The Sevenfold Outward Working of the Holy Spirit

The phrase “seven Spirits” is repeated four times in Rev. 1:4: 4:5; 3:1 and 5:6. We can divide the work of the Holy Spirit into four groups of seven each. We have seen already there are seven names in the Bible given to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of holiness, the Eternal Spirit, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of the Son, the Spirit of power, love and a sound mind, the Spirit of anointing. These seven names, tell us what the main function or working of the Holy Spirit is, in our Hives. Then we saw the sevenfold work of the Holy Spirit which goes on within us very quietly.

Now we are going to see the sevenfold work of the Holy Ghost which can he seen outwardly, that is, the sevenfold outward expression of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives which can be seen by friends or enemies, neighbours, strangers, relations and fellow-believers, It cannot be hid. That work is made clear to us in Romans chapter 8.

1. The Indwelling Spirit:

First, Rom. 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Take for example a building. By itself it cannot give you comfort. Before living in it, it must be furnished. You require furniture for the drawing room, living room, kitchen and bathroom, also lights, curtains, water and food. Only then the building is useful. Here we have the same thought. The Holy Spirit has come into us to make you and me a fit, worthy dwelling place for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ wants my - body and your body to be His temple, His dwelling place forever, not only for a few days. This is a mystery. I will give you another example. The Queen of England came to India some years ago and stayed in India for a few weeks only. She spent a few days in Delhi, and a few days in Bangalore, and two or three days in other places, I remember she stayed in a small place near Bangalore for two days only and the Government of Mysore had to spend more than two lacs of rupees for the two-day stay. They had to buy new furniture and new vessels also, worthy of the Queen. How could they use old things for the Queen? Now if the Queen of England had to be so accommodated, what about the King of kings? We see in Rev. 19:16, the Lord Jesus is called the King of kings and the Lord of lords. “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”. 1 Tim. 6:15, “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” There are many names given to the Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible, one of which is King of kings and Lord of lords. And every knee shall bow to Him according to Phil, 2:10. He is worthy to be given all the welcome.

Now for the heavenly King to come in, the Holy Spirit must make my heart and body a fit and worthy dwelling place for Him. In other words the Holy Spirit will bring into us the virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ. We sing “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me” but it is practised by very few. It is quite true, if you allow the Holy Ghost to possess you, others will see the good He has done for you. When a child is born in any family the neighbours come to see the baby. Some say, “The baby is Luke the mother,” others say. “No, no. He is like father,” Both are right. The eyes may be like the father’s, and the cheeks like the mother’s. As the baby grows older, you can see both their features there. Similarly, as we allow the Holy Spirit to possess us completely, others will see in us, His love, purity, glory, beauty, tenderness, kindness, and they will say of us, “he must be a Christian.”

I remember many years ago in a very crowded train a nan came into the compartment. Another man was so rude and rough to him, but the first man went on smiling. I said to myself: “He must be a Christian, the way he can bear a rebuke.” So I called him to my side and asked him, “who are you?” He said: “I am a Christian.” By his shining face I knew he must be a Christian, otherwise how could he bear unprovoked rebuke and scolding! The Holy Spirit will surely bring upon our faces a peculiar glory and beauty; but to obtain this we have to obey Him. We must be willing to be possessed by Him, and then men can see His light shining upon our face—a light which cannot come by powder, soap, cream or any other outward application, ‘The divine light which God gives us imparts true beauty, and that comes only by the complete possession of the Holy Spirit.

Our Lord says in Matthew 11:29, “Tuke my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”’” When two bullocks plough a field, they require a yoke, and they both pull together. The Lord says; “You take My yoke upon you. Let us pull together as partners. As you take My yoke upon you, you will have meekness, lowliness and gentleness.” He will make us like Himself. We cannot do this ourselves. The first great work of the Holy Spirit is to bring into us the outward virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ that can be seen by people around us, I have travelled to many parts of the world, When I see people as I go here and there my heart says: “Yes, that person is a believer: there is a peculiar brightness on his face.”

