#DailyDevotion Pray In The Spirit! What Does This Mean?
Eph. 6:18-20 18Pray at all times in the Spirit, using every kind of prayer. Be alert and keep at it continually as you pray for all the holy people. 19Pray for me, too, that when I start to talk I’ll be told what to say and will boldly tell the hidden truth of the good news 20(for which I’m an ambassador in chains) just as boldly as I must tell it.
People often think that anything being done “in the Spirit” is some sort of ethereal thing because I guess, spirits are ethereal. However, when Paul talks about walking in the Spirit, or praying in the the Spirit, or anything else according to the Spirit he is not talking about some nebulous feeling inside of you or ethereal state.
What is he talking about then? He is talking about the Gospel. When we do anything “in the Spirit” we are doing it according to the works, the promises and the name of Jesus. Paul says in 2 Cor. 3, 17“The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18…as we expect it from the Lord, Who is the Spirit.” When we are praying in the Spirit we are praying with faith our sins are forgiven us for Jesus’ sake. We pray we are heard because of Jesus’ name because Jesus promised the Father will hear us when we pray in his name. We pray in the Spirit when we pray God’s Word, according to the promises of God’s word. The Word and the Spirit are One. Praying in the Spirit is praying without doubting for we know we are praying according to His will because we are praying for what he has told us to pray for.
What does it mean to pray using every kind of prayer? How many different kinds of prayer are there? Paul in his epistles lists of several different kinds, prayer, petitions, supplications, and thanksgiving. There are also laments. Some think about just talking with God as prayer as one sits around and talks with a good friend. If you don’t know what to pray for, Jesus gave you the Our Father. You can never go wrong praying that.
Who or what are we to pray for, in what state and how often? Well we are to be alert when we pray. I think Paul means here to not drift about here and there in our minds but to concentrate. We are to be praying continually. I think that perhaps goes with being alert. As we go about our day and we are alert to what is going on around us, we offer up prayers for the people and situations we encounter. We may not always have the means to help people and their situations but we can bring them to God’s attention through prayer. Paul also calls us to pray for our fellow Christians, the holy people. Most particularly, we pray for those in our own congregations as we fellowship with them most often and know what is going on with them.
As Paul calls on them to pray for him, we can and should pray for our pastors, missionaries and evangelists around the world. Particularly, we pray God would open their mouths, put his words in them, so they may reveal to us and to all people the hidden truth of the good news, that is Jesus Christ, who he is, what he has done and what he is going to do for all who put their trust in him. Pray they preach boldly and teach the word purely that all who hear are filled with the Spirit and come to faith or are strengthened in their faith.
Heavenly Father, give us your Spirit that we may open our mouths and use our tongues in prayer that our needs are met, others are relieved and your preacher preach Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.