The Precious Intercession of the Holy Spirit

The puritan theologian John Owen in his treatise on the Trinity entitled “Communion with the Triune God,” shows how believers may have intimate communion with the persons of the Godhead.  This is seen in Paul’s benediction from 2 Corinthians 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” I have often pondered this and have appreciated his insights.  Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit's intercession for the believer "with groanings too deep for words" in Romans 8:26.  During one of my dark nights of the soul, when I felt I was drowning in the overwhelming flood of my sin, I wrote this prayer to the Holy Spirit who not only affirms our being sons of the Father but leads us to live as sons and this means he aids us in our fight against indwelling sin as he affirms the glory of the Gospel in our beleaguered and weary hearts.   It is important to emphasize that Paul uses the phrase “son” or “sons” to describe all believers.  The concept that is communicated is that of primogeniture, which involves the inheritance rights of the firstborn son in ancient culture.  What this means is that every believer whether male or female, slave or free, Gentile or Jew have come through Christ to share with him the full inheritance of the firstborn son.   Our heavenly Father has as many firstborn sons as there are believers.   This is not a cultural comment on gender but is a rich picture of what every believer has come to be and to possess in Christ.   A different but similarly rich concept is found in every believer being part of the bride of Christ.    It is a comfort to know that the Holy Spirit does intercede for us and due to the reality that we have fellowship with Him we can most certainly call on Him to help us in the application of the Father’s grace to us in Christ.

Pray for me O’ Holy Spirit.

I am weary of my sin.

Yet, its lure is so attractive

That I am very torn within

Pulled by sin’s magnet promise

Held by its deceptive power.

Pray for me O’ Holy Spirit,

In this long and wayward hour.

Pray for me O’ Holy Spirit

You who look upon Christ’s face.

Open more my heart to savor

The greater promises of grace.

Pray for me O’ Holy Spirit

In groans that words cannot express.

Hold me near to my dear Savior.

Press his grace into my breast.

Pray for me O’ Holy Spirit

You who share full Deity

With the Son and with the Father

From and to eternity.

Pray for me O’ Holy Spirit

The power of sin is breaking fast.

Yet I dare not trust this moment

But look to Christ, whose grace alone lasts

Pray for me O’ Holy Spirit

Give me holy fire within

And the obedience of faith,

Which alone breaks the power of sin.

 Father fill me with Your Spirit

And pull me from self’s mire

Grant me a contrite and willing spirit

So I’ll submit to the Ardent Fire!