Introduction Chapter 1 Part

BOOK I

THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

ROMANS 8:26-29 Likewise the Holy Spirit also helps our infirmities: For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: But the Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And God that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

INTRODUCTION

To understand prayer, we must become familiar with the Holy Spirit. He was sent to minister and to administrate in the capacity of an intercessor. He assists in spiritual management of our relationship with God. Without His intercessory ministry, it would be impossible to fulfill the commandment of our Lord as He taught His disciples on the subject of prayer: “Your will be done in earth as it is in Heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

CHAPTER 1

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

In preparing His disciples for His ascension, our Lord promised the provision of a Holy partnership which would occur shortly after His departure (John 14:16). The “Comforter,” (Paraklete), would be sent as The (One called along side). He, the Holy Spirit, would parallel our lives; affording us oneness with God through His ministries of comfort. He would be sent, not to speak of Himself, but rather to glorify our Lord as well as to guide us into all truth (John 16:13-14). This partnership with the Holy Spirit would constitute a new and unique relationship with God hitherto unknown to Believers for He would “dwell with us and in us” (John 14:18).

PARTNERSHIP DEFINED

A confirmed partnership is first an association: (A closely joining together or union of persons for a common purpose).

We enjoy an association with our Heavenly Father through partnership with the Holy Spirit. We have been eternally joined together with the Holy Spirit through the finished work of Christ upon the cross. The purpose of our partnership with the Holy Spirit of God is for spiritual unanimity and completeness through revealed truth.

A second and necessary condition of partnership concerns agreement. Such agreements encompass the exchange of promises and the harmonizing of opinions and actions. These agreements provide arrangement and mutuality. Often such partnerships provide a common terminology, or language, to be employed to assure understanding. Additionally, it is common for a written document to be offered; stating the particulars of the relationship.

We have such provisions through partnership with God as administered by the Holy Spirit. He earnestly seeks to harmonize our relationship with the Father through the promises found within God’s Word. He arranges spiritual mutuality and even provides a language of agreement, “groanings which cannot be uttered,” to assure precise communication with God in our behalf. We even possess a written document stating the particulars – THE WORD OF GOD.

HELPER

During my days in Bible college, I often spent weekends with my roommate and his family. Near their home ran an active railroad and occasionally my friend and I would wonder down to the tracks on Saturday afternoons to challenge each other on the rails. The contest consisted of seeing who could maintain balance the farthest on a single rail. After some practice, we learned to walk long distances without falling; but we inevitably would lose our balance and drop from the track. Years later, as I meditated on the ministry of the Holy Spirit, I recalled this experience and realized that “two are better than one.” If in our attempt to traverse the rails, we would have simply reached across the empty space between us and grasped hands, we could have shifted the point of balance equally; thus in harmony negotiated a much greater distance.

The Greek word translated “helpeth” in Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Holy Spirit also helpeth our infirmities,” means to (take hold, together, against.) The ministry of the Holy Spirit therefore is one of intercessory prayer which parallels our own. It is interesting to compare the interpretation of “helpeth” with the word translated “Comforter” in John’s gospel; (Paraklete.) “Klete,” or (called), and “para,” (along side). Literally the One who (parallels).
He is sent to parallel our prayers by providing counteracting spiritual balance through intercession. In this way we can achieve greater supernatural distance when we pray. Without His help, we will fall time and time again; unable to maintain continuity or direction when we pray.

It is additionally important to note that the Holy Spirit “Helps our infirmities: For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” Our human inability to pray does not give us license to neglect prayer. The Holy Spirit parallels, or takes hold with us, as we pray. if we do not pray, He does not pray. His ministry of intercession is engaged as we fellowship with God. We must learn the importance of reaching out in partnership with the Holy Spirit when petitioning God. We must learn to pray in the Spirit.

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Partnerships are limited by the persons involved, the promises made, and the purpose for which the partnership has been established.

PERSONS INVOLVED

God has established partnership with us through the Holy Spirit and He demonstrates definite interest in us: “Likewise the Holy Spirit also helps our infirmities.” He exhibits a willingness to intercede for us in every thing that we face as believers since it is His nature as The Comforter. Many businesses fail because of a lack of intimate knowledge of the persons involved. How well do you know the Holy Spirit and do you trust Him?

CREDIBILITY

For one to be trustworthy, he must possess credibility. His credibility is only valid if his source is credible. The Holy Spirit possesses such credibility as the third personage of the Godhead.

