Praying In The Spirit

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Jude 20
Jude encouraged the Christians to build themselves up in the faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. Praying in the Holy Spirit means praying in tongues and speaking the words that the Holy Spirit gives to your spirit-man (1 Cor. 14:2, 14-15). Like an athlete who builds muscles through regular disciplined workout in the gym, a Christian can grow strong spiritually through praying in the Spirit.

What happens when you pray in tongues?

1. Your prayer becomes Spirit-empowered. “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. 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” (Rom. 8:26-27). All believers without the Holy Spirit have the weakness of not knowing how to pray in accordance with God’s will. But the Holy Spirit helps us by praying and interceding through us. This kind of prayer is far above the level of the believer’s own natural understanding or ability.
2. You refresh yourself. “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19). Paul advocated the believers to be constantly fi lled with the Spirit, praying and singing in the Spirit. Praying in tongues can revive that dryness and thirst of the spirit. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).
3. You become spiritually active for battle. Ephesians 6 tells us that the only way to withstand in the evil day is for every Christian to put on the armor of God. For the armor of God to be complete and effective, Paul said that we are to pray always in the spirit. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:17-18). To live a life of victory, it is inevitable for a believer to discipline and train himself to pray always in the spirit. Take sometime now to focus on the Lord and pray in the spirit.