Jude 1:20-21 - "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."
I will not argue whether or not this verse speaks of praying in tongues as many Pentecostals and Charismatics believe when Jude tells his readers to "pray in the Spirit." However, I do know it is entirely possible to pray with one's mind and not the Spirit of God. This can easily be done when the Spirit of wisdom and revelation sent from God is not guiding our prayers. What happens, as a result, is it becomes religion and mechanical without faith. Consequently, our love dries up for others because love is not sympathetically given for others by God, but is divinely implanted for the purpose of godly intercession.
Romans 5:5 tells us the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts. If we are not experiencing a deep love for mankind in our inner man, it might be good to examine whether we have been praying with our minds out of obligation, or praying in the Spirit out of God's necessity. If we have lost the burden of prayer, we must ask God for it who will faithfully give us the spirit of prayer for those who desperately need it.
No comments:
Post a Comment