Praying in the power of the Holy Spirit

Anoria Evelyn John
Oct 17
10 min read

While we have the Word of God, we also need the Holy Spirit. Throughout the bible we see the Trinity working together.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and

empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

John 1:1-41 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

To have fellowship with the Father, son and the Holy Spirit, we need to have communion with them and It starts with prayer. For our prayers to be powerful we need the Holy Spirit as He is the one who empowers us and connects us with the Father.

Do we need the Holy Spirit?

Yes! As children of God we need to be led by the Holy Spirit at all times. Romans 8:14 sys, "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." when we pray, we have to pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. When you were saved, it was the Holy Spirit who revealed the Father’s heart to you and led you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. But it doesn't end there, we must walk in daily communion with all three. Without the Holy Spirit in our prayers and lives, we may act according to the flesh rather than God's will.. "The Spirit reveals the deep things of God,"

1Corinthians chapter 2 Makes it clear without even me writing much words of my own. Kindly read the chapter below and the verses highlighted in color.

1 Corinthians 2:10 NIV, 1And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”

the things God has prepared for those who love him

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[c] 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Without the Holy Spirit, spiritual truths seem like foolishness to the natural mind. But through Him, we receive revelation, wisdom, and understanding. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. and it means that the Holy Spirit makes known to believers profound truths about God that are beyond human comprehension. This revelation is a process of deep searching by the Spirit, who acts as an intermediary, translating God's wisdom and will so that those who love Him can understand and have a relationship with Him.

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Remember Jesus asked his disciples to wait in the upper room for the promised gift.

Acts 1: 4-5 "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”

Disciples followed the instructions of Jesus and gathered in the upper room to pray. Acts1:14, "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."

As they were praying, suddenly Holy Spirit showed up. Acts Chapter 2 explains of what happened when He showed up.

Acts:2 1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Firstly, we need to know Him. Holy Spirit is just as much as “God” the Father and the Son is, in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14)
He is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10)
He is omniscient, meaning that He knows everything (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
He is almighty (Luke 1:35-37)
He is holy (Romans 1:4)
We need to ask the Father to fill us with His Spirit and wait on Him until we receive. We need to trust that He will surely fill us and wait for the right time. Waiting is hard, however, Holy Spirit comes on the ones who love Him, and who are longing for Him. He looks for the genuine hunger and the thirst in the hearts. God honors the person who seeks him with all his heart, mind and soul. Fasting and praying is the most effective and powerful way to receive Him as we keep our flesh aside and have an urge to wait on God. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, without Him we are not complete as a children of God.
Bible says, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Corinthians 6:19–20, which states, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body"
He is our helper, who guides us and comforts us. He empowers us with spiritual gifts. When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we exhibit His fruit (love, joy, peace, forbearance [longsuffering/patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) and our prayers will not be with empty words but will be powerful.
John 14:26: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (ESV)
Romans 8:26-27: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness... he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
As you pray, believe that you will receive Him.
Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you". John 16:24: "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full".
Mark 11:24: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours".
In Luke 11: 11-13 It clearly states how much Father longs to answer our prayers and give us what we need.
Luke 11: 11-13, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

What is the Proof that you have the Holy Spirit?

When disciples were waiting for the promised gift of the Father they witnessed 4 things.

They heard a sound
Saw with their eyes
They were filled with the Holy Spirit and
Spoke in tongues as Spirit enabled them

How wonderful it is to experience the Holy Spirit. When God gives us the Holy Spirit we can hear God clearly and we can see the things that God wants to show us. God uses our tongue to pray according to His will and so we speak in tongues. When Holy Spirit shows up, He distributes His gifts to the ones who were waiting for Him.

1 Corinthians 12: 4 –11

This passage lists the following nine gifts:

Word of wisdom

Word of knowledge

Faith

Gifts of healing

Miraculous powers

Prophecy

Distinguishing between spirits

Speaking in different kinds of tongues

Interpretation of tongues

Romans 12:6–8

This passage lists the following gifts:

prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy.

Isaiah 11:2–3

This passage lists the following seven gifts

Wisdom

Understanding

Counsel

Fortitude (or might/courage)

Knowledge

Piety (or reverence)

Fear of the Lord

Is it necessary to speak in tongues?

Yes! It is a sign that you are filled with the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14: 22 says, Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers;

Once you receive Holy Spirit, your prayer changes and you will no more use your own words to pray but the Holy Spirit will give you the words to utter. When people hear you, they will know that you are praying the powerful prayers, they will hear God's word in your prayer. They would start seeing the things that you are praying about .

Acts 2:4 says, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance".

As you speak in tongues you speak to God , no one understands you , however you utter mysteries in the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:2 ESV "For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit."

1 Corinthians 14:14 ESV For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

1 Corinthians 14: 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

We build our Faith in God by praying in tongues.

Jude 1:20-21: "But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life"

Personal Testimony :

When I longed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, I waited for someone to pray for me or lay hands on me. I thought that is the only way I could receive him. I attended every meeting where people were gathered to be filled with Holy Spirit, however, I did not experience the infilling. I started crying that I am unable to receive Him and was disheartened. I prayed a lot, I thought I am still a sinner and that's why I was not being filled by the Holy Spirit. Finally I lost hope and kept quit. However, I continued to attend meetings and attended church regularly. One day when I attended our weekly meetings that we had to pray for our church. There was a time when Pastor asked all the members to pray for the church in tongues.

While I stood along with the church members, I didn't know how to pray. I saw everyone praying, and I had that urge to pray in tongues so I thought to myself let me try speaking in tongues on my own with the word that was coming on my mind. I silently used that one word to pray then I received another word and when I started praying those two words again and again, suddenly I experience a sort of Heat coming over my head and then flowing down to my shoulders and then down my body. It was a new experience and I immediately knew that I was getting filled by the Holy Spirit. I was joyful and happy and I understood that I was not just using words on my own but it was the Holy Spirit who gave me the utterance to speak in tongues. Since then I regularly spoke in tongues and prayed. As I was prayed, Holy Spirit poured out His gifts of Intercession, healing and deliverance on me. He guided me to the Word of God and now I am serving Him for His glory.

I just want to encourage you that you don't need anyone to lay hands and pray for you. All you need is to simply believe that when you ask the Father He will surely fill you with the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 11: 11-13, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Do we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit everyday?

The answer is Yes! The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit every time they prayed.

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

When we operate in flesh we tend to become weak, Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness Romans 8:26-27: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness... he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

For us to operate in the power of God we need the Holy Spirit. Jesus said we can do greater things than what He did on earth because we have the Holy Spirit with us to help and guide us.

Let's seek God to fill us with His Spirit!