05.10. By what means Believers pray in a manner acceptable to God
By what means Believers pray
in a manner acceptable to God. By the help of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 4:6. ’And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.’ Romans 8:26. 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.’ There are two sorts of prayers.
1st, A prayer wrought out by virtue of a, gift of knowledge and utterance. This is bestowed on many reprobates, and that gift may be useful to others, and to the church. But as it is merely of that sort, it is not accepted, nor does Christ put it in before the Father for acceptance.
For.2d. There is a prayer wrought in men by virtue of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah 12:10. ’I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications:’ and that is the only acceptable prayer to God, James 5:16. ’Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,’ effectual, Gr. inwrought. The right praying is praying in the Spirit. It is a gale blowing from heaven, the breathing of the Spirit in the saints, that carries them out in the prayer, which comes the length of the throne. Now, the Spirit helps to pray,
1. As a teaching and instructing Spirit, affording proper matter of prayer, causing us to know what we pray for, Romans 8:26. forecited; enlightening the mind in the knowledge of our needs, and those of others bringing into our remembrance these things, suggesting them to us according to the word, together with the promises of God, on which prayer is grounded, John 14:26. ’The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,--shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.’ Hence it is that the saints are sometimes carried out in prayer for things which they had no view of before, and carried by some things they had.
2. As a quickening, exciting Spirit, Romans 8:26.; the Spirit qualifying the soul with praying graces and affections, working in the praying person sense of needs, faith, fervency, humility, &c. Psalms 10:17. ’Thou wilt prepare their heart.’ The man may go to his knees in a very unprepared frame for prayer, yet the Spirit blowing, he is helped. It is for this reason the Spirit is said to make intercession for us, namely, in so far as he teaches and quickens, puts us in a praying frame, and draws our petitions, as it were, which the Mediator presents. This praying with the help of the Spirit is peculiar to the saints, James 5:16.; yet they have not that help at all times, nor always in the same measure; for sometimes the Spirit, being provoked, departs, and they are left in a withered condition. So there is great need to look for a breathing, and pant for it, when we are to go to duty : for if there be not a gale, we will tug at the oars but heartlessly.
Let no man think that a readiness and volubility of expression in prayer, is always the effect of the Spirit’s assistance. For that may be the product of a gift, and of the common operations of the Spirit, removing the impediment of the exercise of it. And it is evident one may be scarce of words, and have groans instead of them, while the Spirit helps him to pray, Romans 8:26. Neither is every mood of affections in prayer, the effect of the Spirit of prayer. There are of those which puff up a man, but make him never a whit more holy, tender in his walk, &c. But the influences of the Spirit never miss to be humbling but sanctifying. Hence, says David, " Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort ? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee,’ 1 Chronicles 29:14.; and, says the apostle, " We have no confidence in the flesh," Php 3:3.