The Cathedral of HIS Glory is “different people with different backgrounds using different gifts at different places to meet different needs - all for God’s glory!
Introduction: I’ve got a problem! Sometimes I don’t know how to pray or what to pray for. I get many prayer requests. People come to me with great personal needs. I have family and personal needs of my own. Yet there are many times, in fact most of the time, I really do not know what to ask for. But I also have found a solution to my problem.
Romans 8:26 - 30 (NKJV) 26Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
This scripture brings to mind four questions.
1.When does the Holy Spirit provide?
2.How does the Holy Spirit penetrate?
3.Why does the Holy Spirit prevail?
4.What does the Holy Spirit produce?
I.When does the Holy Spirit provide?
Romans 8:22 - 28 (TMSG) 22All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. 23These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. 24That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. 25But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.26Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. 27He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. 28That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
ILL: What a great translation! Now I have never been with child. Mary and I have three children and ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild but I have never experienced birth from a woman’s perspective. I do know, however, that the longer the child is carried, the more the mother needs help. And when the birth pangs come – boy does she need help.
A.Helplessness is unquestionable the first and surest indication of a praying heart.
ILL: How many times have I been in the hospital and heard the patient cry out? Oh my God, Oh my God! Christian and non-Christian in pain call out for Him. Sometimes the shortest prayer is the greatest – help!
B.In a time of weakness, the best way to help ourselves is to be receptive to the help of the Holy Spirit.
ILL: “Lord strengthen my back or lighten my load”
C.A time of weakness is the time for the “if onlies”
·If can imagine the mother in birth pangs saying “if only I had not let him do that to me”
·If only I had not made that decision
·If only I loved God more
·If only I had prayed more
·If only I had read the Bible more
·There must be some kind of sin in my life or this would not have happened!
(all of the above may be true)
II.How does the Holy Spirit Penetrate?
Romans 8:26 (NKJV) 26Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
A.Who does the “groanings”? – answer both!
1 Corinthians 14:13 - 21 (NKJV) 13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.20Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.21In the law it is written:“Withmen of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people;And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”says the Lord.
B.What is “praying with the Spirit”
Mark 16:16 - 18 (NKJV) 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Acts 2:1 - 4 (NKJV) 1When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 10:44 - 46 (NKJV) 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.Then Peter answered…
Acts 19:1 - 7 (NKJV) 1And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”3And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”4Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7Now the men were about twelve in all.
C.Praying with the Spirit, or praying in tongues is not the same as bringing a message in tongues to a church
1 Corinthians 14:1 - 25 (NKJV) 1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
7Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts,let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.20Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.21In the law it is written:“Withmen of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people;And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”says the Lord.
22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
D.How do you receive the gift of tongues to “pray in the spirit”?
Luke 11:9 - 13 (NKJV) 9“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.10For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.11If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?12Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
·You received the Holy Spirit when you were saved
John 3:5 - 8 (NKJV) 5Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
·Being saved is not being Baptized in the Holy Spirit
Acts 8:14 - 17 (NKJV) 14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
·Ask God for the Holy Spirit and then open your mouth and pray!
Jude 1:20 - 21 (NKJV) 20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
III.Why the Spirit Prevails
A.Be quiet and Listen!
1 Corinthians 2:9 - 16 (NKJV) 9But as it is written:“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of manThe things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.13These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
B.He builds our faith
IV. What Does the Spirit Provide?
A.Security in our struggles
Romans 8:28 - 30 (NKJV) 28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
B.The difference between “these things and all things”
Conclusion: I am going to make it! How do I know? The Holy Spirit - I have two prayers that He will not fail to answer.
Romans 8:15 - 17 (NKJV) 15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
1 Corinthians 12:1 - 3 (NKJV) 1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2You know thatyou were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
