How does the Spirit help us to pray?

The Larger Catechism

Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray?

A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all times, in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are requisite for the right performance of that duty.

1. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray. We need his help because of our spiritual ignorance and spiritual weakness.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

Johannes Vos writes: "How does the Holy Spirit remedy our spiritual ignorance? Not by revealing to us any truth apart from or in addition to the Bible, but by opening our spiritual eyes so that we can discern the true meaning of what is already in the Bible."

2. God prepares the hearts of his people, that they may pray aright.

LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear. (Psalm 10:17)

3. God imparts to his people the desire and ability to pray.

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication. (Zechariah 12:10)

4. We are to pray in the Spirit.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20)

Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?

The Larger Catechism

Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?

A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator; and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone, we are to pray in no other name but his only.

1. Our sin has separated us from God and we have no access to God's presence apart from a mediator. (John 14:6; Isa. 59:2; Eph. 2:12)

2. Christ alone is qualified for the work of Mediator between God and Man. (John 6:27; Heb. 7:25-27; 1 Tim. 2:5; Acts 4:12)

3. We are to pray only in the name of Christ. Those who don't pray in Christ's name are praying in their own name and will not be heard.  (Col. 3:17; Heb. 13:15) 

"In this answer the catechism sets forth the absolute uniqueness of Jesus Christ. He is represented as the only possible Savior of the human race. The neither is, nor ever can be, anyone alongside of him." (Johannes Vos, Commentary on the Larger Catechism) 

What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

The Larger Catechism

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake; not by bare mentioning of his name, but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation.

1) Christ commands us to pray in His name. John 16:23-24

We must pray to the true God only and only through Christ as Mediator.

Any prayer to another god is not Christian prayer. Any prayer to the true God without Christ as mediator is not Christian.

2) We must have confidence (faith) in his promises. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Without faith it is impossible to please Him.

3) We must ask for mercy for His sake. Daniel 9:17

If we don't ask for mercy for Christ's sake, we are like the Pharisee who prayed "thus with himself" and trusted in himself that he was righteous. (Luke 18:19-24) Even those who mention Christ's name in prayer may still be trusting in themselves and their own righteousness.

4) Not a bare mentioning of His name. Matthew 7:21

We must not only say his name when we pray, we must trust in Christ's righteousness and mediation. We are either relying on ourselves and our own worthiness to be heard, or we are trusting in Christ.

5) From Christ and His mediation, we draw our encouragement to pray. i.e. boldness, strength, hope of acceptance. Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 5:14-15

We need encouragement to pray b/c we are often discouraged and we are lazy. He has opened a new and living way into the Holy Place by His blood. We ought to come and come boldly! He himself encourages us to come and to ask for grace to help in our time of need. He wants us to pray with confidence, when we pray in his name and according to His will.

Biblical Worship and the Megachurch: Part I

Rev. Ben Carver has written an excellent piece on true worship and how some megachurches have gotten away from it.  If there is any one idol that rises to the top in American churches today, it is the idol of "pragmatism."  The basic priniciple in these churches is not "will it glorify God" or "is it biblical"?  Rather, the basic question asked is "will it work"?  "The end justifies the means" is the operating principle in many a church today.  Carver carves out the Biblical way to worship in his article, titled, Biblical Worship and the Megachurch: Part 1