SERMON
Praying in the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:22-27 (NIV)
June 28, 2026
Pastor Sunil
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
The disciples obviously felt their prayer life lacked something. That is why…
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say…” (Luke 11:1-2)
Prayer was an integral part of Jesus’ life. It showed in the way he related with God, his Father. It showed in the way he related with them. It showed in the way God channeled his presence through him.
But then, as his ministry was reaching its climax, and they had the foreboding of his leaving them, I’m sure they must have felt (along with everything else), “Who’s going to show us how to pray?”
You heard me say, “I am going away…If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father…” “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you… the Father…will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth…” (John 14:16,17,18,28)
The Holy Spirit would be just like Jesus; he would be their friend, their advocate. His presence in them would fill them with grace that would empower them to be equipped with gifts that would grow the Church and participate in building God’s Kingdom. But he would also help them to pray. Because prayer is more than just communicating, thanking, requesting, and conversing with God. As we grow in prayer, we discover that in that conversation with God, we are entering into a spiritual realm. [That is why Paul would write at the beginning of Ephesians, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly (spiritual) realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” 1:3]
Maybe that is why some of us find prayer dissatisfying, difficult, distracting, drudgery! Somewhere deep within us we feel that there is something more. Yes, some of it has to do with the “not yet,” but what we do not realize is that some of it has to do with the “not seen.” It is both the “not yet” (the future) and the “not seen” (that spiritual dimension) that cause the Creation we live in to be literally groaning in agony (Romans 8:22). All too often, we groan with it – even as Christ-followers.
And so, after Paul talks about a spiritual dimension that is at the root of all our struggles, encouraging us to be spiritually prepared, he simply says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions…” (Ephesians 6:18)
The Holy Spirit prays with and for the Christ-follower
The Holy Spirit is united with the spirit of the Christ-follower (vs.16,17)
He therefore knows all about all our weaknesses and understands. That’s why he helps us!
One of our biggest struggles in prayer is: What is the right (God-honoring) thing to pray for? Am I just bringing my ramblings (and ventings) to my conversation with God? Do I know what will thrill the heart of my God in our conversation? Can I share my fears, deep desires, frustrations, and agony in a way that shows who I really am, and not some selfish, faithless, stubborn child?
Does he care that I am really weak in conversing with him, weak in my faith?
“…but the Spirit himself intercedes…”
When we wait, actually wait (remember the disciples in Gethsemane?), the Holy Spirit in us, who knows us, does the communicating. In fact after the tears, the emptiness, the groanings…he actually has prayed with and for me, for you.
Interestingly, while we (in our spirits) are not always sure whether we’ve prayed in God’s will, according to his purposes, the Bible says that, actually, the Holy Spirit in you did that for you!
For the faithful Christ-follower praying “in the Spirit,” that inadequacy, weakness becomes God’s strength (2 Corinthians 12:9)
The Holy Spirit prays with the Christ-follower for the building of the Kingdom
The Holy Spirit teaches us to intercede for others, even as he intercedes for us. Praying in the Spirit teaches us to be “unselfish” in our prayer
He shows us how we can pray for our fellow Christ-followers
He builds in us a passion for the Gospel. The more we pray that others experience the beauty and fullness of the Gospel, the more we will want to be channels of it ourselves, losing our inhibitions.
In a strange and wonderful way, praying in the Spirit for others keeps us “alert” in our prayer life
Praying in the Spirit is not about acquiring a skill. It is about forming a habit. And the more you make it a habit of depending (on the Holy Spirit in you) and being faithful in prayer (that’s what you bring), the more you will grow in prayer, discovering those spiritual blessings given to you in the spiritual dimension. And yes, actually growing in the experience of “Christ in you…through the Holy Spirit.”
STORY
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
The disciples obviously felt their prayer life lacked something. That is why…
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say…” (Luke 11:1-2)
Prayer was an integral part of Jesus’ life. It showed in the way he related with God, his Father. It showed in the way he related with them. It showed in the way God channeled his presence through him.
But then, as his ministry was reaching its climax, and they had the foreboding of his leaving them, I’m sure they must have felt (along with everything else), “Who’s going to show us how to pray?”
You heard me say, “I am going away…If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father…” “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you… the Father…will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth…” (John 14:16,17,18,28)
The Holy Spirit would be just like Jesus; he would be their friend, their advocate. His presence in them would fill them with grace that would empower them to be equipped with gifts that would grow the Church and participate in building God’s Kingdom. But he would also help them to pray. Because prayer is more than just communicating, thanking, requesting, and conversing with God. As we grow in prayer, we discover that in that conversation with God, we are entering into a spiritual realm. [That is why Paul would write at the beginning of Ephesians, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly (spiritual) realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” 1:3]
Maybe that is why some of us find prayer dissatisfying, difficult, distracting, drudgery! Somewhere deep within us we feel that there is something more. Yes, some of it has to do with the “not yet,” but what we do not realize is that some of it has to do with the “not seen.” It is both the “not yet” (the future) and the “not seen” (that spiritual dimension) that cause the Creation we live in to be literally groaning in agony (Romans 8:22). All too often, we groan with it – even as Christ-followers.
And so, after Paul talks about a spiritual dimension that is at the root of all our struggles, encouraging us to be spiritually prepared, he simply says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions…” (Ephesians 6:18)
The Holy Spirit prays with and for the Christ-follower
The Holy Spirit is united with the spirit of the Christ-follower (vs.16,17)
He therefore knows all about all our weaknesses and understands. That’s why he helps us!
One of our biggest struggles in prayer is: What is the right (God-honoring) thing to pray for? Am I just bringing my ramblings (and ventings) to my conversation with God? Do I know what will thrill the heart of my God in our conversation? Can I share my fears, deep desires, frustrations, and agony in a way that shows who I really am, and not some selfish, faithless, stubborn child?
Does he care that I am really weak in conversing with him, weak in my faith?
“…but the Spirit himself intercedes…”
When we wait, actually wait (remember the disciples in Gethsemane?), the Holy Spirit in us, who knows us, does the communicating. In fact after the tears, the emptiness, the groanings…he actually has prayed with and for me, for you.
Interestingly, while we (in our spirits) are not always sure whether we’ve prayed in God’s will, according to his purposes, the Bible says that, actually, the Holy Spirit in you did that for you!
For the faithful Christ-follower praying “in the Spirit,” that inadequacy, weakness becomes God’s strength (2 Corinthians 12:9)
The Holy Spirit prays with the Christ-follower for the building of the Kingdom
The Holy Spirit teaches us to intercede for others, even as he intercedes for us. Praying in the Spirit teaches us to be “unselfish” in our prayer
He shows us how we can pray for our fellow Christ-followers
He builds in us a passion for the Gospel. The more we pray that others experience the beauty and fullness of the Gospel, the more we will want to be channels of it ourselves, losing our inhibitions.
In a strange and wonderful way, praying in the Spirit for others keeps us “alert” in our prayer life
Praying in the Spirit is not about acquiring a skill. It is about forming a habit. And the more you make it a habit of depending (on the Holy Spirit in you) and being faithful in prayer (that’s what you bring), the more you will grow in prayer, discovering those spiritual blessings given to you in the spiritual dimension. And yes, actually growing in the experience of “Christ in you…through the Holy Spirit.”
STORY