PREACHING ON JULY 07, 2024:
Pastor Antonio Russo
THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER
This worship service began with a clarification that what was being shared was a teaching, so we were invited to be attentive, open, and take notes, recording what we would hear, in order to review and meditate later. So, we will start by reading together a verse from the Gospel of John, which reports something our Master Jesus said.
John 16:12; 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Do you think that when Jesus spoke to the disciples in these verses, they had not yet been born again and therefore did not have spiritual discernment and sensitivity? In another passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus, foreshadowing the coming of the Holy Spirit, says: "But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide us into all truth." Good news: the Holy Spirit has come, and now He is here among us, so let us rejoice and thank Him, saying: "Thank you, Holy Spirit, because we are not alone; You are with us." The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and always leads us to the Word, so let us not seek opinions on social media, for He will always inspire us with the truth. Being open to His guidance means not grieving the Holy Spirit, who prepares us to receive what we currently do not understand. To know if someone is in the truth, let us ask Him; He does not speak on His own, but He reports what He has heard from the Father and from Jesus, also revealing things to come. Growing in intimacy with Him, especially through prayer, will help us avoid much harm, wounds, and disappointments; therefore, we must learn to ask and submit to His guidance, fully trusting Him.
Jude 20; 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
This passage exhorts all of us to continually grow and progress in our faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. You know, one of the things the Holy Spirit has taught us is praying in other languages, described in the Bible as direct communication with God, born from His heart and inspired by the Holy Spirit in us, while our mind remains unfruitful, as Paul described in his letters to the Corinthians. This form of prayer requires seeking revelations, as it utters mysteries that must be known and revealed in our lives, a veil that must be removed to open our eyes. So, it is crucial to discern between prayer that comes from our need and that which is born in God's heart, because only that which is born in His heart will be heard. Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us before the Father, and we should joyfully embrace this reality instead of complaining about being neglected. We must learn to pray with humility, asking the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, so that our prayer is always inspired by Him and reflects the divine submission and dependence that Jesus taught us to follow in our relationship with the Father.
Luke 5:15-16; 15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
People needed healing, comfort, and encouragement, yet Jesus, strangely enough, would leave the crowds and withdraw to deserted places to pray. This teaches us that the answer to people's needs is not found within ourselves but in Him. When we go to church, we should not go for the pastor, mentor, or other people, but to be in His presence. If we attend for people and they disappoint us, we might be tempted not to return. However, we should continue going for Jesus because we love Him. The truth is that when people stop attending church due to scandals caused by someone, it's merely empty excuses. You see, the church isn't perfect because we aren't perfect, but Jesus promised to build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
John 5:19; 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
You know, there are at least five Greek words that define the term "son", while we have only one. These words differentiate between offspring and the mature son (huiòs) capable of knowing and applying the father's will. We often think we are mature when we no longer need others, but true maturity is recognized by our increasing dependence on God in our lives. The mature son can do nothing by themselves but only what they see the Father doing in His intimacy. In fact, Jesus, in His quiet moments, observed the Father healing and setting people free, and He replicated these works publicly. Today's church lacks miracles because it lacks intimacy with the Father. Like Jesus, we must rely completely on God, even in prayer. Therefore, we should become mature sons, guided by the Holy Spirit, like clay in the potter's hands: God shapes us, and we must be pliable and obedient, allowing Him to lead us in prayer.
