Expectant Prayers ®

"But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!"  Jude 20-21

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Do you recognize Him as a vital power in your spiritual walk?   Is He a valued, equaled member of the godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)?   Do you embrace His functions and see them displayed in your life?

We tend to think of the Holy Spirit in the context of the New Testament only, but did you know there are many verses in the Bible that reveal and glorify the Spirit?  Start with Genesis and see that the Holy Spirit was present at Creation clear through the Holy Scriptures!   The men and women of the Old Testament were as keenly aware of the Spirit of God and many were described as being filled with the Spirit.

God told Moses that He filled Bezalel, son of Uri with the Spirit of God; with skill, ability, and all kinds of knowledge in all kinds of crafts (Exodus 31:1-5)

Joshua was filled with the Spirit of wisdom when Moses laid hands on him (Deuteronomy 34:9)

Micah was filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might.  (Micah 3:

Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit when Mary visited her and the baby in her womb leaped!  (Luke 1:41)

Zechariah was filled with the Spirit and prophesied.  (Luke 1:67)

And some examples in the New Testament:

Those who tarried in the upper room were filled with the Spirit and began speaking in other tongues.
(Acts 2:4)

Peter was filled with the Spirit and preached with boldness.(Acts 4:

Saul who was later renamed Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit.(Acts 9:16-1

The Word encourages us to be FILLED with the Spirit.  (Ephesians 5:1    Likewise, He also desires for our prayers to be in and of His Spirit.


The importance of the Spirit in the lives of those who love the Lord is evident throughout time...even NOW.  The Psalmist wrote, "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me."  Psalm 51:11   Yes, even before the time of Christ, the saints of old recognized that the Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit - was in operation in their lives and world.  They recognized that the Spirit of God transformed them from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Getting from our fleshly man and into the Spirit is vital when it comes to prayer.  It takes us from the carnal mind and what we want into what the Lord wants for us. In other words, we need less of us and more of Him in our prayers!   The Holy Spirit will turn our ordinary prayers into the extraordinary.

Understanding some of the functions of the Holy Spirit helps us realize a new dimension to our prayers if we allow Him to move is us with freedom and liberty.   What are some of the functions of the Holy Spirit?

* Empowers the believer
*Wisdom
*Understanding
*Discernment
*Regeneration
*Sanctification
*Conviction
*Energizing

Let's ask the Lord to fill us today and that He would teach us to pray in His Spirit.  If we desire the "powerful and effective prayers" from a fervent righteous man/woman, then we need to pray in the SPIRIT!