Next Step #7

Next Step #7 in our "Living in The Holy Spirit" follow up is a reminder from the Apostle Paul to pray in the spirit and to pray in our minds; and to sing in the spirit and to sing in our minds.  We find the reminder in 1 Corinthians chapter 14.  The Apostle Paul actually devoted 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 to a discussion of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, the most important spiritual gifts, and to the proper use of "tongues" in the church.   In chapter 14, Paul makes it clear that he wished that every Christian would pray in tongues, and he told the Corinthian believers that he thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than all of them, but for Paul such speaking was more valuable in personal prayer than in corporate worship.  In fact, Paul said that he would rather speak five "intelligible" words in worship--meaning words that the whole congregation could understand, than 1000 words in a tongue, since then only God would understand.  Paul tells us, though, that speaking and singing in tongues is part of his personal worship and prayer.   Here's what he wrote, "So what shall I do?  I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind."  (1 Corinthians 14:15 NIV)  Obviously, since Paul distinguishes between praying and singing with his spirit and his mind, and he is talking about tongues, he's telling us that praying and singing with his spirit is praying and singing in tongues.  It's been seven weeks now, since some of you who are reading this post came forward during worship to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  Are you praying and singing with both your spirit and your mind?  Are you taking time each day--and throughout the day each day--to praise God, to offer your petitions to Him, to confess your sins and turn from them, to pray for others?  Are you offering those praises and prayers in your spirit as well as with your mind?  Remember, obedience is the key to increasing faith.  Obedience is the key to blessing.  God's ways are always the RIGHT ways for us to live and grow as His children and servants.  Take some time right now to pray in your spirit and in your mind, because as Paul reminded us BOTH are beneficial for our life and growth as followers of Jesus!