46. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. The Holy Spirit intercedes for him in prayer.

31 October 2020
Fresco of the Pentecostal Dove (representing the Holy Spirit) at the Karlskirche in Vienna, Austria.
User:Manfreeed • Public domain

Acts 1
8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Romans 8
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

The Spirit intercedes for us.

This I wrote 16 August 2017.

“During prayer last Monday night, I shared with the group that intentional prayer is by the power of the Holy Spirit. I mentioned that during my struggles starting late 2000 when I was out of work and later got sick, with the children starting college, I was gaping in my prayers, lost for words, all I could do was to cry and groan. 

It was maybe 2008 or later, during Bible study with Our Dear Pastor Clem Guillermo, that I came to know that in our prayers the Holy Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. Are you lost for words in your prayers that it is difficult to describe your situation? Are you shaken by your circumstances? Just come before the Lord, and ask the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Triune God, to intercede in your prayers.

Lord, today's passage says the Holy Spirit comes upon us to empower us for us to bear witness that whoever believes in God's only Son Jesus Christ shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). 

I look back to the time I shared my faith with my Mom in 2007, I had that inhibition because I grew up in a way that faith seemed so sacred that it was not discussed openly in the family. I did it on the encouragement within me that my personal spiritual experience is worth sharing with someone dear to me even if there was possibility of rejection. I took the courage and overcame my lost for words. I did it while visiting my Mom more frequent, as suggested in the devotional on honoring parents, which I came about that time. Lord, I can only surmise that the Holy Spirit interceded in my lost for words when I shared my faith with my Mom. Lord, let me be able to bear witness to other people dear to me, without hesitation, knowing that the Holy Spirit will intercede for me when I am lost for words. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.”

My children's children will someday say, wala ka sa Lolo ko, the Holy Spirit intercedes for him in prayer. Amen.

Now on interceding in prayers for others.

Prayer, pages 243 - 245

When Chris Milbrath, young and healthy, was working with Co-Mission in Ukraine, the last thing he ever thought would happen to him was a trip to the hospital for surgery. But then unexpectedly, a stomachache didn't go away. Eventually the doctor told him, “You've got a ruptured appendix.” Surgery took place the next day. It didn't go well. Infection threatened his life.

Then, halfway around the world, a friend and supporter, suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. She felt an irresistible burden to get out of bed and pray for her young friend.
What happened? Within twenty-four hours, word got through to a medical missions group in Moscow. A small jet just happened to be available and was sent to airlift Chris to Geneva, where one of the best surgeons did additional surgery which undoubtedly saved the life of the young man.

Later Chris and his friend compared notes, and were amazed that the strange prayer burden came at the very time his life was hanging by a thread.

There are occasions when God does prompt us to pray specifically for a person in need. When we are led by the Holy Spirit by such urgency, let's intercede, our prayers shall save others from harm.

In closing, this petition before God.

Psalm 4
A psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
    have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

May you be blessed.

Maraming salamat.


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