There are numerous Scriptures which refer to the doctrine of the Trinity; confirming the Holy Spirit’s place in the Godhead. Our Lord commanded His disciples to go into all the world and to preach the Gospel; “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). The Apostle Peter likewise made reference to the Trinity on the day of Pentecost: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:32-33). The Apostle Paul also addressed this doctrine when writing to the Galatians: “And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6).

When praying to Our Heavenly Father Therefore, we would do well to always recall the Holy credibility of our partner in prayer; the Holy Spirit, as God. This will always help us to be acutely aware of the authority of the Holy Spirit as our intercessor who has the power to effect answers to our prayers since, He, the Holy Spirit, is God.

CHARACTER

The character of those persons in partnership is equally important. Often the vice president of a corporation or the son of an influential business man has credibility because of his relationship to the source, but may himself fall short when it comes to personal character. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, displays both character and credibility for He is not merely a representative of God but is God.

In the genesis of the New Testament church, many converts sold all they had and gave it to the church. Ananias and Sapphira did likewise but withheld a portion of their earnings for personal use. When their portion was laid before the Apostle Peter, Peter spiritually discerned their indiscretion. He said that, by doing so, they had lied to the Holy Ghost (Acts 5:3). Peter then concluded his reprimand by saying: “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:4). Peter clearly identified the Holy Spirit as God; thus, as God, the Holy Spirit has the character of God.

THE HOLY GUEST

The Spirit of God is often referred to as the “Holy Ghost” in New Testament Scriptures. The word “ghost” in this case was an old English word supplied by the King James translators to indicate a (guest.) In those days if one was invited for a meal, a place was set at the table for that unseen guest. He was referred to as a “ghost” because he was yet unseen. The Holy Spirit is the (unseen invited guest) who comes to dwell in us with the character of God; providing partnership in prayer. He is the character of the Holiness of God for He is God’s nature revealed through the personage and ministry of the Holy Spirit’s occupation of the regenerated human spirit.

PROMISES OF PARTNERSHIP

Partnerships are ineffective without promises [agreements] and our partnership with the Holy Spirit is no different. Our text under study reveals at least three promises:

First, the Holy Spirit helpeth or (assists) us with our infirmities. Secondly, since we often do not know what we should pray for as we ought; He makes intercession for us or, (actuates), prayers in our behalf with groanings which cannot be uttered. Thirdly, He (agrees) with us in prayer concerning God’s will because “He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

These three promises, or agreements of partnership, produce spiritual efficacy when we pray with the aid of the Holy Spirit. We have the promise that He will assist us, which is to say, He will provide aid and support when facing spiritual imbalance as we pray. Additionally, we often experience indecisiveness and uncertainty when in prayer and when this occurs, we have the promise that the Holy Spirit will actuate, or incite supernatural prayers in our behalf, through His intercessory groanings which cannot be uttered. Finally, when seeking the will of God, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit’s power of agreement with God’s perfect will for our lives through the intimacy of intercession. Exactly how this is performed will be discussed in later chapters. It is important to recognize now, however, that these promises connote spiritual force at work for us whenever we pray. Thus the knowledge of these promises should inhabit our thoughts whenever we commune with our Heavenly Father.

PURPOSE OF PARTNERSHIP

Every partnership has a purpose; else there is no need for the relationship. Our purpose of partnership with the Holy Spirit is likewise three-fold:

First, we need the (wisdom) of God. Verse (27) of our text reports: “And God that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Holy Spirit.” When God searches the heart, He is looking for wisdom; wisdom which can only come from God through the Holy Spirit as He ministers the Word of God.

The second purpose is to know the (will) of God: “The Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Every Christian desires to “know God’s will.” Partnership with the Holy Spirit provides such knowledge as we pray in the Spirit, thus such prayer should not be over looked or neglected.

The third purpose is found in verse (28): “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” For this statement to be true and fully embraced by the believer, we must know God’s (ways) to enable us to walk in obedience.

When entering God’s presence through prayer, we need always be mindful of the purpose of our partnership with His Holy Spirit. We certainly come before God in need of His wisdom; thus to become more skillful in honoring Him. We need to know His will and not our own. We also need to be capable of seeing God’s ways as they work together for our benefit. Without such acknowledgments of purpose, our prayers atrophy and our relationship with the Holy Spirit will exacerbate. We must reach out in partnership with the Holy Spirit when we pray; allowing Him to parallel our prayers, that we may experience the spiritual intimacy our Father desires to have with us.