Epaggelia

The work of the Spirit through disciples is active in the very real sense that he helps us grow the fruit of the Spirit from within our heart, and intercedes for us in our prayers. There are actually several activities of the Spirit within Christians, that we may not be totally aware of, but we should truly appreciate.

1. God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. Romans 12:3-5.
2.  Applying by faith the blood of Christ upon our souls, Hebrews 10:22
3.  Interceding by faith in our prayers to God the Father, Romans 8:26-28.
4. Growing by faith the fruitful character of Christ in our souls, Galatians 5:22-23. 
5. Comforting us by faith with His loving presence in our souls, Acts 2:38-39, Rom. 5:5, 15:30.

Christians are instructed to walk in the Spirit, live by the Spirit and pray in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit may best be described as following Jesus in our daily life as we try to do what is right, Romans 8:4. Living by the Spirit may best be described as trusting Jesus to help us grow to be more like him in our attitude during daily life, Galatians 5:25. But what does it mean to pray in the Spirit? There are two passages which may help us understand what God intends in this instruction: Ephesians 6:18 & Jude v20. Paul tells all Christians that God gave Christians His interceding Spirit to help us pray for one another as Paul did for them. That is a privileged gift and honor to enjoy. Jude tells us that when we do this, our faith is being strengthened! That is a gift of power from within the inner person as God increases or “builds up” our faith to standfast and grow in the grace & knowledge of Christ. Do we pray in the Spirit? If we pray like Christ and His apostles, for the will of God to be fulfilled in each other’s lives, then YES! To pray in any other way, is to pray amiss as James warns us from doing and causing ourselves frustration and strife, James 4:2-3. Every Christian has God’s Spirit helping us pray and bear fruit. However there are some gifts which The Gift of God’s Spirit gives some of us but not others, remember Romans 12:5-8 shows grace from Christ in different functions, such as faithful prophecy, practical service, instructional teaching, encouraging exhortation, generous contributions, enthusiastic leadership and cheerful acts of mercy. No one single Christian is graced to enjoy all of these gifts, but all of us can do one or two, maybe even a few! How do you use the gift, which the Spirit of Grace has given you?