The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-08-23
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER.

BY A. s. woRRELL.
Praying in the Holy Spirit" "The
Spirit also helpeth our infirmity; for
we know not how to pray as we ought;
but the Spirit Himself maketh inter
cession for us with groanings that can.
not be uttered and He that searcheth
the hearts knoweth what is the mind
of the Spirit. because He maketii In
tercession for the saints according TO
God" lSee in order Jude 81; Rom.
S:2G. 27.l
We have all learned tho place the
Father and ihc Son occupy in the
prayers Of Gods people. viz. that
prayer should be offered to the Father
in the name of the Son; but compara-
lively few seem to know the place of
the Spirit. To ignore the Spirits place
in our praycr-life, or to remain ignorant
of 1t. is to greve the Spirit and greatly
hinder His work in us. How import
ant ii Is, therefore, that we learn our
dependence upon the Holy Spirit; and.
to do this. let us glance at the mighty
part that is assigned to Him in the
working out of human redemption.
The Spirit is the one who convicts the
sinner (John 1873; He is the agent of
strengthens the inner man, or new ma
ture. to the end that the believer may
enthrone Christ in his heart by faith
CEph. 2;16, II; John 14:l7-20l: He is the
builder-up of the Christ-llfe in the fully
surrendered and obedlcnt believer (Gal.
5:22, %: Cor 3:1S) He becomes, as
His presence is welcomed within, the
teacher of the true believer John IA:
.,,1 hi
1913. Ia; and He is the inspirer of
true prayer. being the bestower of the
spirit of grace and of supplicaton
(Zech 12:1O).
The Spirits work in the matter OF
practical redemption is just as neces-
sary as the vicarous sufferings of
Christ on the cross: for, apart from the
work of the Spirit. the death of Christ
would have availed nothing in the way
of human redemption. "He maketh
intercesslon for the saints" He is
1.-THE Spirit OF adoption. whereby we
cry, Abba. Father" He enables us TO
say. "Our Father. who art In Heaven"
As we permit the Spirit to work in
us, our prayers and our service be-
come acceptable to God our Father
Failure in prayer must come from n
feeble spiritual life in us: and our
spiritual life is feeble, because we
have not welcomed the Holy Spirit
within us. and trusted Him to do His
blessed work in our being. Our prayer
LIFE is an exact index of the Spirits
work in us. II we take great delight
in prayer, and pray without ceasing,
ii Is because the Holy Spirit has been
permitted to work freely in MS.
Do we really desire to be at our best
for God and man in the prayer-life? =?
There are certain steps that lead in
that direction; and, if we would have
glorious realizations growing out of the
prayer-life. we must take and maintain
these steps:
], We must. in the spirit of unre-
served obedience, yield ourselves
wholly to God, and invite the Holy
Spirit into our hearts and lives TO
make us real instruments of prayer. to
the praise of the blessed God.
.. We must, by faith. welcome the
Holy Spirit into our hearts. and believe
Him preseIn in lis. whether we feel
His presence or not.
3. We should trust the Spirit to
breathe into our spirits. or hearts, just
the petitions that He knoweth the
Father would be pleased to grant.
l. We should trust Him TO impart
the faith to accept the answer to the
petitions He breatheth in us.
= We should trust the Spirit TO nm
fold to MS the Scriptures. to the end
that our prayers may all harmonize
with the Word of God and that our
petitions may be co-extenslve with all
the provisions of grace in Christ Jesus.
g. We should ever keep our minds,
hearts. and wills, centred in Jesus
Christ. and see in Him the meritori0us
ground upon which our petitions may
be granted 10y the Father.
:. If we ever eXDect TO be success
FIJI in the prayer-lfe we must take
time 10 pray; have our hours and places
for prayer: and make prayer one. at
least. of the principal businesses of
life permitting nothing 10 disturb 1t.
oh. beloved. let MS yield ourselves to
God that He may make MS all that He
wsheth MS to he; and. complying with
the seven conditions above named. our
spirltual life will grow stronger as the
days 90 by, and our efficiency rs instru-
ments of prayer will increase accord
ingly. Gospel Witness.