strengthens our relationship with our Father.

As a little girl, did you ever "dance" with your daddy? His legs were so much longer than ours, and it was hard to keep up. It was easiest to stand on my daddy's feet. Once I did that, he could waltz me anywhere around the room and I could keep up. This is what praying in the will of God is like. We are putting our feet on God's and He is waltzing us around the world. We don't loose step, we don't worry about our legs being "too short" because we are one.

Pastor Randy has been talking a lot about the Holy Spirit and prayer. Let's find out more about how prayer and the Holy Spirit go together.

An interesting way to describe the trinity, or three in one, is like this...I am a wife, mother and daughter. I am the same person, but with those different titles come different attributes.

God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is three in one, and with those different titles come different attributes. For now, let's look at the attributes of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the Holy Spirit's names are: Breath of God, Counselor, Lamp of the Lord, Seal, Comforter and Streams of Living Water.

The Holy Spirit has always been, even when God was creating the world.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

Moses knew the Holy Spirit.

Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them, Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name, Who led them through the depths? Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble; As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name. Isaiah 63:11-14

He is an Annointing. His presence pours over us like oil, covering us.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:13

The Holy Spirit was always beside man, guiding, counseling, comforting...it was at Pentecost when things changed.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

Like a special package or letter, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave {us} the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

When you became a Christian, God put down a deposit for you. He wants to know that you are His, and He will be back for you. So in the meantime, His "deposit" or the Holy Spirit, remains within you. No wonder He's a jealous God--He made an investment in us that cost Him the life of His son, Jesus.

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? James 4:4-5

He is The Comforter. When we are devastated and don't know how to pray. He intercedes.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for {us} with groanings too deep for words; Romans 8:26

The Holy Spirit is generous with His gifts.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all {persons.} But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another {various} kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Those that have the Holy Spirit will display "fruit". Is your fruit showing?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

Ray Pritchard in his book, Names of the Holy Spirit says, "But living without the Holy Spirit is like trying to drive a car with an empty gas tank. While we may not understand all the secrets of internal combustion, if we don't understand the need for gas, the car isn't going to get out of the driveway."

If we are calling ourselves Reflections of the Light, we need to realize that the Holy Spirit is the source of light. And until we understand what exactly we have access to, we will simply be like that flashlight that flickers and wanes at the least opportune time.

Since the Holy Spirit is a fire, you can quench Him. So if you want to put out that flame within you, do the opposite of what His word says.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything {carefully;} hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

Matthew Henry said, "He worketh as fire, by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying the souls of men. As fire is put out by taking away fuel, and as it is quenched by pouring water, or putting a great deal of earth upon it; so we must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit, by indulging carnal lusts and affections, minding only earthly things. Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by not giving themselves up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit."

How would you pray to stir up those embers? What scripture would you look to for building your prayer that asks for more of the Holy Spirit in your life?

That is this week's assignment. I would like you to create your own prayer, using scripture, asking for more of the Holy Spirit in your life. We need to get ready for July 27th at Central, and I could not think of a better way to ignite your prayer life than by asking God to stir the fire within.