Posted on

THE BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY GATHERING

1 Cor.14:39,40 – So, beloved friends, with all this in mind, be passionate to prophesy and don’t forbid anyone from speaking in tongues, doing all things in a beautiful and orderly way.

I love church gatherings. I love the large corporate meetings with amazing worship, the Lord’s incredible presence, and the powerful preaching of the Word of God; I especially love the altar calls. I also love the small gatherings where we see the community of Jesus in action. Paul said that we can have the moving of the Spirit in these meeting in what he called an orderly way. Here are some notes from the Passion Bible that describe these beautiful gatherings.

“This is the Greek word taxis (ORDERLY WAY), which can also mean “in battle array.” Here are some summary observations concerning believers’ gatherings: (1) When the believers gathered, they ate together and frequently observed the Lord’s Table. (2) Men and women participated together and used their spiritual gifts. (3) The main purpose of gathering together was the mutual building up and encouragement of one another. (4) Several people would speak in the meetings, and the leaders would discern and direct. (5) Expressing love was more important than gifts, teachings, or prophecies. (6) Everything was to be done in a beautiful way and in order.”

I can remember the first time the Lord used me with a word of prophesy in a small church gathering. I was only a few months old in the Lord but I felt His anointing come upon me in a special and unusual way. I instantly recognized what it was and waited for the appropriate time in the meeting to share the word from the Lord. What an amazing blessing the gift of prophesy is. I was blessed by His special presence on me and especially blessed to be used by the Lord.

I think today there has been a major restriction put on the gifts of the Spirit in many churches. I have found that the small group gatherings are the perfect place for these gifts to operate. As Paul said, 1 Cor.14:26 – “Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification”. This, to me, describes the beautiful order of the Spirit. He conducts the meeting and everyone present is majorly blessed.

Posted on

SPEAKING MYSTERIES

1 COR.14:2 – When someone speaks in tongues, no one understands a word he says, because he’s not speaking to people, but to God—he is speaking intimate mysteries in the Spirit.

Praying in the Spirit is supernatural in nature. One of its chief functions is to activate our spirit so that we are not dominated by our mind and by human reasoning. Paul said that when I pray in the Spirit my spirit prays. That is huge. This is how we by-pass our human thinking and allow the Holy Spirit to express His will in and through our lives. We have so much locked up inside of us, so many things we want to express to the Lord. The prayer language helps us do just that. Here are some thoughts from Oral Roberts on the praying in the Spirit.

“Tongues become the vehicle of the believer’s spirit through which he, under the promptings of the Holy Spirit, talks to God in a manner that he cannot through his mind or intellect. If one prays through his intellect, his mind creates the speech patterns and words. When one prays through his spirit, it is his spirit in cooperation with the Holy Spirit that forms the words of a new language which the deepest feelings of the inner being are expressed to God. When you do this, you are edified. Your spirit is released. Paul indicates here that when one prays in tongues it is his spirit praying and not just his mind. His intellect relinquishes active control of the speech centers for a moment. It is centered on Christ. And the mind stands by as an observer, released so that it can give undivided attention, while the spirit, or the inner being of the believer takes over.”

This experience is beautiful and life changing. This is how we learn to interact with the Lord and allow Him to express Himself through us. Praying in tongues can take on so many diverse expressions. Often it starts with just magnifying or worshipping the Lord. When you experience the power of His presence it is often too good and big for words. We find the Holy Spirit magnifying the Father and the Son through us. This is supernatural worship. Many times the prayer language will move over into petition or even intercession. We don’t know how to pray as we should but the Holy Spirit does. He prays perfectly according to God’s will. I encourage you to plumb the depths of God’s Spirit. Pray in tongues. Pray in tongues a lot. You will soon find yourself caught up in the depths of God’s love.

Posted on

THE BLESSING OF THE PRAYER LANGUAGE

1 Cor. 14:15 – So here’s what I’ve concluded. I will pray in the Spirit, but I will also pray with my mind engaged. I will sing rapturous praises in the Spirit, but I will also sing with my mind engaged.

