Praying In The Holy Spirit

[FireBrand]

Excellent observation, fuego. Praying in the Spirit is in contrast to praying with the understanding, therefore you aren't praying in your native language or any other learned language.

Wouldnt the writers of scripture assume there is another kind of praying other than the given and obvious kind, therefore the need to specify “in the Spirit”? Good points, brothers.

[fuego]

Wouldnt the writers of scripture assume there is another kind of praying other than the given and obvious kind, therefore the need to specify “in the Spirit”? Good points, brothers.

That's a good point. Never thought of it that way. And I've thought about this a LOT.

Seriously, I'm going to use that as a point from here on out when I teach on this. That's really good.

[Cardinal TT]

The verse can only mean

[FireBrand]

That's a good point. Never thought of it that way. And I've thought about this a LOT.

Seriously, I'm going to use that as a point from here on out when I teach on this. That's really good.

Glad to contribute. This subject and dynamic is so needed in the Church.

[Valiant Woman]

I don't think praying in the Spirit MUST be tongues. I think that's a 20-21st century reading of it. When I pray in English OR in tongues, I believe it's praying in the Spirit.

You have understanding of what you're praying for when you pray in English, so praying in your known tongue can't mean you're praying in the Spirit, according to Romans 8:26.

Paul said our understanding is "unfruitful." Which infers that we don't know what we're praying for, but the Holy Spirit knows.

"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 (in articulate speech).

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." Romans‬ *8:26-27‬ *

The Spirit doesn't make intercession for us in our known language, but in an unknown, heavenly language. I believe one reason, and I heard brother Hagin teach on this years ago, is so that the devil won't understandwhat we're praying for; he went on to say it's the reason Satan fights so hard against believers praying in tongues during our private prayer time.

Anyone who has prayed in the Spirit knows how the enemy tries very hard to discourage us by lying to us that we're just speaking jibberish, by causing believers to be divided over it, and frightening believers about it, among other deceptive tactics.

I believe in Spirit inspired prayers in our known language, but that is completely different than praying "in the Spirit." I believe the scriptures make the distinction between the two.

Acts 19:1-6 is another indication of the difference between praying in the Spirit in tongues, and praying by prompting of the Holy Spirit to pray in you known language.

[Valiant Woman]

To think that great Christians of the past who were not Pentecostal never prayed in the Spirit (think Finney, Moody, Wesley, Spurgeon, etc.) is, again, a 20-21st century understanding of praying in the Spirit. Some of the greatest prayer warriors of the past were not Pentecostal. E.M. Bounds, Andrew Murray, Praying Hyde, Rees Howells, etc.

I disagree. I believe maybe it’s because they didn’t yet have the revelation of the scriptures that comes progressively. There could be many reasons why they didn’t. Just like today, thousands of Christians believe that Diving healing was only accomplished during the times of the Disciples, and that it’s God’s will to only heal some people. Many believe that tongues ceased, and that Divine healing was done away with.

As the great warriors of Christ those men were, they weren’t perfect and all knowing, just like we’re not today. That’s why I must rely on the scriptures and not on anyone’s personal experience.

[FireBrand]

I’d read somewhere that DL Moody spoke in tongues, as did Martin Luther.

It’s better we give them the benefit of the doubt and say they might have rather than a “no they didnt”. We would surprised to see how many did but without a public affirmation.

[Ezekiel 33]

And let's not forget that Paul made a distinct difference between praying/singing with the understanding and praying/singing in the spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:15 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 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.

[Quest]

Praying In The Holy Ghost...in Jude vs 20 scripture tells us to keep building ourselves up in our most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit:

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit...”

What is your take on praying in the Spirit? Is this to pray in tongues? I’m not sure how to look at this any other way.

I believe that is an essential part of it, but that it also entails listening and praying as the Spirit directs, but making a distinction of praying 'in the Spirit as tongues and 'Spirit led prayer' is not a deal breaker...as long as it's the Spirit leading, it's all good!

[Valiant Woman]

I believe that is an essential part of it, but that it also entails listening and praying as the Spirit directs, but making a distinction of praying 'in the Spirit as tongues and 'Spirit led prayer' is not a deal breaker...as long as it's the Spirit leading, it's all good!

The emphasized words that distinguishes it from being the same as tongues are "praying in the Spirit"...

That's very different that praying "by the Spirit or led of the Spirit"...I can pray in my known language as the Spirit leads and guides by telling me to pray for a specific person or matter.

Praying "in the Spirit" infers I don't know what I'm praying for, so I rely on Him to guide my unknown tongues. I don't know any scriptures that praying in the Spirit in tongues is the same as praying in the Spirit in my known language.