Biblical insights for today
Rajinder Buxton explores the Bible’s role in our times, the power of consecration, and what it means to pray in the Spirit.
Is studying the Bible essential?
The Bible is the Creator’s manual for how to live life as he intended. Its message has never changed over the years and its values and truths are relevant for every era. It alone explains the original plan of God, how it was corrupted, how God has provided for man’s restoration through his Son Jesus and how it will all end.
There are many prophetic passages in the Bible that are being fulfilled in our generation that explain much of what is going on in the world. All the world-impacting events regarding Israel are portents of the return of Jesus. To understand, and respond to, what is happening in today’s world, we need to be familiar with biblical teachings.
We show its relevance by living out the truth of God’s Word before those who are sceptical, praying for them with love and sharing the truth with them. To live it out, we need to know the Word well.
How important is consecration?
Consecration is allowing God full access to every part of our lives. Allowing him to clean us from anything that would hinder us from his presence so that he can fulfil his great plans for our lives.
After 40 years wandering in the desert because of their disobedience, the Israelites were required to consecrate themselves to God so he could fulfil his promise to take them into the Promised Land. They needed to be ready to encounter the many enemies and obstacles they would face.
Consecration prepares the way for God’s next move. John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea calling people to repent. He was clearing the path for Christ coming to forgive the sins of mankind.
In Acts 1:14, the apostles gathered together, constantly in prayer, waiting for the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise of receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This period of waiting was crucial as it prepared their hearts to receive the Holy Spirit fully.
Similarly, we can enter into a period of spiritual preparation, with the expectation of seeing God moving powerfully in our lives.
What does ‘praying in the Spirit’ mean?
Our prayers should be Spirit-led. In 1 Corinthians 14:14-15, Paul explains, “If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So, what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.”
Clearly, believers can pray with our understanding or minds, and we can also pray with our spirit. If we don’t yet have the gift of tongues, we can pray with our understanding, in our own language, with our mind and emotions being involved in that prayer, as we are led by the Holy Spirit.
We can also pray in the Spirit with the gift of tongues ‒ a prayer language which the Holy Spirit gives us to pray. It bypasses our minds as our spirit connects with God’s Spirit and we pray prayers that are according to God’s will, (1 Corinthians 14:14). It is the Holy Spirit in us who is doing the praying.
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.