Topic: Praying in the Spirit
Reading: Romans 8:26-28
Introduction and Overview
Praying in the Spirit is one of the most powerful gifts that God has given us. It is one of the keys to spiritual warfare, and it is also an essential part of walking in the Spirit to be able to overcome the passions of the flesh.
These two verses today give us an insight into praying in the Spirit and some of the reasons why this is an essential weapon of spiritual warfare for Christians to fight the enemy. But there are a number of things necessary that must be in place before anyone is able to commence praying in the Spirit. We will look at those briefly also.
Key points from reading:
- The purpose of praying in the Spirit is to use the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome when we are weak
- Praying in the Spirit occurs when the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf directly to God for our good
- This gift of God to be able to pray in the Spirit is a good thing and not to be rejected or downgraded as unnecessary, irrelevant, or misunderstood.
Discussion:
- Scripture: Romans 8:26
- First up in this scripture we learn that praying in the Spirit is something we can do when we are weak. Any time you are being attacked by the devil, or suffering negative emotions, or angry, depressed, overwhelmed, and so on, you are weak.
- It is when we are in a weakened state mentally, psychologically, or spiritually that we need to be praying in the Spirit. And as the scripture says, we often do not know how to pray in those states. You have probably been there at times when the only thing you can do is to call out, “Help me God!” And sometimes in anguish and tears as well. It is at those weakened times that praying in the Spirit is valuable and important.
- The Spirit helps us in our weakness by praying in the Spirit because the Holy Spirit steps in to calm, steady, and guide us through whatever the situation is that we are suffering. He knows what is in our heart and he knows the trouble we are going through as he dwells with and within us (Read: John 14:16-18)
- The scripture here says that the Spirit intercedes for us to God with “sighs too deep for words.” Some versions use the word “groanings,” which is also a reasonable translation of the Greek word “stenagmos.” In the New Testament, “stenagmos” conveys a sense of deep emotional or spiritual burden, often associated with suffering, longing for deliverance, or intercessory prayer. And it is when we are in those kinds of states that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us by praying in the Spirit.
- But what is this prayer in the Spirit? It is the gift of speaking in tongues. But to be able to speak in tongues a person must first receive the gift of the Holy Spirit so that he dwells within, just as the early disciples did (Read: Acts 2:1-4, Acts 19:1-6).
- Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7
- This is an important scripture for those who need to learn about praying in the Spirit. This is what the verse says and how it reads: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
- What is the manifestation of the Spirit? When you read Acts 2:1-4, the Spirit was manifested through speaking in tongues and other signs. In Acts 19:1-6 the receiving of the Holy Spirit was manifested through speaking in tongues and prophesy. When the Gentiles first received the Holy Spirit in Acts 10:44-48 the receiving of the Holy Spirit was manifested by the people speaking in tongues. And Jesus Himself said that those who received the Holy Spirit or would be born of the Holy Spirit would be manifested through hearing the “sound of the Spirit,” just as we hear the sound of the wind and know it is blowing. (Read: John 3:5-8)
- In all cases when a person receives the Holy Spirit, the manifestation of the Spirit through speaking in tongues is evident in the Bible. And of course, “speaking” makes a sound that can be heard. Thus, the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.
- Now, in 1 Corinthians 12:7 quoted above, we see that “the” manifestation of the Spirit is given to “EACH.” That is, everyone who receives the Holy Spirit is given a manifestation. And not just “any” or “a” manifestation, but “THE” manifestation. It is very specific that there is just one definite manifestation of the Spirit that is given. And from the examples in the scriptures mentioned above where the Holy Spirit was given, speaking in tongues was THE manifestation given to all.
- This is important to understand, because one of the key purposes of speaking in tongues is praying in the Spirit. Speaking in tongues is a form of prayer that all can use when they have received the Holy Spirit. (And by the way, this is not to be confused with the gift of tongues that may be used in a church setting. That is a different gift given to only certain people. But the gift of tongues for spiritual warfare and personal use as praying in the Spirit is given to everyone who receives the Holy Spirit.
- We see in 1 Corinthians 14:2-3 that speaking in tongues is praying in the Spirit directly to God. The words are not understood by men because praying in the Spirit or speaking in tongues is the Holy Spirit using a foreign language to pray and speak directly to God. In 1 Corinthians 14:4 we see the purpose of praying in the Spirit, which is to edify or build ourselves up. And this is the essence of what Romans 8:26 is telling us. When we are weak we need to be edified and built up emotionally, psychologically, or spiritually to overcome whatever weakness is dragging us down.
- Then in 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 we see Paul clearly showing that speaking in tongues is prayer in the Spirit. He says, “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? 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.”
- So, speaking in tongues is praying in the Spirit and it is something we need to do, especially when we don’t know what to pray or how to pray when we are in a place of weakness, as Romans 8:26 explains. This is a gift given by God for our benefit to strengthen us and to build us up when we are weak in any way.
- Scripture: Romans 8:27
- When we are praying in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit is speaking to God on our behalf and for our good. The indwelling Holy Spirit knows what our weaknesses are and also how to combat them to give us the ability to overcome and have victory.
- The Holy Spirit speaks directly to God the Father when we speak in tongues and God understands our needs because the Holy Spirit intercedes for us for our good. He will never ask God for something that is not good for us, but in praying in the Spirit he will always seek and ask for whatever is good for us to be able to overcome.
- And God listens. When we are praying in the Spirit, God searches our hearts and minds for what we need. The Holy Spirit asks only what is good for us because the Spirit knows and understands the will of God and asks only according to the will of God.
- Scripture: Romans 8:28
- Now, I know there are some who fear speaking in tongues. There are others who are concerned that the Spirit “takes them over” or will force them to do something contrary to what they may want. These are false fears as the Spirit never does anything against us but only for us. He does not take us over, and the scripture in Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship.”
- This verse in Romans 8:28 tells us clearly that in everything God works for good with those who love Him. He works for our good, and the gifts He gives us, including speaking in tongues, is for our good. He will never give us an evil gift, and praying in the Spirit through speaking in tongues is a VERY good gift. It enables us to overcome the devil and to gain victory over the passions of the flesh so that we can live a life free from self-condemnation.
- It is through this gift that praying in the Spirit becomes possible. But first you must receive the indwelling Holy Spirit as this gift cannot be bestowed on someone who has not first received the Spirit. And prior to that it is important that you be baptised into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and you understand the purpose and power of His death and resurrection. Without that insight the Spirit can work, but will not be as effective as it can be when these things are correctly understood.
- In closing you can learn more about all of these things in a free eBook, “The Six Foundation Teachings of Jesus Christ,” that is on my other website.
Key Takeaways:
- Praying in the Spirit is necessary to be able to overcome the devil and the passions of the flesh.
- We must receive the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues that is given to everyone who receives the indwelling Holy Spirit to be able to pray in tongues.
- There is nothing to fear about these gifts because God only gives us good gifts and the Holy Spirit will not enslave us.
Prayer Points
- Pray that God will give you His Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues as He has promised./li>
- Pray for insight into how you can use the power of the Holy Spirit through praying in tongues to overcome devilish attacks and the passions, lusts, and desires of the flesh.
- And thank God for His gifts that He gives so that we can overcome and grow into the image of Jesus Christ.