Power of prayer - Part 9

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this morning. This is the day that You have made and we shall rejoice and be glad in it. We ask for the Holy Spirit to bring revelation and light to us as we read Your Word. May Your power manifest in our lives we read and believe today's Word In the Name of Jesus.

Today's lead Scripture is from Romans 8:26-28

"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 intercessions of the saints according to the will of God.

28.And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Amen

Last Sunday, was the day of Pentecost. Historically, Pentecost day was when the promise of the Holy Spirit that Jesus had given the disciples and other believers descended from heaven and actively manifested in their life. In Acts 1:5, Jesus said to them, "...for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." As a believer, this verse highlights the importance of both a water baptism and a baptism of the Holy Spirit. When the baptism of the Holy Spirit had descended upon the people, "...there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:3-4.

When I read this text about the believers receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit, it is evident that there was also power in their expectation to receive the Holy Spirit. We see their expectation led to the action of praying and waiting for the promise which God granted to them. When it comes to the ability to pray in tongues, today's lead scripture tells us that the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses for we do not know what we should pray for. When I read this scripture the first time, I could not speak in tongues (or unknown language when praying) because I did not think too much about it. Besides, as long as God and I fully understood what I was praying about, I could not be bothered about the need for me to pray in a language I never understood.

Eventually with the help of the Holy Spirit, I realized that what hindered my ability to speak in tongues was my indifference and negative attitude towards that gift of the Holy Spirit. I repented and asked for God's help to be able to speak in an unknown tongue. I kept praying with the expectation about it and also started actively watching gospel teachings on this subject of praying in tongues and one day by the grace of God, I allowed the Holy Spirit to take over while I took a back seat. The Bible says in John 3:30: "He must increase, but I must decrease" and when I decreased, I experienced this amazing gift of praying in tongues.

It was not easy the first time because 'my desire' to understand what I was uttering occasionally crept up. However, the knowledge that God has your best interests at heart is comforting.

As reiterated in my past blogs, a big part of love is trust.

It's because of God's love for us that He gave us this gift that is symbolic of His love and as seen in today's lead Scripture all things work for our good when we love God and are called according to His purpose.

The power of praying in tongues gives room for the Holy Spirit to make intercession for us. I don't know about you but the truth that Someone (the Holy Spirit), who knows all my needs better than myself, is always available and ready to pray for me anytime especially when I don't know what to pray for is humbling! Praise God for this gift.

I'll end with the Word of Hope found in Ephesians 1:13-14NKJV

"13.In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

14. who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

AMEN.

Let's pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your love through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We thank you that because of the day of pentecost, we are assured of the gift to speak in tongues for all of us as Your children and we say thank you for the ability to speak in tongues. I pray for those who may be unable to speak in tongues , that You open up their hearts and minds LORD to able to receive this gift with child like faith. I also pray for those that already have this gift to continue to pray in tongues continually and for Your power to manifest in their lives as they represent You LORD as witnesses in whatever capacities and spaces they dominate. We thank you LORD, In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Invitation to salvation: Finally, in case you have not already, I invite you to the kingdom of God which will give you this power of the Holy Spirit.

When you believe with your heart and confess with your mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came in a human body to die for my sins. I repent of my sin. I choose Him as my Lord and Saviour today and forever.

Congratulations, by grace you have been saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

As a new believer, I urge you to prayerfully consider becoming a member of a church and buying a Bible or downloading the Bible app on your mobile in case you don't already own one!