In Jude 1:20, what does praying in the Holy Ghost mean?
Let’s read Jude 20-21, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” In God’s Word, we sometimes read of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13, Ephesians 4:30, etc.) and sometimes read of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18, Acts 13:9, etc.) These are all referring to the same person. The Greek word is the same whether it is translated as Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.
So, how do we pray in the Holy Ghost as we are instructed in Jude 20? Let’s read Romans 8:26-27, “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 with groanings which cannot be uttered. 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.” We pray in the Holy Ghost by allowing Him to lead us in our petitions, worship, and praise. When we do not know how we should pray in a certain situation, (for we often do not know the best solution to our problems) the Spirit makes intercession for us, bringing to our minds the proper way to give our cares to the Lord. We read in Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
The prayer that is not sent up through the influence of the Holy Ghost is not likely to reach heaven. We really do not know what to pray for without the Spirit’s guidance. We tend to pray for vengeance. We tend to pray for sensual pleasures. We tend to pray selfishly to have our needs met, without regard to the needs of others. We tend to pray for rescue out of our tribulations rather than strength to endue them. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” It is only through the Holy Spirit that we are able to pray according to God’s will, because He knows God’s will and will intercede on our behalf so that we might pray according to God’s will. May we all learn our dependence of the leading of the Spirit in our prayer lives. It is profitable to sit and wait upon the Lord, to allow the Spirit to form thoughts in our heads and words in our lips. One has correctly said that “Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God.” It is only by praying according to the leading of the Holy Ghost that we can pray acceptable and effective prayers. James 5:16 tells us that, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (246.4)