BIBLE BREAKFAST (#339) 02/27/20
“Prayer with the spirit…”

 ? 1 Corinthians 14:15 “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.”
▪️I understand that the topic of “prayer with the spirit” is not only interpreted in different ways, but was also argued about in many generations of Christians. 
▪️Some completely reject the idea of “prayer with the spirit” in our time. They explain that the time in which this was necessary has passed. Others accept it, but interpret “prayer with the spirit” in different ways. 
▪️Nevertheless, God’s word through the words of the Apostle Paul says with a direct text: “I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.”(or the mind, in other biblical translations) For me personally, this speaks clearer than clear in that this kind of prayer exists and and that there also exists a difference between “prayer with the mind” and “prayer with the spirit”.
▪️I personally understand that “prayer with the spirit” is not when my mind, being aware of all of its thoughts and words, which is called “prayer with the mind”, but my spirit is being awakened by the Holy Spirit and starts praying for known situations in my life, and even those unknown to me. 
▪️This happens in a language that I understand and speak in, as well as in a language that I don’t understand. God’s word calls this “tongues”, which happens as a result of recieving the gift of the Holy Spirit. This, unfortunately, is also understood in different ways. 
▪️ “Prayer with the spirit” in a familiar language to me is, very often, about situations that I don’t know about, where the Holy Spirit prompts me to pray for someone or something that I know nothing about. I feel this prompting and begin to pray and petition using my own words in my own language. 
▪️On my own, I would have never thought to start praying about this. This only happens through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. For example, you start praying for someone, not knowing why, and then you find out that in that moment, that person was in danger. You didn’t know this but the Holy Spirit knew and used you for this purpose. 
▪️”Prayer with the spirit” in tongues is very often about situations that I do know about, although it can also be about situations that I don’t know about, but because I don’t always know how to pray about that situation, the Holy Spirit can petition through me in an unknown language (tongues). “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26
▪️This is a supernatural manifestation. Therefore, there is no need to try and explain how everything happens. We accept this by faith. However, I would like to advise those who don’t accept this to be careful with your conclusions and comments so that you do not grieve the Holy Spirit, and at the same time, put Him out. 
▪️When we don’t understand something or God doesn’t reveal anything to us in regards to this, the correct thing would be to abstain from commenting. For example, I read one preacher’s comments on “prayer with the spirit” in tongues in the following words: “No where in the Bible does it say that we need to pray using unclear muttering…” I wanted to say- be careful in how you express yourself. 
▪️And so: “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit”– Paul said of himself. I think this is a good example for us. 
▪️I also want to say that you do not need to initiate this yourself or even to imitate it (and this does happen), but be open before God so that in due time, whenever it is needed, He may use us in “prayer with the spirit” how He sees fit. May this be a blessing and something we aspire to. 

? Have a good and blessed day! I would like to wish for all of you to pray with the mind and the spirit when there is a need in this and a prompting from the Holy Spirit (with prayer, Valeriy Bayko)

 ? P.S. If needed, share this with others. Thank you for the re-post.