Transforming Faith and Works in the Power of the Spirit – 8

     

“Let Us Pray”

       

Some people speak eloquent prayers.

With just the right words.

Flowing from one request to another, smoothly, easily.

Exquisite phrases.

Awesome praises.

     

Surely God hears such fine praying.

       

Others say,

“Isn’t prayer something that comes naturally?  It’s just talking with God.  Your say what’s on your mind (or in your heart).  That’s all there is to it.”

      

Or

“Prayer.  I never know what to say.  I hear the pastor’s prayers on Sundays and think, ‘I could never pray like that.’  I can’t even pray out loud in front of my small group.  They don’t want to hear my stumbling attempts.  Anyway, didn’t Jesus say to go into a closet by yourself to pray?”

     

Prayer and the Holy Spirit:

Transforming Faith and Works in the Power of the Spirit

    

Jesus prayed.

His prayer life was so distinctive that His disciples asked, “teach us to pray.”

1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”                                                     Luke 11:1 NAS

     

They didn’t want theory. Or theology.

They wanted straight forward, explicit, memorable directions.

      

And Yeshua taught them a model prayer.

This prayer is often called “The Lord’s Prayer.” But it probably should be called “The Disciples’ Prayer” because it is a model for all disciples to use, up to today.

9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.                                                          Matthew 6:9-13 NAS

       

This model can also be used to pray for and in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

       

Model Prayer to the In-dwelling God the Spirit

     

  • Acknowledgment of the Divinity of the Triune God:
  • Declaration of the Sovereignty of YeHoVaH:
  • Supplication: Ask. Be specific.
  • Profession of Faith in Transformation and Spiritual Growth:
  • Appeal for Guidance and Help By and Through the Divine Power of the Holy Spirit.

       

I add:

  • Thanks and Gratitude for:
    • Confirmation of my reception of the Holy Spirit.
    • His in-dwelling presence in me.
    • The release of His power in my life, so that I can be transformed into the image of Christ and be empowered to do similar Works of Faith as He has done.
  • Amen:
    • In the immortal words of Jean Luc Picard, “Make It So.”
    • Release of self-rule for Spirit-rule.

      

We pray to God the Spirit-Who-Dwells-Within-Me

None of us can overcome our sins and shortcomings without God’s help. And God makes that help available to us through His Holy Spirit.                                                            The Holy Spirit: God’s Transforming Power

        

  • For transformation from our earthly desires to spiritual desires in alignment with divine will.

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.                                                            2 Corinthians 3:18 NAS

         

  • For the ability to have our Faith change our behavior into godly living.

5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.      

   

8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him – 

 

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.                                                  Colossians 3:5, 8-10, 12-16 NAS

       

  • For our behavior to reflect God’s will through the evidence of our Works.

17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.                                                    Colossians 3:17 NAS

       

When we pray to grow into the image of Christ, we are asking for transformation by the Holy Spirit.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit … You can change the things that the Holy Spirit shows you to change.

Releasing the Power of the Holy Spirit by Gregory Dickow 2010

       

The Holy Spirit desires to help us grow into the image of Christ.

The Spirit desires to have full possession of my life. We pray for more of the Spirit, and we pray well, if alongside this prayer we set the truth that the Spirit wants more of me. The Spirit would possess me entirely. Just as my soul has my whole body for its dwelling-place and service, so the Holy Spirit would have my body and soul as his dwelling-place, entirely under his control.

The Prayer Life by Andrew Murray excerpt Chapter 6

      

As those who bear the image of Christ, the Spirit helps us turn our Faith into Works in the likeness of Christ.

To do as He did.

To live as He lived.

To love as He loved.

      

We remain dependent on God to work by his Spirit because there is no growth without him. There is no true growth in our own life without the gracious work of the Spirit enlightening us and strengthening us.

The Work of the Spirit for Life and Ministry by Graham Beynon 10 10 2016

http://www.acts29.com/work-spirit-life-ministry/

    

Spiritual growth through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit begins in the same way our relationship with Jesus began.

It all begins with “Yes.”

As we said “Yes” to the call to salvation, to the call to a relationship with the living Godhead, we say “Yes” to the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

     

Say “Yes” and let the transformation begin.

“Make it so.”

     

Blessings,

TLThomas

    

It’s ok to doubt, if you check it out!

Be a Berean!

 10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.                   Acts 17:10, 11 ESV

     

See also

Faith or Works? Series

  1. By Faith or by Works? That is the Question – 1
  2. What Does the Bible Say About Faith and Works? – 2
  3. What Does the Church Teach About Faith and Works? – 3
  4. Can Paul and James be reconciled on Faith and Works? – 4
  5. The Response to Salvation: Faith AND Works – 5
  6. Can There be Life-Changing Faith Without Visible Works? – 6
  7. By the Power of The Holy Spirit: Responding in Faith through Works – Part 7
  8. Transforming Faith and Works in the Power of the Spirit – 8

and

Do You Have An Enduring Faith?

      

Please join me in this journey of discovery.

  • Leave a comment, or ask me a question.
  • Share this blog with others, whether they are doubting, or not.
  • Take what I say and CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!

    

© 2017 by TLThomas

       

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