Over the last several years, speaking in tongues seems to have taken a back seat in many Christian circles. It hasn’t always been like this. During the 1970’s the church experienced a time of renewal and visitation. Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, and Baptists began to experience the Baptism in the Holy Spirit accompanied by the supernatural prayer language. There was the Full Gospel Businessman’s fellowship, Women’s Aglow, and countless other para-church ministries that were involved in this season of renewal. Speaking in tongues was common and part of most all public gatherings in those charismatic circles. Our Church in New Orleans began at the very end of this season. Many who had been filled with the Spirit were now looking for a church where they could continue in this new found freedom. Oral Roberts was a key leader during that movement. Here Is a quote from Brother Roberts about the prayer language.

“The moment you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, He begins to praise and magnify God through you in a heavenly language. Speaking in tongues is evidence that the Holy Spirit has come in and is perhaps the most revolutionary experience that can happen to a Christian.

I remember the night I was baptized with the Holy Spirit. I did not understand one word I said, for it was an “unknown tongue”, but I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking through me to God. Inwardly I knew I was praising and magnifying God but it was the Holy Spirit who was vocally expressing my thoughts to the Lord. He was saying what I wanted to say and what I did not know how to say, and He was using my tongue do it. What a glorious release this was to my spirit! But speaking in tongues is more than an evidence. Tongues are meaningful in the believers daily life of communion with God.”

Speaking in tongues has a public and a private purpose. Privately, it helps us stay focused on the Lord and continues our walk of intimacy. Publicly, tongues are a sign to the lost and produce an atmosphere of unity where the power of God can begin to move. I am so grateful to be Baptized in the Spirit and to speak in tongues. It has been a daily part of my life since 1973.

Posted on

DO I REALLY NEED TO PRAY IN TONGUES ?

This is a sermon outline that I preached at Victory. I posted it because of the importance of our prayer language. You can look at the scriptures posted and strengthen your faith concerning the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Enjoy !!!

I. TWO KINDS OF TONGUES

1.ONE IS STRICTLY A PRAYER LANGUAGE – TALKING TO GOD

1 Cor.14:2 – TPT – When someone speaks in tongues, no one understands a word he says, because he’s not speaking to people, but to God—he is speaking intimate mysteries in the Spirit.

2. ONE IS A MESSAGE INTENDED TO BE INTERPRETED

1Cor. 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

1Cor. 12:8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

1Cor. 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

1Cor. 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1Cor. 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

II. WHY DO I EMPHASIZE THE PRAYER LANGUAGE

1. SPEAKING INTIMACIES TO GOD RESTORATION OF INTIMACY

1 Cor.14:2 – Message – If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him.

1 Cor.14:2 – TPT – When someone speaks in tongues, no one understands a word he says, because he’s not speaking to people, but to God—he is speaking intimate mysteries in the Spirit.

2. IT IS A SIGN TO THIS GENERATION

1Cor. 14:22 ¶ Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

Is. 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue

He will speak to this people,

Is. 28:12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which

You may cause the weary to rest,”

And, “This is the refreshing”;

Yet they would not hear.

3. IT CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE FOR THE SUPERNATURAL

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Rev.1:10 – I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,

4. BUILDS FAITH

Jude 20 ¶ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life

5. THIS CAUSES US TO GROW SPIRITUALLY

1Cor. 14:2-4 – 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. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

6. HELPS ME OVERCOME MY WEAKNESSES

Rom. 8:26 ¶ 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.

7. THE PROPHETIC NATURE OF THE PRAYER LANGUAGE

1Cor. 14:13-15 ¶ Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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.

Acts 2:17“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

Acts 2:18And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy.

8. THE ANOINTING AND PASSION FOR INTERCESSION

Rom. 8:27 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.

Rom. 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

9. CONNECTED TO GOD’S WILL

Rom. 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

10. WALKING IN LOVE

Jude 20 ¶ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

11. RELEASING THE PRAYERS OF JESUS

Rom. 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

12. BY PASS NATURAL THINKING

1Cor. 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

1Cor. 14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

13. THERAPY AND REST

Is. 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Is. 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Is. 28:12 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.

