My heart goes out to anyone who's ever been told that receiving the Holy Ghost as described in the Book of Acts is not for them today. Speaking in tongues or praying in tongues is a decisive topic today and it shouldn't be! The blessings that come with being filled and renewed with the Holy Ghost are so numerous it defies description. Speaking in tongues is not only biblical, it's encouraged for both personal edification and in specific situations when the church comes together. If you don't believe in the need to be filled with the Spirit, fine. This post isn't for you.
This post is for those who understand the power of the Holy Ghost, and more specifically, for those who know what “praying through” means. In my time of much needed prayer this morning, I was reminded of a few things about praying in the Holy Ghost I'd to share with you here. Perhaps you can relate.
First, if you haven't noticed, God's ways don't always make sense to our mind, do they? The Bible is filled with situations that defy the intellect. But when a person obeys the Lord, no matter how odd his ways seem, the Lord God blesses! If we try to live with our minds first, we are going to miss God. That's not to say that God's people shouldn't be thinkers – on the contrary! Rather, we should be smart enough to know that there's more to life than what we can see, hear or calculate. It's important to understand the limits of our natural minds...
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)
Praying in the Spirit transforms our thinking because it bypasses the mind and edifies the spirit. With a renewed spirit, our priorities change, our blurry vision is cleared and a whole new dimension to life is opened up.
But you already knew that.
Secondly, praying in the Holy Ghost isn't something we do for God – it's what we need for ourselves! The unburdening of the heart, the transforming of our mind, and the clearing of the soul are amazing. Yet, too often we'll forfeit this holy resource. We'll tightly pack our day with things to do and wonder what happened to the peace we used to have. Jesus cried way back when and still cries out to us today...
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive...) (John 7:37-39)
Couldn't we all use a drink of that?
Finally, praying in the Holy Ghost gives us something else: rest.
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. (Isaiah 28:11-12)
If someone has told you that the Holy Ghost isn't for you, may I encourage you to talk directly to God about that yourself? I'll take the promises of God in the Bible over man's word any day! Paul prayed with the spirit (1 Cor. 14:15) and even commanded that we be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). He even boasted that he spoke with tongues more than others. He knew the value of spiritual refreshing and what it can do for us.
Jude put it this way: 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. (Jude 1:20-21)
Don't let another day slip away without praying in the Spirit. You'll find a clarity and a peace that you've been missing and wonder why in the world you've gone so long without it!
First, if you haven't noticed, God's ways don't always make sense to our mind, do they? The Bible is filled with situations that defy the intellect. But when a person obeys the Lord, no matter how odd his ways seem, the Lord God blesses! If we try to live with our minds first, we are going to miss God. That's not to say that God's people shouldn't be thinkers – on the contrary! Rather, we should be smart enough to know that there's more to life than what we can see, hear or calculate. It's important to understand the limits of our natural minds...
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)
Praying in the Spirit transforms our thinking because it bypasses the mind and edifies the spirit. With a renewed spirit, our priorities change, our blurry vision is cleared and a whole new dimension to life is opened up.
But you already knew that.
Secondly, praying in the Holy Ghost isn't something we do for God – it's what we need for ourselves! The unburdening of the heart, the transforming of our mind, and the clearing of the soul are amazing. Yet, too often we'll forfeit this holy resource. We'll tightly pack our day with things to do and wonder what happened to the peace we used to have. Jesus cried way back when and still cries out to us today...
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive...) (John 7:37-39)
Couldn't we all use a drink of that?
Finally, praying in the Holy Ghost gives us something else: rest.
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. (Isaiah 28:11-12)
If someone has told you that the Holy Ghost isn't for you, may I encourage you to talk directly to God about that yourself? I'll take the promises of God in the Bible over man's word any day! Paul prayed with the spirit (1 Cor. 14:15) and even commanded that we be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). He even boasted that he spoke with tongues more than others. He knew the value of spiritual refreshing and what it can do for us.
Jude put it this way: 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. (Jude 1:20-21)
Don't let another day slip away without praying in the Spirit. You'll find a clarity and a peace that you've been missing and wonder why in the world you've gone so long without it!
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