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. Romans 8:26 KJV
When we bow our heads to pray at the table before dinner we are apt to recite the same words night after night. But when we are shaken to the core by, an attack, whether spiritual or physical, then we cry out to the Lord in a completely different way. That groaning which the verse speaks of is poured out in our hearts with the Holy Spirit’s help. He not only knows the mind of the Father, but He also knows our deepest hurts and needs. I hope you will listen to the brief testimony which I share about a dear friend’s ultimate test of faith and how she found grace to help in time of need in her own “Sweet Hour of Prayer. “
In 1962, when four guys named, John, Paul, Ringo and George were releasing their first hit song, Doris Mae was helping with choir practice. One particulat night, Doris felt the presence of God in such a powerful way that she hesitated to dismiss everyone. As they lingered a bit, she told someone. “There is such a sweet spirit in this place.” Doris was so enraptured by that experience, that she went home and wrote the words, “There’s a sweet sweet Spirit in this place. And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.”
Today, almost no one remembers Doris Mae Acker, but millions still sing that song which God gave her. And ironically that big hit song, “Love Me Do.” by The Beatles, is rarely played. That story makes me recall some other lyrics written a bit earlier, “I’d rather have Jesus than world wide fame. I’d rather be true to His Holy name.
It was my privilege to sing Dotis’ sweet song with my friends at Life Care today. I ho0e you can hear their voices as we sang together for Jesus and that you will join in. Have a blessed dsy everyone!
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”Luke 11:12 ESV
My personal search for the Holy Spirit began in Lutheran catechism class. There I learned about the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Now I was pretty sure the Father was the one who was our creator, and Jesus also seemed familiar, since I had been coloring pictures of him with children and sheep since I was four, but the Holy Ghost had me stumped. So as any religious minded eight-year-old would do; I asked the best theological source I knew of: Louie and Wally: the guys who walked to school with me! Wally went to a different catechism class than me, but he also had no answer, so together we asked Louie, hoping that maybe the Catholics knew, but to no avail. Finally, one night while we were all camping out in our back yard, we decided to settle things by sneaking into the Catholic church around the corner from us. Being Summer, and in the days before air-conditioning, a small window had been left open and we quietly climbed in. We had no mischief in mind, we just simply tiptoed up to the front, wondering if the Pope was there and what he might say. Though the lights were on, the beautiful little church seemed empty, and after dipping our fingers into what Louie told us was Holy Water, we climbed out the way we had come in wondering if God was watching.
Today the Holy Spirit is still one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented topics in Christian circles. For some, the mere mention of the Holy Spirit will bring an entire room to a hushed silence. I fully understand that due to abuse of the topic that care must be taken, but we must not allow our fears to keep us from God’s promised gift. In hopes of casting some clarity let’s begin at today’s verse, where Jesus tells us that God has promised His Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Notice that the Holy Spirit is God’s Promise for everyone. This gift is not just for Apostles, Prophets and the first century church.
If we back up just a few verses, it is interesting that asking for the Holy Spirit is the culmination of what Jesus teaches about prayer. Jesus begins because His disciples have seen Him praying and are so impressed that they ask Him to teach them how to pray. Here in Luke, Jesus begins by giving a shortened form of what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”, and the first word in His prayer is, “Father.”
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.Luke 11:2 ESV
First it is vital to understand that the Holy Spirit is only for God’s children. Receiving God’s Holy Spirit is not for unbelievers. No amount of outward emotional display, miraculous signs or enthusiasm can change that. We must come to God in humble repentance, putting our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Secondly, Jesus tells us we must ask, and He goes into great detail about asking, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9
It is interesting that while we use this promise for all kinds of requests, Jesus’ focus is on our asking for and receiving the Holy Spirit. So, let’s look again at this verse. First, “Ask and you will receive.” Here is a promise for a greater fullness that comes when we ask, not for material things, success or even healing, but for God Himself. Second, comes a time seeking. God allows us to pass through a space between asking and receiving, to test whether we will continue. Mary and Joseph had to travel 90 miles on foot to Bethlehem. The wise men came from over a thousand miles, but Jesus came all the way from Heaven to earth to seek for us. We have only to journey to the cross to find Him waiting there for us. Last of all comes knocking. When we have come as far as we know, and yet there appears to be a closed door at the end of the road, Jesus tells us not to turn away or sit outside in despair. The door is closed, but not locked and our Heavenly Father waits inside, eagerly listening for our knock. Do we desire Him more than anything else, or will we turn aside for something more easily obtained? Do not be afraid to bruise your knuckles on the door! God has promised bread and not a stone to hungry children, and an egg and not a scorpion for those who thirst for the living water of His Holy Spirit and all the fullness of Christ when He opens His door for us!
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