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What does it mean exactly to be 'in the spirit'

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Posted by: Tiff

ok I have to admit that although Ive been saved for a good time, I by far know it all and sometimes its hard for me to lay my pride aside and admit I dont know some things that seem fundamental.

What does it mean to 'be in the spirit' or "pray in the spirit"

I dont understand

Tiff


Posted by: pickone

Well, I may not give you a complete answer, but I will try to tell you the best way I can. Someone else may have a more clear explanation.

One way to be in the Spirit, is to be baptized in the Spirit. Rather, come into His presence and allow the Spirit to be stronger than your natural desire.

In Paul's letter to the Corinthians (I Cor.15:31), he is speaking about baptism and praying for the dead and he asks, in effect, why everyone is worrying about the dead and worrying about their own selves in death. He says, "I die daily."

In the mornings, before you get up, speak to the Lord. Give Him your life for this day, all day long. Tell Him to do whatever He wants to do through you today.

Give an intimate testimony to someone, something you would rather people didn't know about your past - then give God the glory by telling them how He helped you overcome the situation and move forward, for example. His will, not your's.

I really think this is the first death. Because the Word of God says, "To be absent from the body is to be present with God." (See 2 Cor. 5:6-8)

Sometimes God may want you to know immediately that you are in His presence. John 18:6 "As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground."

Also, praying in the Spirit means you ask Him to pray what He wants to through your own mouth. This is what I did at first, because I didn't speak in tongues. I had friends, who are pentecostal, who said it was OK if I didn't, but I really wanted to. I don't want anything phony - it had to be real and it had to be God. So I asked God to speak through me so I could say the right prayer. He did, and it was in English.

I was holding my grandson right after he was born, and thinking about the voice of God. I glanced down at the baby and he was "pointing" at his mouth. When I began to speak in tongues (also praying in the Spirit) it made as much sense to me as a baby's babble, but really does sound like another language - although I didn't go to school to learn it.

When praying in tongues you can ask the Holy Spirit to let you know the interpretation and He will. You really need to go to a Spirit filled minister and let him/her teach you more. These people are really kind and gentle. They won't force you to do anything you are uncomfortable with. You can go as slow as you want. (This is true of the ones who taught me.)

I hope this helps you a little. Remember, you can pray in the Spirit in your own language, it is just a little quicker in tongues. It is easier for me to say "I will be used by God to raise people from the dead" in tongues than in English.....know what I mean? God wants to use us the same way He has used other people all through the Old and New Testaments. Walking on water, parting the red sea, staff turning into a snake, being two places at one time, having visions and dreams, prophesy, etc.

Hope this sounded OK.


Posted by: cgirl

Do you read the Bible and pray daily? This will help a lot. Also ask the Holy Spirit to help you read and understand the Word. That's helped me quite a bit.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

If you don't pray in tongues, all you have to do is ask the Lord, he will do it. Amen.


Posted by: Soteria777

Quote:
Originally Posted by cgirl
Do you read the Bible and pray daily? This will help a lot. Also ask the Holy Spirit to help you read and understand the Word. That's helped me quite a bit.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

If you don't pray in tongues, all you have to do is ask the Lord, he will do it. Amen.


I agree with the other posts and would add it's simply following the Spirit's lead in all things. We can pray, speak or sing in our native language [understanding] or pray, speak or sing in the Spirit [tongues].
When we follow the Spirit regardless of our fleshly desires, we are walking "in the Spirit."