Application

So, what do we pray and when do we pray to the Holy Spirit? We pray anything that relates to the Holy Spirit.  For example:

Good Morning, Heavenly Father,

Good Morning, Lord Jesus;

Good Morning, Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, I worship you

as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

Lord Jesus, I worship you as my Saviour and Lord of the world.

Holy Spirit, I worship you, Sanctifier of the people of God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will forever.

In Jesus’ Name Amen. (John Stott’s daily prayer)

Before reading God’s Word.

Dear Holy Spirit/Spirit of the living God,

open my eyes to understand spiritual truths,

open my heart to receive God’s Word

so that I will believe, obey, and honour you

in everything I say or do.

In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

When a pastor plans a series of sermons for the congregation, he should pray, “Holy Spirit, what is it you want me to preach to the people of God, what is it you want them to hear from God’s Word?” Before the service, ask the Holy Spirit to increase the receptivity of the hearers to the messages preached.

Holy Spirit of God,

Source of knowledge

and creator of fellowship;

open our minds to recognize the truth

and our hearts to welcome it,

That in company together

We may learn your will

And be strengthened to obey it;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Basil Naylor)

We pray to the Holy Spirit when it comes to conversion, cruciformity, and conformity to Christ. For consecration, character development, or charismatic power, we pray to the Holy Spirit because these are under his department.

Holy Spirit, give your light

So that I may walk aright;

In your wisdom love and might

Guide my steps this day.

Make me kind to all around;

In my life let love abound,

All your gracious fruits be found

In your child this day.

Holy Spirit you are one

With the Father and the Son,

May the will divine be done

Now and every day.

(Mary Appleby, 1874–1929)

We pray to the Holy Spirit in the context of counselling, bereavement, courage to witness, right decision making, discernment, hope, and peace.

O Holy Spirit, Giver of light and life, impart to us thoughts higher than our own thoughts and prayers better than our own prayers and powers beyond our own powers, that we may spend and be spent in the ways of love and goodness, after the perfect image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Anonymous)^[1]

Pray to the Holy Spirit when you need to reproduce the fruit of the Spirit in your life: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control” (Gal. 5:22–23).

Pray to the Holy Spirit on special occasions like ordination, commissioning service for church planting, establishment of a new Church, and when praying for leaders and others.

Testimonies

A delegation of 13 people (comprising faculty members of BICC along with several friends) flew to Bandung to attend the graduation service of Bandung Baptist Theological Seminary on October 27, 2017 for two doctoral students, Dr. Choong Chee Wah (ThD) and Dr. Joseph Wilfred (ThD), who graduated along with twenty other Masters and Bachelors’ graduates.

Surprisingly and interestingly, at the graduation service, the word Holy Spirit was mentioned 30 times by different speakers who took to the podium! Wow! Never have we been to a graduation or any special event where the Holy Spirit has been mentioned or emphasized.

In many services, indirect reference is made to the Holy Spirit, at best; at worst, he is not mentioned at all. Sadly, the Holy Spirit is often marginalized, neglected, or even summarily dismissed despite Scripture’s emphasis on the important role the Holy Spirit plays when it comes to ministering to others with power. Could that be the primary reason why our preaching, teaching, and leadership lack power?

In the evening, the seminary hosted a graduation dinner to honour the two graduates. At the close of the dinner, something unusual happened. To put into practice that we believe in a Triune God, the BICC faculty—Drs. Bobby Lee, Anthony Yeoh, Ayan Murry, Choong Chee Wah, Wilfred Joseph, Johnson Lim, Sari Saptorini from Semarang, and Missionary Watson from South Africa, prayed in unity specifically to the Holy Spirit (instead of God the Father or Jesus the Son) for each of them. We began with, “Dear Holy Spirit,” “To You O Holy Spirit,” “Come Holy Spirit,” “Blessed Holy Spirit,” and “Spirit of the Living God.”

When the prayer ended, all of us sensed something was different (hard to describe unless you were there!). There was a “hush of the Spirit!” Someone suggested we close by singing, “Give Thanks.” One of the people gave his thumbs up for the powerful prayers unheard before from Baptist leaders! That prayer was addressed to the Holy Spirit. Indeed, it was a night where the Holy Spirit was really honoured. What a defining moment when the atmosphere was “Spirit-saturated” where everyone’s spirit was uplifted and encouraged.

On November 19, 2017, Kingdom Life Church at 27–A Loewen Road was formally organised and launched at 10:30 in the morning. The founding pastor Luke Tan and his wife Esther Goh invited me to pray for them and their new church. This is what and how I prayed:

Dear Holy Spirit,

We praise you for birthing this church (Kingdom Life Church). Today marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter of this people of God—ministering to one another and advancing God’s kingdom through evangelism, outreach, and discipleship. In challenging times, may they discover you as their Paraclete—Helper, Comforter, and Advocate ever ready to stand alongside them.

I pray especially for their pastor, Luke, and his wife, Esther. Empower them as they lead, guide, and shepherd the flock with love, compassion, and sensitivity you have given them. Anoint them with unction so that they become effective ministers.

I also pray for those who are part of this church. May they all work in unity, harmony, and supportive of their pastor and his wife for the glory of your name as church, leaders, and members will love you dearly, walk with you more closely, and serve you more faithfully and joyfully.

Holy Spirit, may they keep in step with you, gripped by your love, grounded in Scripture, and guided by the Spirit to the praise of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. In the name of Jesus whose name is above all other names in past, present, and future, in this age and age to come. And all God’s people say, Amen!

Last year, I was invited by ELLCO (Ladies’ Cell Group from Community of Praise Baptist Church) to conduct 10 sessions on “Seated in the Heavenlies” (based on the book of Ephesians). On the last evening I offered this prayer:

Dear Blessed Holy Spirit,

We honour you tonight because you are the third person of the Trinity as well as our Paraclete (Helper, Friend, Comforter, Advocate) who has never nor will ever fail to come to our aid.

I thank you for this group of wonderful ladies (Ellco) whom you have raised and used and have done so many good and great things in many different ways. Bless them and their families. Continue to empower, enable, and equip them, fill them to the fullness so that out of their innermost being will flow rivers of living water touching and transforming lives.

Holy Spirit, help them to keep in step with you so that they will accomplish greater things for the good of the people and glory of God’s name.

This evening, I have three simple prayers for the leaders, committee members, and each and every member here. I pray that they will 1) continue to love you dearly, 2) walk with you more closely, and 3) serve you more joyfully and faithfully.

May they be gripped by God’s immeasurable love, be grounded in Holy Scripture, be guided by the Holy Spirit, be galvanized by his extravagant grace, and be goaded to love, praise, and serve him faithfully, and joyfully.

Now to him who is able to do superabundantly more than you can think or conceive, to him be the glory forever and ever. To the praise of God, the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In the magnificent and mighty name of our risen and regnant Lord Jesus whose name is above all other names in this word or world to come (past, present, and future) and all God’s people say, amen!

I once read a story about Lawrence of Arabia who brought with him an entourage of Arab chieftains. It was their first trip outside the deserts and, needless to say, they were overawed with the city. They were most impressed, however, with the water faucets in the hotel rooms! Coming from the barren, waterless deserts, it was fantastic to them that simply by turning a handle at any time water would pour out. The report is that after they departed, the hotel management made an unusual discovery: the water faucets had all been removed! The Arabs had taken them! They thought they could take them back to the desert, turn the handle, and water would pour forth! That proved impossible and absurd, of course! The simple reason being, the faucets were not connected to the water supply! In the same way, it is just as absurd for any Christian to produce the Christ-like qualities and be effective in ministry apart from being controlled by the Spirit!