Hawkins reminds students of the role of the Holy Spirit in their prayers

O.S. Hawkins, chancellor and senior professor of pastoral ministry and evangelism, welcomed and encouraged new and returning students during the Chancellor’s Chapel on Aug. 28 by saying they are joining the “miracle” that is taking place on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in recent years.

“There’s so many signs of God’s blessing and encouragement,” Hawkins said, pointing out the increases in enrollment and giving, and the resurgence of energy and life found on the campus. “So, you’re coming at a great time. But I want you to know the secret of the turnaround of Southwestern Seminary and what is happening began over in the Rotunda in a prayer meeting that’s continued to this day every Monday.”

Hawkins expressed gratitude to Melena Monroe, director of prayer ministries at Southwestern and daughter of former faculty member and prayer warrior T.W. Hunt, and President David S. Dockery for emphasizing the importance of prayer on the Southwestern campus.

When committing to prayer, Hawkins said it is beneficial to have a prayer partner—someone who can be trusted with the most sensitive prayer needs, who is always available, and is faithful to pray for the other. Preaching from Romans 8:26-27, Hawkins said the perfect prayer partner is already with every believer—the Holy Spirit.

Hawkins explained the Holy Spirit, the third person in the divine Trinity, is present not just starting at Pentecost, but was there at the creation, throughout the pages of Scripture, even to the end of Revelation. When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in the New Testament, Hawkins said He changed their cowardice that led them to forsake Jesus to courage, empowering them to stand for the Gospel even to death.

“If you could leave this place knowing that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is alive in you … it would be a defining moment in your life,” he said, adding the Spirit comes “to live in us forever, never to leave us, to empower us for service.”

Because the Spirit indwells every believer, Hawkins said believers can be confident that even when they are not sure what to say or what to pray for, the Holy Spirit is there to help as an intercessor.

“Those things we’re trying to pray and we’re trying to articulate, He comes along and He takes what’s in our heart, and He offers it to the Father,” Hawkins said. “And He translates what’s in our heart, even though we don’t have the words to say it. He helps us.”

Hawkins pointed out Scriptures that say believers can still resist, grieve, and even quench the Spirit in their lives, but said the Spirit is the Comforter sent to aid Christians even in their weaknesses.

“The truth is, many of us are not very healthy when it comes to our prayer life, and so we have a prayer partner who comes along to help us,” Hawkins said. “… We come to a circumstance or situation in life, in crisis time in life, or somebody we know does that we’re interceding for, and we don’t know what to pray for as we should. That’s why the Holy Spirit comes into you, helps you in your weakness.”

Hawkins illustrated the idea of not knowing what to pray with the story of Paul praying three times that God would remove his “thorn in the flesh.” But instead of removing that ailment or cause of struggle, God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Paul’s prayer was not according to God’s will in that instance.

“We don’t know how to pray as we should,” Hawkins said. “But the Holy Spirit makes intercession with us, and He leads us, and He guides us, and He directs us, until we come to the place where, it says in verse 27, we begin to pray according to the will of God.”

“As you go through life, and as you go through this day,” he concluded, “let it be a constant reminder to you that you got two wonderful intercessors. One at the right hand of the Father, right now, Who’s praying for You, and One in you, Who ever lives to make intercession.”

During the chapel service, Dockery recognized new members of the Board of Trustees participating in orientation this week. Ryan Lee, a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and pastor of Semihan Church in Carrolton, and members of his congregation were also in attendance and presented a gift to Dockery and Southwestern as the church continues to partner with the seminary by sponsoring student scholarships.

Hawkins graduated with his Master of Divinity from Southwestern in 1974, later earning a Doctor of Philosophy at the seminary. He served as pastor at various churches, including First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale and First Baptist Church of Dallas, before becoming the president and CEO of Guidestone Financial Resources. Hawkins retired from Guidestone in 2022 after leading the Southern Baptist entity for 25 years. He currently serves as the chancellor, senior professor of pastoral ministry and evangelism, and the L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism (“Chair of Fire”) at Southwestern.

Hawkins’ entire message can be viewed here.

Chapel is held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 11 a.m. (CT) in MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College. Chapel may be viewed live at swbts.live.