The Christian in Complete Armour - Gurnall - LXXVI - Direction Eleventh continued

Required readingThe Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Direction Eleventh by reading Branch Second of Division Third of the Second General Part.

My summary

Today we keep on learning what it means to pray in the Spirit from Direction Eleventh: 'Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Eph. 6:18) 

Last week we saw that he who will pray acceptably, must pray in his heart and spirit.

This week we hear that he that would pray in his own spirit, must pray in the Spirit of God.

Firstly Gurnall asserts the truth that right praying is necessarily praying by the Spirit of God and proves it from Scripture.

Secondly Gurnall explicates what it is to pray in the Spirit of God.  There are two ways that the Spirit of God helps persons in prayer:

(i) by his gifts;

(ii) by his grace (in sanctifying and assisting the sanctified).

Thirdly we are shown the uses of the doctrine of praying in the Spirit of God.  We are urged to:

(i) take heed of blaspheming the Holy Spirit as to this work of his in his saints;

(ii) try whether we have the Spirit of God or no.

What grabbed me

I appreciated these comments on one way the Spirit is distasted by a Christian: 'By some sin secretly harboured in the heart. 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me,' Ps. 66:18. Now when God refuseth to hear, we may be sure the Spirit refuseth to assist, for God never rejects a prayer that his Spirit indites and his Son presents. Sin is so offensive to the Holy Spirit, that wherever it is bid welcome he will show his distaste. If you would have this pure dove stay with you, be sure you keep his lodging clean. Hast thou defiled thyself with any known sin? think not to have him help thee in prayer till he hath helped thee to repent of it. He will carry thee to the laver before he go with thee to the altar. The musician wipes his instrument that hath fallen into the dirt before he will set it to his mouth. If thou wouldst have the Spirit of God breathe in thy soul at prayer, present it not to him besmeared with any sin unrepented of.'

The Spirit doesn't harbour well where sin is harboured.

Next week's reading

Continue Direction Eleventh by reading Division Fourth.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.