Lesson 121: God The Holy Spirit – Part 25

INTRODUCTION: In the last study we learnt that whenever the Holy Spirit is moving there is holy fear or reverence for God. That whenever the Holy Spirit exposes sinners and judges them, pretenders become afraid and genuine seekers of God troop into the Church of the Living God. In this study, we want to show that wherever and whenever the Holy Spirit is in manifestation, it is usual to find men and women in continuous and deep prayers. Acts 4:23-31.

1. WHEN SHOULD SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTIANS PRAY?
The morning is a good time to pray, to greet our father before doing anything else. However, we need Him in the afternoon and evening too. Intact we need Him most in the night time when forces of darkness are about. In short, we need to be in continuous contact with our father throughout our lives

Ps. 5:1-3; 55:16-17; Luke 6:12; 18:1-7; I Thes. 5:17; Acts. 16:13.

2. HOW SHOULD WE PRAY
Prayer is a private and intimate affair between man and God, between a child and His father. Consequently, there are steps to be taken when engaging in meaningful prayers. They are (i) withdraw yourself or draw apart (ii) totally to it (iii) be fervent (iv) pray with the Spirit as well as with understanding (v) watch as you pray, keeping on the alert for His replies (vi) pray anywhere.

Matt. 14:23; Ps. 109:4; Acts 6:4; I Cor. 7:6; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; I Cor. 14:15; Matt. 26:41; I Pet. 4:7; I Tim. 12:8.

3. FOR WHAT AND WHOM DO WE PRAY?
Some people complain that they cannot pray long because they have nothing much to pray about. Well, apart from praising God and praying for the whole world, the nation of Israel and your country, pray for the following (i) those who hate you (ii) your pastors (iii) those in trouble (iv) one another (v) your leader, physical and spiritual, (vi) all your needs (vii) the sick. Matt. 5:44; Luke 16:27; I Thes. 5:25; James 5:13; 5:16; Acts. 12:5.

4. DIVINE INVOLVEMENTS IN AND CONDITIONS FOR PRAYERS
The trinity is involved with you in your prayers. We pray to the Father, in the Name of the Son with assistance of the Holy Spirit. Beside this is the fact that Jesus prayed and is praying for you, the Holy Spirit is groaning in prayer for you and the Father delights in your prayer provided you are Holy and you do not ill-treat your wife. Above all, He has promised to regard the prayer of even a destitute.

Matt. 6:6; John 14:14; Rom. 8:26; John 14:16; John 16:26; John 17:9; 17:20; I Pet. 3:12; Pro. 15:8; James 5:16; Rev. 5:8; Rev. 8:3-4; I Pet. 3:7; Ps. 102:17; Ps. 109:25:27.