The apostle says in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” If He does five in me, then surely others ought to be able to say: “I can see you are a Christian!” One more example. As you pass down a street, you say, “That building looks like a school: that building looks like a workshop; that building must be some wealthy man’s house; this is a poor man’s house.” This is the impression we get as we walk by. Similarly, when a man passes by you, he must be able to say, “This is the Lord's building,” or “that is Satan’s building.” They can see by our faces, eyes, smile and behaviour, that this body is the temple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col. 3:12-16 lists the virtues of a believer; “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity (love), which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” This is my first point: the indwelling Spirit brings into us all the graces and virtues of the Lord Jesus, not by our own efforts or power, or Bible knowledge, or long prayers, but by the Holy Spirit. By allowing God to take hold of our lives saying: “I am Thine, You possess me completely, I give Thee full authority.” Others will be able to see all these virtues shining on our faces with the beauty and glory of Christ.

2. The Quickening Spirit

The second name is the Quickening Spirit; “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8:11). The quickening Spirit will one day make our bodies immortal. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor, 15:54). The day is coming when we shall be given immortal, glorified, heavenly, spiritual bodies, and with that body we shall see Him and be like Him, by the power of the quickening Spirit. Even now upon the earth we can have a foretaste of that quickening Spirit. When we feel weak physically, God gives extra strength to serve Him.

After my conversion I had no money. My father had a very big highcourt case and I sent a cable. Then a second one and a third one, but no reply. I became absolutely stranded and penniless. I was wearing very nice clothes, so no one could guess how poor I was, or that I had empty pockets. So I went looking for a job. I decided that I was not going to borrow or beg from anyone for that would bring a reproach to the Lord’s Name. Romans 13:8 says: “Owe no man anything,” so I decided “I am not going to borrow even from my friends.” I tried to get a job, but there was no job for me. Every time I went for a job, I was told that I was too late.

One day a man said to me, “Can you cook Indian curries?” I said, “I can’t cook what you want, but in London I used to cook food for myself, it was for my own taste; how can I cook food for Europeans and Americans?” The man said to me. “You try, and if you succeed we will put it on, and if you don’ succeed we will withdraw it.” I had to pray very hard, “Lord tell me now, how much salt, how much chilli, how much pepper I need.” I went on praying and pouring and stirring at the same time. When the food was served, one lady came to me; she was a Christian. “Mr. Cook” she said, “who taught you to cook like this? I have been to Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi, but I have never enjoyed such a nice curry.” It was the Lord only that taught and I got the job as a cook. The result was I had to prepare food for a thousand people by myself. Single-handed, I had to prepare rice and mutton and other meat and vegetables for a thousand people. I had to pray very hard, “Lord, You know my condition, give me new strength, new vigour, and a new spirit.” He gave it. For two years I worked and not even once was the cooking spoiled, but that was only by God’s grace, not by my power or knowledge or skill. I had no skill at that time, and that is how God taught me a lesson that even now upon the earth, we can claim extra strength and wisdom by the quickening Spirit.

When! came to India afterwards we had to walk 30 miles a day sometimes for Gospel work. We had no motor-car; we would go on walking and preaching. We would start early in the morning and go on walking and preaching the whole day and come back at midnight having no food. But our Lord gave us strength. How did it happen? We prayed daily: “Lord, we are in Your service, do it for Your glory alone. We do not know Your plan. Will You give us Your extra strength to walk?” I know by my own constitution I cannot walk so many miles a day, and at the same time take meetings five times a day, but God gave the strength. Sometimes we have had prayer for the whole night for one week or even two weeks. The Lord gives strength if we take it. Whenever you fec! weak physically and you have a heavy burden to carry in your office or school or home or workshop, pray, “Lord give me extra strength, I can’t work; touch my bones and my muscles and my body.” He does it. That is a foretaste upon the earth of the quickening Spirit, the same quickening Spirit which will one day give me an immortal body that I may reign with my Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever in a glorified body.

