James 5:16 | NKJV Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16 | AMPC …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
James 5:16 | TPT …for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!
The subject of prayer is so vast and as broad as the Holy Spirit Himself. There is no way to teach fully on the subject because there is always more to know.
What is Prayer?
- Simply put, prayer is communicating with our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe. It is connecting with Him in a real and powerful way.
The Helper in Prayer
Jesus told us there are two distinct works of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. One is in the New Birth where He works in us, and the other is in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit when the Spirit comes upon us.
John 4:13-14 NKJV (13) Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, (14) but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Notice Jesus likened the work of the Holy Spirit to water in a well (New Birth).
- The water in the well is for the believer’s benefit.
John 7:37-39 | NKJV (37) On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Jesus also likened the work of the Holy Spirit to water flowing like a river (the baptism of the Holy Spirit).
- The river flowing out of us is for the benefit of others.
Acts 1:1-11 | NKJV The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (2) until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, (3) to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (4) And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; (5) for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (6) Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (7) And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. (8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (9) Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, (11) who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an additional dimension of the work that He does in our lives.
But it is the same Holy Spirit that came in us when we got Born Again.
What About Speaking and Speaking in Tongues?
- The initial evidence of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, is speaking in other tongues.
Acts 2:1-4 | NKJV (1) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (4) And 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 (44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. (45) And 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. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
Acts 19:6 | NKJV (6) And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Benefits of Praying In Tongues (Praying in the Spirit)
- Tongues is primarily for a believer’s own personal, spiritual edification.
1 Corinthians 14:4 | NKJV (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Jude 1:20 | NKJV (20) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
You can’t edify people unless you have first been edified.
- God has given us this divine means by which we can speak directly to Him supernaturally.
1 Corinthians 14:2 | AMP (2) For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
- Praying in other tongues is praying in line with God’s perfect will.
From Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Renner
Romans 8:26-27 NKJV (26) Likewise 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. (27) Now 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.
Helps – (Greek: sunantilambano) – three separate words which mean: The Holy Ghost in conjunction and partnership with us, becomes so enraged against whatever is causing us difficulties, He takes it personally upon Himself.
What – (Greek: ti) – the very little thing. It underscores that we don’t even know how to necessarily pray for the small things not to mention the larger issues in life. We are so limited in our view but He can see it ALL.
Ought (Greek: dei)– as the new situation requires and dictates, as the new problem demands.
Intercession – (Greek: huperentugchano) – this is the only time that this word is used in the entire New Testament.
This word paints the picture of someone who has come upon someone who has fallen into some kind of quandary. It would be as if someone has fallen into a deep cavern and is stuck. There is someone who immediately swings into action to rescue and deliver the one who is in trouble. It conveys the idea of a full-scale rescue operation.
When we do not know how we should pray for that situation, the Holy Spirit swings into a full-scale rescue operation. But to do this, He falls into that place with you. Now you are no longer facing that situation alone, for the Holy Spirit has stepped into your dilemma and is initiating a rescue plan to get you out of that mess!
The Holy Spirit feels everything that you feel. He understands the complete inadequacy you are experiencing. He willingly joins you in your circumstances sharing your emotions and frustrations. Then He begins to put a supernatural plan of rescue into operation to get you out of that problem.
Romans 8:26-27 | TPT (26) And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. (27) God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.
Romans 8:28 | NKJV (28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
- Your weaknesses do not disqualify you from His help, they qualify you for His help.