Life in the Spirit.

Speaking in tongues and languages is a topic that causes serious schism in Christendom and religions and cults also want their voices to be heard. This is probably the penultimate offering in our series on prayer. Tongues will go a long way beyond our natural languages. If you pray using your language, God hears you. Praying in the Spirit is meant to edify you.

Let’s quickly settle the edification. Jude 1:20, says, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” You will be building your faith and if you see people demonised or sick, you just command them whole. If you build your prayer life along this, you can hold the jaws of a lion and tear them apart. You can go to your prayer room and come after three days.

We need to quickly address the school of thought that says tongues ended on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. A simple look beyond Acts 2 shows otherwise. We read 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.”

History records one revival in US. I quote, “Azusa Street Revival is a Pentecostal revival meeting that happened in 1906, United States, Los Angeles. The revival which was led by an African American, William J Seymour, was characterised by Spirit baptism with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, miracles and other spiritual experiences.” This happened in streets, people getting healed.

We can safely say praying in tongues is still happening. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 admonishes, “Quench not the Spirit.” I like the cross reference, Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” It is very biblical to pray in the Spirit.

One who does not pray in the Spirit yet have assurance that her/his prayers are packaged to the glory of God. When you pray with your language, you have the aid of the Holy Spirit, 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.” The Father hears you.

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One accusation that comes to the charismatic church is that they should not pray in tongues all at the same time. They’re edifying themselves. Apostle Paul gave instructions when praying for others. We read, 1 Corinthians 14:18-19, New Living Translation, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. [19] But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.” It is like giving a benediction in tongues when you know others are still to be baptised in the Spirit. I like how Apostle Paul was so humble to say someone went to the third heaven. Scholars agree that he is talking of himself. He tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, “[2] I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. [3] And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) [4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

These are the examples that I gave in earlier instalments that there are deeper levels of communion. Just transfiguration, Apostle Peter would say in Luke 9:33-35, “[33] And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. [34] While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. [35] And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

We said God looks at the motive of prayer and the heart. I will give you examples of wrong motive; church X cannot have a better public address system than ours and you declare 40 days of fasting. The truth is that you come out bitter. Last time we said just run in your lane you agree with the Holy Spirit because it is Him who prompts you to pray.

Let me close with an encouragement. Decades ago, I read a book titled Nine O’clock in the Morning. You may have problems getting it around but it is on online stores. A group of ladies were studying the Bible continually. They came to Acts 2. To cut it short, they decided to meet the following day at exactly the time in Acts 2, Nine O’clock in the Morning. As they started praying in their native languages, they found that they were praying in tongues. Wow!

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.

• All Bible quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.
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