14. PUTTING TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH

Rom. 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

15. WISDOM FROM GOD ACCESSED

1 Cor.2:10-13 – these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

16. CONNECTED TO THE PRESENCE

Acts 2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

17. RENEWAL OF OUR MIND AND OUR INNER MAN

ISA.28:11,12 – For with stammering lips and another tongue

He will speak to this people,

To whom He said, “This is the rest with which

You may cause the weary to rest,”

And, “This is the refreshing”;

Yet they would not hear

18. BE STRENGTHENED IN YOUR INNER MAN

Eph.6:10,18 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…..praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

19. RELEASING THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Acts 2:17,18 – “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

20. HELPS US STEP INTO THE SPIRITUAL REALM

Rev.1:10 – I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

21. HELPS US TO PRAY

Rom.8:26 – Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Posted on

THE HEAVENLY LANGUAGE

david-paschke-72432.jpg

1 Cor. 14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

Paul implied in one passage that, sometimes, the prayer language could actually be the language of angels. It is definitely “other worldly” and carries the sense of heaven and the presence of the Lord within it. In my early days as a Christian I was part of a Jesus community in California. In our services we would often sing and harmonize spontaneously and corporately in our heavenly language for extended periods of time. The Lord would manifest Himself in amazing ways as we pressed in together, singing in the Spirit. Those meetings were as close to heaven as one can get on this side. I also remember being in the Rodney Howard Browne service in Lakeland in January 1995 when the angels sang. It took place after an extended period of time of singing in the Spirit with several thousand believers. There is nothing comparable to those moments when heaven invades earth, it is beyond description. Here is a testimony about the heavenly gift from an Azusa Street Revival participant, Frank Bartleman.

“I was fully yielded to God, and simply carried by His will, as on a divine stream. I could have hindered the expression but would not have done so for worlds. A Heaven of conscious bliss accompanied it. It is impossible to describe the experience accurately. It must be experienced to be appreciated. There was no effort made to speak on my part, and not the least possible struggle. The experience was most sacred, the Holy Spirit playing on my vocal cords, as on an Aeolian harp. The whole utterance was a complete surprise to me. I had never really been solicitous to speak in “tongues.” Because I could not understand it with my natural mind I had rather feared it. I had no desire at the time to even know what I was saying. It seemed a soul expression purely, outside the realm of the natural mind or understanding. I was truly “sealed in the forehead,” ceasing from the works of my own natural mind fully.”
So don’t be afraid of the unexplainable things of God. There are definitely things we can never fully understand in this life, the power and fullness of His presence is one of those things.

Posted on

SIGN TO THE UNSAVED

1Cor. 14:22 ¶ Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

 

 

In Acts chapter 2 we see the first time people in the Bible prayed in tongues when they gathered together in the Upper Room. The people on the streets heard them and some were hearing their native languages being spoken. Acts 2:11 (NASB) says, “Cretans and Arabs – we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” Peter responds in Acts 2:15-16 (NASB): “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day [or nine o’clock in the morning]; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel.” These non-Christians on the street were in essence asking, “What does this supernatural utterance mean?” Peter explains the baptism with the Holy Spirit to them. That day 3,000 people were born again. We see clearly in this passage of Scripture that praying in tongues drew the people to Christ. God was evident there. His presence is evident when we pray in the Holy Spirit. The world is looking for a supernatural experience. Over the last couple of decades, people have been interested in Ouija boards and fortune-telling. More and more, individuals have looked to psychics and to the occult, longing for the supernatural that they are not finding in many of their churches. People are tired of dead churches that have a form of godliness, yet are devoid of power. They want to experience God. When we pray in the Holy Spirit, we pray a supernatural utterance from God. Our mind is not praying, but our spirit, energized by the Holy Spirit, is praying. This makes Christians and non-Christians alike aware of the presence of God. It is one of God’s advertising tools. What a tragedy it is to invite someone to a prayer group or a church service and hope the people praying in tongues don’t pray too loudly, or that prophecy doesn’t come forth because of the fear that the person visiting might not accept God. The underlying thought is, “I hope there is no supernatural manifestation. I hope God is not here today. If God shows up, this person might not accept Him.” But realize, brothers and sisters, that praying in tongues is God praying! The Holy Spirit is praying through you in a supernatural utterance, and others will be drawn to Christ because they will sense God’s presence there! How vital is our prayer language! It is an outreach to the lost. The last portion of Isaiah 28:11-12 (NASB) tells us about this: “Indeed, He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue…” This is a prophecy written 700 years before Christ. It is a prophecy the apostle Paul quoted in First Corinthians 14:21 regarding our prayer language. Paul quotes Isaiah saying that God was going to speak to the world through the prayer language. Our churches need a new outpouring of this Pentecostal gift. What will the results be? Another harvest of souls.

Posted on

DON’T QUENCH THE SPIRIT

DON’T QUENCH THE SPIRIT

1Th. 5:16-23 ¶ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¶ Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. ¶ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am not sure what part of this verse many modern, trendy preachers don’t understand. It seems to me that many churches are designed exactly for that purpose, to quench the Holy Spirit. First of all the amount of time in worship is limited.
“We don’t want to worship too long, people may get nervous and something may actually happen.”
The song selections are a dead give-away;
“Never ever sing songs of an intimate nature, The Holy Spirit may actually fall.”
Then of course there can be no pauses in the flow of the service, someone may actually feel impressed to give a tongue or a prophetic word. If someone actually gets touched in one of the services and makes a noise, they have to be taken out quickly before too much damage is done. Yep, sounds to me like the decently and in order thing has actually backfired to the point where the services have become way too predictable.
Another scripture that has been pretty much ignored recently is this,

Acts 2:17-18 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.”

It sounds to me that we should be living in the season of the Holy Spirit. Rather than putting obstacles in the way for people to move in the Spirit, maybe we should be teaching on these things and providing an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to move. Extended times of worship, waiting (even in silence) in His presence, and praying corporately in the Spirit would provide the needed atmosphere to experience more of His power in our church services.
Then there is this other troubling scripture,
1Cor. 14:18 ¶ “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;”
Paul prayed in tongues, he prayed in tongues a lot. You see, the more you pray in the heavenly language, the more familiar you will become with the spiritual realm. The more familiar you are with the realm of the Spirit, the easier it will become for you to actually be used by the Holy Spirit in His spiritual gifts. So what are we to do? Rather than quenching the Spirit we should be stirring up the gift of God. This is Paul’s word of encouragement to his young disciple Timothy.
2Tim. 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

Posted on

SUPERNATURAL COMMUNICATION

SUPERNATURAL COMMUNICATION

1Cor. 14:14-15 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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.

Our world today is all about communication. From texting to emails, from Facebook to twitter, from skyping to face time; our lives are all about communication. Things that took weeks just a few years ago happen instantly now. Divine communication is infinitely superior to all the other forms of communication. We can be instantly transported outside of space and time into the very atmosphere of God. The Lord has provided a supernatural means of communication, the spiritual language of intimacy or praying in other tongues.

I will never forget the first time I heard someone singing in other tongues. I was being drawn to the Lord and was attending a Bible study for the first time on Carrollton Ave. in New Orleans. There was a young man there singing and playing his guitar. He began singing in an unfamiliar language (to be honest I thought he was Catholic and singing in latin), which made me a little uncomfortable but was at the same time strangely attractive. Before the night was over I was being prayed for and began to have my first experience with the tangible presence of the Lord. I was beginning to have those channels of communication with the Lord opened up to me. J. Rodman Williams was a leader in the Charismatic Renewal in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Check out his thoughts about the prayer language and divine communication.

“Speaking in tongues is supremely communication to God. We have observed how the Jewish disciples in Jerusalem magnified God through tongues and how later in Caesarea the Gentiles similarly extolled God. The words of Paul that begin, “be filled with Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” continue with “singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart” (Eph. 5:18-19) “Spiritual songs” refer in a special way to melodic communication with God. Speaking in tongues is a way of transcending human resources and declaring in the Spirit the very mysteries of God. In all this (and in other Scriptures mentioned) the very heart of speaking in tongues is communication with God.
The importance of tongues in this connection can hardly be denied. There is surely a place for prayer and praise in one’s own language (indeed, we often sorely lack here); however, since glossolalia is the language of the Holy Spirit, the communication with God through the Spirit takes on a note of extraordinary immediacy and directness.”

In that place of spiritual intimacy, true communication begins to take place. God actually speaks right into our inner man, our spirit man, as we yield to his heavenly form of divine communication. Like Paul the apostle said, when I speak in tongues I am speaking directly to God and not to man. When you travel to a foreign country, it helps if you can learn the language. Without the ability to communicate, we are extremely limited in our ability to perform our daily duties. As Dr. Williams said, “glossolalia (speaking in tongues) is the language of the Holy Spirit”, as we allow the Lord to deepen this gift in our lives, communication that leads to intimacy with God will begin to develop in our hearts.

Posted on

THEY SPOKE IN OTHER TONGUES

THEY SPOKE IN OTHER TONGUES

1Cor. 14:15 ¶ 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.

Praying in tongues was the norm for believers in the first century. From that first outpouring in the upper room on the day of Pentecost to the outpouring at Cornelius’ house as well as at the beginning of the church in Ephesus. Speaking in tongues was just part of the Christian experience. After several hundred years, a coldness set in and the prayer language was just a distant memory. We always make theological excuses for something that is not part of our experience. Many say “that passed way with the apostles. We don’t need that now.” Wrong! We live in a time of utter darkness and spiritual apathy. Today, more than ever, we need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in other tongues. Tongues are intended to be a supernatural sign at the end of time. We need His outpouring desperately in the hour we live. Oral Roberts valued the prayer language in his personal life. Here is something he said about that wonderful gift.
“Tongues becomes the vehicle of the believer’s spirit through which he, under the promptings of the Holy Spirit, talks to God in a manner that he cannot, through his mind or intellect. If one prays through his intellect, his mind creates the speech patterns and words. When one prays through his spirit, it is his spirit in cooperation with the Holy Spirit that forms the words of a new language through which the deepest feelings of the inner man are expressed to God. When you do this, you are edified. Your spirit is released. Paul indicates here that when one prays in tongues, it is his spirit praying and not just his mind. His intellect relinquishes active control of the speech centers for a moment. It is centered on Christ. The mind stands by as an observer while the spirit or the inner being of the believer takes over.”
In 1906 something very special was brought back into the church, the mighty baptism with the Spirit confirmed by the language of prayer and intimacy. Not that it had ever totally disappeared, but now it was back in the front and center of the church. In the last century, millions of people have received their heavenly language. This has opened up many to God’s world of miracles, as a result, harvest has been experienced on every continent in unprecedented proportions.
Today, there is a new generation that has not experienced this gift on a large scale. Sadly, most of our churches have become ashamed of the supernatural and have violated Paul’s admonition, “Forbid not to speak in tongues.” I believe another pentecostal wave is on the horizon. Like Elijah said, “I hear the sound of an abundance of rain”. For Elijah, at first, all he saw was a small cloud. Before long the heavens had opened to God’s flooding rain. I think that small cloud has appeared in our dark world, the first drops of rain have begun to fall. Get ready, the greatest of all outpourings is about to come.

Posted on

MY SPIRIT PRAYS

MY SPIRIT PRAYS

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
1 Cor.14:14,15 NASB

Parris preached a message recently where she stated, “Your spirit is the master, your soul and body are the servants.” Is that true in your life? Is your inner man ruling your life or are you being controlled by your emotions or your fleshly lusts?
One of the ways the Lord has provided for us to strengthen our inner man is by praying in the Spirit. Paul said that when we pray in the Spirit our mind is “unfruitful”. That is another way of saying our mind is uninvolved or does not comprehend what is happening. When you begin to experience and practice praying in the Spirit, you begin to yield control of your life to your inner man (energized by the Holy Spirit). As a result, your mind, therefore your soulish, controlling self, yields control of your life to the Spirit.
We all want to stay “in control” of our lives because we think we know best. This is one of the reasons our prayer language is essential, it is about yielding control of your life to the Lord. When you yield your tongue to the supernatural flow of the Spirit, at first, your mind will say you are crazy. After awhile, you will begin to enjoy and trust the moving and leading of the Spirit as your inner man is being built up and strengthened by this dynamic, supernatural gift.
When I first sought the baptism in the Spirit, I seemed to have a bad case of lockjaw. I was experiencing the presence of the Lord, but having quite a hard time yielding my tongue to the Lord. (It seems it is more common for men to experience this lockjaw manifestation.) One night, while I was sleeping, I began to dream that I was praying in other tongues. The dream became so powerful that it woke me from my sleep. To my delight, from that night on, I began to experience a release and began to pray regularly in this heavenly language. Why did it happen in my sleep? I guess the Holy Spirit caught my soul and my body off guard. In their state of unconsciousness, my spirit was able to receive and began to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Is your life being controlled by soulish emotions or carnal appetites, if so, you need the Baptism in the Spirit. After you begin to pray in tongues (a lot), you will be on your way to a Spirit controlled life.