The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer...John Owen

Sorry for the long hiatus:

The works of the Spirit are either general, that is, respecting all duties; or particular, respecting a specific duty.

Prayer is one of the most noticeable duties of religion, which even natural light gives testimony to.

Owen is here examining only one aspect of prayer--"The interest of the Holy Spirit by his gracious operations" is the aspect of prayer that we are now concerned with. This IS a matter of some controversy (then and now...though now men have forgotten it).

Thesis: There is promised and actually granted a special work of the Spirit of God in the prayers of believers under the New Testament. To be examined in its nature and application.

Two Scriptures:

I. Zech. xii.10--I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.

A) This is a promise applied to the days of the gospel.
B) Those receiving this promise are the whole church of God.
C) Spirit described in two ways
1) A Spirit of grace (as the author of all graces)
2) A Spirit of supplication-- so called because
a) By working gracious inclinations towards prayer in our hearts.
b) By giving a gracious ability to pray in a right way.

Conclusion-- God promises in the New Testament to give a Spirit of prayer enabling us to pray according to his mind and will.

II. Gal. iv.6--Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, by which you cry 'Abba, Father.'
Note: Zech is the promise, and Gal. is the fulfillment.

A) The subject--believers, those made children of God.
B) The general work of the Spirit is spoken of here--that is, they are taught to live into their new identity.
C) Then this is shown more specifically in the duty of prayer--crying to him by the power of the Spirit.
1) Gracious affections are aroused by the Spirit
2) The exercise of these graces in vocal prayer is enabled.

Conclusion-- There is a special work of the Holy Spirit in the prayers of believers, enabling them to pray according to the mind and will of God.

III. How does the Spirit work in the MATTER of prayer, that is, what we actually pray.

Romans viii.26-- The Spirit also helps us in our weakness, for we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

A) Prayer defined--a gift, ability, or spiritual faculty of exercising graces in a way of vocal requests to God. This is what is bestowed here by the Spirit.
B) Our natural weakness as to the matter of prayer
1) We do not know our wants
2) We do not know how God's promises supply the,
3) We do not know what end to direct our prayers towards.
C) The Spirit's work in the matter of prayer
1) The Spirit reveals to us the depravation of our nature, and the unique needs we have before God.
2) The Spirit alone makes alive and real the promises of God written in the Scriptures. (others can read them, but the Spirit convinces us that they are for us!)
3) The Spirit alone works in our prayers that they might by for the glory of God and for our conformity to him.

IV. The Spirit's work in the MANNER of our prayer

A) The Spirit combines the revealed matters of prayer with a due sense and valuation of them, in other words, he shows their value to us so that our affections and will are exercised towards them.
B)Thus the mind and the will are both led by the Spirit:

1)First, he works our affections towards the things prayed about.
2)Second, our affections are wrought in the soul in such a way that they emerge forth in prayer-- We groan.
3) We are given a delight in God as the object of our prayers.
A) A sight of God on the throne
B) A delight in him as Father
C) A boldness and confidence of acceptance with him.
4) Our souls are intent on Christ as our means of access.


Tomorrow...Moving this into our experience!!!