3. The Leading Spirit

The third name is the Leading Spirit: “ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom,8:14). This is the third outward expression of the work of the Holy Ghost in our lives. He leads us step by step in God's plan. We are so foolish, we cannot find God’s will. I have put that question to many people throughout the world, even to many scholars and pastors, “Please tell me, how you find God's will,” and they are puzzled and cannot answer properly. Even though they know the Bible by heart, when they come to the real test of finding God’s will, very few know it. Yet I find in the Bible that this is the most important thing for a Christian, a believer, because the whole life of the Lord Jesus Christ was lived in doing the Father’s will: “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34), “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30). “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself’ (John 7:17). “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” John 8:29). “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth” (John 9:31). Six references, and in every reference the emphasis is on God’s will, that goes to prove that before God it is a very important matter to find God's will and do it. The last prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ in Gethsemane was: “nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39),

“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). In other words, do not be foolish! Whenever someone calls you a fool, you get very angry and you do not speak with him for ten days. “He called me a fool in the meeting, so I won't go there” you say. But it is God speaking to you, not myself. If you don’t know how to find God's will, what are you? A fool! “Be ye not unwise”! Or in other words, “Do not be a fool” God says, “but understand what the will of God is.” Can you say truthfully that you are able to find God’s will everyday and for every need, every problem, every association? If not, then there is something wrong with your spiritual growth. I can see clearly that this is the third outward expression of the Holy Spirit in my life, to toad me and to teach me God’s perfect will. Now I can say, “God has taught me by experience”.

One day in Vancouver, Canada, I got a telephone call and the man said to me: “Will you come and speak to us on a certain Sunday?” I said, “I will see my diary and let you know.” I saw in my diary and that day I was free. “Yes, I will be very glad to come and speak for you on that Sunday.” My friends overheard it and they said to me, “Don’t you pray and find God's will before accepting an invitation?” I said, “There is no need to pray, I am free, I am not going for any worldly business. It is my privilege to give God’s message and my testimony. I am not going to waste my time.” But they said, “How do you know, God may have some other plan for you.” I thought they were trying to find fault with me, so I got offended and did not wish them “Good morning” for two weeks. I would not speak to them, but hid anger in my heart. After two weeks the Lord pulled my ear: “Do you know how to find My will?” I did not know. Even though I had read the whole Bible four or five times, and was completely free from worldly pleasures, and had no interest even in such things, yet could not say truthfully: “I know how to find God’s will!” It was a shock to me. So I said, “Lord, now onwards I will not go anywhere; I will not take any meeting. Will You teach me to find Your will?” I went to the seaside by some rocks and sat there the whole day, praying, “Lord, teach me to find Your will, I will follow You all the way,” and the Lord taught me.

If any one questions me in India or anywhere, “What is your highest privilege as a Christian”? My answer is, “The privilege of finding and doing God’s will.” What a joy it is when God does speak to me saying: “This is the way.” I feel us though I am walking in heaven. Whatever may happen, I know my safety is in doing God’s will. So I gave God a promise— “Lord Iam not going anywhere till You speak with me, I won't spend my money till You give me permission.” I do not do anything until? He speaks and God helps.

I will give you a very simple example. While I was in America, I wanted a hair-cut. I said, “Lord, look at my hair, it is very long, and ugly; can I go and have hair-cut?” The Lord said, “No.” So I went on praying for three weeks. Now a lot of people would think, with one look at my long hair that it required a cut. But God said, “No!” After three weeks God gave me permission, “Now, you can go today for a hair-cut.” I went, and while the barber was cutting my hair, I said, “Mr. Barber, are you born again?” He said, “No.” I said, “Do you want to born again?” He said, “Yes.” I said “All right cut my hair, and I'll show you how to be born again.” He cut my hair and I took my Bible and showed him how to be born again. He knelt down by the chair and was born again. I said to him as I left: “The bill please.” But he would give me no bill, so I got a free hair cut! I got both, a hair-cut plus a soul. What a joy it was! and just because it was God’s time, I know my time is in God’s hand, my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in me, which I have of God; and I am not my own: “Ye are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19). As believers, please mark carefully, our body is His temple, our money belongs to Him, and our time belongs to Him, because the Lord Jesus has a double claim upon us. First of all, He is my Creator; He made me, gave me life; and secondly He is my Saviour, as Isaiah 43:1 says “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” First of all God is saying, “Jacob, I have formed thee, not your mother, but it is I who have created thee, I am your Creator.” That is the first claim. And then He says: “I have called thee by thy name, I have redeemed thee.” I am the purchased possession of the Lord Jesus Christ. He purchased me by His blood and that is why my time, my money, my energy and my body belong to Him, for I am not my own.

