Message #1 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"Asking for the Spirit's Presence"

by Kaye Johns

We should. "I will ask the Father," Jesus promised, "and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth." [John 14:16-17] Jesus intended that His Spirit would come to be our daily Helper, our Counselor, to be with us in as real a way today, as Jesus was with His disciples then.

The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and since that time believers have received His indwelling at the moment of rebirth [Acts 2:38-39]. Yet, in Luke 11 when Jesus’s disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, He said we should ask for the Holy Spirit: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" [Luke 11:13]

In this passage, Jesus had just referred to His model prayer as a daily pattern for prayer. He encouraged persistence in prayer with the parable of the friend at midnight. Then Jesus revealed that the very nature of our heavenly Father’s heart is to desire--more than any earthly father could--to give us what we ask, especially the Holy Spirit.

We should ask for the Holy Spirit every day, that He Who indwells us will manifest His presence in and through our lives. Do we ask? Do we even consider that we should, or how much difference it may make if we do?

Pray with me now -- Father, fill us with Your Spirit today, for we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

ã 1999 PrayerPower Ministries, P.O. Box 1368, Dallas, TX 75380-1368, 1-800-949-PRAY.
May be copied for personal or church use; please include PrayerPower name, address and phone on copies.