PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT... CONTINUED
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
-Rom 8:26-28
"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries."
- 1 Cor 4:2
The bible says we wrestle not against flesh and blood; we are in a spiritual battle. The Holy Spirit within us knows exactly what is happening around us, and by praying in the spirit our prayers are led by the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us in prayer. It helps you to pray God's perfect will. It's an awesome experience to feel the power of God manifest on the inside of you. When you know that your mouth is moving, making an utterance, that you did not author, or compose, devise, create, formulate, prepare, or plan. You are basking in the presence of God with overwhelming joy and peace as you communicate in spirit.
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself..."
- 1 Cor 14:4
Edify means to charge or build-up. When your spiritual batteries get low you can re-charge yourself by praying in the Spirit.
"And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:4-9
"Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." Acts 8:14-17
Use the arrows to scroll through scripture regarding tongues and the Holy Spirit
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" - Mark 9:23-24
"To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."
- Titus 1:15-16
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."
- Eph 6:17-18
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
-1 Cor 2:14
"And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, "saying, 'Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;" Acts 28:24-26
"Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," - Eph 5:17-20
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I PRAY IN THE SPIRIT?
"What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." - 1 Cor 14:15
Stay balanced. Pray in English for things you recognize need prayer, and rely on the Holy Spirit’s assistance when you are unsure of how to pray. You can also pray in the spirit when you are worshiping in song. You may randomly feel the Spirit prompting you to pray from time to time.
"If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified."
1 Peter 4:14
HOW DO YOU PRAY IN THE SPIRIT?
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Pray for Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. Invite the power of His Spirit to be released and manifest in you.
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In an attitude of praise or worship, focus your thoughts on your relationship with God. Don't think about the words coming out of your mouth. Love God back with your heart, mind, and soul, and audibly begin to tell him, “I love you Jesus”
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Your mouth will feel a movement, an utterance, like when you have cold chills, except you won’t be cold. When you feel the vibration put sound to your vocal cords, move your tongue and lips.
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You won’t have to think about what you are saying. The words will flow by sounds and syllables that are coming from your heart by the Spirit of God.
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If it does not happen – rebuke unbelief – pray again. You may also want to pray with some other Spirit-Filled Christian friends and have them lay hands on you. Do not be discouraged. Keep praying.
TESTIMONY
"I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit when I was nine years old. I did not know anything about the gifts of the Spirit. I had responded to an altar call and I found myself in love with God, tears streaming; my heart was trying its best to tell Him that I love Him. A lady stood behind me with her hand on my shoulder, she leaned in and said,” just say I love you, Jesus.” I began to repeat it over and over, and my language changed. I could have stayed there all night. I did not want that moment to end. I was with Jesus. I was baptized in water one week later, I came out of the water praying in the spirit. After that night, I could not do it again. I remember sitting up late at night on my knees in the dark praying and begging God to give me this gift again. I studied and learned all that I could about it. I tried to make my mouth move and I knew it was me doing it. I could not pray in tongues. Three years later at a youth program, the staff minister took me and my friend into a room and told us that he had a dream and he believed the Lord wanted him to talk to us about praying in tongues. The minute he said that I was praying in the Spirit and I was on my knees in that room for hours. It fell upon me just like in the book of Acts, from then on I've been able to stop and start at will. I can’t explain why it happened to me that way but I know how frustrating it is to pray for the gift and not get it. Trust that God is good and He is faithful to His promises. Maybe He was testing my faith, I'm not sure. But, what I do know is that He is faithful to His promises and He has promised to give the Holy Spirit to all who ask Him for it, in faith, believing Him for it. Faith means to trust. Trust God and trust His timing." - Krista Smith
"Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin." -Romans 14:22-23
"For we walk by faith,
not by sight."
2 Cor 5:7
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
- James 1:5-8
WHAT SHOULD I PRAY?
Father, I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of my life. I proclaim that I'm your child. I know your Holy Spirit lives and dwells in me. I love you, Lord. Purify my heart and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Help me to walk in your ways. Keep me from habitual sins and strengthen me in the knowledge and wisdom of Your Word.
I desire to be filled with your Holy Spirit, and to speak to you in a new tongue. I rebuke fear and doubt from my heart and mind, and I trust and rest in You. Father, baptize me with your Holy Spirit and power right now. I release the Holy Spirit within me to come upon me. According to the Word of God, I now have the ability to pray in other tongues. Jesus, I love you so much!
Take some time to worship the Lord. Praise and magnify His name. Let your heart meditate on His goodness, His mercy, His grace, and His love toward you.
"Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ." - Eph 3:8
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." - 1 Cor 2:12
If we don't know our inheritance, (spiritually speaking) we can live like paupers when all along we were legally rich.