I remember very clearly, one day my mother said to me, “My son, will you kindly stay for one more day?” I said, “No mother, the Lord has spoken to me, and I must go by today’s train.” She said, “I am your mother, I have got some claim over you”. I said, “Yes, only one claim, but the Lord Jesus has a double claim over me; He is my Redeemer and also my Creator. I know He must come first.” She said, “All right, you pray and see what He says”. So I prayed; ‘‘Lord Jesus Christ, my mother says stop for one day, can I?” The Lord said: “No.”

So I told my mother that I was very sorry, the Lord was saying that I must go, and I must obey Him. Then she wanted to know why God was saying so. It is because He must come first. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10:37). That is why we are given the Holy Spirit, to lead us step by step, and thank God when we wait patiently, we can find His perfect will.

To be sure of God’s will you have to have a sevenfold evidence. I will give you in brief these seven evidences of God’s will. First of all 1 Sam. 16 :12. We can call this The witness of the Holy Spirit. “And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” This was a man of God, called Samuel, sent by God Himself to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem to find David. We was about to be deceived when he saw Eliab the elder son. Going by his height and stature, he thought he was the right man to be a king, but God said, “No!” God said, “Don’t look at the countenance or stature, this is not my choice.” He brought all his seven sons. But none of them were right. Then he came to David who was only a young fellow. God said, “Anoint him, this is he.” That means, if you are in God’s perfect will, the Holy Spirit will tell you. That is the witness of the Holy Ghost in my spirit, speaking to me.

The second evidence is in Psalm 119:105. This is the witness of the Word of God. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” If you read your Bible very slowly and carefully every day, God will confirm His will through a portion from His Word, from your daily portion. It may be a fragment or a passage, or a whole chapter. I have found this to be so. During my early morning devotions or at midday or evening, I say, “Lord, will You kindly confirm Your will from the following verses?” Then I find a fragment coming to life and fullness.

The third evidence is found in Daniel 2:17-19- the witness of fellow-believers. “Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision.” They began to pray together, and as Daniel and his companions prayed, God revealed the secret of the dream and the interpretation. You will find it very helpful if you begin to pray with your fellow-believers, or with God's servants or elders in the church. They are given for your safety. Do not be ashamed to go to your elder brethren for prayer, asking them to pray with you and help to find God’s will.

The fourth evidence 18 in Isaiah 32 :17- the witness of the growing, inward, multiplying peace. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” That is my fourth evidence of God’s will, an inward, growing, increasing, multiplying, spiritual, heavenly peace. As you pray in the morning, in the evening, the next day, the third day and the fourth day, you will find God’s peace multiplying like a river. That is your proof: God has spoken to me, the God of peace, and when He speaks there must be peace within your soul, God's own peace.

The fifth evidence is in the Acts of the Apostles 21:13 and 14. “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done”. God had spoken to Paul to go to Jerusalem. On the way came the prophet Agabus. He took Paul’s girdle and tied his own hands and feet and said, ‘“Thus saith the Holy Ghost, the man who owns this girdle will be so bound in Jerusalem.” But he never said: “Do not go there.” Though his friends said, “Don’t go! We need you,” Paul replied, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not only to be bound but also to die.” He had a strong faith, fully prepared for any hardship that might come his way. There are occasions when we have to face hardships to obey God's will. The fifth evidence is the witness of a strong, active, growing faith. When God does speak, He automatically creates in you a strong faith, ready for any hard situation. When God has spoken, I must obey Him at any cost.

