Praying In The Spirit

"for we know not what we should pray for..." (Rom 8:26).  As strange as it may seem, power in prayer is only for those humble enough to acknowledge that they do not know how to pray.

The Holy Spirit is looking for people like that so that He can empower them in prayer.  "...the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Rom 8:26 niv).

Only if we have the Holy Spirit's enablement in prayer, can we obey the command given by Paul in Ephesians 6:18; "keep on praying in the Spirit..Be alert - watch and pray".

Paul calls and encourages us to "pray in the Spirit".  This is one sure way of avoiding praying "amiss". 

Sometimes problems can be so large and people's lives so messed up, we don't know how to help them.  There are so many different kinds of probelms - involving decisions, people, places, finances, health and spiritual needs.

Often it seems that we are all "entangled" and we don't know who to untangle it.  We want to do the right thing, in the right way with the right people in the right place for the right reason.  But where and how should we start?

What a comfort thus, is to know that the Holy Spirit knows us better than we know ourselves.  He knows who we are, where we are and how we are.  He also knows that the Father's will and answer for every need.  His wisdom and power make up for our lack of knowledge.  The Holy Spirit compensates for our weakness and deficiencies in prayer.  And much more than that, He is ready to put the words so that we pray according to God's will.


Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

The Mind - The Spiritual Battleground

"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers - tha authorities and powers - of the dark world.  It is against the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms.  Therefore, put on the full armor of God..." (Eph 6:12,13).

Three important pieces of armor are the "breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation" and the "shield of faith".  These help protect our mind and emotions.

The mind is the battle ground for the forces of both good and evil.  It is the doorway by which both revelation and deception can enter our lives.  If we do not "put on the whole armor of God"...we will not be able to withstand against the viles of the devil" (Eph 6:11).

We are not left defenseless against the lies and deception of the devil.  The "helmet of salvation" is to protect our minds from such attacks.  The "breastplate of righteousness" and the "shield of faith" are to protect us from the fiery darts.  The devil would seek to shoot his fiery darts of doubt, fear, lust, envy and other sinful thoughts into our minds.

The "fiery darts" used in warfare of the day were pitch-tipped arrows set on fire.  With bows, these burning arrows could be shot over the city walls.  Thatched roofs would quickly catch fire and the whole city could be burned.



Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

The Breastplate Of Righteousness

When you go to prayer, you are entering the arena of spiritual warfare.  You will come under attack.  Therefore, you need all the armor of God to protect you (the defensive armor) and the sword of the Spirit (your offensive armor) to win the battle.

Police in most nations are given a bullet-proof vest.  If shot by a low-caliber pistol, the vest stops the bullet from injuring or killing the policeman. 

In ancient times, the threat was from rocks, spears or sword.  The breastplate provided protection to the upper torso of the warrior.  The breastplate of righteousness does the same thing for all today.  It provides protection in the battle we wage against sin and Satan.

The "breastplate of righteousness" is an important part of our spiritual armor.  It protects and covers our heart (emotions and affections).  Both need to be guarded if we are to fend off the temptations of the wicked one.

There are two concepts of righteousness relating to our breastplate; one is the right standing (imputed righteousness).  It is the goodness of His character, which becomes ours in Christ Jesus when we believe.  It is a gift of His grace, "imputed" (credited to our account) when we put our faith in Christ as Lord and Saviour.

The other is that He imparts (places) His righteous nature within us.  By the enabling power of His Holy Spirit, God wants us to express or live a righteous life.



Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Man's Rule

Why do we hae to pray?  God is God, and why doesn't he do what He wants.  What really was the purpose of prayer.

The whole earth was given over to man's rule or dominion.  Man was made for that purpose.  God made him the head or chief authority over the earth.

David confirms this in Psalms when he speaks of the special position that man has in God's plan.  "What is man, that you woule even think of him?......You made man to have dominion over the works of yur hand and have put all things under his feet" (Ps 8:4-6).

Man was created to exercise dominion over all the works of God's hand.  He was to rule it all, govern it all, be head of ita ll.

His purpose for man from the beginning will forever stay the same.  The man in God's image and likeness has a divine and royal destiny to exercise dominion and authority in the world. 





Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng