What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean? notes. Isn’t all prayer praying in the Spirit. No. If all prayers were then why would the apostle Paul instruct us to specifically pray in the Spirit when in spiritual warfare. Why would Jude tell us to pray in the Spirit to build ourselves up in our most holy faith? There are many types or styles of prayer we can utilize. One of those is praying in the Spirit.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean? notes
by Delbert Young
I’ve purposefully saved this lesson for last. One reason is in this lesson we will cover the aspect, I believe, causing my prayer life to be different from the prayer lives of most people. Another reason is this lesson has the potential to cause you to say, “You are crazy. This is not for me.” or say “I need this aspect of prayer in my prayer life!”
Let’s get into the Scriptures. We will be using the King James Version and the New International Version as we have in our entire study.
(KJV) Ephesians 6:18 Praying always WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
(NIV) Ephesians 6:18 And PRAY IN THE SPIRIT on all occasions WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
The apostle Paul said, we should “pray in the Spirit” “WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS” (NIV) and “WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION” (KJV). Did Paul mean there are all kinds of prayer styles we can utilize when praying, or did he mean there are all kinds of of things to pray about? Maybe both, but one thing is clear. Paul said pray in the spirit!
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Think about this for me. Why would Paul instruct us to “pray in the Spirit” if all praying is in the Spirit? The reason is because all prayers and all praying are not in the Spirit. All praying may be “spiritual,” but all praying is not “in the Spirit.” What did he mean then if all prayer is not “in the Spirit”?
The apostle said make certain we “pray in the Spirit” when praying in this context. What context? We can’t simply pull out the verse and understand the emphasis of Paul without investigating the context. What is the context? The context is spiritual warfare!
What I want us to see is there are “praying in the Spirit” type prayers and not praying in the Spirit type prayers. This is why Paul said in this context be certain you pray in the Spirit. So what is praying in the Spirit, and what is the context in which we should do it? If I can help us with these two questions then I’ve been successful. The context is easy to show you and easy for you to see. The other question maybe not so easy to show us since it’s different from how most people pray.
Context
The context of Ephesians 6:18 is “The Whole Armor of God” passage. If you’ve been around Christianity for any length of time and sat under decent teaching you should know about the armor of God. Apostle Paul instructs us how to go to battle when in spiritual warfare. Metaphorically, Paul took the armor of a Roman soldier used in natural warfare to illustrate how Christ followers use their armor for spiritual warfare. We’ll read the passage in the event you are not familiar with the armor of God and get the context of praying in the Spirit.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
(KJV) Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
(NIV) Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Have you ever been in spiritual warfare? Sure you have. Principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness, devils schemes, etc. were all coming at you at one time! Have you ever felt as though the devil was scheming against you? He was and will. How did you pray? Did you pray in the Spirit, or did you basically pray as you pray about everything? How will you pray in your next battle? Did you even think, “I need to make sure I pray in the Spirit”?
Someone may say, “Well, I think I was praying in the Spirit?” As we read the passage context you see this is too important to “think” we are praying in the Spirit! It’s warfare and literally could be life and death for you and for people you love and pray for.
Here is a quote from Bible Reference.
“Prayer connects us to the power of God, which is necessary to defeat spiritual enemies. Communication in battle is often the difference between victory and defeat. This is especially true when referring to soldiers hearing the instructions of their Commander.” BibleRef.com
We need special communication when in battle. The enemy wants to intercept or hinder our communications with Our Father. In war the communications are coded and encrypted. Can we do this? I believe we can. I do believe most Christians will pray when in battle, but I also believe few Christians “pray in the Spirit” thus their communications are intercepted. Praying in the Spirit is praying differently from our normal communication with Our Father, but what is praying in the Spirit?
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
It’s important to me that you want to know. I want you to ask, “How can I know I am praying in the Spirit?” We shouldn’t “think” we are praying in the spirit. We should know. It’s vital.
When we don’t know what or how to pray
Have you ever been in a situation when you simply didn’t know what or how to pray? I said “what or how.” “What” would be the words I should pray. “How” would be the kind of prayer style I utilize. We just learned there are “all kinds of prayers.” And, we saw there is “praying in the Spirit,” and there is obviously NOT praying in the Spirit. So, on the day when you didn’t know what or how to pray, what and how did you pray?
Have you experienced what I’m about to ask? You were praying and you wanted to pray one thing, but something inside you seemed to check you, and you couldn’t get clarity on what to pray. It’s frustrating. Nothing you prayed seemed right, and nothing you prayed was answered. People when experiencing this usually just pray what they want. A big negative here when not knowing what or how to pray but praying what we want to happen anyway is our prayer could be against the will of God, so the prayer will not be answered.
I find myself in this not knowing what or how to pray dilemma frequently.
Several times a week I find myself not know what or how to pray. I’ve learned to recognize it and what to do when it happens. Because of what I do I am asked by a lot of people to pray for them, their children, friends, etc. I don’t know much if anything about many of those who ask me to pray, and I know much less about the situation they’re requesting prayer. I simply don’t know what or how to pray, but I know it’s important to them I pray.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
One of my latest experiences I had when I found myself not knowing what or how to pray was/is the Russian invasion of Ukraine (As I write March, 2022). Here is why it was/is a dilemma for me. The apparent prayer would be Ukraine drive out Russian forces. Seemingly innocent people are dying and mass destruction and war crimes are taking place. However I also know the Lord rules the nations with a rod of iron (Rev 19:15). I know the Lord directs the hearts of kings (Pro 21:1). I also know the Lord uses nations to judge other nations. He’s done this throughout Scriptures. For example, He used Rome to judge the Jewish nation in 70AD. Jesus told His disciples about this coming event of judgment in great detail (Mat 24, Luk 21).
I know there are so many innocent people dying in this Russian invasion of Ukraine both Ukrainians, and also Russian soldiers dying who don’t want to be there.
The invasion seems so evil and vile, but so was the War of 70AD when Rome invaded Israel. Even Jesus said Rome’s invasion of Israel was “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time” (Mat 24:21). It was horrible. Back then there were what we call today horrible war crimes. I would have wanted to pray the Lord intervene and the Jews drive out the Romans invaders. Had I prayed for the Jews, I would be praying against the will of God because I know now the Lord orchestrated the Roman invasion.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
When I began praying for Ukraine I got the check inside. What I was praying, though it sounded right, I recognized something was wrong with my prayer. I’ve learned to recognize the check inside. It’s the Holy Spirit saying, “Hold on. You don’t know what to pray. Let me pray.” How cool is that! “Let me pray.” Don’t you wish the Holy Spirit would do this for you? He will. He does with a check inside. The Holy Spirit inside you wants to pray. The Holy Spirit wanting to pray and allowing Him to pray is “praying in the Spirit.” He wants to communicate with Our Father.
Delbert, are you saying God is judging Ukraine?
NO! What I am saying is I don’t understand any of what’s going on in Ukraine. I know what I “think,” but I’ve learned what I “think” is not always what the Lord thinks. I don’t understand what’s going on in America. It’s crazy to me, but I know God is God. Because I don’t understand it doesn’t mean the Lord doesn’t understand and maybe doing it or at least allowing it. So when I don’t understand I realize I certainly don’t understand how or what to pray. What do I do? What words do I use, and what kind of prayer style do I utilize?
Do you know the Scriptures tell us exactly how to pray when we don’t know what to pray or how to pray?
(KJV) Romans 8:26 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.
(NIV) Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know WHAT we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us WITH GROANS THAT WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Have you ever been praying and something like a groan or a sigh come out of you? It was an audible sound. If you pray much you know what I mean. You were not thinking about groaning or sighing. You might have thought something like, “From where did that come? That was strange.” Well, it was the Holy Spirit inside you letting you know He wanted to pray. He was saying, “Let me pray.”
Let’s look at the next verse in the passage for more explanation.
(KJV) Romans 8:27 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.
(NIV) Romans 8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD’S WILL.
So let’s get this. There are times we don’t know what or how to pray about something, but if my Spirit prays He will pray/intercede for us in accordance with God’s will. Don’t miss this. I can pray the exact will of God, but my Spirit needs to pray it.
I think of the groaning of my Spirit this way. When my children were young and they said or did things wrong I’d sigh, groan, shook my head, and wanted to say something. These expressions showed my disapproval. I feel that’s what the Holy Spirit is doing inside us. The Spirit wants to say something. Something is wrong. He groans.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
In prayer when the Spirit groans, most likely I was praying the wrong prayer and maybe even against the will of God. The Holy Spirit doesn’t want me to come against Our Father’s will, so my prayer caused the Holy Spirit inside me to groan or sigh. He was saying, “Hold on. You’re in error on this. You don’t know how or what to pray. Let Me pray.” The Spirit of God inside us wants to pray with words we cannot express. We need to let the Spirit pray the will of God, but how do we do this?
Tongues
I don’t know what you think about “speaking in tongues” or more importantly “praying in tongues.” Probably not good thoughts, or at least you probably have confused thoughts. Likely you’ve been taught tongues are not for today. Maybe you’ve been taught tongues are of the devil. If you’ve witnessed someone speaking in tongues it likely seemed weird and confusing. This confusion is normal. Tongues are confusing to us, but more importantly they are confusing to the devil.
If tongues are confusing to you it’s because you’ve never been properly taught about tongues or studied tongues for yourself. Of course, I don’t have time or space to do an in-depth teaching on tongues here. However, if you desire to know more about tongues simply go to sermonsbydelbertyoung.com, type “tongues” into the search bar, do a search, and you will find as much teaching about tongues as you want. I taught a lot about tongues. Tongues are important to me. I believe in tongues. Why? Because Jesus and the apostles believed in tongues.
I speak in tongues, sing in tongues, and I pray in tongues.
I have since 1978. There was a time in my life I thought someone who spoke in tongues was a weird holy-roller. So maybe you’re thinking Delbert is a weird holy-roller. You decide, but if you’ve asked me to pray for you or someone then I’ve probably prayed in tongues for your request. What I do know is tongues added a dimension to my walk with God like nothing else has in many ways, but specifically in prayer. When I say “walk with God” I mean walk with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Most people have very little relationship with the Holy Spirit. Tongues definitely enhanced my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
It’s those who say tongues are not real and of the devil who have never spoken in tongues themselves and never honestly studied Scriptures. I said, “honestly studied” meaning if a person honestly allows the Scriptures to be the determining factor, and not pride or man’s doctrine, they would speak in tongues themselves instead of condemning tongues. So, I studied Scriptures from myself.
I’ve always been a self-thinker.
I’ve never went along with the crowd to be accepted. I could not care less about being accepted. Peer pressure was not an issue for me even as a teenager. As a child my family was extremely poor. We moved from Miami, Florida to Griffin, Georgia when I was six years old. Neither of my parents finished high school. (My mom went to the 11th grade and dad to the 6th. I was the first to finish high school and certainly the first in my family to go on to college and obtain three degrees. This includes my grandparents, aunts and uncles. I was seen by my family as the poster child. All my cousins were compared to Delbert Ray.)
My parents put all the money they had into purchasing forty acers of property, began building a house in Griffin, and developed a small farm. We didn’t have indoor plumbing, even a toilet, until I was a teenager, so I didn’t fit well with children who came from upper class. However, I never had a poor mentality, so neither did I fit with lower poor class people. If I had to say who accepted me best as a child and teenager it would be the upper middle class, but it wasn’t because I had well-off parents as I only had two pairs of pants and three shirts to wear to school. I was accepted by upper middle class kids because I thought bigger than poor or middle class children, and I had a glowing personality. Also, I was a really good looking boy… LOL (a little humor).
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
I came to the Lord Jesus
So, after I came to the Lord Jesus as my Lord and Savior at age 28 (I was out of college, married, two children, and much better off financially than anyone I knew.), I found myself enthralled by the Scriptures. Of course, I ran into the tongues thing. I expected to find in Scriptures how tongues was a holy-roller thing not for today and was of the devil. That’s what I’d heard. I set out to prove it to myself.
Back then somewhere inside me (I now know who “somewhere inside me” is. He’s the Holy Spirit.) Inside me was this tiny possibility saying tongues could be real even though my mind said they can’t be. I thought the Lord wouldn’t want me to talk like that. So, I wasn’t exactly closed minded, but I was at least 95% closed minded. Nonetheless, I wanted to know the truth. I’d learned through personal study of the Scriptures all preachers did not teach the truth. Most preachers and Bible teachers preached and taught man’s doctrine. You’ve learned this also especially if you’ve been around me much. I usually point out if a preacher or teacher is saying something incorrectly. I’m guessing there is the same tiny possibility question inside you also about tongues because you’re obviously hungry for God and hungry for truth.
I not only wanted to know all I could know about God (Trinity). Also I didn’t want to miss out on anything the Lord had for me and desired I experience. So I began my search for the truth about tongues. I implore you to do the same. Please do not take my experience, my teachings, nor my conclusions to be your final decision concerning tongues. You owe it to yourself.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
What I found
So, what did I discover for myself concerning tongues. Well, I discovered a lot. I found most preachers never teach about tongues, or they teach about tongues incorrectly. Most only talk about speaking in tongues. However, tongues are so much more than talking in tongues. One thing I found was no place did the Scriptures teach tongues are not for today, and I certainly could not find where tongues are of the devil. I’m going to quickly list several things I discovered, and things you should be aware about concerning tongues.
1. In the New Testament, if a person did not speak in tongues their salvation experience was questioned.
I said “their salvation experience was questioned.” I DID NOT SAY their salvation was questioned. I DO NOT mean if a person does not speak in tongues they are not “saved,” and neither do I believe this. What I found in Scriptures is a person can believe in Jesus Christ, but miss a vital aspect and experience they could experience included in their Salvation, i.e. walk with our Lord.
For example, we are told of a missionary journey Paul was on in Acts 19. Let’s read about this.
(KJV) ACT 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and FINDING CERTAIN DISCIPLES,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
(NIV) ACT 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There HE FOUND SOME DISCIPLES
2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
Evidently Apollos, a Gentile preacher, had preached Jesus to these believers, but obviously Apollos didn’t preach/teach these believers about the Holy Spirit much less tongues. They’d heard about Jesus Christ somewhere, so it seems Apollos taught them. It’s difficult to preach about the Holy Spirit and not teach about tongues, so most preachers today avoid teaching about the Holy Spirit. Preachers and teachers mention the Holy Spirit, but not teach about the Holy Spirit. Paul, on a missionary journey, encountered several Jesus believers, i.e. “disciples.” Paul noticed something missing from their salvation experience, so Paul asked them this question, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Has anyone ever asked you, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Of course no one ever asked you. This isn’t a question we ask people today. Let’s fix this right now. I’m asking you a Scriptural question. Did you received the Holy Spirit when you believed? I hope I didn’t insult you by asking. See, in our Christianity experience today, God’s a “package.” We’re taught we get it all when we pray a prayer to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It’s not this way in the Scriptures meaning God is not “a package.” My statement isn’t to say the Holy Spirit isn’t dwelling within those who receive Jesus Christ. I’m saying there’s more to receiving the Holy Spirit than for salvation.
We see in the previous passage people can believe, but not receive the Holy Spirit.
Please notice how the Apostle Paul let us know initial “believing” (we call it “being saved”) is a separate experience from receiving the Holy Spirit. Those disciples believed, but they had not receive the Holy Spirit. There is “believing” Jesus is Lord and Savior, and then there is more called “receiving” the Holy Spirit. These are separate experiences. This is what the Scriptures teach.
Next verses
(KJV) Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, UNTO WHAT THEN WERE YE BAPTIZED? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; AND THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, AND PROPHESIED.
(NIV) Acts 19:3 So Paul asked, “THEN WHAT BAPTISM DID YOU RECEIVE?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5 On hearing this, they were baptized into THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.
6 When Paul placed his hands on them, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THEM, AND THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES AND PROPHESIED.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Our minds think of baptism only as water baptism. Paul was thinking Spirit baptism. Notice Paul associated receiving the Holy Spirit with baptism. Thus we see the baptism in the Holy Spirit. These disciples had not been properly taught baptism either. There is water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism. These disciples (believers) were not only incorrectly taught about salvation, they were also incorrectly baptized. It seems Paul then correctly water baptized them in the name of Jesus (though it doesn’t say anything about water).
What then happened? “The Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” The gifts of the Spirit (1Co 12) immediately began operating when they received the Holy Spirit who always brings His gifts, i.e. prophecy in this case.
Another question we dare not ask a Christian today is “What baptism did you receive?” It seems such a strange question to us, but to an apostle proper baptism is vital. It’s foundational, and it must be done correctly.
Tongues and spiritual gifts was what Apostle Paul wanted to see and hear come from those believers.
Tongues and gifts was what all the apostles wanted to see and hear. (For more on this see “Come Holy Spirit, but why tongues?“) You can also read about a different time when a similar event took place with believers who did not received the Holy Spirit. Peter and John corrected this in Acts 8:12-17. Please read it. I can’t get into it and stay on my point here which is “In the New Testament, if a person did not speak in tongues their salvation experience was questioned.”
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
If we have the same Holy Spirit today as Paul had back then (and we do), then I must ask what changed? Why do we not emphasize tongues today? The answer is nothing changed Scripturally. What did changed is preachers and teachers. Most preachers and teachers don’t like tongues. There are legitimate reasons, but these reasons have nothing to do with the validity of tongues. In my opinion we have too many preachers like Apollos, and not enough like Paul, Peter, and John.
2. Jesus Himself said speaking in tongues is a sign.
This is another thing I learned.
(KJV) Mark 16:17 And THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; In my name shall they cast out devils; THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES;
(NIV) Mark 16:17 And THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW TONGUES;
Some say Jesus never talked about tongues. Well then, “some” err not know the Scriptures nor the power of God (Mat 22:29, Mar 12:24). Jesus talked about tongues in Mark 16:17. Jesus said tongues is a “sign” following around or accompanying a person who believes.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Tongues is a sign – NOT PROOF – of a person being a believer in Jesus Christ. Speaking in tongues is a sign. I am NOT SAYING a person is not saved unless they speak in tongues. I AM SAYING if a person speaks in tongues, I don’t need to ask if they believe in Jesus Christ. Christianity is the only belief on the planet who speaks in tongues. I don’t need to ask, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed.” Neither do I need to ask, “What baptism did you receive?” A person speaking in tongues may as well wear a sign on their chest, and back, and write on their forehead saying, “I am a believer in Jesus Christ!” Tongues is a New Testament Christian experience and SIGN.
3. Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit.
Here is something else I learned.
(KJV) 1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES, to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES:
(NIV) 1 Corinthians 12:10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another SPEAKING IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES, and to still another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES.
If the Holy Spirit still does the gifts of healing and miracles, then the Holy Spirit must still do the gifts of prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. I shake my head when I hear preachers avoid tongues, but talk about and pray for a persons healing. Some may acknowledge tongues but as a lesser gift. Really? It’s interesting to me the apostle Paul never devoted mush teaching to healing so we would understand healing, but devoted an entire chapter so we would understand tongues and interpretation of tongues (1Co 14). I suppose people want healing, but they don’t want tongues and all tongues contribute to the believer’s salvation experience. The gift of healing and the gift of tongues come from the same Spirit.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
When a message in tongues and an interpretation of the tongues is exercised correctly it will edify, exhort, and comfort (1Co 14:3, 13). When done incorrectly, people think you’re crazy (1Co 14:23), and things can become disorderly. I know. I’ve seen it both ways. This is one reason why most churches don’t teach or practice tongues. Though gifts, especially tongues and prophecy, can get out of hand, Paul never compromised concerning tongues or prophecy in church. He said do not stop tongues in church. Instead allow tongues to operate correctly.
(KJV) 1 Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and FORBID NOT TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
(NIV)1 Corinthians 14:38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and DO NOT FORBID SPEAKING IN TONGUES.
40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Don’t be ignorant and don’t ignore tongues. I find most churches today doing exactly opposite of what the Scriptures teach concerning tongues in church. They do not allow tongues.
Tongues are to be a part of a church service and will strengthen the church when operated correctly.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Paul said a church service should include tongues.
(KJV) 1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
(NIV) 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
I wonder what the apostle Paul would tell us about most church services today.
4. Speaking in tongues is an amazingly powerful way to pray, sing, and praise our God!
After needing to lay a lot of ground work to validate tongues, I’m able to get back to our study on praying in the Spirit. Here is how the apostle Paul personally prayed and sang praises to our God.
(KJV) 1 Corinthians 14:14 For IF I PRAY IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE, MY SPIRIT PRAYETH, but MY UNDERSTANDING IS UNFRUITFUL.
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.
(NIV) 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For IF I PRAY IN A TONGUE, MY SPIRIT PRAYS, but MY MIND IS UNFRUITFUL. So what shall I do? I WILL PRAY WITH MY SPIRIT, but I will also pray with my mind; I will SING WITH MY SPIRIT, but I will also sing with my mind.
So that’s what I do. I pray pray with my spirit, and I will also pray with my mind. Please notice your spirit can pray and wants to pray. That’s praying in the Spirit. Paul said “a tongue” not “tongues.” This was his tongue or his prayer and praise language given him by the Holy Spirit. When we pray in the Spirit in spiritual warfare we pray in our tongue. Our spirits pray and our minds are left out, i.e. unfruitful.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
At first your mind will not like your tongue. Your mind says things like it’s foolishness, your making up those words, you sound so stupid, etc., but it doesn’t take many prayer times and your mind stops shouting at you. My mind sort of sits over in the corner and watches my spirit pray.
Why pray and praise with tongues?
By praying in tongues Paul allowed his spirit to pray, Paul removed his mind and what he wanted to pray from his prayer and his spirit prayed the will of God. Paul didn’t understand what he was saying. His mind was unfruitful. He didn’t understand his own tongue. He didn’t need, nor need anyone else, to interpret when praying. It wasn’t a message in tongues. It was praying in tongues. Praying in tongues is to pray with my spirit. Singing in tongues is singing with my spirit. Your spirit can pray and desires to pray. Your spirit can also sing and wants to sing praises.
The mind’s purpose is to reason and make logic of everything. Tongues are not logical to the mind. Therein is the problem people experience. They can’t get past their mind. Paul did by praying in tongues. I do. Peter did. John did. All the apostles did. Mary the mother of Jesus did. (Mary was in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost when they all spoke in tongues – Acts 2.) Paul bypassed his mind (KJV says “understanding”).
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Apostle Paul said he would “pray with my spirit” by using his prayer language. Then Paul said this,
(KJV)1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank my God, I SPEAK WITH TONGUES MORE THAN YE ALL
(NIV) 1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I SPEAK IN TONGUES MORE THAN ALL OF YOU.
The apostle gave his summation on the issue of tongues and how he felt about tongues. Paul not only thanked God he spoke in tongues. He thanked God he spoke in tongues a lot! So do I. Speaking in tongues is to be seen as an honor and a desire for the believer. Paul thanked his God he spoke in tongues. How about you? Have you ever thanked God you spoke in tongues? Have you ever thanked God you spoke in tongues as a sign, or as a spiritual gift, or interpreted tongues, or prayed in tongues, or sang in tongues? I have, and I probably speak in tongues more than all of you. If I don’t then I need to speak in tongues more.
My point here is we see in the Scriptures how tongues should be a part of the “all kinds of prayers” we utilize when we pray especially in spiritual warfare. Praying in tongues is definitely “praying in the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit wants to pray and will pray using the tongues He gave us.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
I’ve shown you some of what I learned when I honestly studied tongues Scripturally.
I determined I needed to make some adjustments in my thinking about tongues. First, I needed to be able to speak in tongues, and concerning praying, I needed to add my tongue to my personal prayer time and allow my spirit to pray. I needed to be able to sing in my tongue, but I had a problem. I believed in Jesus Christ, and I was water baptized, but I didn’t speak in tongues. If I truly allowed the Scriptures to be my guide I needed tongues. “How do I go about getting tongues?” I asked. There was a blank place. I didn’t know what to do.
My Story
I can’t get into my in-depth story of my baptism in the Holy Spirit though I think I have you inquisitive enough to read it. The short version is I was young in the Lord, but I had an insatiable hunger for God and His Word. My hunger then was greater than my hunger today. I know this statement sounds strange, but back then I didn’t know anything about God, but I wanted to know everything about God. Today I’m more confident in what I do know although I certainly do not know everything. Though not as hungry today, I remain hungry and teachable but not like I was then. Today, I tell people about God. Then I knew nothing.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
I realized from my study on tongues how tongues are real if the Holy Spirit is real. Tongues are as real today as they were in the first-century church. So I went to the Lord, and I asked the Lord for tongues, and I meant it.
What happened?
Well, I wish I could tell you I immediately began speaking in tongues, but that’s not what happened. When I first made the request nothing happened. I think I had a little hidden doubt about tongues I couldn’t get out, and maybe I had some fears. I didn’t want to jerk, or roll around in the floor, or do something I considered weird. It’s as though the Holy Spirit reminded me no one jerked or rolled around in the Scriptures. Tongues are not weird in the Scriptures, so why would the Holy Spirit make me do something like that?
Then, one night maybe a few weeks later I was praying as I knelt at a metal chair in a back office at work. I wasn’t thinking about tongues. I was doing my normal prayer time when something (actually someone) groaned inside me and the groan came audibly out my mouth, and I wasn’t doing anything to make me groan. All I was doing was talking to Our Father in prayer. First I thought, “What is that? Stop it Delbert! You’re praying for goodness sake! Stop grunting.”
I realized it wasn’t me groaning.
It was the Holy Spirit groaning! I can’t explain how the groaning felt. Yes I felt it. It was more than a typical groan. My groaning was deep down inside my belly and extremely pleasurable. After I realized it must be the Holy Spirit, I allowed the groaning to last as long as it would which was only a few minutes. I remember being disappointed it stopped. Though I wanted to I have not felt that exact groaning feeling since. Did I burst out in tongues that night? Sadly I did not. Did I say anything resembling tongues? No, but neither did I try. I wasn’t thinking about tongues. I was enjoying the presence in a way I’d never experienced before. Then why am I sharing my groaning experience?
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Well, that morning walking to my truck to go home (I worked from 12:00am to 8:00am), I had the strangest thought.
It was a thought I’d never had before. The thought was, “I bet I could talk in tongues if I wanted.” So, I tried. Guess what! Out came a few words, actually syllables, I didn’t understand and are not in the English language. I smiled at myself thinking, “You’re making up these words!” I know now my thinking I was making up the words was my carnal mind not being able to reason what was happening. Tongues do not make sense I admit, and will never make sense to our carnal minds, but they make a lot of sense to God.
I got in my truck, and I kept repeating those few strange words over and over. Maybe I can explain it best this way. It’s like a baby learning to talk. Babies finally form a word or two and repeat it over and over. “Dada, Dada, Dada.” “Mama, Mama, Mama.” Or, it’s like a person learning a new language. They repeat a word or two over and over. But, by use and desire, the baby learns more words, and the person learning a new language learns more words.
Today my tongues vocabulary is endless.
I can talk in tongues as long as I want to talk in tongues and not repeating the same few sounds over and over. I can pray in tongues as long as I want to pray in tongues, and I can sing in tongues as long as I can tolerate hearing myself sing. As badly as I sound singing I know the Lord loves it just as I loved it when my children sang to me. I’ve given messages in tongues at church, and I’ve interpreted messages in tongues. I’ve prayed and sang in tongues at church and alone. My point is my tongues vocabulary did not happen immediately or overnight. It developed with use exactly as my English language developed with use.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
How can my experience help you if you desire to pray with tongues?
I learned from my experience, from observing probably hundreds of people during my ministry began speaking in tongues, and of course from Scriptures, that all we do is speak it. Decide you are going to speak in tongues then say what you hear inside exactly as you say any other word(s). What?! You probably are saying, “That’s just me making it up.” No it isn’t. This is exactly what happened in Scriptures. People simply spoke in tongues just as I did. “I bet I can speak in tongues if I want,” I said, and I did. I wanted it, the Holy Spirit gave it to me. My part was to simply begin speaking.
I waited weeks for something to happen I could have the moment I asked had I simply began speaking. I promise you when/if you speak in tongues you will simply begin talking in tongues. Don’t make it complicated or spooky spiritual. The Scriptures do not. I’ll show us few examples from Scriptures.
Day of Pentecost
(KJV) Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(NIV) Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and BEGAN TO SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES as the Spirit enabled them.
This was the Day of Pentecost when the promise Jesus said would come came (Acts 1:4-5). This was when about a hundred and twenty people were together in one place including Peter, James, and John. Nothing weird happened concerning their speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit didn’t make them speak in tongues. They simply “began to speak in other tongues.” They’d never said anything about speaking in tongues before, but now they were enabled and had the utterance. No one laid hands on them. They didn’t jerk or roll in the floor. They simply “began to speak in other tongues.” The Holy Spirit will enable you also. Your part is to speak.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
What were they speaking/saying? It wasn’t gibberish. They spoke the wonders of God.
(KJV) Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
(NIV) Acts 2:11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
We see the miracle being they spoke in different languages. The actual miracle is what the Cretans and Arabs, etc. heard. I could take time and tell you about a man from Iraq who came to our church and heard someone speak in tongues. What the man heard was the wonders of God in Arabic, the man’s native language.
I could take time and tell you about Asian men I sat at a table with during a conference who told us about a person speaking in tongues in their church. What they heard was in English (The person speaking did not know English.) Is my tongue a language somewhere. Maybe, but I don’t care. I do know if the Lord wants someone to hear what I say in their language then He will cause them to hear. I do what those in the New Testament did, so I simply speak what I’m enabled to speak.
Holy Spirit came to Gentiles
(KJV) Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES, AND MAGNIFY GOD. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
(NIV) Acts 10:45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
46 For THEY HEARD THEM SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND PRAISING GOD. Then Peter said,
47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
Nothing weird happened. They simply began speaking in tongues. Tongues are a gift and a sign for both Jews and Gentiles. That means for everyone. That means for you if you want the Holy Spirit in this dimension. Again, we see these Gentiles simply spoke in tongues. They opened their mouths and spoke the words the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak. They said what they heard inwardly. Did they understand it? Of course not. Peter didn’t. The Jews there didn’t. No one there did, but the “sign” was all over the place. I didn’t understand what I said when I spoke in my tongue. Those at Pentecost didn’t. Paul said he didn’t. These Gentiles didn’t understand what they were saying, but they trusted the Holy Spirit and began speaking.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Believers/Disciples who didn’t speak in tongues
(KJV) Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and prophesied.
(NIV) Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES and prophesied.
We’ve already taken a look at this passage. Again, we see these believers simply “spoke in tongues,” and gifts of the Spirit took place. The Holy Spirit always brings His gifts.
My point here is they simply spoke. Paul did lay his hands on them, but there’s nothing magical about the laying on of hands. Laying on of hands might be a jump start, but not necessary. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve laid hands on. The only thing I’ve noticed is laying on of hands simply encourages the person to receive from God what the person was already seeking. No one laid hands on me when I spoke in tongues. No one needs to lay hands on you. Ultimately, it will be the person merely speaking in tongues. They say the strange syllables enabled by the Holy Spirit they hear inside.
So, if you desire to speak in tongues then do it. You can already hear it inwardly if you listen. You could do it now if you wanted, correct? “I bet I could speak in tongues if I wanted.” It’s your tongue. If and when you do speak in tongues the syllables you hear inwardly now are exactly what you will speak then.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Judy’s experience
I’ll tell you the story about my wife, Judy. I spoke in tongues weeks before my wife did. I was curious so I asked her about this, so I asked her if she believed in tongues. Judy is extremely intelligent and extraordinarily wise. I’ve always greatly valued her opinion on anything. After asking her about tongues, she looked at me and said, “I know I can speak in tongues. I hear it inside, but I think I’m only mimicking Barbara.” Barbara is our pastor’s wife. Judy and Barbara are closest of friends. My response to Judy’s statement was, “Well, maybe the Lord gave you the same tongues, but no matter. You should speak it even if your and her tongues are the same.” She said she didn’t want people to think she was mimicking the Pastor’s wife.
Not long after this discussion Judy did speak in tongues, and Judy’s tongues and Barbara’s tongues are not even close to sounding the same. I told Judy she didn’t sound like Barbara. Judy said, “I know now, but I thought they would be.” See, it was Judy’s carnal mind attempting to deceive her and stop Judy from speaking in tongues.
(KJV) Romans 8:7 THE SINFUL MIND IS HOSTILE TO GOD. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
My carnal mind is hostile (NIV) or enmity against God (KJV). My carnal mind does not submit to the ways of God. Our carnal minds will fight to stop you from speaking in tongues. When I speak in tongues I am controlled by the Spirit and my spirit is communicating directly to Our Father through the Holy Spirit.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Let’s look at one more Scripture.
(KJV) Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST
(NIV) Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I trust you see praying in tongues is “praying in the Holy Spirit.” The author of the Book of Jude is the younger brother of Jesus. Jude encourages us to build ourselves up in our faith praying in the Holy Spirit. Again, we note all prayer is not praying in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit is for spiritual warfare, but praying in the Spirit also builds us up in our faith.
When I pray in the Spirit, i.e. tongues, my faith level goes up. First, it requires faith to speak in tongues. People who speak in tongues definitely only do it because they believe it will please God, and without faith it’s impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6). Plus pleasing the Lord always brings a reward.
Another way praying in the Holy Spirit, i.e. tongues, builds my faith is it gets my mind out of the way (unfruitful). I believe I am praying the will of God by allowing my spirit to pray through the Holy Spirit.
So, when I’m maybe a little down if I will pray in tongues I immediately build back up. Perhaps something discouraging happened. For example, I prayed for something and it didn’t happen, someone passed, I don’t understand, and I sense a speck of doubt. If I will remember to pray in tongues the doubt vanishes and my faith is back where it should be.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Eternal implications
Whatever your decision is concerning tongues, tongues have eternal implications. Mine did, do, and will. My decision immediately influenced my wife and children. Both our children speak in tongues. Your decision will influence others also. Your decision, either way, will affect your family, friends, relatives, and people you’re yet to meet. My decision has, is, and will continue exactly as it is doing this moment with you. I believe my ability to pray for people in the spirit with tongues has helped me, my family, my friends, and maybe thousands of people through the years and will continue to help until my last breath. (It would be sort of special to me to go out of this life praying in tongues.)
Please study tongues for yourself. I gave you directions, Scriptures, and thoughts, but this is too important to only take someone’s teaching on it. This is entering spiritual warfare and we do not know what battle we will find ourselves fighting. It could be a matter of life and death for you or someone you love. Tongues are a Scriptural way to build our faith. Please study tongues for yourself.
(If taking a look at spiritual warfare is something you’d like to do then I have an entire series you can investigate. The series is Weapons of Our Warfare. The series has ten messages, and three of those messages are on Scriptural Tongues.)
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Conclusion
I could keep on about tongues, but I’ve given you plenty to ingest or reject. I need to conclude our teaching on “What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?”
What have I wanted us to see and ponder?
One thing I hope we see is all prayer is not praying in the Spirit. Two primary purposes of praying in the Spirit is spiritual warfare and building ourselves up in our faith. Praying in the Spirit is for when we don’t know what or how to pray. It’s allowing our spirit to pray words that cannot be uttered. I hope we’ve seen tongues are for today. I’ve shown you a total salvation experience was questioned in the 1st century church if a person did not speak in tongues. Tongues have many purposes, but to me a primary purpose is praying. Paul prayed with his spirit and his mind, and he said he spoke in tongues more than anyone. Praying in tongues is definitely praying with the Spirit.
What I would like you to do is add this dimension of prayer to your prayer life. However, you must be satisfied and settled concerning it. To me, what praying in the Spirit means is to allow my spirit to pray by praying in the tongue (utterance) the Holy Spirit enabled me. It’s my tongue. No one can take it. My tongue is personal and a special gift from God just to me.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Quick Story
I’m stopping after this, but I thought I’d add this story. It came to me while I was putting this lesson together, so I suspect it’s the Holy Spirit wanting it in here.
I honestly don’t know how many people I’ve assisted to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speak in their tongue. There’s been hundreds, but I’ve got to tell you a quick story. This happened before I went into the ministry. At the time I taught a large Sunday School class, maybe about 50 people. A new couple joined our church, Albert and Patsy. They loved/love me, and lived maybe 30 miles from our church. Albert and Patsy wanted to have a Bible Study in their home so they could invite some people and asked me if I’d come and teach. Shucks yes I’ll come! I live for this.
It was the very first night at Bible Study. I had my teaching all aligned. I can’t remember what I was going to talk about, but it certainly wasn’t what I ended up talking about. Someplace early on as I was sharing, Patsy, spoke out and said something like this, “I want to know about tongues.”
Her statement stopped my mind.
I was not prepared for her request, and it broadsided me. I recall gathering myself, looking at her, and asking, “What about tongues do you want to know?” as I attempted to discern if she was serious or confrontational. She said, “Everything.” I knew enough Scriptures to make it so she’d have to challenge the Word of God if her intention was to debate tongues, so I had us turn to some of the Scriptures I shared in this study previously. One Scripture was where Paul laid his hands on those at Ephesus. Also, I shared my story and Judy’s story.
She was sincere and wanted to speak in tongues. One of the most unique times of my ministry happened. We were sitting at their kitchen table, maybe about six of us. Patsy pushed back her chair and stood up. She closed her eyes, raised her hands, and said, “Okay, I’m ready. Lay hands on me. I want to speak in tongues.” Again, my mind stopped. I laughed. Others at the table laughed thinking she was mocking, but she wasn’t. She said, “I’m serious. Come on. Put your hands on my head.” It was more like a command than request. So, I did.
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
I asked Our Father to baptize Patsy in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues.
I prayed in tongues. Judy prayed in tongues. Patsy said NOTHING! Nothing happened. This went on for several minutes and became awkward. The room became silent and I sensed disappointment and even doubt. I sat back down and told Patsy if she honestly desired to speak in tongues then she would. We talked a little more and then Judy and I left.
Home in bed asleep that same night the phone rang around 2:00am. It was Albert, Patsy’s husband. I could hear Patsy saying something in the background. Albert said laughingly, “Can you shut her up? She won’t stop talking in tongues.” I laughed and we rejoiced. Albert was serious. Patsy would not stop talking in tongues in bed with her hands in the air. I told Albert she could stop any time she wanted. I told him she didn’t want to stop, and I quoted this Scripture.
1 Corinthians 14:32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints
Not long after this time Albert also spoke in tongues. So, in the event you’re wondering if you speak in tongues and won’t be able to stop, or will do something weird, allow the above verses to guide you. Your spirit is subject to you. Patsy’s spirit was subject to her. She didn’t want to stop talking in tongues.
I hope and pray our study has helped you concerning What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
What Does Praying In The Spirit Mean?
Other Related Sermons:
Come Holy Spirit but Why Tongues?
Holy Ghost and Scriptural Tongues 3 sermon
Prayer Issues Not Taught Series
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