The sixth evidence we find in Gen. 24: 10-14: “And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.” He asked for a very peculiar sign, by which he could be sure, for he did not want to make a mistake. His choice was not governed by height or face or family. He wanted the witness of a sure sign. According to your own need and purpose or plan you can ask God for any sign, and He wilt fulfil it. I have found by experience, that if He has given me a sign, He has always fulfilled it.

The seventh evidence is in Heb: 13:21- the witness of His Name being glorified; “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.” His Name should be highly magnified through that matter for which you are praying.

These are the seven evidences by which you can find God’s will, The witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit, the witness of the Word of God, the witness of fellow— believers, the witness of a growing, spiritual, multiplying, heavenly peace, of a strong, active faith, of some special sign being fulfilled, and of His Name being highly magnified. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” Rom 8:14, This is the third, outward manifestation of the Holy Spirit— His power to lead me and to keep me upon God’s right path. The Spirit will not leave you. When you are not in God’s will you will become restless, you will feel that something has gone wrong. If you are in God’s path there is a peculiar inward peace, that God is leading, that He will lead me; and I know that I am in His perfect will.

4. The Spirit of adoption, leading to maturity

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father’ (Rom 8:15). In Greece the custom among wealthy people is, when a young man comes to age i.e. about 22 or so, the father will gather all his friends, relations and neighbours and say: “Friends, now my son has attained the age of maturity. I can trust him. In your presence I give him authority from now onwards to sign all the business documents in my name.” And he gives a very big key into his son’s hand saying, “Now, my son, today I give you full authority to sign all the business papers in my name.’ We have the same thought here. God gives us the Spirit of maturity. Many of us remain babes spiritually and for many years we have no ability to bear spiritual responsibility. We only know how to come for the meetings, sit for a while, sleep for a while and go home afterwards, We enjoy the choruses and singing, but during the message we are half asleep and half awake. We have no interest in God’s work and no desire to bear any active responsibility in the House of God. That is our Christian life. But as believers we are called by God to bear responsibility. Every believer has been given by the Lord Jesus Christ some work or job to do and he must do it. “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch” (Mark 13:34). That is the Lord’s parable. He said that He Himself was going on a far journey and He gave authority to His servants, that means to the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. They have authority to give God’s Word with authority. Then He says, “To every man his work.” The Lord Jesus Christ gave every believer some job to do, and when He comes back we have to give an account to Him of the different talents we have received from Him, whether it be five talents or three or two or one. So many believers have no desire to do any job in the House of God, but we are given the Spirit of maturity to help us to bear the burden and say by faith: “Lord Jesus Christ, give me some job, give me some work to do for Thee!”

Sometimes if you stay as a guest with a family, you feel happy if you wash the vessels or scrub the floor and wash the clothes. But in the House of God you go to sleep. You are very clever at washing vessels, scrubbing the floor or washing shirts, but in the House of God you want no job. If you want ‘to grow spiritually, you must have some job in the House of God. You must find out by prayer: “Lord, tell me what is my job, what is my service in Your House, and I wilt do it gladly.” What He says, do it, for that is how we grow spiritually by the work of the Holy Spirit.

5. The Witnessing Spirit

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ’ (Rom. 8:16,17). The witnessing Spirit is the fifth work of the Holy Spirit to teach me about my share of the heavenly inheritance that the Lord Jesus has for me in heaven, for we are joint-heirs. If your father is going to leave you some property, you must learn how to look after it, otherwise it will be wasted. The Lord Jesus Christ has made me a joint-heir of His inheritance and I must learn upon the earth, how to look after it. All my suffering upon the earth is for a purpose, to teach me, to educate me, to help me, and train me, to enjoy my heavenly inheritance.

Vs. 17-18 “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shalt be revealed in us.” The work of the Holy Spirit is to tell me how God has prepared for me in heaven a great inheritance. All your sufferings, afflictions, trials and hardships of any kind, are your education and training, for your enjoyment of the heavenly inheritance. That is why we are triumphant in our trials, and do not murmur or complain, but thank God for suffering. For through this suffering we are qualified to reign with the Lord Jesus in heaven.

6. The Helping Spirit

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us...” (Rom 8:26). We do nol know what to pray for, but as we begin to obey the Holy Spirit, He will remind us for whom to pray. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14). The Holy Spirit will remind you almost every day to pray for someone. We do not know where they are or what they need. When we go upon our knees the Lord says, “Pray for So and So, and So and So,” and that is why I do not have any written list of prayer. Then I get a letter saying: “I was sick and your prayer was just in time”. As you wait on the Lord, He will remind you to pray for someone may be, in India or Africa; and by your prayers some are healed or comforted, some are strengthened or guided, some even are protected from danger, It is my privilege, as the Lord’s servant, and partner, and co-worker to pray for many people in every part of the world. I can spend hours in prayer in this way, and what a joy it is! In the beginning I could pray for hardly 15 minutes. I could read my Bible for a long time and have a good time at it. I could attend long meetings, but could not pray for more than 15 minutes. Either my knees were aching, or.my stomach was aching, or my head was aching; but not now; it is fellowship, it is joy, it is strengthening to pray, morning, midday, or evening, at any time. I am reminded by the Spirit about many things in many parts of the world. He has helped me to remember many people wherever they are and whatever their needs be.

7. The Interceding Spirit

“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:27). The Spirit is given to us that we may be able to intercede for God’s saints. In the end days the enemy will be very active. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast Out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him, And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:9-11),

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time,from the face of the serpent” (Rev. 12:12-14). In the end days the devil uses three weapons against God’s people, he is the deceiver, secondly, he is the accuser, and thirdly, he is the persecutor. (v.9) “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.” That is the first weapon the devil uses- deceiving God’s people. Secondly v.10. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of hts Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” And thirdly (v. 13) “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, which brought forth the man child.” The devil as an accuser goes about accusing God’s servants and His saints. You will be surprised how many people are used by the devil to make a false charge against God’s people. Sometimes they say many horrible things, just to cause trouble. So the devil has power to be an accuser and a deceiver and a persecutor; but we can intercede for those people. I have been reminded again and again with a burden upon my heart to intercede for so and so, and that means perseverance and travail in prayer. We can pray no ordinary prayer, when so many saints are being attacked by the devil by persecution or deception or accusation. Only by intercession can they be protected. In India when God’s people were being accused for many things we decided to intercede. Sometimes we had a whole night of prayer, or a whole day of prayer. We never bothered to write any letter of defence but by intercession they were protected. God’s Word says; “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord” (Isa. 54 :17). It is only by intercession that we can help them. Do not waste your time in writing letters for self-defence, and do not lose your sleep either. Have a full meal and go to sleep; but intercede for them. By intercession we claim God’s protection for those who are being attacked by the devil either by accusation or deception or persecution. The devil has great power to persecute God’s servants and saints. We protect them by intercession, by travailing in prayer.

Thus I have shown you the seven outworkings of the Holy Spirit. First of all the indwelling Spirit; secondly, the quickening Spirit; thirdly, the leading Spirit; fourthly, the Spirit of adoption or maturity; fifthly, the witnessing Spirit; sixthly the helping Spirit and seventhly the Spirit of intercession. This is the sevenfold outward expression of the work of the Holy Spirit which can be seen by friends, enemies, neighbours or relations. So keep them in mind and pray by faith: “Lord Jesus Christ, I want to be with You on Your throne. Will You kindly possess me completely by Your Spirit? Fill me with Your Spirit according to Your promise; I am ready.” Claim the sevenfold fulness, and He will show you how it can become yours.