Know the Praying in the Spirit
Praying in the spirit involves knowing the light from Christ, leading to truth, understanding, and heavenly-mindedness.
George Fox emphasizes the importance of praying in the spirit and with understanding, leading to unutterable sighs and groans. He distinguishes between true spiritual prayer and the Pharisees' long prayers filled with doubt and wrath. Fox highlights the necessity of owning the light and truth that come from Jesus to truly know the Father and the Son, guiding believers out of earthly distractions and into heavenly-mindedness.
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Know The Praying In The Spirit (1657)
Friends, - Know the praying in the spirit, and with the understanding; then ye will come to know the sighs and groans than cannot be uttered. For such as have not the spirit that gave forth the scriptures to guide them, are as the Pharisees were, in the long prayers, and in the wrath, and in the doubting, and do not lift up holy hands. This makes a difference between praying in the spirit, and the Pharisees' long prayers, that devoured widows' houses.
And none owns the light as it is Jesus, but he that owns the light that Christ lighteth him withal. And none owns the truth, but who owns the light that cometh from Christ, the truth. And none cometh to the Father, but such who owns the light that cometh from Christ, which leads to him. Nor none owns the son, except he owns the light that cometh from him.
For all dwelling in the light that comes from Jesus, it leads out of wars, leads out of strife, leads out of the occasion of wars, and leads out of the earth up to God, out of earthly-mindedness to heavenly-mindedness, and bringeth your minds to heaven.
G.F.
Sermon Outline
- Praying in the Spirit
- Distinguishing between praying in the spirit and Pharisees' prayers
- Ownership of the light and truth
- The light from Jesus leads to heavenly-mindedness
- The light from Jesus leads out of wars and strife
- The light from Jesus leads to heavenly-mindedness
Key Quotes
“For such as have not the spirit that gave forth the scriptures to guide them, are as the Pharisees were, in the long prayers, and in the wrath, and in the doubting, and do not lift up holy hands.” — George Fox
“And none owns the light as it is Jesus, but he that owns the light that Christ lighteth him withal.” — George Fox
“For all dwelling in the light that comes from Jesus, it leads out of wars, leads out of strife, leads out of the occasion of wars, and leads out of the earth up to God, out of earthly-mindedness to heavenly-mindedness, and bringeth your minds to heaven.” — George Fox
Application Points
- Pray in the spirit and with understanding to come to know the sighs and groans that cannot be uttered.
- Distinguish between praying in the spirit and Pharisees' prayers by knowing the light from Christ.
- Owning the light from Christ allows you to know the truth and come to the Father.