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PART IV: THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PRAYER
CHAPTER 22
HOW TO PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Introduction
The Lord desires that we fellowship with him and intercede
for those in need. Since the Lord has commanded us to pray, it
stands to reason that he is eager to help us pray.
What Is Praying in the Spirit?
While the Holy Spirit helps us pray in our native language,
the scriptures teach us that the Holy Spirit also helps us to
pray in languages that we do not understand (tongues):
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit
prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit,
and I will pray with the understanding also:
I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing
with the understanding also. (1 Corinthians
14:14-15).
Kenneth Hagin comments on the above verses:
When Paul speaks here about our understanding, he
is referring to our minds. He is talking about two
kinds of praying: MENTAL praying and SPIRITUAL praying.
There is a difference between the two.
People usually think all praying is spiritual, but
it isn't. Therefore Paul said, "IF I PRAY IN AN
UNKNOWN TONGUE, MY SPIRIT PRAYETH" v. 14). He was
praying with his spirit. If he had prayed with his
understanding, he would have been praying from his
mind.
God wants us to make spiritual intercession, but
He also wants us to pray with our understanding. That
is why Paul said, "I WILL PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, AND I
WILL PRAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO" (V.15). In The
Amplified Bible we are told, "For if I pray in an
[unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within
me] prays" (v. 14). When you pray with tongues, it is
the Holy Spirit within you giving you the utterance,
but it is YOUR spirit doing the praying.
Mental praying--praying with your understanding--
is limited to your knowledge, to your understanding.
We can see why it would be insufficient. The Church,
generally speaking, has failed because for the most
part it has endeavored to carry on the work of God with
only one kind of praying: mental praying. [Kenneth E.
Hagin, THE INTERCEDING CHRISTIAN (Tulsa: RHEMA Bible
Church, 1983), pp. 18-19].
The Apostle Paul teaches us about praying in the 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 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.
(Romans 8:26-27).
The phrase "groanings which cannot be uttered" probably refers to
human speech, because God can communicate anything to himself.
Therefore, it would be taken to mean praying as the Holy Spirit
gives utterance, or praying in unknown languages (tongues).
Notice that when the Holy Spirit helps us pray in tongues,
that it is intercession according to the will of God. Since
praying in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance is always
in line with the will of God, it is the highest form of prayer.
Ten Reasons Why Every Believer
Should Speak in Tongues
Different kinds of tongues is the supernatural utterance by
an individual as the Holy Spirit gives the ability to speak in
languages never learned by the speaker, nor necessarily
understood by the hearers.
1. SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS THE INITIAL PHYSICAL SIGN THAT ONE HAS
BEEN BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. This has been covered earlier,
so we will only quote one scripture:
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4).
2. SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS FOR SPIRITUAL SELF-EDIFICATION. It is
not selfish to edify oneself, but it is in God's plan for us.
How can we help others if we are physically or mentally sick or
in need of spiritual help ourselves? Who would listen to someone
whose needs were as bad as theirs?
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue
edifieth himself.... (1 Corinthians 14:4).
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on
your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Ghost, (Jude 1:20).
3. SPEAKING IN TONGUES REMINDS US OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.
When we are reminded that God himself lives within us, we become
God-inside-minded. Faith is strengthened. Our lifestyle becomes
more sanctified.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter, that he may abide with
you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom
the world cannot receive, because it seeth
him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know
him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be
in you. (John 14:16-17).
This prophecy of Jesus has been fulfilled and the Spirit of God
now lives within us!
4. SPEAKING IN TONGUES KEEPS OUR PRAYERS IN LINE WITH GOD'S
WILL. Praying in tongues keeps our petitions unselfish and keeps
us from requesting wrong things. It also keeps us in balance--we
tend to ask God for too much and we tend not to praise and thank
God enough. (See Romans 8:26-27 above).
5. SPEAKING IN TONGUES STIMULATES FAITH. In fact, the very act
of speaking in tongues requires faith. Most of the time we do
not know what we are saying--we have to believe the Bible and
trust the Spirit of God.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on
your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Ghost, (Jude 1:20).
6. SPEAKING IN TONGUES HELPS KEEP US FREE FOR WORLDLY
CONTAMINATION. We can pray in tongues silently:
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it
be by two, or at the most by three, and that
by course; and let one interpret. But if
there be no interpreter, let him keep silence
in the church; and let him speak to himself,
and to God. (1 Corinthians 14:28).
If we can speak in tongues silently in the church, then we can
speak in tongues silently in hostile environments. When people
are gossiping, taking God's name in vain or telling vulgar jokes
on the job, in beauty parlors or barber shops, etc., we can begin
to pray in the Spirit silently. The Lord can then change the
environment or shield us from the evil language being spoken.
7. SPEAKING IN TONGUES ENABLES US TO PRAY FOR UNKNOWN NEEDS.
Reverend Alva Walker, while a missionary to Africa, was in danger
of being killed by a wounded water buffalo. However, the water
buffalo acted out of character and did not hurt him. He later
found out that a lady on another continent had being praying for
him in the Spirit at the time of his need. (Sometimes the Holy
Spirit lets the intercessor know what he is praying for).
8. SPEAKING IN TONGUES GIVES SPIRITUAL REFRESHING. In this age
of anxiety and stress, we have an everyday need of spiritual
refreshing. Isaiah prophesied,
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).
9. SPEAKING IN TONGUES ENABLES US TO GIVE PROPER THANKS.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit,
and I will pray with the understanding also:
I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing
with the understanding also. Else when thou
shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he
that occupieth the room of the unlearned say
Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he
understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou
verily givest thanks well, but the other is
not edified. (1 Corinthians 14:15-17).
Paul explains that we should generally speak in known languages
in the presence of people who do not understand the phenomenon of
speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gives us the
ability. However, we should also pray in the Spirit privately,
since we truly give thanks well to the One who deserves thanks
and praise.
10. SPEAKING IN TONGUES BRINGS THE HUMAN TONGUE UNDER SUBJECTION.
James teaches that our whole body is brought under subjection
when our tongue is controlled:
For in many things we offend all. If any man
offend not in word, the same is a perfect
man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths,
that they may obey us; and we turn about
their whole body. Behold also the ships,
which though they be so great, and are driven
of fierce winds, yet are they turned about
with a very small helm, whithersoever the
governor listeth. (James 3:2-4).
[The ten points above are adapted from Kenneth E. Hagin,
CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS (Tulsa: Kenneth E. Hagin Evangelistic
Association, Inc., 1974), pp. 31-38].
Conclusion
Some theologians relegate speaking in tongues to the past,
but this is unscriptural. Some state that it is the lesser of
the gifts, but EVERY gift is important or God wouldn't give it!
Howard Carter, founder of the world's oldest Pentecostal
Bible school, shares this wisdom:
We must not forget that the speaking with other tongues
is not only an initial evidence or sign of the Holy
Spirit's indwelling, but it is a continual experience
for the rest of one's life to assist in the worship of
God. Speaking with tongues is a flowing stream that
never should die out, but will enrich the life
spiritually. [Kenneth E. Hagin, PREVAILING PRAYER TO
PEACE (Tulsa: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1983), p. 42].
END