Romans 8:14; 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The Apostle Paul teaches us that all those who are led and guided, even in prayer, are mature children of God, so it is essential for us to be guided. When we lived in our old nature, without Christ, we were ready to take autonomous and independent initiatives apart from God, but now, with the Lord, everything changes: we no longer need to act alone but learn to depend on and be guided in everything. When we must pray for those we cannot stand or forgive someone, our flesh complains, but the spirit is willing; this indicates that we need to be mindful of the flesh. In the past, we were independent, but now we must follow the initiative of the Holy Spirit and aspire to a spiritual maturity similar to that of Jesus. He is our example: let's look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and ask ourselves what He would have done in each situation. Jesus did not rely on His own wisdom but on that of the Father, trusting Him completely, and we must do the same, desiring to be like Jesus so that God finds no obstacles in us. As we mature and learn to depend on God by following His inspirations, we become docile and ready to act according to His will without delay, accelerating our spiritual growth through obedience, freeing ourselves from anxiety, and allowing ourselves to be guided in every situation. Sometimes, God allows afflictions to help us grow, and we must accept the process, understanding that spiritual growth may take time and moments of desert, just as Jesus, after His baptism, was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for 40 days of fasting and prayer. Jesus fulfilled His ministry in three and a half years thanks to His obedience and attention to the Father's will, thus accomplishing God's purpose swiftly and effectively. Speaking of children, sometimes God permits afflictions for our good, even if we may pray against what God is doing. The Bible teaches us that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Even our momentary afflictions cooperate for our benefit; in this regard, the Bible says that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them from them all.
Romani 8:26-28; 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 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.
The Bible states that often we don't know what or how to pray in order for our prayers to be effective. This understanding leads us to realize that to be heard, we must not only pray but also share with others what we receive, in accordance with His teaching that makes us witnesses. Verse 26 tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and intercedes with us. This means that He doesn't act in our place but assists and collaborates with us. For example, when we need to move a heavy table, God requires our participation: if we can lift a part, the Holy Spirit positions Himself on the other side and lifts the rest. So, if we can lift 10 kg, He will lift the remaining 90 kg, confirming His help in carrying weights we couldn't manage alone. The same happens when we pray; He sustains us, gives us the strength we lack, and prays alongside us. If we feel overwhelmed by life's burdens, it's because we're carrying them alone, while the Holy Spirit wants to help us and invites us to share our burdens with Him. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." When we grasp these principles, we find rest and freedom from anxiety because the Holy Spirit is always with us, ready to assist. You see, merely discussing our problems with someone isn't enough the problem remains. Instead, we must go to the Holy Spirit, our support, helper, and counselor. The Bible teaches us that we don't always know what to ask for in prayer or how to do it correctly. This doesn't mean we should stop praying; rather, we must depend on the Holy Spirit in our prayer life. Since we don't know the future, we might pray for things we desire at the moment but that may not be in our best interest. The Holy Spirit, who knows our past, present, and future, guides us in proper prayers according to God's will, not our personal desires. God, knowing better than us what we truly need, may not grant some of our requests because they could harm us. That's why we must be led by the Holy Spirit in our prayers only targeted prayers aligned with God's will are effective. Often, when we pray in the Spirit, we're delivered from harm and disasters without even realizing it. When we wake up at night feeling inspired to pray, we should respond to that invitation; we might prevent disasters in our family or help people on the other side of the world. Being sensitive and available to the Holy Spirit's initiative means allowing Him to come to our aid, collaborating with us in our needs. He intercedes on our behalf not in our place but alongside us and we should approach His presence with sincere and guided prayers.
Let's conclude by examining three principles we should observe when we pray:
First principle: Let's begin by asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer.
We must tell the Holy Spirit that we don't know how to pray and ask Him to inspire us and reveal the true needs of our hearts according to the Father's will, not our desires, because desires differ from real needs. This is because we only know the Father partially, but the Holy Spirit knows Him fully.
Second principle: When we pray, let's remain attentive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.
The most challenging thing to do is to stay silent, but it is crucial: let's be still before the Eternal and wait, knowing that He has prepared the best for us. A helpful suggestion is to write down what the Holy Spirit inspires during prayer, having paper, pen, and the Bible in front of us to record the impressions and inspirations we receive.
Third principle: Let us present our requests to the Father, allowing the Holy Spirit to assist us.
It is essential to be open to His guidance during prayer, allowing His inspirations to shape our supplications. When we are in communion with God through prayer, we can be certain that the Holy Spirit, who knows our deepest needs, intercedes for us according to the Father's will. Even if we don't fully understand what God wants to impart, we must obey because the Holy Spirit already knows where He wants to lead us, and we must surrender to Him.
