Praying in the Spirit

 In Ephesians 6, we have the parts of the armour of God listed, starting in verse 14, and they are:  the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.  But in my Bible, there is no period after "the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God", but rather a comma, so that it continues with "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end  with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."

What is this "praying in the Spirit"?  

Some have suggested it means to pray with the Holy Spirit's guidance.  No doubt, it includes that.

But in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul equates praying in or with the Spirit with praying in tongues.  (The word "tongues" here has nothing to do with the tongue in your mouth; it refers to languages.) "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" (verses 14 and 15).  I have found that I can be praying in the spirit under my breath while I am concentrating on something, talking with someone, or having my mind otherwise occupied.  My mind is not required for me to pray in the spirit.

I have heard tongues dismissed as being "a lesser gift", according to the list at the end of 1 Corinthians 12:  "And God has appointed these in the church:  first, apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps administrations, varieties of tongues" (verse 28).  And then 1 Corinthians 14:5 says, "I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied, for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues..."  Paul acknowledges that "in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue" (1 Corinthians 14:13).  However, even if it may be a lesser gift, do we allow ourselves to sneer at any gift that God may offer?

But Paul makes a clear differentiation between tongues in public and tongues in our private prayer times.  He says we are "giving thanks well" when we pray with the spirit, "but the other is not edified" and "I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all; yet in the church..."  "Whenever you come together...if anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or three at the most, each in turn, and let one interpret.  But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church and let him speak to himself and to God" (verses 17-19, 26, 27-28).

So, why speak or pray in tongues in our personal faith life?

We've already noted that Paul says, in doing so, he gives thanks well.  Verse 2 says, "...he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God..."  That's prayer!  Verse 4 says, "...he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself..."  Who doesn't need to be edified (built up)?  In the book of Jude, verses 20 and 21, "praying in the Holy Spirit" is connected with "building yourselves up on your most holy faith" and "keep(ing) yourselves in the love of God."  (We know that His love for us never wanes or disappears, but our awareness of it does.)  I've just given you a list of vital advantages!

Then, we have the people who say, "Well, I've asked for the gift of tongues but never got it."  Over the years, we saw many people receive when we pointed out that, in Acts 2:4 "they began to speak" -that was their part, "as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance" (or "enabled them to speak" according to the ESV) -that was His part.  If this is a gift from God that Paul wished everyone had, then we should approach in faith when we ask for it.  Expect that the Holy Spirit will still be giving the utterance or enabling, but don't expect Him to push air out of your lungs past your vocal chords.  You have to do the actual speaking, and that is purely a step of faith.  You start to speak, not in words you understand, but with words that He brings up from your innermost spirit.  I know this could sound somewhat intimidating, but we never have to be shy with our God.  He's not going to roll His eyes, or hide a smirk behind His hand.  He'll be applauding, like we do when our little children start trying to speak.

I encourage you to go for it!  You will be giving thanks well, speaking to God, getting built up in your spirit and on your most holy faith, and keeping yourself in the love of God.  It's a win-win offer.